Velobuild VB-R-168 Frame

[Queen of Skulls]

Paint was done by VB and everything came out as I had requested it. The paint looks amazing and they did a really great job with the finishing. I do think the paint is a bit on the thin side as I've already got a small chip on the fork during assembly. not a huge deal but something to be mindful of when caring for the bike.

This is the reason I am going to be painting my own. So I can do a proper job.  sure it will cost more but It will be done right.

[ant]

starting to look like a bike
waiting on OG-Evkin stem and bars to arrive, wasn't happy with the provided bar and stem because of cable routing tightness

[LIKKLEbit]

Has anyone seen the VBR-168 review on OmmpaLoompa Cycling youtube?

[Queen of Skulls]

starting to look like a bike
waiting on OG-Evkin stem and bars to arrive, wasn't happy with the provided bar and stem because of cable routing tightness

the horror as I see there no tires and its on concrete.  Think of the scratches

[cancancan]

Just received a size 52 frame in matte black with the separate bar and stem.  https://imgur.com/a/F90D6Bd

Shipped 8 days after the order was placed and shipping took 7 days to Pennsylvania.  Overall, I'm impressed for the price.  Frame with derailleur hanger is 1020 grams - about 100g more than what I would expect a genuine Tarmac frame and 200g more than the S-Works.  Not bad.  The rest of the components come in at very respectable weights.  The bar and stem are quite a bit lighter than the Tarmac system and I could save 100g with a lightweight seatpost from Aliexpress. 

The frame and fork are clean from what I can see other than some imperfections in the paint work that I wouldn't expect to get through QC for a name brand frame. BB looks good and it remains to be seen whether the brake mounts will need faced.

I plan to build up with Ultegra hydro mechanical disc and HED 60/90 wheels from another bike.  I was planning on using an FSA ACR headset and stem, but the ACR headset leaves a noticeable gap with the top of the headtube and adds more stack than I would like, so I may modify the included headset cap to fit flush with the ACR stem, which should accommodate full internal routing and look clean. The included stem is actually a bit lighter, but I prefer the look of the FSA.  TBD.

Instead of the included 40cm bars, which look OK but are too wide for my fit, I will be using "The One" handlebar in 36cm.  Its pretty shamelessly "inspired" by the Enve SES handlebars, which I have on hand for another planned build.  Without having ridden either one yet, the build quality and finish looks comparable to the Enve and is a bit lighter.  Neither feel like they will noticeably flex under load.

[Serge_K]

Just received a size 52 frame in matte black with the separate bar and stem.  https://imgur.com/a/F90D6Bd

Shipped 8 days after the order was placed and shipping took 7 days to Pennsylvania.  Overall, I'm impressed for the price.  Frame with derailleur hanger is 1020 grams - about 100g more than what I would expect a genuine Tarmac frame and 200g more than the S-Works.  Not bad.  The rest of the components come in at very respectable weights.  The bar and stem are quite a bit lighter than the Tarmac system and I could save 100g with a lightweight seatpost from Aliexpress. 

The frame and fork are clean from what I can see other than some imperfections in the paint work that I wouldn't expect to get through QC for a name brand frame. BB looks good and it remains to be seen whether the brake mounts will need faced.

That's great, pictures v promising!
Will be curious to hear about how you feel about ride quality, road feel, vs branded frames you've tried. Diabetic cycling and GC performance have both recently posted videos saying that the VB Pinarello clone rides "heavy" and wouldn't want them as main bikes, despite being light, stiff where you want it stiff, compliant where you want it compliant, tracking well, aero and so on.

[1Sigma]

Hey guys, may I missed it. Is the seatpost available for 7x9mm saddles? Have some carbon AliExpress in my workshop and would like to use em

Yep, the seatpost comes with oval rails by default.  Not sure if VB has a round rail option  anyways

[cancancan]

That's great, pictures v promising!
Will be curious to hear about how you feel about ride quality, road feel, vs branded frames you've tried. Diabetic cycling and GC performance have both recently posted videos saying that the VB Pinarello clone rides "heavy" and wouldn't want them as main bikes, despite being light, stiff where you want it stiff, compliant where you want it compliant, tracking well, aero and so on.

Unless someone is blind testing unpainted frames with identical components and fit (that would be a cool YouTube series!), I wouldn't put too much stock in those subjective impressions.  Its hard not to expect the 10x more expensive frame to feel better.  I have 8300 miles on the Tarmac SL6 sport (round seatpost) frame that is getting stripped for this build and the fit should match within a few mm, so I expect I will notice any significant differences.  I might even A/B test with the same wheelset on an Aeroad just for fun to see which feels better. 

[patliean1]

Having built and extensively ridden about 10 different bikes in the past 2 years from both Chinese and big name brands...I can tell you the differences among all of them are only marginally tangible when ridden at a coffee/recreational pace. However, the differences become quickly realized when pushed to the limit. Granted not everyone is sprinting at 60km/h or bombing down a descent at 70km/h.

I'm a huge advocate that wheels/tires/tube combo plus a proper bike fit are more critical to "pErFoRmAnCe" than the frame itself. Even having the wrong saddle or tire pressure can change how you feel about a bike's characteristics.

[carbonazza]

Try another builder

I find the CFR-505 equally stable and playful as my Aethos S-Works or Canyon CF-SLX, descending Alps cols at 80+ km/h or at week-end furious club rides.
The same on MTB, comparing the FM-936 to an Epic S-Works.
There are good frames and bad frames, it is not about branded vs. open molds.

[ant]

the horror as I see there no tires and its on concrete.  Think of the scratches

haha it was gently placed there, these rims have a good finish on them as well
bike is currently at a shop getting the BB pressed in after I ordered the wrong BB...
looks like this with the OG-evkin bars and FSA headset. It was much easier to run cable through these bars and they feel well made.


Hopefully will have it back this weekend to complete build

[timjen]

I am looking for the straight seatpost? In my opinion there was a thread about it here - has it been produced?

[Irideslow]

I think the straight seatpost was for the 099.

[darc16]

Fall colors

[bball3r823]

I placed my order for my 168 on 10/13/22 with custom paint of blue/purple chameleon blue.  To my surprise, I just received the frame 10/31/22.   On the front fork, I noticed the hole for the front brake line is on the right hand side of the steerer tube. I expected the hole to be in the middle of the steerer tube.  Will this be a problem running the brake line from the right side of the steerer tube to the left fork for the disc brake?