Bike frame from China

deise muay thai

I'm just wondering has any one ever ordered a bike frame or parts from China, if so what was the quailty like?

Also does anyone know if you get charged custom taxes?

This is the frame I was looking at: http://cgi.ebay.ie/Triathlon-Time-Trial-Road-Bike-Full-Carbon-Framest-L-/280611790971?pt=Road_Bikes&hash=item4155c4207b

furiousox

yeah i got one on ebay from a seller called bikebicycle99.
I think it was dirt cheap, about $150 plus shipping.
Was sent by reg post so i could track it all the way, no customs charges incurred.
Very nice frame, stiff but not too stiff, stuck ultegra on it and it gets admiring comments all the time.

ShevY

this frame arrived yesterday from china.

http://i.imgur.com/pR9RH.jpg

had read loads at another forum where a few people had bought the same frame from the same seller and reviews were positive. €300 for frame+fork+headset delivered.

The seller "maniac_bicycle" made $50 invoice for me and I avoided paying any duty.

Ive yet to build it up but the frame was well packaged and seems fine.

bcmf

Will you let us know if you an issue with the routing of the cable's via BB guide.

ShevY wrote: »

this frame arrived yesterday from china.

http://i.imgur.com/pR9RH.jpg

had read loads at another forum where a few people had bought the same frame from the same seller and reviews were positive. €300 for frame+fork+headset delivered.

The seller "maniac_bicycle" made $50 invoice for me and I avoided paying any duty.

Ive yet to build it up but the frame was well packaged and seems fine.

kona

deise muay thai wrote: »

I'm just wondering has any one ever ordered a bike frame or parts from China, if so what was the quailty like?

Also does anyone know if you get charged custom taxes?

This is the frame I was looking at: http://cgi.ebay.ie/Triathlon-Time-Trial-Road-Bike-Full-Carbon-Framest-L-/280611790971?pt=Road_Bikes&hash=item4155c4207b

Oh a Fixed gear carbon, could be a good project

SurferDude41

ShevY wrote: »

this frame arrived yesterday from china.

http://i.imgur.com/pR9RH.jpg

had read loads at another forum where a few people had bought the same frame from the same seller and reviews were positive. €300 for frame+fork+headset delivered.

The seller "maniac_bicycle" made $50 invoice for me and I avoided paying any duty.

Ive yet to build it up but the frame was well packaged and seems fine.

That's one hell of a deal:)
Please post a review, when you start riding it.

Lemag

You might have already been aware of it but in case you weren't take note of what kona has pointed out. The horizontal dropouts indicate that it is for a fixed gear bike i.e. shifters would be useless for this bike build.

deise muay thai wrote: »

I'm just wondering has any one ever ordered a bike frame or parts from China, if so what was the quailty like?

Also does anyone know if you get charged custom taxes?

This is the frame I was looking at: http://cgi.ebay.ie/Triathlon-Time-Trial-Road-Bike-Full-Carbon-Framest-L-/280611790971?pt=Road_Bikes&hash=item4155c4207b

kona wrote: »

Oh a Fixed gear carbon, could be a good project

deise muay thai

Oh I must of put up the wrong link, its just the customs and taxes I was worried about, but I can sort that out with the seller now.

furiousox

Do a worldwide search for 'carbon frame' on ebay.com
$535 is cheap (relatively) for a carbon frame but there are much cheaper Chinese frames available on ebay.

Edit:

http://cgi.ebay.com/54cm-Full-Carbon-12K-Road-Bike-Monocoque-Frame-Fork-/220727577082?pt=Road_Bikes&hash=item33646389fa

at1withmyself

Lemag wrote: »

You might have already been aware of it but in case you weren't take note of what kona has pointed out. The horizontal dropouts indicate that it is for a fixed gear bike i.e. shifters would be useless for this bike build.

No that's designed to take a rear mech, notice the small threaded hole near the back of the drop out. Some TT bikes have Horizontal drop outs for quicker replacement of the rear wheel.

Lemag

at1withmyself wrote: »

No that's designed to take a rear mech, notice the small threaded hole near the back of the drop out. Some TT bikes have Horizontal drop outs for quicker replacement of the rear wheel.

I don't fully get you. My thoughts, and I've never had nor ever really looked at a fixed gear bike, were that the dropouts were horizontal as there'd be no rear mech that one would have to get around when slotting the wheel on.

kona

It would be a bigger pain in the hole to remove a Bike that has a derailleur and Horizontal dropouts than on with vertical IMO. Where does the chain go?

That frame has a mount for a front mech so I presume it can take a rear derailleur!

I was just remarking that the dropouts could make a very very light fixe, maybe under 6KG Be a good project.

Beasty

deise muay thai wrote: »

Oh I must of put up the wrong link, its just the customs and taxes I was worried about, but I can sort that out with the seller now.

Yes, customs duty and VAT is due. If you conspire with the seller to undervalue the goods on importation, you will be committing an offence, and potentially liable to prosecution

aidanki

any chinese group sets going? there could be a saving on these as are small and light so postage wouldn't be huge

given that they make such a huge proportion of the world bicycles http://www.chinesebikes.net/chinese-bicycle-manufacturers.htm

Lumen

Lemag wrote: »

I don't fully get you. My thoughts, and I've never had nor ever really looked at a fixed gear bike, were that the dropouts were horizontal as there'd be no rear mech that one would have to get around when slotting the wheel on.

Track bikes have horizontal dropouts to enable easy adjustment of chain tension.

My Planet-X Stealth has horizontal dropouts and derailleurs. Like this. I don't know why, brain not engaged.

niceonetom

Lumen wrote: »

Track bikes have horizontal dropouts to enable easy adjustment of chain tension.

My Planet-X Stealth has horizontal dropouts and derailleurs. Like this. I don't know why, brain not engaged.

I think it's to get fag-paper clearances between the rear wheel and the seat-tube. I'm not sure of the aero benefits of that though - they're probably minuscule.

Fan

Loads of info HERE

Quigs Snr

Both my Planet X Stealth and Cervelo P3C have Horizontal dropouts. Makes it easier to get the rear wheel into the cutaway section behind the seattube.

mloc123

Lumen wrote: »

Track bikes have horizontal dropouts to enable easy adjustment of chain tension.

My Planet-X Stealth has horizontal dropouts and derailleurs. Like this. I don't know why, brain not engaged.

My understanding, or what TT frame makers say, is to allow you an adjustable wheelbase lenght. I am not sure what differenece 20-30mm would make but.. Also as Tom mentioned its probably to allow various tyre sizes to be used with the cut out.

Lemag

aidanki wrote: »

any chinese group sets going? there could be a saving on these as are small and light so postage wouldn't be huge

given that they make such a huge proportion of the world bicycles http://www.chinesebikes.net/chinese-bicycle-manufacturers.htm

There's microSHIFT which are taiwanese.

buzzingnoise

These frames look great. Does anyone know to what extent they have been safety tested? Are they simply unbranded versions of famililar frames or are they sourced via an independant company? Has anyone ever had to return one for size-change and was it a big-deal?

bcmf

I suggest you take a read of the dedicated threads on Road Bike Review..
There are 4 big threads.
They give a heads up for size etc.As regards testing Hong-Fu and Great Keen claim to adhere to standards as as of YET there have been no DOCUMENTED failures.
I rode a hong-fu FM-001 with the wavy forks for a good while last year and really couldnt fault it.
Furiosox rode one as well. I am sure some others here did too.
Anyway here is the link RBR thread 4 with links on page 1 to thread 1,2 and 3
If you are gonna read them -mug of coffee and a large packet of your fav bikkies

chakattack

buzzingnoise wrote: »

These frames look great. Does anyone know to what extent they have been safety tested? Are they simply unbranded versions of famililar frames or are they sourced via an independant company? Has anyone ever had to return one for size-change and was it a big-deal?

Unlicensed copies I reckon. Doubt the brands they copy would endorse it in any way.

Same as Kellogg's don't make cereal for anyone else.....

bcmf

I think the way they get around it is one of 2 ways
Way 1. The use molds of bikes to which patents/rights have or are about to expire.
Way 2. They make minor changes to a part of the frame, be it a curvy top tube, a difference in the brake bridge etc etc which is enough to get them out of copyright.
Dont nobody go jumping down my throat as it is what I think.

furiousox

Is it true that most carbon frames (branded or unbranded) originate from Asia now?

gman2k

furiousox wrote: »

Is it true that most carbon frames (branded or unbranded) originate from Asia now?

That's the common understanding. Not that it is a problem, as that is where the factories are set up, so all the technology and know how is there.

aidanki

ladies and gentlemen,

see a lot of stuff over on roadbike review forum about chinese frames and even group sets

anyone on here ever done the whole importing thing from the far east

if so how did it go

geraldf

aidanki wrote: »

ladies and gentlemen,

see a lot of stuff over on roadbike review forum about chinese frames and even group sets

anyone on here ever done the whole importing thing from the far east

if so how did it go

yep i did it last year with groupset aswel, i think it came in at about 600euros for full bike, the frame looks like the old kuota frame, overall i think it was ok but there are a couple of things i would like to comment on, the frame is not very stiff when climbing, the groupset for wat you pay for it is good. i'd like to hear about other frames as to how stiff they are, i'll put up some pics of my bike when i find out how to do it