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Originally Posted by alienbikes
(Post 7029597)
Howdy. This is Joseph from Alien Bikes. Here is the short version of what the current status is:
The frames were delayed by first errors in construction. Then the new remade frames were delayed by weather. Then I went away for "vacation" that had been planned months in advance so I couldn't change when the frames arrived later than planned. This meant I couldn't email that often so issues took longe rto resolve. Some of the boxes were mislabeled so the frames needed to be individually measured to make sure no size mix-ups happen. The frames are at a 3rd party warehouse that does storage and packing for mail order companies. They provide an excellent service, but it means sorting out things like the mislabeled boxes takes a long time with lots of back-and-forth. The frames are all there, and are being sorted and will ship soon. I'm new to this and this is the first batch, so I guess I should have been more cynical about what shipping dates to expect. I understand some folks are frustrated by the delays and "run-around" but I'm sure they will think it was worth the wait once their frames arrive! I will have nice pics soon showing details, but in the meantime here are some snapshots (ignore the crappy paint): http://alienbikes.com/track_frame/track_frame.html I hope to have some pics of customer bikes soon. And a bike is to be reviewed on fixedgeargallery as soon as it is painted and assembled. Thanks! Joseph |
ehhh. ordered lt blue powdercoat frame monday i think. hoping to not wait forever.
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Originally Posted by jetbike
(Post 7005185)
No direct contact, but I've heard of people stripping hubs in fairly catastrophic circumstances.
All of these cases (to my knowledge) were resolved to the customers satisfaction with minimal hassle. No need to send back to me for inspection or anything. A couple digital snapshots, and some email is enough for me. Even though I am convinced at least some of these were user error, I consider it all under the heading "**** happens" and dealt with it in a way that made everyone happy. My suggestion is that anyone who rides a low gear and/or hard (as in aggressive skids, etc) should certainly get a better cog than the one supplied just to save everyone some grief. Joseph (alien) |
^ Yup, asterisks happen.
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I lold, but Joeseph seems to be a good guy and the company seems to be off to a good start, with the expected start-up troubles. Terror in Pink's new groupie is always pessimistic and has posted nothing useful or positive in any thread I've seen.
Overall alien's customer service seems on par as with Tony, Mike, or any other smaller bike shop. |
Originally Posted by alienbikes
(Post 7029597)
that does storage and packing for mail order companies. They provide an excellent service, but it means sorting out things like the mislabeled boxes takes a long time with lots of back-and-forth.
The frames are all there, and are being sorted and will ship soon. ): http://alienbikes.com/track_frame/track_frame.html |
I have also just ordered a frame from Alien Bikes. No shipment dates yet.
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I would start to be wary of Alien Bike. Email communication has fallen off the map as of mid June. I had to ask around to other online bike heads to find out that Alien Bikes are posting in forums like this instead of sending out mass email to paying customers about their major issues.
Attn: Joseph of Alien Bikes, please make things right! ;) |
this is the email I received today in response to an email i sent a few days prior:
Hi Steve, Your frame is at the powder-coater now. I don't know exactouy how long it will take, but not loong now. The cranksets are in stock ready to ship. BB's are not quite ready to ship. They will be in afew days. Sorry about the delay! Joseph i'm patient, but i can understand how people would be bothered by this wait. his email response did not take that long in my case, though i did CC the email to both of the alien contact emails. |
Yah, got a response to my 2nd email:
Hey Ray, Sorry about the delays :-( Your frame is ready to ship, but I'm waiting for the seat-post binder bolt. I didn't realize it was just sitting there waiting for just that. I can send out the frame asap, and get the seatpost binder sent out when it comes. That way you can at least get started painting. Joseph Also, these are lookin hot: http://www.powdercoatstudio.com/alie...20delivery.htm |
where'd that link come from? are there any other photos?
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Originally Posted by robothouse
(Post 7110731)
Yah, got a response to my 2nd email:
I am stoked. He also offered a slight refund, but I'd rather he get on his feet with the 1st run! Also, these are lookin hot: http://www.powdercoatstudio.com/alie...20delivery.htm I wonder if that's Joseph? He seems younger via email. |
Originally Posted by 667
(Post 7111464)
I wonder if that's Joseph? He seems younger via email.
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Originally Posted by 667
(Post 7111464)
I wonder if that's Joseph? He seems younger via email.
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here's an update from fixedgeargallery's forum. i'm assuming "admin" is the guy who runs FGG and is the dude in the above photos.
Originally Posted by admin
As some of you might know, by some mysterious alignment of the stars, Alien's US warehouse just happens to be here in Traverse City, Michigan. Joseph is in Oslo, Norway .... just go figure that one out.
We (Powdercoat Studio) are therefore handling all of the powdercoating for Alien. I too, have been waiting a bit, not Joseph's fault I assure you. The shipment was delayed by the rain and flooding in Illinois, then by US Customs in Chicago. There have also been some delays with the warehouse, and I just got (Friday) the first group of 24 frames to have powdercoated for customers. Yikes, like each step in a process, I wish they were baby steps instead of 24 big steps all at one time. Astute Gallery viewers might also notice that this evening we launched Hell Yes, which is all being done in-house. I'm totally swamped, my friends. http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/hell-yes/ Some have drilled forks, some with bbs installed, etc. We're getting them into our system as fast as we can, and I realize that is no excuse. HOWEVER, I think you are going to be blown away when you see what they look like. http://www.powdercoatstudio.com/alie...20delivery.htm I wasn't expecting to have to clean up the seat tubes, but Friday I ordered a 27.2 seat tube reamer and adjustable hone. See a couple of the photos as to why. Looks like everything else is just fine. Lugged, flat crown, more, and more. They all have a phosphate anti-rust coating, that's what you see in the photos. They'll get the seattubes reamed when they come back from PC, and that won't hold up the delivery anymore than me getting 24 frames all done !! |
looks sexy
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has anyone actually got their frame yet? still waiting on mine. i understand that there have been certain delays, but i still have no idea when i will be getting my frame;
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yeah somebody actually got one of these. check the other thread "alien bikes good bad" or something like that.
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I'm stoked. Mine came in mid-last week, and looks great!
Got to wait another week for my powdercoater dude to get in from the river, then it's ON! :D thanks for all ya do Joseph! :D |
Damn, wanna see dem PICS.
I emailed Joseph, he said weight of frame/fork is 1900g (or maybe he meant frame only, not sure). That's about 4lb - not bad at all for steel and fairly standard really. |
Oh yeah - I'm fairly positive that Alien = Kazane. If you look at the pics of the two side by side, they are almost the same - "Super End" style fork dropouts, the blunted end of the seat stay where it meets top of seat tube, and the distinct rear track ends. Also, same tubing.
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Didn't Stratton from Keirin Culture say somewhere here that the Kazane is made by the only factory in Taiwan who makes lugged frames? It would then make sense if both Alien and Kazane were made by same people at the same place and with same fork ends, same steel and so on.
But is the geo really the same in both frames? I somehow got the idea that Alien claims to be more 'tight and aggressive' but Kazane is not making such claims? Also, the Kazane geo graph/table is nowhere to seen, or is it? |
http://s130.photobucket.com/albums/p...azanegeometry/ looks to be a little different, check it yourself though as I'm tired and about to sleep.
http://s130.photobucket.com/albums/p.../kazaneimages/ for pictures. Track ends and top of seat stays are identical. If they're not the same frame, they're for sure made in the same factory in Taiwan. I'm leaning towards the latter - I'd say same factory, same builders, possibly slighter different geo/measurements. |
I'm pretty sure they are the same. Here is a picture of the two forks. Kazane on the left, and Alien on the right.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...azanealien.jpg |
Ok, I was just briefly looking at the 54cm Kazane geo pic (link above) and the numbers for a 55cm Alien geo (here), and it seem that the frames are almost the same but there are some very very minor differencies. Also Alien gives the numbers less accurately.
So, basically the only real difference between the two is the price, and the paint options. |
http://velospace.org/files/P1013418.jpg
Not mine, saw it on Velospace. After seeing those clearances, I'm sold. I want to build one of these into a classic aesthetics style track bike, something real clean with box rims and see how light I can get it without sacrificing durability on any of the parts. |
that is winner of first powdercoated alien ever!
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...NER_trophy.jpg |
man that looks good. also, why would seeing clearances make you want to buy a bike? it just seems slightly less convenient.
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Alien's lugs are a lot longer and narrow while the Kazane are shorter and fatter.
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Originally Posted by reedreeder
(Post 7238847)
man that looks good. also, why would seeing clearances make you want to buy a bike? it just seems slightly less convenient.
Yeah and the Kazane's indeed have different lugs, but the two bikes are obviously made in the same factory, probably by the same hands. |
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