squarewheels

I've posted some positive comments recently about the Motobecane Immortal Pro Carbon bike I bought from Bikes Direct (I do like the bike and the value) but was dissapointed to learn that the FSA Carbon Pro seatpost and crankset are not carbon fiber, but rather, aluminum with a veneer that looks like carbon fiber. These components weigh a ton and are cheap and this veneer does nothing for performance, it's just a disguise for low-end aluminum.

This fact is not revealed on their web site and you would have every reason to believe that they were real carbon fiber parts, as they play the "carbon" description up. FSA generally makes good stuff, including some very high-end carbon fiber components, so I'm surprised at their deceptive name for these parts.

I went into this purchase with my eyes wide open, so I did expect some wrinkles, but not this. I've emailed them asking for a swap or refund of some sort. I'll post my results.

mrbubbles

Other brands of bikes have used FSA Carbon Pro crankset and seatpost.

TCR

Verrrrrrry interesting.

squarewheels

And your point is?....

brianallan

As I understand it, up until recently, most carbon fiber cranks use an aluminum skeleton. As for seatposts, are you sure? I doubt FSA makes a carbon seatpost with an aluminum shim.

ThinLine

FSA does not make fakie carbon look stuff. If you check their website nothing states carbon wrapped anything. They don't do that. It's either carbon fiber the real stuff or aluminum and its derivatives.

Their are aftermarket chinese junk out there to be eyeful for.

asmallsol

Why would this be BD's fault. They tell you what components they put on there bikes, and it is your responsibility and judgment to determine if said parts are the quality that you want. This involves doing a little homework. If it was a bait and switch (they claim DA or x part and they give you sora) then you have the right to *****.

mrbubbles

^^^
That's my point.

GP

When you wake up on Christmas and there are a bunch of presents underneath the tree, Santa Claus did not put them there.

squarewheels

The seatpost is aluminum, you can clearly see it at the base when you look inside. It's quite thick too. The cranks are aluminum with a bogus veneer.

DrPete 

I think squarewheels has a legit gripe. What's available OEM vs. Aftermarket isn't always the same, and just because there's no CF-wrapped AL seatpost on FSA's website doesn't mean they don't make/sell one for OEM.

That being said, a lot of "carbon" seatposts on the market are CF-wrapped aluminum.

squarewheels

I hate to disagree but that's what this stuff is. This stuff is labeled FSA Carbon Pro. After some research I found that they make lots of other stuff with similiar names (Carbon Pro Elite, Carbon Pro Team Issue, etc.) I don't think this line is sold by itself maybe only as OEM, as there is very little info on the web about it. It

squarewheels

I agree but there is no info on these components, it may be OEM only. And FSA sells lots of other stuff that is all carbon with the same name (Carbon Pro).

SDRider

How do you know they're carbon wrapped alloy?

covenant

Reading is FUNdamental

squarewheels

On the seatpost you can see it when you look inside the shaft, and after an hour of searching I found a bike shop selling the cranks with the description: "Carbon fiber wrapped aluminum spider/crank".

Nachoman

I'm shocked. Shocked I tell you.

v1k1ng1001

Well, now you can spend all of that money you saved at BD upgrading parts!

I would suggest learning a thing or two from their marketing strategy as you Ebay them.

jet sanchEz

Hrm, are you sure that the crank is wrapped? I know it is a lot of effort but I am really curious here----could you weigh the cranks to be sure that they are not CF? I would be pretty surprised if FSA did this, especially now when CF is getting cheaper every day...

zonatandem

. . . even WallyWorld sell 'carbon' bikes!

WheresWaldo

Many brands are this way and do not disclose this information, so to quote you... And your point is?

baxtefer

pretty much all carbon cranks (with the exception of Campy record, chorus and high $$$$ stuff like stronglight/clavicula/etc) are a carbon fiber wrap around an aluminum core.
Nothing deceptive there.

WheresWaldo

The cranks are not completely aluminum. They are a skeleton of Aluminum with carbon around the skeleton, much the same way you skin wraps around your skeletal structure. Not a unique concept to BD or to other bike manufacturers for that matter.

Almost every bike line has parts that are only available to OEM, I have a Cannondale Tandem and Truvativ lists the crank that is on it as OEM only. So I can't even get that aftermarket.

Oh BTW, the frame you have also has a bogus veneer! That carbon look that seems to be so important is just a mostly non-structural cosmetic layer. It is just there for looks and is not usually 100% carbon either.

shakeNbake

Meh.

bjkeen

I thought a 'carbon' bike meant that it had a carbon fiber frame and fork. Not that it had EVERY SINGLE THING MADE OF CARBON FIBER. But that's just me.