Cheap Chinese carbon fiber frames, anyone build one up in the Chi?

Hey all,
I've been meaning to get a nice shiny new road bike, but don't want to spend the $1800-$6000 that decked out all carbon, dura ace, Record or SRAM Red bikes with carbon wheels cost. I don't want somebody's 8 year old aluminum Jamis or an entry level fuji newest... I want something that looks rides and looks MONEY!
I've been seeing sweet carbon framesets online and people seem to be more or less pleased with the quality as noted here:
http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=225409

I do not want to build a counterfeit Chinarello or Cholnago bike.  I don't care about brand names or badging.  To be quite honest, I'm probably looking forward to designing my own graphics more than riding it. While the roadbikereview forum does answer a lot of questions and show several examples, I'd love to get in touch with someone who's done this locally.
My folks were in parts manufacturing so everyone can spare me the bit about buying from an authorized dealer or getting "certified" parts... at the end of the day a rear derailleur costs 10 bucks to make regardless if it's RED, Apex or unbranded.  But those reputable companies have research& development, testing, packaging and marketing costs to recoup Blah, blah, etc, etc- screw 'em.
I want to build a slick looking racer with a 100% carbon frameset, carbon clinchers and some whatever group set I can scrounge.
DengFu, HongFu, GreatKeen sports equipment-Anybody here done it?


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carbon failure
"To be quite honest, I'm probably looking forward to designing my own graphics more than riding it."

So why waste the money on a bike? Just design graphics for people who are looking for decals.
http://www.bustedcarbon.com/
And these are the high-end ones, you know, like Chinarellos and Chinalgos.
Don't encourage his butchering of names!
Moc Artsy said:
http://www.bustedcarbon.com/
And these are the high-end ones, you know, like Chinarellos and Chinalgos.
I also want to look rich without spending the money.
If that's the case, Adam and Guy, both of you need to send me your email addresses. We get a ton of spam at work like that (and I'll even throw in some ED spam as a bonus).
Adam "Cezar" Jenkins said:
I also want to look rich without spending the money.
Ok, I get it. I'm a total poser for being cheap but wanting to ride a modern carbon frame bike with my own decals. Next time I ask if anyone else in this community if they have had previous personal experience on a cycling specific topic I will limit myself to moustache wax preference and "which neon deep-V rim color clashes the best with my awesome dumpster find frame."

Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:
If that's the case, Adam and Guy, both of you need to send me your email addresses. We get a ton of spam at work like that (and I'll even throw in some ED spam as a bonus). Adam "Cezar" Jenkins said:
I also want to look rich without spending the money.
It's a tough room.



Guy Woodhouse said:
Ok, I get it. I'm a total poser for being cheap but wanting to ride a modern carbon frame bike with my own decals. Next time I ask if anyone else in this community if they have had previous personal experience on a cycling specific topic I will limit myself to moustache wax preference and "which neon deep-V rim color clashes the best with my awesome dumpster find frame."

Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:
If that's the case, Adam and Guy, both of you need to send me your email addresses. We get a ton of spam at work like that (and I'll even throw in some ED spam as a bonus). Adam "Cezar" Jenkins said:
I also want to look rich without spending the money.
I don't think you question is out of line at all. chainlinkers can be ornery.

I have trusted roadbikereview for a long time.

here is what I would do :

-post on some other forums (slowtwitch.com ,etc.)

-visit bike shops (they have a lot of free time this time of year), esp. ones that sponsor racing teams
(roscoe village, iron cycles, turin, etc.) and explain your situation and just shoot the bull for a couple
of hours. whenever someone gives an opinion, ask 'why' or 'why not'.

-then make your best choice





Guy Woodhouse said:
Ok, I get it. I'm a total poser for being cheap but wanting to ride a modern carbon frame bike with my own decals. Next time I ask if anyone else in this community if they have had previous personal experience on a cycling specific topic I will limit myself to moustache wax preference and "which neon deep-V rim color clashes the best with my awesome dumpster find frame."

Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:
If that's the case, Adam and Guy, both of you need to send me your email addresses. We get a ton of spam at work like that (and I'll even throw in some ED spam as a bonus). Adam "Cezar" Jenkins said:
I also want to look rich without spending the money.
Assuming you're not just trolling, I'll give a serious response back. I'm sure the frame is fine. I haven't built a bike up with one, but I've read comments on several forums from people that know what they're talking about that say the quality-level of the ebay frames is fine. Probably comparable to many china-made trek and specialized carbon frames out there. Or at least comparable to the bikesdirect.com Motobecane carbon frame bikes, which have been reviewed as holding up well by people.

And a carbon frame itself is fine. Sure, it can break if crashed, but plenty of people get away with riding carbon around with no problems for years and years. The cases where a crabon part just completely fails without some type of accident or user error occurring are pretty rare (mavic wheels aside).

That said, I think you need to realize that building a bike to the level you are talking about is almost ceratinly not going to be "cheap." Even with a $300 carbon frame, you're looking at around $200 to $300 for a decent set of used wheels. Not to mention that used carbon wheels will be more like $400 to $500 at a minimum. Mix that with the fact that a complete Sram, Campy or above 105-level (which you would want on any "race" bike) Shimano group is going to be pretty expensive (unless you find a sweet deal on a gently-used set, and even then were talking hundreds of dollars) and things get pricey quick, which is probably why people are treating your comment with a fair amount of snark.

Most people that build bikes for their own use (especially at the component level you are talking about) do so because they are persnickety about what they want on their bike, not because it allows them to build something on the cheap that looks flashy and expensive. In fact, every bike I have ever built has ended up costing much much more in the end than a comparable mass-produced bike would have cost me.


mike w. said:
It's a tough room.



Guy Woodhouse said:
Ok, I get it. I'm a total poser for being cheap but wanting to ride a modern carbon frame bike with my own decals. Next time I ask if anyone else in this community if they have had previous personal experience on a cycling specific topic I will limit myself to moustache wax preference and "which neon deep-V rim color clashes the best with my awesome dumpster find frame."

Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:
If that's the case, Adam and Guy, both of you need to send me your email addresses. We get a ton of spam at work like that (and I'll even throw in some ED spam as a bonus). Adam "Cezar" Jenkins said:
I also want to look rich without spending the money.
I'd stick with the 'stache wax questions only. Ride something you like and can afford. There's nothing wrong with aluminum or steel.

From the Kuma's Corner website:
TRAVEL MORE, AND STOP SPENDING MONEY THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUY CRAP THAT YOU DON'T NEED TO IMPRESS PEOPLE WHO DON'T CARE
Guy Woodhouse said:
Ok, I get it. I'm a total poser for being cheap but wanting to ride a modern carbon frame bike with my own decals. Next time I ask if anyone else in this community if they have had previous personal experience on a cycling specific topic I will limit myself to moustache wax preference and "which neon deep-V rim color clashes the best with my awesome dumpster find frame."

Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:
If that's the case, Adam and Guy, both of you need to send me your email addresses. We get a ton of spam at work like that (and I'll even throw in some ED spam as a bonus). Adam "Cezar" Jenkins said:
I also want to look rich without spending the money.
This is quite ironic advice from a place that charges $13 for a beef pattie ;)

Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:
From the Kuma's Corner website:
TRAVEL MORE, AND STOP SPENDING MONEY THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUY CRAP THAT YOU DON'T NEED TO IMPRESS PEOPLE WHO DON'T CARE
Guy Woodhouse said:
Ok, I get it. I'm a total poser for being cheap but wanting to ride a modern carbon frame bike with my own decals. Next time I ask if anyone else in this community if they have had previous personal experience on a cycling specific topic I will limit myself to moustache wax preference and "which neon deep-V rim color clashes the best with my awesome dumpster find frame."

Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:
If that's the case, Adam and Guy, both of you need to send me your email addresses. We get a ton of spam at work like that (and I'll even throw in some ED spam as a bonus). Adam "Cezar" Jenkins said:
I also want to look rich without spending the money.

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