soulbike

Hi guys,

I can honestly say this has been one of the longest development work I've done for a frame. I'm still not satisfied, but I fear I never will be. Here's the latest update for the BB30 frames. I've posted the pictures here as I want to get your opinions on certain things before we proceed to the groupbuy. Firstly here are the pictures:











Size S turned out to be 1200g on the dime. The fork is not ready but we decided on a 370g straight fork and are painting them now. I will post pics of the fork and the build up in 2 weeks time. Ordering will begin at the end of August. Here are a couple of things that we need to decide on:

1) The finishing shown is of an anodised black. As you can see from the closeup, the weld area is a different shade of grey/ black. This is because the welding material is different to the tube. It is also not exactly 100% smooth, more a grinded down weld. And since it is not painted, we can't use a putty to smooth things out. I have commented and they promise to smooth it out even more for the final production run. Because of this, I want your opinions as to whether we proceed with the anodised black and live with the different coloured weld area. OR we move to a flat black paint and have smooth appearing welds but at an added weight of approx 100g.
2) We may still offer the frames with only the SOUL and Faith words on the frame in dark grey. It's a pretty dull finish but let me know what your thoughts are. We may offer this as an alternative to satisfy everyone if we get enough orders.
3) https://bikesoul.com/2009/index.php?o...d=33&Itemid=48 This is the sizing chart. We will calculate the weights of all the sizes and post them shortly.

Thanks for your patience thus far in this project, needless to say I didn't expect it to take so long, but appreciate that you understand this is a frame designed from the ground up. Let's here your final thoughts on this and get the ball rolling.

Regards,
Sean Wai

under18cyclists

How much do they run? Looking for a new frame one I sell ny current and this looks nice. Now I really want one.

Quijibo187

it may just be the camera angle, but that looks like a fat head tube. is it standard 1 1/8?

As far as the slight greyness on the welds, I wouldn't be overly concerned with it, does it match the greyish decals at all?

topflightpro

I think it looks pretty good as is. I like the matte finish and minimal graphics.

LorenzoNF

Looks pretty darn nice. I wouldn't worry about the grey welds, especially since you've asked them to smooth 'em out more. I like the understated graphics (grey on black), makes it look classy.

.Jared

Wow....thats hot!

BDS

looks very, very, very nice.

the48thronin

I like the way the frame looks as is. Minimalist approach with the gray logos looks nice. Are you going to have a braze on derailleur mount?

chavez

I wouldn't change anything about it - I think it looks great.

mkadam68

Get the grey logos to match the grey of the welds.

Hida Yanra

i like it- it looks good.
If I were buying it I would not at all mind the welds being differently colored... not at all an issue to me.

lechat

i have an '03 caad7 frame and the welds are also a lighter shade.indentical to this frame. material is denser and absorbs less dye. may be the same on the bbq caad9s.

nitropowered

Looks great. I wouldn't change anything about the anodization. No need to putty and wet paint the welds.

rankin116

I think it looks great, but I'm not considering buying one, so my opinion doesn't matter. Not that I wouldn't buy one, but I have no need for a new frame, and if I did buy one I think my GF would beat me with when it arrived.

Jynx

1) I dont care if the welds are not super smooth or a slightly different color.

2) I have no problem with you wanting your name out there without people peeling off stickers. I also have no problem with Soul on there as big or even as many times as you want. BUT Soul Faith is a little too much. Possible to not have a model name? or atleast give it a name that isnt so directly related to soul and faith. i feel like i would need to carry around my bible on that thing. not really a huge deal and wouldnt stop a purchase for me but it would be nice. like i said i wouldn't care if it said soul a couple of more times instead.

3) 1200g plus a 370g fork seems awefully heavy for a small frame no?

mike868y

Its definitely a good looking frame. Keep the anodized finish - stronger and more "tough" looking. I agree with Jynx, the "Soul Faith" name is a tad religious. Keep up the good work, hopefully it ends up in my price range lol.

Val23708

I like it. I like the name. I'd sign up for one but its not too much different from what I have...

evenslower

Keep the ano finish but maybe consider a different color. Silver? Possibly less of a difference between tubes/welds with lighter color.

iansir

Looks amazing! Don't need to change anything. Nice work Sean.

Ranchu

Agree with comments above. I'd rather drop Faith and have another Soul logo on the seat tube.

timmyquest

I wouldn't like to have the different shades of weld, but I otherwise love the finish.

slimvela

never, ever, anodize anything of disimilar metals...unless you like the varied shades look of the same color. just my .02 from an anodizers perspective.

make mine flat black, painted.

deltasierra

How much? Seems a little heavy.

Booger

Very ambitious. I love it. I think the aesthetics are good and are a distant secondary concern to ride characteristics.

Do you have any objective stiffness data available? Of course, the CAAD9, as handed down from God herself, is the known benchmark in this market segment. It will be interesting to see how the two frames compare.

Keep it up. Cycling needs more reasonably priced, performance oriented frames.

Ranchu

1. Keep the anodised black. Personally I don't think the colour mismatch is that big a deal - it looks great. If the welds can be smoothed out further then that would be great.

2. No opinion - I'd take either the anodised black or a white one if its offered.