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

Yeah, they look nice and I guess not totally crazy money in 2022's climate. Quite like that they offer lifetime warranty on the frames. They appear to have 2 models, Exceed and Exceed RDC. RDC is more expensive and 775g unpainted! If I take the gamble, I'd probably go for the cheaper one re I'm heavy and weight not really a primary concern.

This guy seems to have done a few videos on them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlMnJmZckr4

Including this one where he goes to a carbon 'expert' for inspection (report is positive): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSn2DZPZVnU

Problem is that seems like a bit of a grifting influencer, and I'm not sure I trust a word that comes out of his paid-partnership-funded mouth.

If I ever (when) I go road disc it’ll be with something like this as the retail market’s mad.

Oh that's grifting influencer Cam Nicholls he was a massive Winspace fan he must have switched allegiance for $$$? I built up an Argon nitrogen rim brake frameset a couple of years ago.I paid £1700 i think on clearance from Merlin but if this was available then i would have been tempted over the Nitrogen for the money especially as you get the integrated bar/stem with this.

There's an lengthy WW thread about it that you've probably read already. Tldr they look better than you'd be able to do buying the open mold version and getting it repainted.

Age old question: how likely am I to die?

I had something that looked very similar to these. Super flexy and a crack developed in no time

ahh thanks, had a feeling it wasn't really worth it. no real weight savings either!

Got a pair of I think legit Sram rotors for less than the price of one UK one. They have the laser etched serial number filed off. Presumably so it can't be traced.

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Got a pair of I think legit Sram rotors for less than the price of one UK one. They have the laser etched serial number filed off. Presumably so it can't be traced.

Which seller did you get them from? BetaBike Store on AliX?

how likely am I to die?

As far as anybody can tell, certain. The real question is whether the rest of us would die laughing first if you bought a China carbon stem in the face of the evidence that a Taiwan forged aluminium alloy one would be better in every way.

I already have a perfectly good, lightweight Deda. This would have just been for style points.
And anyway im planning to die at 27 so who cares xoxo

With that attitude your gonna end up like me, still alive at 36 but no front teeth and a squint nose...

World bike factory store on Aliex apparently.

Thanks, think I'll take a punt

I mean for £30 i’d rather a second hand Thomson if you’re after bling points

i’d rather a second hand Thomson if you’re after dental bills

Harsh but fair

That is the plan!

I was waiting for Tester's Thomson jab. Never disappoints <3
Thank you for the help everyone

Approved carbon flat bar for XC? My Mt Zooms have a crack.

This is crazy cheap: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32602936248.html

Harsh but fair

Haha what have Thomson stems done to deserve the swipe. Bought used lfgss Thomson stems for 12+ years of my forum life and teeth still intact

what have Thomson stems done to deserve the swipe

They haven't always been entirely reliable, they're not well designed, and they're made by an inappropriate method. All of that would be OK if they were cheaper than better designed, better made, more reliable stems and seat posts, rather than being three to four times the price.

I did wonder what the Thomson swipe was about.
I think they are way over priced but I’ve never actually bought one new.
What was the reliability issue? And what exactly is inappropriate about the way they are made?
I’m not jumping to defend them here btw, just genuinely curious what the issues are or have been.
Always seems like Thomson have a rep for being well made fairly high quality and all that. But if there’s dirt to dish on em, I want it.

Yeah i’m curious, Same questions as @TotalShanner

Also what’s preferable to Thomsons?

That’ve always been unanimously well spoken of tbh. I’ve never paid more than £30 for X4 MTB ones (ditto seatposts) and they’ve never failed on me. have also owned Easton Havens which have been bombproof too.

they're made by an inappropriate method.

?

What was the reliability issue? And what exactly is inappropriate about the way they are made?

I think specifically the X2 suffers from more cracked face plates than is acceptable, which is not a surprise when you look at the design.
Milling from billet is inherently inferior to the near-net-shape forging which the shape of stems allows for, and which is used by most serious makers.

I’ve heard that about X2 faceplates but unless you swing on the Allen keys like a tubby gorilla (or, indeed, use a torque wrench) surely you’re ok?