I'm interested in a mid-drive gravel e-bike. Something like the specialized creo, but not a billion dollars. I was looking into the FM396 from Mondince, but I think the Fazua motor is end of life. Not interested in hub-drive. I'd want to put a front and rear rack on it I think.

I ordered a FM126 as one of the first customers. I think they went 3 or 4 months behind schedule. Jack does a good job, their main business is not D2C, and you are rushing a frame that had its geometry changed in late June. It was never going to be ready for you on your timeline. It's unfortunate that most Chinese companies give "just another week" deadlines, but this seems like having mismanaged expectations for buying a brand new frame model.

If you didn't want to wait, you probably should have stuck to a frame that was already in production.

Interesting! Is it compatible with a short travel suspension fork?

Quote from: Tpower59 on July 02, 2026, 12:20:48 PM
Nice Decathlon Van China
You forgot to tell us your riding impressions

Not sure if I should be proud or embarrassed

Bike is good, but again, with the asterisk for flex on chainstays. I have ridden it a few times. No surprises on comfort given the SL8 geometry. I rode it 150km yesterday and the positioning and comfort was great. I really like it and am happy. I knew this frame would be a gamble, so I think it is fitting squarely into my expectations. I still want to try some more out of the saddle efforts, but I suspect the real test will be feedback after getting into some quicker group rides (which I haven't been doing lately).

I'm a bit hesitant to my authoritative statements on the frame, as I don't have a lot of experience with carbon road framesets. It feels less stable/premium than a trek madone sl8. Hard efforts feel a little unstable, but it could certainly be me adjusting to a racier road bike. Wish I could provide more, but that's probably all I can say until I get more chances to go fast on it.

Ok I haven't ridden it much, but I've finally stopped spilling mineral oil everywhere and have it assembled.
58cm and whatever they call the lighter weight option, which is irrelevant as I painted it.

Good first impressions once the correct pieces have actually been delivered. In hindsight, I can't be upset for the delay, it was my choice to be the trial subject for a new frame. Wrong battery holder, wrong bearings, and wrong crown race made me realize how different of an experience buying a frame direct from a factory is. I'm a little surprised that the person manufacturing the frame didn't want to assemble one and take it for a spin, honestly. I still stand by my decision to buy a frame without reviews, as I bought this knowing that the frame would kind of be a gamble. I didn't go for a expensive or ultralight build as a result. I got everything together for just under $2000, buying parts over time since last November. 8.4kg as pictured (cage and computer mounts, pedals).

I did my own version of the stiffness on the wall test, which seems consistent with what's been described. I'm more of an endurance/long distance rider, so I might not actually be able to hit the watts on the road to notice, but I'll update when I've done a sprint workout. My specialized diverge (fact 9r carbon) flexed quite a bit more using the same test, but that bike is known to be quite soft and since there is so much more clearance, I am more worried about the fm126.

I had my LBS cut the fork before I got the correct crown race and lower bearing, which means the fork is just a bit too long. I'll probably have to find a spacer, but if anyone has a link to a slightly lifted top tap on Aliexpress, I'd appreciate the link!   

I'm putting mine together still; it's the first time I've done di2/ltwoo battery in a frame. If anyone has done the same, how does the battery attach to the seatpost? I was planning for it to fit inside the seatpost, but it doesn't.

Edit- saw the previous comment, thanks. I was a little too stressed to force it but I'll give it a try later.

I ordered the ultralight, had it painted two colors glossy. Wasn't going for a minimal weight, just figured I'd order the lightest frame offered and not worry about it beyond that. Frame weight in size 58cm with front and rear derailleur hangers, but no thru axles, is 1054g. Happy so far and it looks good; consistent on the carbon layup looking clean minus the bottle cage bolts which doesn't bother me. Want to get a shop to cut the fork down before I do the rest of the build and was too busy bikepacking last weekend to sort this out. Honestly, I'm partially killing time until I get the new crown race sent to me.

While I got the ultralight, that's kind of where the ultralight ends. Did a budget approach for the groupset. Super excited to get it together in the next week or two.

I'm receiving mine today - curious to see/hear if this is specific to you, or all frames sent out to date have this problem.

I'm hoping to build a Mondince FM126 in the next few weeks/months. I don't have a road bike, and my gravel bike is quite relaxed geometry-wise, so I'm very excited.

Did they send you anything instead?

I've already ordered. I'm planning to use the handlebars included for the indefinite time unless I don't like them. Was interested in these from lightcarbon before realizing handlebars come with the bike: https://www.lightcarbon.com/ultra-light-and-aero-carbon-road-integrated-handlebar_p257.html

I just paid for a FM126 to run with 32s - I suspect I could sneak 35s on, but I don't plan to find out for a while. Don't have the frame yet as they are just starting production, but it's light, "aero", fits 32s, and is under $1k (even less if you don't need handlebars or paint).

I unfortunately have a set of profile design airstryke 2s that are not compatible with using rising spacers. I want to run clip on aero bars with 60mm risers on my flat bar mtb for bikepacking. Less aero, more sitting in a comfy position.

Has anyone found a set of affordable aero bars that are compatible with the profile design riser blocks?

https://profiledesign-uk.com//products/aerobar-bracket-riser-kit-1?variant=54619896873345

I've had these for a while now and feel like I can share my praises of them. First and foremost, I bought these last November for my future (soon hopefully, I just submitted payment) FM126 build. I did not expect them to come so quickly, nor to actually be riding them, but I've had them on my gravel bike for some winter miles on pavement. They feel insanely quick and insanely light, but again, I was riding a carbon gravel wheelset so that's kind of obvious.

I ordered the 50mm wavy, 25mm internal hooked width, with pillar spokes. I got a black friday discount, and asked for cheaper/slower shipping options (got laughed at for this, but you're welcome), and paid $531 with tax and shipping. Out of the box, the hubs were pretty quiet and didn't sound like the youtube video posted. I asked about this, got a quick reply that it was expected and the SR249 are quiet hubs, and was fine with that. After a few hundred miles, they are definitely quite a bit louder. I still don't care, but just something to note. I've been riding these in crusty conditions (New England USA winter), so I'm guessing there's probably a little gunk in the hubs. I had some issue with the tubeless setup but after dealing with slow leaks for a while, I just redid it, this time double taping the rim, and now I have no issue. I've noticed a lot of brands give the bare minimum amount of tape, so I was pretty thankful to Serenade for actually including enough to have some margin for error. Thank you for the support, Marya!

I have 32mm GP5000s on and the bike just rips. My gravel bike is a Specialized Diverge with a mechanical SRAM Apex 1x11, which IMO is an amazing bike, but is a bit boring in terms of stability and comfort. The wheels are giving me a surprising amount of zippy feeling.

I think the real test will be how they come together with the upcoming Mondince FM126 - I'll probably follow up here after that's all together.

Unrelated/unhelpful to your question, but don't you have a Tarmac SL8? I'm surprised that isn't in the "genuinely enjoy" list given some of your praise in videos. Not meant to be snarky.