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

Surprised there aren't any Chinese made Wound-up knockoffs

I don't find it at all surprising. They have worked out how to make monocoque carbon forks, why would they go backwards?

I was eyeing with the VO stem already, but not sure if it is tall enough. Also, would prefer 60-70mm instead of 80mm. Man, I hate being so picky, and sorry to derail the thread. Basically I want to achieve the same position as with this cockpit setup, but with a nicer aesthetic to it. Right now it's real ugly, I want to lose the quill adapter.

I could be persuaded to have a go at making you one

Make me one too!

I had sort of the same problem, in the end I had a fork made by Orlowski for €170. Generous 40mm clearance, all the mounts and internal dyno cable routing. And unti PhilDAS makes me a stem, a shimmed Genetic AQ tall stem (think it has 75mm stack height, 15 degree angle)

I need to take a pic the build is getting quite functional nowdays.

Did some measurements yesterday. I guess if the specs are correct and it indeed sticks out 130mm above the minimum insertion point, then the Velo Orange quill stem can work (in 80mm length). Almost a hundred euros here in the NL, but hey, still cheaper than a custom fork. My whole bike doesn't worth 300 in total.

I'll keep my eyes pried for the Chinese options in the future. Sorry for derailing the thread.

if the specs are correct and it indeed sticks out 130mm above the minimum insertion point

I can confirm that.

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Is there a forum approved Ti bottle cage?

How are you finding these after a couple rides?

Ta!

Level up hubs. They look good but are they garbage?

https://a.aliexpress.com/_uHmlYu

These haven't broken yet.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32945432171.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.0.0.21ef1802IoMITX

Thanks, look descent those, the other style are similar to the Planet-x versions

I have these Aliexpress Arc hubs on my mtb and can really recommend them.

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I have recently bought a couple of pairs of these based on some encouraging reviews. Can let you know once they've arrived. I ordered both sets in black, a sign that I am certainly closer to 40 than I am to 25

Are there any decent Ali sealed cartridge headsets?
1 1/8 external cups blue or silver?

Whoops, totally forgot to answer you. Sorry for that. I haven’t taken them down any massive hills (yet) so I cant say anything about that. But for the very small amount of riding I’ve done with these I can’t say anything bad about them.
Cane Creek has released a counterfeit identification guide on their website: https://canecreek.com/counterfeit-identification-guide/ They list all the differences between the originals and the fakes. It seems like the finish of the original brakes is way nicer… but for the price I paid I don’t mind the surface finish on mine.

This turned up today so it's not on the bike yet but first impressions are cack. I'm really disappointed with it. The top jockey wheel spins worse than my old stock one and it twists in my hands like it's made of cheese and the cage is roughly finished just cut out with no smoothing or sealing the edges. I'll fit it and give it a go but i don't have high hopes. It may well be in the bin in a couple of weeks. Anyone else DO NOT waste 80 quid on one of these. At least the delivery was good taking 2 weeks exactly and the ETA was first week of April.

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£80!

Correct 😕 it's meant to be full carbon cage and wheels with ceramic bearings. It's flimsy as and the cage itself is really poorly finished. I've made better myself. This is trash so a lesson learnt.

How much extra would it be to just put some decent bearings in there?
Maybe that's not the main problem in this case.

Gbj mentioned some quality bearings up thread for £20 or so but if that's not the problem then I'm over £100 down and this still may not even make it on to a bike.

It looks like a plastic mock-up of an idea of a cage

Might it improve with some polishing?

What's that saying about polishing a turd? I will take a look at the top jockey and see if I can get it spinning nicely on its bearings but the cage is soft so nothing i can do about the flex. It may be a tight/loose fit on installation as well as there's no precision manufacturing methods in display here. If i can get it spinning and it actually fits I'll give it a try but if its no good it'll go straight in the bin and I shall be filled with bitterness and resentment for the rest of my life.