Orient Express - Cheap Chinese Rims / Wheels / Forks / Frames / Cranks / Etc

Has anyone got any experience with Sobato?

Can't find any mention of them here but their stuff looks great.

Tempted to pull the trigger on this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/172174089658

I'm still here, I'm alive, I have all my own teeth! :-)

Bars are still going strong. I have the upmost confidence in them*

*as much confidence as you'll ever have in a set of knock off Chinese bars ;-)

Looks generic (decent) carbon frame .. "brands" in china put these strange decals on for some reason .. Hongfu has habit of putting 'Avengers' or something daft on the bike. If you can find some manufacturers on alibaba rather than sellers and talk to them directly or just buy from ebay so you are protected. Are you after a road frame? FM066 is quite proven for a long time now.

Cheers for that. I had a look at quite a few Hong Fu frames and got some prices as well. I really like their 'Avenger' aero road frame but apparently they have some kind of exclusivity agreement (I'm not sure with whom) that means they don't sell that model to the UK.

Sobato also sell through Alibaba, and they do seem to be the manufacturer, they just don't seem to have as much information around them as Hong Fu, Velobuild or Carbonda.

also Workswell. What sort of frame are you after though? Aero or just an overall road/race frame?

Overall road/race, not aero aero, but I tend to like the styling of more aero frames.

I think the Fm066 is great but it looks a bit ordinary and generic. I'm a fan of boxier frames.

I've had a look at Workswell, I like this a lot:

http://www.workswellbikes.com/web/view/193.html

I can't actually find that one for sale anywhere though, it may be one where you would have to contact them directly rather than get it through Aliexpress/Ebay etc.

I like this one

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Sobato-Durable-Carbon-Fiber-Bicycle-Road-Bike-Frame-For-700C-Wheels/32644406088.html?spm=2114.01010208.3.9.f1vTYq&ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_7,searchweb201602_3_10057_10056_10055_10049_10017_10059_10058_9977_10060_10061_10062_10064,searchweb201603_9&btsid=fdb48e36-f156-48a0-bdab-097a3270c9f4

Planet-X has two new bikes Maratona and Viner Maxima 4.0. Any ideas what chinese open molds those are?

I'm not massively keen on the fork.

They do look alright built up (dodgy lever angle aside).

dogma copy innit? If you end up liking the shape of a frame that PX also sell its worth getting it from PX, few quid extra for consumer protection and support ..

There is also this: https://www.speedx.com/en/leopard/

Where are all the Chinese Look L96's?

PX, few quid extra for consumer protection and support ..

I actually like the forks, mostly the top of them where they meet the downtube. Most Chinese aero frame have a sculpted downtube then standard fork and the junction looks weird. This one the fork flows better.

I actually like it even more in this colourway:

Does anyone know what they're on about when it keeps saying that the three brake options are 'V-brake, disc and X-brake'?

Surely V-brakes aren't V-brakes as we know them. And wtf are X-brakes?

X-brakes?

They maybe do mean they V brakes as you get itergrated aero ones:

Perhapse x-brakes are direct mount?

Please update when you get the new XL kit. I am thinking about ordering but unsure of which size to go for.

So...apparently the option I choose if I want to use caliper brakes is the V-brake option. X-brakes are the aero V-brakes. Not sure what D-brakes are because they don't seem to be discs.

Makes sense.

Turns out Sobato is Workswell, or the branch of them that does painted, branded bikes.

This looks like it could be pretty cool
http://www.workswellbikes.com/web/view/225.html

@nutsjesmoar @swedeee @Sumo

Quick update on the AliExpress stuff purchased.

The POC glasses are really good. Glad I got copies as I have dropped them 4 times already.
I have fitted the (only) polarized lens provided and it is actually polarized and works very well. Very comfortable to wear and sit quite high so cover your brows - ideal when you are in aero mode with your head down.
Overall, can't fault for the money (about £14 posted). I might have issues with durability later on but at the moment 10/10

4 Lens 2016 Brand Polarized UV400 Sunglasses TR90 do blade Cicismo BIke Bicycle Sun Outdoor goggles
http://s.aliexpress.com/ZjmQjABv

Overized RD Cage - Fouriers double 15t pulleys oversize RD cage for Ultegra 6800 with ceramic bearings. First impression is that it feels lighter than the original bearings and the ceramic bearings don't actually spin better than the original ones when you flick them.
Fitting is not as straightforward as the instructions lead to believe - you have t dismantle both cages to fit.
Once my original RD cage was removed, I noticed that there are actually two spring settings for the Ultegra 6800 RD so if you felt that your cage didn't provide enough chain tension then you could actually crank it up one notch - which is effectively what the oversize cage offers (4 spring settings). If I have known that, I would have cranked up my RD cage tension before spening £74 on the Fourier one.
Regardless, the cage looks good once fitted and I set it up on spring tension 3 (out 4). The gear change feel much more accurate / precise but that is due to the increased chain tension. Also less chain slap. I don't know if I 'saved' any watts but remember that you will need either a new chain or an extra link. (my chain was a tad long and now it is a tad short).

Voila!

FOURIERS 15T-15T ROAD Drivetrain bicycle ceramic bearing jockey wheels rear derailleur pulleys For RD 9000/9070/6800
http://s.aliexpress.com/a67zQ7bm

VCLS Carbon Seatpost - I needed a long-ish 27.2mm inline seatpost that looked good and was matt UD so I read through this thread and was advised to buy the Canyon VCLS copy. It is made of two separate wedges which slide against each other, allowing you to adjust your saddle angle.
I initially though it was a bit of a faff as you have to completely remove the post in order to change your saddle angle but it is actually quite precise.
The carbon scuffs quite easily so I would advise caution if you wanted to have this on a show bike as once you have inserted it a couple of times, it will be marked (especially if you use carbon paste). I torqued it up properly and the post did not split & there was no crush marks so that's good.
The seatpost has a weight limit of 100kg (which I reach when I carry a bag) and has a certain amount of horizontal flex (which can be seen by other riders when you are bouncing on the back of the saddle - the two wedges slightly flex apart). It is a bit surprising at first but then it is quite comfortable when you get used to it.
I have not ridden an original Canyon VCLS post so can't compare but all in, I think it looks great and it is worth the £30 ish posted.

*Bicycle Full Carbon Fiber Seat Tube Bike Seat Post Cycling Carbon Seatpost No LOGO 20 & 5 Degree 27.2/30.8/31.6330mm
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Bicycle-Full-Carbon-Fiber-Seat-Tube-Bike-Seat-Post-Cycling-Carbon-Seatpost-No-LOGO-20-5/32655831688.html

It's between these two:

Sobato (orange) .. get it unpainted and get @roboto to make some rad decals