VwFix

Hi guys I am sure this sort of threads are getting old but wanted to get some opinion form people who have hopefully owned some of this bikes.

I currently ride a cheapo Giordano libero 1.6 which I have been upgrading over the last year. (I know it is cheaper to just buy a complete new bike but I like building and tinkering and consider that as part of the hobby.)

At this point the bike has a new wheel set and I have a 5800 build kit in the mail. In the near future I would like to get a CF frame but having hard time deciding between a couple of budget choices.

The three frames I have been looking at is the Nashbar CF road frame, the Planet X Pro Carbon and the Ribble Endurance Carbon. I wanted to see if anyone here has any experience with some of this frames or has other suggestions in the similar price range. Or if I should really be staying away from some of this frames for a specific reason.

Thanks,

Bike before the new Vuelta Corsa Lite wheels.

series1811

I would put money into the frame first then upgrade components as needed. A crappy frame is still going to give you a crappy bike regardless of the components you put on it. Do it right and get a decent frame.

ETA - start looking around for 2015 framesets on closeout. Many dealers will be looking to dump old inventory to make room for new. You can often find framesets as much as half off this way, even more if they still happen to have older (but unused) ones laying around.

Serenity Yee

I had a certain amount of money to spend and as I was searching to buy a complete, it was pointed out to me to invest in a good frame and get lower end components. As said above, I can always upgrade later. I haven't had the need to do that yet. I'm really glad that I made that choice and that someone took the time to inform me like that.

VwFix

Well the 5800 build kit I picked up because it was on sale it is not installed on the current bike yet. I might hold of installing it if I find a good frame in my budget soon.
What would be your best recommendation in the 500-600 dollar budget. I am looking for a more of a an endurance style frame as I will never race and being comfortable on a bike is a nice plus. and I like to do long 50+ mile rides.

TrojanHorse

No experience with those frames but kudos for doing your own wrenching. Nashbar also has inexpensive carbon frames, and of course, there's always the go-direct-to-china model. Personally, I haven't bought a complete bike since 1992 and typically buy a new (er, used, on fleabay) frame, move the components over, upgade something, tinker with something else...

So don't ignore slightly used frames on craigs list or ebay - sure, there's a risk but at the price manufacturers want for their bare frames, it's worth self-insuring that risk by going used. I'm 3/3 to the good so far, maybe I'm due for a train wreck of a bad experience.

VwFix

I am not really an expert on Carbon fiber so I figured it might be a good idea to stay away from used carbon frames without having the skill to properly inspect one for damage.

Mumonkan

https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycli...bon-build.html

caloso

No direct experience with these frames but I have a teammate who built up a Nashbar carbon frame as a winter training/commuting bike. Nothing fancy, good value, does what it does.

69chevy

I'm not sure of your budget, but Trek sells the Emonda ALR as a frame set, and you may be able to snag a 2015 on closeout.

It is a lightweight high end alloy frame that would make a great bike for anyone without the worries of low grade carbon.

rms13

Only about 60 miles on it so far but couldn't be happier with my purchase. 4 more PRs on Strava this morning haha

MagicHour

I have the new Nashbar frame, pretty happy with it. Just hit 2,000 mi on it, for a budget frame, no complaints. Frame is made in Taiwan. Build was easy-weighs ~ 17lbs with Ultegra 6800. I could easily lose another 80-90gms, by upgrading seatpost and handlebars - those 2 are pretty heavy.

I'm not a huge or powerful rider, but accelerates and climbs great for my purposes. Geometry-wise and the way I have it set up, it's very comfortable over 70mi rides (the longest i've gone on it). It does have a lively road feel, but wouldn't go so far as to say it's buzzy or harsh, and that may be more from my tire choice.

If you do go this route, Nashbar customer service has been great so far when I had questions and needed spares etc. For $480 shipped - No complaints!

VwFix

Thanks, good to have some real use feedback.

Also for other that asked, my budget is 500-700 for the frameset.
I hame hoping to get something with more of an endurance than race geometry.

mawashi

Might I offer an alternative, you could get a complete bike and just sell the parts that you don't need.

I really like Fuji bikes as they are very well priced and their frames are really good.
Fuji Gran Fondo 2.5
Fuji Gran Fondo 2.5 | Fuji Road Shop

RedVVing19

I'm doing the same thing, on the hunt for a nice carbon/steel/alum frame to build up. Have been scouring ebay for a bit

MagicHour

Only downside to this approach, because I've though about doing this, Fuji in particular, you may not get much resale for some of the parts specd on a brand like Fuji , eg tektro brakes, oval cranksets etc. Makes the proposition less attractive, and I think it would be tough to get it to work out to a frame for less than $1,000. Maybe, it could work if you have a line of bikes where the bottom end model shares the same exact frame as the top end to make it worthwhile. Buy the lowest end model, keep the frame and part it out. Might just be easier to sell your parts and buy a whole bike at that point though, haha.

Bunyanderman

Sub 800g
2014 Super Light full carbon Road Frame

mawashi

That's very true. It might just be easier to get a complete bike since, some of them are priced so well, you'll going to get a super competitive frame with decent groupset at a decent price.

The 2015 canyon ultimate slx was around USD$2600 which to me was an absolute bargain.

Stucky

Why carbon? At the lower end, you get a much better frame for your money in aluminum, than with CF.

Medium-high quality aluminum trumps low-end carbon.

seymour1910

Here is another option. It may be a little heavier than some of the chinese options. It's made in Tawain, but PF is here in the US. They have good customer service too. I would go with this or the Nashbar bike for the customer service.

Pedal Force super-light carbon bicycle

rms13

I've owned a caad9 and 10 and I'm liking my cheap Chinese carbon as much or better so far. But yes, higher end aluminum is a good option depending on what kind of deals you can find

Stucky

True- Good quality Chinese CF frames like you got, are more akin to high-quality name brand CF bikes. Much better than a cheap CF frsme from Nashbar or the like.

svgeek

I've noticed two classes of carbon frames (there may be more but I don't have $10K to spend on a bike to check out things further).

The first is the real deal with the latest technology for low weight, stiffness etc

The second is so that manufacturers can meet the demand for "carbon" but still able to sell at a reasonable price point.

So if you are looking at a bike that normally sells for $2500 or less (2015 money), chances are, it has the lower end carbon frame. I've owned a Kestrel Legend that falls in that bucket and now a Scott Solace (see my other thread about porkiness).

In this case, it may be that you'll be better served with a high end aluminum frameset (e.g. Specialized Allez which is available frameset only) vs the lower end carbon.

For example, if we were to use weight as a measure, my Kestrel Legend with the same 105-level components (and custom wheelset) was slightly heavier than a customized aluminum Felt F75 (2011 model which was the last year IMHO that Felt was serious about alu bikes).

VwFix

Would a high end aluminum frame be as comfortable as a,lower end carbon frame?

Stucky

It could be as comfortable as a high-end carbon frame!

I recently sold my '13 Specialized Venge- and kept my '97 Klein (high-end aluminum) because I like the way the Klein rides, as well as/better than the fancy CF Venge. It's more about quality; attention to detail; geometry; etc. than frame material- and the thing is, you're going to have to pay more to get the same quality in CF as in aluminum.

Like @svgeek said, above; lower-end CF is just about being able to offer something CF at a given price point- and often that is accomplished by just making something akin to an old gas-pipe department-store steel frame, only in carbon. "Just glob on enough carbon to make it thick enough so that it doesn't break".

You really want a great bike for your money? Get an old used Klein Quantum. For under $1K you'll have one of the sweetest-riding bikes ever made. I like mine better than a $5K Venge!

rms13

Not to be a shill for my open mold Chinese frame but I think that is the happy medium. Cost of entry level carbon frame (or less than entry level carbon) and weight and stiffness of higher end frame. Obviously not the right choice for everyone as you have to buy a frame and build it up and can't just go to LBS and buy a complete bike.