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Old 03-03-18, 03:01 AM
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Bonzo Banana
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Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Merry Old England
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Bikes: Muddyfox Evolve 200, Bicycles4u Paris Explorer, Raleigh Twenty Stowaway, Bickerton California, Saracen Xile, Kona Hoss Deluxe, Vertigo Carnaby, Exodus Havoc, Kona Lanai, Revolution Cuillin Sport, Dawes Kingpin, Bickerton, NSU & Elswick Cosmopolitan

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I wouldn't necessarily believe the German designed claim. Across Alibaba you see German designed on a lot of crappy low end bikes and other products from small companies. Don't get me wrong it could be a German designed frame but because of their excellent engineering reputation it is often used as a marketing tool by Asian companies knowing their Chinese or Taiwanese engineering reputation would be detrimental or at least not as positive for sales.

Noticed on this review many comments at the bottom were on the money with regard its long term strength.

Bicycle Times Review: Allen Sports Ultra X carbon folding bike

Looks like allen sports have discontinued their bikes and seems like they have only sold a low number anyway.

More recent carbon frame designs don't look anything like that bike and also if the recall effects only 150 makes me think that they could have been manufactured and imported in 2014/2015 and sold through over the next 2-3 years from the original shipment. In that time much has improved in Carbon frames. The danger of having a premium product with cutting edge technology and a very low turnover. They were forced to reduce the price it seems over the years as carbon became cheaper, probably below cost but then if they are getting them back anyway it's probably better to have to refund less.

When you see companies that offer lifetime/25 year warranties on steel and aluminium frames and forks but as little as 1 year for carbon forks and the terms and conditions for both say no warranty if the bike is has been damaged by a crash, overloaded or used off road etc it never inspires confidence in carbon. So carbon forks snap after 18 months use with normal riding and that's ok? It's clear manufacturer's aren't sure how long is safe commercially to offer warranty on carbon and are being conservative which is an indicator to me to perhaps wait until carbon is better understood.
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