Spinz

I have had the deisre to build up a carbon fiber frame for quite some time. There are two frames I am interested in. They are the Bottechia CF78 Team and the Motobecane Immortal Spirit. I know these frames are Asian of manufacture and are in no way connected to their name sakes. With that said can any of you address their quality or share any experiences with these products? BTW both of thses frames can be seen at the Bike Island site. Thanks in advance --- Lp

skiph

Well, if the server will stay up long enough post a response.....

Spinz.....here, read this thread, all 200+ posts. It is about the same frame set as on the BikeIsland site.


https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=337930

I bought one last October and built it up with components off a Trek 1000 for a winter 'rain' bike (and a much smoother ride...). Put about 2000 miles on it over the winter. It held up great. The CF frame does not seem to catch and hold as much gunk as an aluminum frame does. I would just hose it off after a ride and wipe it down some later on the stand.

Then just a few weeks ago, I re-built it with better componets scrounged off eBay...turned it into a nice 10 speed w/Ultegra front/rear ders, new 105 shifters, new compact crank set (50/36), and a new lighter wheel set. Only 60 miles on it so far, but so far good.

There's a picture thread somewhere of some completed builds (mine included), I'll look for it later and post the link.

The frame set is holding up good, no complaints.

I have a Trek Pilot 5.2, and ride wise, if the Pilot is a 10 for smoothness, the Bottechia frame is about an 8.5. Of course this depends on wheels, tires, etc., but it is MUCH smoother than the Trek 1000 was. Easier on an older body.

It is more straight line stable than the Pilot, and corners well. I've had it up to 50 on steep hill in my area and it was stable, but so was the T-1000 and the Pilot.

A couple of things it needs during a build is a GOOD chain-stay protector and a chain guard in the bottom bracket area. It does not come with anything. Some chain-stay protectors I got won't stay stuck to the chain stay, so I would up wrapping electrical tape over it for the winter. On the re-build, I tried a new one, but it won't stay stuck either, so I re-taped it with clear duct tape, sort of blends in with the fake carbon fiber protector.

I had to make my own bottom bracket protector out of some heavier plastic type material. It didn't stay on too well over the winter, wound up taping it on with that clear duct tape to get to the summer. I then found some really good double-sticky mounting tape and got it stuck on pretty good during the rebuild.

If you drop a chain bad between the inner ring and the frame, it will chew up the area around the bottom bracket. I chewed it up some as my first protector wasn't good enough.

I like the looks of the Bottechia frame better than the Motobecane, and Mike (BD owner) had a sale on the Bottechaia frame last fall, so I got one.

skiph

OK, guess most of the build pictures are in the thread I listed.

Also lots of questions and answers about stuff to build up the frame...headsets and seat post clamps were the biggest items.

maddmaxx 

For a bottom bracket protector you could try something like the N-gear Jump stop. Once setup, the chain is deflected back onto the smallet chain ring and is unable to get to the frame.

For the chain stay protector, you could try one of the full wraps that is held on with a velcro attach. It gives complete protection around the chain stay and can be taken off every now and then for washing.

skiph

I see this device is one that clamps on the seat tube...it won't work as the seat tube/down tube/chain stay junction is too big to get a clamp on device anywhere near low enough to the small chain ring.

oilman_15106

All or most carbon frames are made in Dick Chaney's secret carbon bike frame factory in Taiwan anyway, so go for it.

Spinz

Skiph. Thanks for the info and the link. There is certainly a great deal of CF out there. Not sure what to purchase although I am favoring the CF 78 frame set in the 61cm from Bikes Direct. It seems to be an excellent value.

After your build up was complete did you get a weight on the bike?

Have you tried double sided auto trim tape on your chain stay prtectors? Stuff is incredible.

Any more pics of your completed CF78 would be appreciated. Best ------- Lane. Lp

skiph

My build w/parts from a Trek 1000 weighed about 22#, not real light as the components were heavy.

The re-build a few weeks ago with better components (Ultegra front/rear ders, 105 shifters, a sub 1600 gram wheel set, compact front crank set, lighter bars/stem) is about 18 (on my bathroom scales). I haven't taken it to the shop for weighing on a 'good' scale. Some guys got them down to under 15#.

I think that's all the pics of mine, just that one, but there's others in that thread and I keep thinking there's another thread somewhere that I didn't post in so I can't find it.

I didn't know about the double-side trim tape, but got some Scotch Exterior Mounting Tape #4011T at Walmart and it seems to be working OK so far for my chain drop protector. It's fairly thick and spoungy, so conforms better to the curves in the bottom bracket area.

Mike at BikesDirect has some "group buys" now and then which are basically a pre-order of a bunch of frames by a cut-off date and then he orders them in and ships them out. The ones at Bike Island are probably left-overs from the last group buy or just extras he ordered to have them available after it was over. He had a group buy on the Kestrel frame late last fall that is on a full bike on BikesDirect now.

Spinz

The frame will be here on the 7th. I have everything necessary for the build up; my goal is a sub 16lb ride. We'll see how it turns out.

Pics after the build.----- Lane ---- Lp