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

Even a full battery would struggle to last long enough for A&E on a friday evening.
Hope nothing too serious

There is a new series of fun looking steel frames.

https://vi.aliexpress.com/item/1005007568591555.html

https://vi.aliexpress.com/item/1005007586581292.html

The fucking state of those forks!

looks similar to these

Really want to see a built one

Actually pretty sick

This looks to be one with a carbon fork:

https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1XptHeyEXY

I like the little cat details.

even more build pictures:
https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1kUpsedEPi

https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1RM4m1k7BD

These frames do look interesting, some pictures seem to show what I assume is a kickstand plate between the chainstays? I have enough spares in the parts box and having talking about building up a bike for my partner for a while now so might give one of these a go.

Do the http://www.bilibili.com links above work for others?

They still work for me on desktop.
If they don't work try "tqiqt" in the search bar on the start page.

Disappointing tyre clearance IMO, for this kind of bike you'd expect a fair bit more.

42mm is pretty normal for a steel frame with standard chainstays and the fork can probably take more. They have another model with a chainstay plate that takes 50mm.

https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1X4sqejEK3/

Are LB still the go to for lightweight xc 29er wheels?

Not for strenuous trails it’s Xterra uk which is at most a gravel ride.

i've got a customer looking for a set of 26/559 rims with a brake track. do such a thig still exist in carbon? anyone have any recomendations?

Are LB still the go to for lightweight xc 29er wheels?

Not for strenuous trails it’s Xterra uk which is at most a gravel ride.

Sensible choice still, have little point of comparison but very happy with the AM927 rims.

26/559 rims with a brake track. do such a thig still exist in carbon?

I await proof that such a thing ever existed, apart from some ancient Hed Jet wheels with aluminium brake tracks. I once saw somebody claim that Lightbicycle would make one if you asked nicely.

gbj_tester in reply to @Eeyorecore

y'know i thought Enve made some back in the day and had picture on their history section of their website. Just took a look and no dice.

So it looks like the only ones were the likes of Spinergy, Spin Composites, HED, etc

anyone with a spare single carbon disc rim, 700c, symmetrical, 24 or 28h ?

Xtr pedals arrived from Alix in full packaging and with documents. Shimano cleats. Each pedal in a Left and Right bag. If they are fake they could have saved money everywhere.

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Link?

How do they stack up against this: https://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=174331?

Edit - from that WW thread, the visible screws for the plate on the top look like Torx, not hex (different to yours?)?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007657736317.html

Torx heads. Weight is OK.

But the bodies are painted rather than that shot peened(?) finish on my others. And the axle is shiner and doesn’t have the small step before the flange leading to the threads.

I’ll get some calipers out and compare when I have both in hand.

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Almost definitely fake. I've had a pair in my hands recently (don't buy shimano from czbikeparts on ebay people!!)

If you're willing to open them up then the axle assembly will probably be very different to a genuine one.

If not then I remember seeing imperfections in the finish under the the paint. Which as you say is too shiny

Also, the tension bolt was kind of squared off instead of being a nice round circle.

It seems like someone has had a closer look than me.
Looks like the genuine ones do have a bit of a squared profile but it's in a sort of "diamond" orientation rather than square

https://www.reddit.com/r/bicycling/comments/1ccfy21/counterfeit_xtr_pedals_how_you_can_identify_them/

Amazing level of detail there!