Bontrager

Anyone do a build of the Wilier Le Roi's frames that phallenthoul is selling in the For Sale forum? They look like a great value.

Comments?

prendrefeu

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=367436


But apparently you just found it

Bontrager

Yeah, but the thread is a little lacking. I was hoping for more opinions in the Road Cycling forum....

mrbubbles

That thread is 12 pages, how exactly is it "lacking"?

round-the-bend

I'm confused. I'm thinking of buying an Izoard and have been told by more than one outlet that the Mortirollo is the only Wilier frame made in China and that all the other carbon frames are made in Italy. I have also seen an unpainted Le Roi on Ebay in the UK. https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WILIER-LE-ROI-...QQcmdZViewItem

I questioned this Ebayer about the frame and have had no reply. What's going on?

Bontrager

Read it and you'll see. 1/2 of it deals with if the seller is really real and buyers providing UPS tracking #'s to prove to everyone else that the deal is real.

Bontrager

Don't know but I've read something in another thread last night that implies bike builders are able to buy these frames from Chinese MFR's but those MFR's were apparently to sell frames that were slightly modified. Maybe their contract with these manufacturers lets the manufacturers do this. I dunno. There's nothing special about a OEM building a bike frame or a part for a car. Except copyright laws or something.

krusty

Wilier does the initial design in Italy and constructs the molds for the frames there as well. The molds are then shipped to the factory in China where they have the production facilities and expertise to manufacture the frames. Some manufacturers outsource the molds as well, but still more just buy an off the shelf frame from the manufacturer and have their logo painted on.

round-the-bend

I don't think Wilier would be very happy if they new the factory in China was using their mould and selling off frames. Even worse that the sellers are calling them Wiiers. I can't think for one minute that Wiler would approve of this. Why aren't there shed loads of Specializeds and Treks etc for sale without markings? I suspect that a naive Italian company is being taken for a ride by unscrupulous Chinese and western dealers. Its funny how both the dealers I've seen say things like "the customer couldn't pay" or the "customers changed their minds" and then show a photo of rows of Wilier frames.

qualia8

i don't know what bike i'm riding, but i like it. (just returned from 45 miles of hills.)

operator

Avoiding paypal fees, says that right in the description - and ebay hasn't pulled their auction why?

mrbubbles

Read the policies, the seller can insist on not receiving payment by paypal, so can the buyer if the seller agrees to accept credit card/cheque/money order. It's an inconvenience if the dealing is not local. I bought a few items on ebay and paid cash because it was local.

revolator

Do you have a specific question because I'm not sure where this thread is going? Oh, we're on Bikeforums ... nm

Bontrager

Long-term thoughts? Did the carbon fiber explode? Wish you got something else? Did it ride similarly to your other expensive "legit" carbon bike, etc.. discuss..

revolator

I think different people have different opinions. These are mine:

1. I'm happy with it, need to get more miles on it
2. No (when you lift the bare frame, it's as light as a cheap plastic toy)
3. No not on cf frames/bikes (based on ride, appearance, money), next project is an old Litespeed Natchez maybe end of the year
4. Happy with the ride, only have miles on Steel and Aluminum. It doesn't have the aluminum buzz from my Specialized, but it's not what I would describe as a comfortable ride. It's a road race frame. As I would think with most race frames/bike, you need a good seat and or shorts/bibs.

Why I like it? Light, stiffer than current ride, retro frame style with nice lines, +1 no decals, my price range. It fits my need for a ride on rolling hill group rides. Will see how I like it on 50 - 100+ mile rides.

edit: It wasn't my first choice, I backed my way into the decision. I'm glad I'm not talking about my wife/gf.

OldRoadGuy

subscribing

Bnjmn

I am interested to hear what kind of bikes you guys are riding that make the Le Roi seem uncomfortable/too stiff. It has a much more comfortable ride than my steel single-speed Mercier (Kilo TT) or my aluminum Schwinn Fastback LTD. I have zero experience with any other carbon bikes, but IMHO the Le Roi does a good job of softening the road. The bumps I encountered today were NYC streets, the horribly uneven "bike" side of the Manhattan bridge, and the bumpy upper west side bike path. As with a lot of fit/feel issues- it all depends on what you are used to and it is probably tough to get much value from other's subjective experiences.
Anyway, I went on a 60 mile ride today with mine and I feel great...except for the fact that my Powertap hub had a 59.9 mile dropout.

revolator

Don't get me wrong.

I want a stiff frame. I'm not complaining about the ride, just pointing out to loosely say it rides more like a porshe than a caddilac. I'd expect to feel the bumps in one and not the other.

You hear constantly people say that cf and titanium gives a great (comfortable) ride. I wouldn't say this rides like a caddilac. My @$$ can't tell this is cf or aluminum, my shoulder, knees and hands can tell its not my Specialized frame buzz.

I personally want a ride like a porshe, I just wouldn't always pick it to drive 3+ hours to Atlantic city even though I can.