Mountain Biking - Chinese Carbon Frames

Ok..I know the adage 'if its too good to be true'. But was wondering if anyone has had any experience building up/riding one of these many frames on ebay?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230368723887&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320414778896&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

thanks.

The majority of carbon frames on the market are made in China.

for sure..I was just wondering about these specific ones--no branding, pretty inexpensive, etc.

Or Taiwan. Like my Giant.

Those frames might be okay, but they might not. If they fail too bad. No warranty.

If I was to ride a carbon MTB I wouldn't trust a knock off frame. Strictly a gut feeling on my part.

If I was to ride a carbon MTB I wouldn't trust a knock off frame. Strictly a gut feeling on my part.

http://s255.photobucket.com/albums/hh146/cover999/bike/MTB.jpg

But those don't look like knock-offs... more like, sneaked-out the back door when no one was looking!

It's a big ask for a small-time dirt floor asian factory to make a cheap knock-off of a carbon frame... designing new metal molds, air pressure systems and heat curing ovens would be too cost prohibitive. Resin impregnated carbon weave is also bought in bulk and layed in dust-free air-conditioned rooms, so there's a lot of capital involved in carbon manufacturing.

As a personal preference, I won't ride MTB carbon frames no matter who makes it... but for 300 bucks, it can be worth a shot for someone...

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Put that pic side-by-side with the Sette Phantom, and see if you see what I see....or I could be blinder than I thought.

you could be on to something there.

They are great...until you need warranty service. Sometimes people play dumb, once you give them money.

I've got a carbon road bike frame/fork that I purchased from that seller. Very happy with it.

They are great...until you need warranty service. Sometimes people play dumb, once you give them money.

Some people play the dumb, once they take their money. :thumb:

with the number of frames this guy has i doubt it was a "sneak it out the back" type thing. most likely a scratch and dent or some sort of defect in the frame/material so they didnt pass inspection by the company. i could be wrong though, its been known to happen....often.

personally i would pass.

"ride ride ride ride *SNAP* S*&@ you guys go on without me. ill walk back"

it's not like this is someone gluing carbon together behind their house. I'm not saying that this is top of the line stuff, but to get your own mold, supply, oven going, you have to invest some serious money. More likely, these are factory defects or an previous generation of something that already out there.
Similar to some of bike directs frames or the mongoose koppenberg

i'd be afraid to ride one of those