Portis

It keeps getting stated in the $700 Road Bike thread to "buy the bike for the frame and not for the components." That sounds reasonable but I was unable to gleen from the info what anyone recommends as a good frame.

I think i am interested in steel but haven't found anything but hi ten in that range. Maybe i will have to look at aluminum or maybe i will have to buy a frame and just build a bike as $ allows. (although i am not very patient. )

I prefer to buy a whole bike. Can someone recommend a fairly decent frame with components in this range?

Edit> Interested mostly in the best frame and components (whole bike) for $700. Which has the best frame?

late

Hi,
this blew me away when I test rode it.
If the bike hadn't been $2K, I would have bought it then and there.
I have since had my 'perspective' stretched.

https://www.habcycles.com/road.html

Fugazi Dave

Don't be afraid of aluminum. Seriously. Check out the deals that Performance has on Basso framesets. I have the Coral, which is going for $350, and it's absolutely fantastic. They also have Devil framesets for $600 and the Zer-K frameset for $730. They have two more above that as well.

Also checkout what's on chucksbikes.com. They have some pretty sweet deals on componentry and frames.

Patriot

What about monocoque carbon fiber?

www.pedalforce.com

sydney

You are not going to get alot of anything for $700 list ,and they are all pretty much the same.But both fuji and KHS have better than hi ten for that money.

LordOpie

Jamis Satellite... ~$675, quality steel bike with carbon fork.
https://jamisbikes.com/bikes/05_satellite.html#

OMG! It's Sora, ride for the hills!

phantomcow2

check ebay. Ive seen some very nice ti frames going for under 700

phantomcow2

oh, if your looking for whole bikes under 700 check the sticky

rjtokyo

This is definitely my next build project. Saving up the pennies now .

- RJ

53-11 alltheway

where are those frames made?

phantomcow2

merciful heavans, it looks like pedalforces website was made by a 13 year old just learning photoshop.

LordOpie

^ agreed... designer needs a good

phantomcow2

i say that because when i first got into photoshop (when i was 13 as well) i loved having all of the coolest effects and everything so all my images would be loaded. Seems like this guys having the same problem, K.I.S.S.

Patriot

From what I could find out, they are made in Sungapore, at the same factory that makes some of the LOOK frames.

Well, I know the website is kind of flashy looking. Although I've seen some much more extravagent. But there is an upside to that. They spend virtually $0 on advertising, and sells their frames mainly by word of mouth straight from the factory overseas. They are basic cf blank frames with no decals or anything. They do add a cheap "PEDAL FORCE" decal on the down tube, and it easily peels off.

I have only test ridden mine, but so far it is doing very well, and much stiffer than my old steel bike. I will give a better review of it after I run it in for a good month or two.

phantomcow2

Yea i know sometime those companies are good. I mean for my mountain bike, well keep in mind in highschool i dont have a heck of a lot of cash but i picked up this frame from a company called Leader bike usa. And you know, though some might call it heavy at 3.9 pounds i believe. Its 21" though. I payed 99 dollars for it, and ive been impressed. The paint is crap, its hand welded, stiff and strong. Well the paint colors are cool its just the quality, they did clearcoat it so the decals stay on very well just it chips. The BB shell was already faced for me, they have a nice frame with carbon for 3 hundred some odd.

rjtokyo

According to Pedal Force, the ZX2 is made in Taiwan by the same factory that makes some of the Looks (the older KG286, and I believe the current KG386 and KG486). This is not the Martec factory that makes Scattante, EPX, and others. Those are bonded joint frames wheras the ZX2 and ZX3 are full monocoque (one-piece). There are some good reviews here:

https://www.bikecafe.net/directory/Xc...=1486&CatID=69

A couple of other guys from different bike forums, I think cyclingforums and roadbikereview forum also have those frames and seem to like them a lot.

- RJ

rjtokyo

Great to hear "Trinity" is on the road now. Very coooool bike! Looking forward to the full review.

- RJ

53-11 alltheway

No that frame would look awesome......

I'm the kind of that likes the stealth look....minimalist and spartan......all black with silver components...And to top it off it would have a 48cm Nitto Bar with no bar-tape

It would be all performance (with 36 spoke 280 gram tubular rims).....dare I say it might be an ass kicker

Patriot

You may dare.

Hey, whatever floats your boat.

That's the beauty of these frames. they are a design that allows for so many differant setups and themes.

53-11 alltheway

You know I just looked at the weight though.......3.1 lbs for a 59cm (just the frame). That's not really that light.....amazing how you got under 15lbs.

I don't really care about light weight so much as strength......at least the thing isn't bonded together like other frames.

Portis

Again................................................I checked the sticky. There was advice repeatedly given that advised to buy for the frame instead of for the components. IOW, some bikes in this price range will have better quality frame while others will have better components.

The advice given, which i agree with, was to go for the bike with a better frame. I am just looking for examples of $700 bikes that have the best frames out of the lot. The Jamis that was listed would be an example. Any others?

(too bad there isn't a Jamis dealer in the entire state of Kansas.

LordOpie

why don't you get a list of all bikes available at all the LBS and post it, we'll give you feed back on 'em.

Patriot

53-11

I got it under 15lbs because it is not the ZX2 frame. It is the newer ZX3 compact. The frame/headset/forks weigh 3lbs 11oz for the whole thing. Much less than the older ZX2.

He doesn't advertise the ZX3 yet, because when I got it, it was one of the first ones (one of the prototypes they were testing), and that it was just coming in, (four months ago). He only had it 58cm, and wouldn't advertise until he had a bigger selection of sizes available. He may have some more in his warehouse by now.

Portis

You mean my LBS? Ok.

Trek
Lemmond


I am in the middle of nowhere. One bike shop. Very small. I can travel 90 miles (one way) to ride bikes but with that being the case, it is easier to solicite opinions here first then go ride.

53-11 alltheway

OK......now I understand (I forgot a few details)

So the new Zx-3 is a little more pricey.....Did you tell me $699 for frame? (not $599 like the ZX-2)