Where are all the "open mold" aluminum frames?
03-16-15, 08:59 AM
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Where are all the "open mold" aluminum frames?
Obviously open mold isn't the right word since it's aluminum, but it seems like there's room for someone to start making high-quality reasonably priced factory direct aluminum frames ala Hong Fu or Deng Fu or any other number of frame makers. Or is there just not enough OEM and consumer demand for aluminum to make up the bulk of orders?
03-16-15, 09:01 AM
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Bikesdirect.com
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03-16-15, 09:12 AM
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03-16-15, 09:24 AM
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Suggestions above are good ones, but I don't think anyone is "knocking off" the lightest and greatest like the Caad 10. More's the pity. With aluminum you could have your cake and eat it too. You wouldn't have to worry about Chinese Al frames asploding like so many folks do with the no-name CF ones. At least I don't think you would.
03-16-15, 09:24 AM
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Yeah, I've seen those. Maybe my expectations are set too high (low?) but you can get any number of open mold carbon frames for the same price, not much to distinguish them.
03-16-15, 09:34 AM
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Suggestions above are good ones, but I don't think anyone is "knocking off" the lightest and greatest like the Caad 10. More's the pity. With aluminum you could have your cake and eat it too. You wouldn't have to worry about Chinese Al frames asploding like so many folks do with the no-name CF ones. At least I don't think you would.
03-16-15, 09:35 AM
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It's a darn shame that aluminum seems to be relegated to lower-end; entry-level; and generic bikes these days. Gary Klein proved that you can do amazing things with aluminum- and make a bike that is stiff, light [19 lbs. with no fancy upgrades] and a pleasure to ride. Unfortunately, it's not these high-quality AL frames which are being duplicated.
03-16-15, 09:40 AM
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It's a darn shame that aluminum seems to be relegated to lower-end; entry-level; and generic bikes these days. Gary Klein proved that you can do amazing things with aluminum- and make a bike that is stiff, light [19 lbs. with no fancy upgrades] and a pleasure to ride. Unfortunately, it's not these high-quality AL frames which are being duplicated.
03-16-15, 09:41 AM
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Nah...thaey've got that under control. I've had some Chinese ATVs and a scooter....and by c.2010, they really started getting their act together, and making some good quality stuff. Of course, it depends on the individual manufacturer; and the price you pay- but point is, there's a lot of competent good quality Chinese stuff around these days- unlike the past, where almost everything was junk. It was the same with Japanese stuff when they were first getting into making everything. At first "Made in Japan" was synonymous with shoddy quality- but in a few years they got their act together, and became the standard by which others were judged.
Hey, look- 95% of the bikes on the market today are being made in either China or Taiwan[China Jr.]....
Hey, look- 95% of the bikes on the market today are being made in either China or Taiwan[China Jr.]....
03-16-15, 09:47 AM
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Yeah, I'm over the question of whether I trust Chinese carbon or Chinese welds. If I didn't the only bike I could ride is a handmade Waterford or something. Almost every bike in the world comes out of China. The quality is higher than it's ever been in the history of cycling.
03-16-15, 09:56 AM
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"XL/54cm"
03-16-15, 10:00 AM
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03-16-15, 10:03 AM
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03-16-15, 10:10 AM
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Nah...thaey've got that under control. I've had some Chinese ATVs and a scooter....and by c.2010, they really started getting their act together, and making some good quality stuff. Of course, it depends on the individual manufacturer; and the price you pay- but point is, there's a lot of competent good quality Chinese stuff around these days- unlike the past, where almost everything was junk. It was the same with Japanese stuff when they were first getting into making everything. At first "Made in Japan" was synonymous with shoddy quality- but in a few years they got their act together, and became the standard by which others were judged.
Hey, look- 95% of the bikes on the market today are being made in either China or Taiwan[China Jr.]....
Hey, look- 95% of the bikes on the market today are being made in either China or Taiwan[China Jr.]....
03-16-15, 10:15 AM
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Premium bikes aren't aluminum any more, for the most part. The market for bootlegs is going to be too small to spend all the time grinding those welds.
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03-16-15, 10:18 AM
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03-16-15, 10:26 AM
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03-16-15, 10:31 AM
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03-16-15, 10:35 AM
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Ahem...
S-Works Allez Di2
1,050g frameset
$8000
CAAD10 Black Inc. Disc
1,150g frameset
$4330
03-16-15, 10:35 AM
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Yeah, needing an extremely large or small frame does cut down your used opportunities. One of my clubs had a pro deal this year with new Caad10 frames for $500. So just find a local club that has a deal with Cannondale and problem solved!
03-16-15, 10:40 AM
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Cannondale CAAD8 Aluminum Handmade in USA Frame Red Blk Sz 60 Cm | eBay
Even not allowing for eBay, rms' point is valid. The big name manufacturers are making good Al frames at reasonable prices (CAAD10, Allez, etc) so the Al buyer's choice comes down to "brand name with 105 vs knockoff with Ultegra" and any glance at BF of late will tell you nobody's turning down 105. Plus the CAAD has a lifetime warranty, whereas the knockoff has no such comebacks if/when it breaks.
Get a China Carbon, though, and you're looking at paying high hundreds vs multiple thousands for a frameset. The knockoff carbon frames bring race-weight carbon into a genuinely lower price point. Never mind that the guy buying the knockoff carbon could get a race-ready brand name AL bike for the same price or less.
