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

Where do you think most 'branded' Ti comes from?

Well that's what I figured, same as most carbon. Its not that its chinese, its that its cheap and with a warranty not worth the paper its written on

Nice one

you pays your money you takes your chance, i think id trust Chinese Ti more than Chinese carbon, but mostly because its less easy to hide the crimes behind paint and resin.

Don't Russia also make a load too?

Yeah, a leftover from the collapsed aerospace industry I'd imagine @mdcc_tester can elaborate more

a leftover from the collapsed aerospace industry

That pretty much describes how we got a lot of the boutique CNC stuff in the 90s MTB boom; US military procurement declining after the end of the cold war, and the contractors looking for things to do with their machine shops.

I need a front rack but don't really understand why they seem so expensive even 2nd hand.
I wondered what Aliexpress could do.

What are the thoughts on this?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Road-bike-Basket-fixed-gear-bike-Panniers-MTB-Multi-functional-Vintage-Bicycle-Bags-Basket-Bicycle-Accessories/32881356670.html

I need a front rack but don't really understand why they seem so expensive

Because your dentist bill would be more

Ask him how he knows

How do you know that?

My dentist has had some very nice looking holidays last year, thanks to my old rack.

Just buy a Wald basket, and swap out the bolts for stainless ones and nyloc nuts.

The small wald baskets seem fine, that aliexpress doesn't even seem that cheap.

https://www.lfgss.com/comments/14629613/

For those considering chinese carbon bars.

Just as well. I snapped a pair of very similar if not the same ones

anyone got any experience with Maxway? nice stainless road disc frame..

https://www.maxway-cycles.com/Y16r01-Steel-Bike-Frame.html

Where did you buy your rack that failed from?
What part failed?
How much load did you have on it at the time?

What should I look for in a good rack?
Price is normally a more indicator of quality.

If you have a mass produced steel frame it was probably made by Maxway. Surly, All City, Jamis, Ritchey, Dawes etc. etc. all use Maxway to fab their frames. I didn't actually realise they sold bikes under their own name but they should be comparable quality to the names I mentioned.

Anyone got a link to some fau-kley frogskins?

I'm not sure they sell those direct, but interested to hear the follow up on this.

One local brand did a prototype run with them, using Taiwanese 4130 which have the same specs as spirit.

Apparently this is a $300 dollar "chinese" bike.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=770601703326560

Ive emailed them for a quote, will report back

Anyone come across any Arione R1 copy's?

did some research a while ago and they only sell like 100 frames at a time. Was super cheap though.