nabeelbashi

Hi good people!

So I've been looking everywhere - with no success whatsoever - for a reasonably priced steel frameset to fit modern components on, until I came across this frame builder from China on Aliexpress,

based solely on the photos and product description, I went ahead and ordered this custom frame, with traditional 55cm sizing,

Customer service has so far been very responsive and have been answering all of my queries with a decent level of accuracy, (questions around BB standard, Stem diameter, etc)

They said the frame building could take up to 50 days, and around 20 days for shipping to France

I can't share a link as this is my first post ever,

Here's how the frame is titled on Aliexpress though

(Aliexpress dot com) /item/1005001406757479.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.64756c37eX9blt


Anyone here has ever order a similar product? what was your experience like? how was the frame and how does it ride?

Please post photos of the final build

Cheers!
Nabeel

nabeelbashi

Oh yes, the frame builder is named: Puhepu Bike Store

veganbikes

I wouldn't buy bikes from Alibaba and his 40 thieves nor from the poo-poo bike store. However it looks like it is too late so it doesn't really matter. Have fun your poopoo bike.

James1964 

Looks nice. Please post pictures and a review when it arrives.

trailangel

Photo and product description do not match. Says fixie frame, but photo shows rear derailleur dropouts.
Just say "no" to this website.

nabeelbashi

40 poopoo thieves Haha yea it is a bit late,
I'll update the post when the frame arrives, Alibaba does have a good refund policy for product discrepancy, and they do take into account the chat history with the seller, there the PooPoo seller clearly specifies road frame compatible with modern 11S groupsets

nabeelbashi

Will do, if photos are anything to go by, this will end up as a stunning build

nabeelbashi

Yea I saw that, but Alibaba has a proper refund policy for product discrepancy, they do cover the chat history with the seller, and on that chat the seller clearly confirmed it'll be a road bike for multiple speed configuration, with dropouts and derailleur hangers, they also confirmed compatibility with modern components

AlmostTrick

Many here seem ok with cut rate China carbon fiber frames. Chrome Moly steel seems a safer bet. Please post pics of the frame itself when you get it and then the build.

mstateglfr 

- Columbus Thron tubes? That's a more basic tubeset, but at least you know they aren't lying and claiming its something high end.

- Claiming fixie when it's a multi-speed bike is unimpressive. Could be a concern or could be poor word use within a second language.

- The fillet brazing looks nice. The dropout sleeves and bottle bosses also look good.

- Surprised the unicorn fork is fillet brazed. Impressive.



I am not inherently opposed to buying a new frame in this way, but even though I ride 64cm/25" frames,, its never been an issue to find quality used frames in my size.
Ebay and this site's c&v sales forum are filled with quality used frames that build perfectly with modern components. I'm in the US though and that may matter.

philbob57

Does anyone have trouble imagining that China, with more than a billion people, could have produced thousands of talented bike frame builders? Does anyone have trouble imagining that some Chinese want to build businesses based on quality?

nabeelbashi

Thank you for this breakdown of thoughts

Well yea, in France people are still clinging to frames from before the 70s, and pretty basic low end is what you'll always see on the used market (those are what people here call "Vélo de Soirée", something you won't mind being stolen)

Anything half decent could easily cross the 1000€ mark for the frame only, and the neo retro scene is not very common (At least here in Lyon), so always a struggle to find pieces compatible with each other, or that would would require lots of work and fiddling around with cold setting, re-threading BB, stem adapters ( you could see how easily you could end up with a very expensive Franken-bike)


This frame cost me 350€ (Which seems correct for the tubes used), with genuine Campagnolo Scirocco and SRAM Rival 22, Fizik finishing kit, all at 1500€


Cheers!

nabeelbashi

I think many of us are worried how reliable (or to that matter, how unreliable) china QC procedures might be,

I mean how much do they care if someone on the other end of the planet breaks their neck because of a piece of equipment they sent :/

I like to think a custom frame builder would think about rider's safety, so went ahead and ordered the frameset

Cheers!

Joeyseven

I have never bought a bike/frame from Aliexpress . Maybe some bar tape years ago.
Did not a see a geometry chart,. Is this a road or endurance bike?



Here is one member I found that has a steel bicycle from Aliexpress .Looks like they are also from Europe as they bought the bike/frame on Amazon.uk
Suggestions for lightweight, steel road bikes

And welcome to the forums.

eduskator

I have never trusted Aliexpress and never will. Let us know of your experience and for your own safety, inspect the frame thoroughly before riding it.

nabeelbashi

Thank you for your concern, Yea definitely I was thinking I should take the frame to a local bike shop and get it inspected

Cheers!

nabeelbashi

Frame Finally arrived, got the tubes inspected by a friend Bike workshop and got the seal of approval still building and waiting on a couple of parts, overall very happy with the product!

nabeelbashi

Iride01 

What does the frame and fork together weigh?

nabeelbashi

2.2KG

Frame 1600G
Forks 630G

Iride01 

Thanks. Nice weight. Better than my old Paramount and Raleigh Competition frame set which come out to around 6.5 lbs (2.9kg) with headset included. Looks like you might get sub 20 lbs (9 kg) easily.

AlmostTrick

Looks good, just needs paint.

nabeelbashi

I think I'll be enjoying the bare tubes for a while, then maybe go with one of those fancy pants color shifting paint jobs

nabeelbashi

Yes I think the build will end up in the low 8KG, SRAM Rival and Campagnolo Scirocco are surprisingly cheap for the price

Cheers!

mstateglfr 

Unpainted, huh? Bold move.
The bottom bracket drop is somehow negative looking in the pic.
1600g frame?...thats crazy light for Thron. Like shockingly light, even in the size you have. wow.