Anyone know much about Alien Bikes?

531 is a shining beacon of light compare to 4130 of which tend to be use in BMX frame for strength as they're considerably stronger than standard steel.

that's why it's quite cheap compare to the other lugged frame such as Bob Jackson, BLB Classic, etc.

That's not true. 4130 is very similar to 531 in weight and strength. 4130 is just more generic, doesn't mean it is a lesser product. As with all tubing, make sure it is butted.

531 is a tube set.
4130 is a steel type.

So cant compare them really. It depends on what the manufactures have done with the 4130, when forming it into a tube set, with regards to butting, heat treating etc.

That's not true. 4130 is very similar to 531 in weight and strength. 4130 is just more generic, doesn't mean it is a lesser product. As with all tubing, make sure it is butted.

+1

NB: Also some cheaper frames may use the same size butted tubes, for several frame sizes to save money :(

ok, so 4130 is just a variety of steel, wheras 531 is a reynolds specific product. Gotcha.

Alien does say that it is butted. Does anyone know of a frame that comes unpainted like this but of better quality?

You got it.

Regards unpainted... any builder who builds/paints to order will sell you a primed but unpainted frame. Search for British frame builders.

ok, so 4130 is just a variety of steel, wheras 531 is a reynolds specific product. Gotcha.

Alien does say that it is butted. Does anyone know of a frame that comes unpainted like this but of better quality?

I looked into these, as the main office is in Norway. (seems they only ship from US though, and dont cater for shorties)

IMHO:
A double butted tube set frame,
cast lugs,
full-on track geometry,
coming in at 2.6Kg (F+F)

All good!

Sounds like a really nice frame, and the quality looks good in the pics too. Seems to me the over riding factor with this frame is the tight track geometry, which may not be to everyones taste.

yep, I was looking for track geo, so that's good. I just wanted to make sure that this would be a frame that I could put some deent parts on. Also, will look into frame builders. Thanks all.

yep, I was looking for track geo, so that's good. I just wanted to make sure that this would be a frame that I could put some deent parts on. Also, will look into frame builders. Thanks all.

+1
Definitely worth looking into frame builders.

For brit frame builders GA2G did a list.
http://www.londonfgss.com/thread6377.html

if a custom frame is within your budget, by all means do so.

they all seem pretty expesive - £600 minimum, so twice the cost of an alien frame. If I was gonna spend £600, I'd get a condor lavoro!

Bob Jacksons are £350ish.

345 to be specific, great value for money, thought they´re OTP frame and not custom made specifically for you.

So has anyone taken the plunge and built one of these Alien frames? I'm liking the lookie for a new project.....

someone here build up an Alien bike, pink with black part, it look good as far as I can see, a bit steep considering that you can get a bob jackson for a few *bobs *more.

Yeah I just priced up the unpainted frame and postage - $460.50 = £280.75 - that's not bad. Guy in this review says a 61cm still too small for 6'2"???

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/framebuilders/alien/
[B][/B]

don't forget to factor the import tax if you got caught out.

according to their site, a 61cm frame is 59cm c-t-c and ditto to the top tube as well.

Good point Ed actually, tax would bump it up. Plus then getting it powdercoated. I do like the look of the frame though....

here's that pink and black one

They look like quite nice frames.

hi, I have an Alien built: 1 frame + 2 wheel sets + cranks + headset + BB

Good:

• frame looks good
  
• no toe overlap (I have a 60cm if I remember)
  
• wheels are very strong
  
  

Bad

• not rigid enough for me (I prefer Aluminum)
  
• I would advise to get your own powder coating
  
• not sure but there might be a problem with the BB or cranks as they are very noisy and I think you can get better ones for that price anyway
  
  

I have been riding that thing (hard and breakless) for more than a year now and both the bike and myself are still alive.
If you have specific questions let me know.

^ thx for that. Guess I really wanna know if you had any problems ordering from the US and did you pay import tax?

No. I received all these parts in three times and I didn't pay import taxes, but I guess that was luckyness.
Apart from that, yes, I had problems. There were huges mistakes and delays when I ordered. But this was before Alien concretely started the business. Frames took a lot of time to arrive from the factory in Asia to the stock facility in the US and I really believe this is ancient history. The guy at Alien is also the kind of merchant you won't find anywhere else. After all these troubles I only paid for one wheel set (out of the 2 wheel sets + frame).
So go and get an Alien!

The guy at Alien is also the kind of merchant you won't find anywhere else. After all these troubles I only paid for one wheel set (out of the 2 wheel sets + frame).

wow! that's some customer service!

Whatever happened to this guy (Alien)? I went to his website and he no longer appears to be selling frames! Even though the gallery is full of them!

I did notice that too, perhaps there's not much demand for them in comparison to the alternative like IRO?