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

I bought an exact same pair a couple of days ago for a new project because I didn't want to spend 40 quid on the forks and 100 quid on the stickers and brand, which is what would happen should I choose to buy full carbon forks from a bike shop. The vast majority of carbon parts are manufactured in China before being stickered and boxed up with a vastly inflated price tag attached.

I also have a similar full carbon no-brand pair on the Fuji bought from eBay a couple of years ago and sent from China, that I've never had any problems with - apart from being very light and strong...

I think I'm going to buy a pair of these, also the carbon road frames on ebay seem like incredible value, just like VanUden says they are just unbranded.

Does anyone have an experience of these frames?

Ah why did I not UTFS for that!!

This is a great thread, I'm thinking of buying one of those carbon road frames and SRAM rival group.

My wheels should be built tonight, then the glueing will commence.

I have a whole tub of Vittoria Mastic, you may borrow it and a paper bag if that helps?

I'm impressed, they look good. Are they tubs?

Yep

Nice. I'm looking at these ;

http://dengfu.en.alibaba.com/product/388118611-210435550/bicycle_wheels_Carbon_700c_wheels_carbon_Tubular_wheel_carbon_rim_38MM.html?tracelog=cgsotherproduct2#productDetailpageLocation

The clincher version.

When I've got the cash I'd like to buy one of those china Carbon frames fit it with SRAM and use it as my main training bike.

Repost...

Sapim Race spokes, brass nipples, eBay bargain hubs and Chinese Crabon rims direct over the Internet- the recipe for success.

They've just had the first coat of glue, should be ready for Sunday.

I am childishly excited.

Those look really nice Dammit. Its a well known fact in wheelbuilding circles. That beardies build the best wheels.

Thats a bloody nice weight considering you havent cut any corners, using alu nipples etc. (like I did ;) ). Red hubs nearly always work, as most bikes have bit of red all over the place. So they should look fast too.

Thanks SF, according to my (enormous, child-like) calculator they should get the bike under the magic 7kg mark, with as you say no corners cut.

That said the rims may explode in a shower of carbon shards the second I throw a leg over the bike- roll on Sunday and the first test ride.

What it cost, for those interested:

Hubs, skewers and postage (from Taiwan) £99
Rims (inc postage from China) £200
Spokes and nipples £30

So £330 for an 1,180 gram wheelset with a semi-aero 50mm profile.

(My bike is bare alloy/bare carbon fibre/silver saddle and bar tape- the only colour on the bike will be the red hubs and the red valve extenders, so at least it will look fast)

Nice! Let's see what they look like on the bike then!

Did you stand there and force him to build them while you took photos?

Good work fella.

I stood there with a watering can full of cider, topping his mug up when it got to half full.

This seemed to spur him on, and before you knew it the wheels were done.

Nice! Let's see what they look like on the bike then!

Glue is curing on the rims now, tyres go on Friday night, should go on the bike late Saturday.

I'm off to France Saturday morning, (travelling from Forest Hill/Honour Oak no less) - we'll have to go for a ride when I get back, and I can check those guys out...

got these there spot on !! recomend

Haha tempted to get these for my pub bike (plug) for the hell of it

^ A plug! Good grief, you'll halve its weight if you do.

I bought an exact same pair a couple of days ago for a new project because I didn't want to spend 40 quid on the forks and 100 quid on the stickers and brand, which is what would happen should I choose to buy full carbon forks from a bike shop. The vast majority of carbon parts are manufactured in China before being stickered and boxed up with a vastly inflated price tag attached.
...

I think this is a bit of a myth to be honest.

The idea that the factory in china that makes a high end trek frame, makes a few extra and doesnt brand them. Making them with the same quality of materials and using the same amount of time and skill, to produce the quality. Trek require for QC.

The fact is most carbon fiber bike parts are are produced in the east. The factorys therefore have the materials, equipment, and skills to produce the sort of quality the big names make us pay the big bucks for.

But do they use these on their OEM stuff? who knows. Its he branding that gives accountablility. You save a bunch of money in return for taking a bit of a risk. Wether or not its worth it, is down to the individual.

(FTR. I've bought a load of OEM carbon products. I have also paid extra to buy 'inhouse' produced goods. (fence sitter))