From my world experience (having a few years) people don't learn, and although we always talk about change, many are reluctant to change. That is human behaviour.
You and Hambini are doing a great job helping consumers. Unfortunately the cycling media are too dependent on advertising $$ from the manufacturers to bite the hand that feeds them.
I feel that channels such as yours are the last line of defense when it comes to real world reviews. Image scrubbing is so thorough with larger channels and media in general that getting at the "truth" about a product can be quite challenging! Thank you for taking the time to do this valuable work! In a world where there isn't any "universal" mark of quality I can see how a UCI sticker would be something to pin one's hopes on. I've done this. Thanks for the clarification. Loved the bit at the end about ethics, I think they chose option four. Having run a successful small business I always asked if I'd be happy with my product and in this instance would I ride it??? Great video!!
Any frame coming out of a box without having had an axle placeholder to stabilize the triangles in the rear, and the fork legs in front, I’d be wary of.
Mapdec, there’s a third scenario, and it’s one in which China business is well known for. They build you frames, send you pre production samples, and everything is perfect. You give the go ahead and they mass produce. The first batch or two are perfect because they know you’re looking close, after that, it’s buyer beware and a Russian Roulette. It’s hit or miss on what will be right or wrong. They have to know you’ll be over there constantly on a regular basis watching to make sure everything is done right. On top of that, if it’s your proprietary design, they’ll also be making copies and selling them unlabeled to someone else after they’re done making them for you.
Back in the early 90's I had a "custom fit" steel frame made by a well known UK builder. It didn't fit and had a dreadful speed wobble. I spoke to bike shops and frame builders who agreed the frame was not fit for purpose but refused to supply me with a letter stating this. I'm glad people like you are willing to raise your head above the parapet and help customers.
Great video. I once bought a 3T Strada Due from Merlin. A crack developed at the top of the seat tube within a couple of weeks. Merlin replaced the whole bike in a 3 day turnaround. Great. The next one took excessive tightening to remove play from the headset so I stripped it down. The bearing seats were absolutely mindblowingly bad. Loose fibres, non uniform surface, shaped like a 50 pence piece with scores on the surfaces and the bearings didn't fit nicely. Merlin said they don't inspect inside frames so it's not their fault and there is nothing wrong. Also, the rear brake hose had been shoved into the frame so it curled the slack into the headtube and had rubbed a gouge into the fork steerer. I contacted 3T who said no, it shouldn't look like that but it would be ok 😂. I got a complete refund and Merlin resold it as ex demo. Bunch of criminals (Merlin & 3T) If only I could attach images to this comment.
@@Mapdec Absolutely. I was annoyed cos it was actually great to ride. But I could no longer ride it after what I'd seen. It's that scumbag Gerrard Vroomen. I don't know anyone who's had a cervelo and not had a frame.replacement for one reason or another
I bought a Due frameset, had a couple of terrible paint defects. It was bad enough that 3T were willing to ship my complete bike from the UK to Italy to respray it. Didn't want to be without the bike for many months so accepted just accepted the updated seat post as compensation. When I was building it I really struggled to get a Di2 cable from the RD to the BB because the frame internals were so poor. Tried to pull the cable back through the RD exit hole but it was impossible as kept snagging.
It's hard to know who to trust. So I don't. I still ride a 45 year old steel bike purchased from the builder themselves. The wheels I mainly build myself since cassette hubs have to be modified to work on a 126mm OLD frame. My aluminum track bike is newer, but simple rugged and perhaps harder to screw up than carbon. The fork has an aluminum steer tube but is not a guarantee of indefinite longevity. Rear wheel of my own 36 spoke cross 4 build. I know who to blame if these things fail! Warranty performance can be tough to get, so choose wisely!
In all seriousness, sounds like you got dropped into the middle of a bad situation only to have your integrity called into question. You did the right thing. Hambini has taken down some big hitters but his delivery overshadows his engineering knowledge most of the time. I really liked your approach
Hi there. I do own 2007 Bianchi 928L road bike. It doesn't have a UCI sticker. But I still use it. I do group rides and race with it. Still going strong. I'm not worrying about not having a UCI sticker. I know it's reliable brand. The Reparto Corso and Made In Italy stickers are enough for me. lol 🤣
Thanks for sharing knowledge and give good advice, you and Hambini makes the best videos ever. Im sure that i will never buy a carbon frame again,i just sold my Cannondale synapse and Trek Domane, what a crap. Next frame will be a hand build steel frame but unfortunately its almost imoppisble to buy an English frame after Brexit because of the customs fee in Sweden.
Great video. At least these frames are quite cheap though. Hambini regularly finds similar or worse quality issues on much higher priced items. I don't think you can really send a frame back for a sticker that's a bit crooked! Many people wouldn't even notice that. I wouldn't mind it unless I had put the sticker on myself in which case it would bug me.
I'm dealing with a Giant with an oversized BB ,can take the bb in and out by hand too .They are now looking for an out with it to not replace it .Seems you can't trust anyone anymore
I had to return a Giant a short while ago, due to rear caliper mounts needing facing which their dealer couldn’t sort, also the paint finish was poor. They were awful to deal with and completely uninterested in my complaint and out of pocket expenses.
Hi Paul. I watched your videos containing both the Dolan DR1 and the later one featuring the ARES (which I recall you specifically *didn't* identify as being a Dolan frame). On watching this one, and finding out that you've had to delist one of them, I was sufficiently intrigued to check out the Hambini assessment of the ARES. I took immense joy from discovering that it included the phrase "clusterf**k of sh*tness".
I once used a crash replacement program (from a big brand) and the new frame didn't come with any of the bits and pieces (as mentioned in this video). Maybe that's to be expected? Secondly regarding the paint work, if applied too thin at parts where you can't see it, why would you call that an imperfection... Some bikes have a thin paint layer in the visible areas as a lightweight feature, haha. I do agree it's silly to have paint overspray inside the frame, that should be easy enough to prevent. If we take Hambini's word, almost none of the big brands are capable of producing a round BB, but this Dolan appears to be good. Well congrats. I think Dolan has corrected the issue, but sad that the original frame was so poorly made.
I bought a Dolan in 2017 which has been really good, but I agree the paint on mine wasn’t great, the rear brake cable guide rattled on the inside of the top tube etc, I didn’t mind too much because back then it was a £700 frame, they have now doubled in price and the quality is the same if not possibly a bit worse from what’s being seen on your channel. I think the western brands have cashed in on the demand over the pandemic period and don’t take enough interest in QC, in the meantime Chinese brands have made sure their own products either meet or exceed the quality from the western brands and now pose as a serious alternative for those looking for new bikes.
I'd be interested to know what Ribbles bike quality is like? Dolan/Ribble/ Planet X had a similar business model, low cost high volume until recently whereby Ribbles prices have joined the mainstream ££££££....
It seems like there is an overall quality problem. I've bough new entry road bike this year and was ready to safe ride only after servicing in external bike mechanic. Dealership qas interesed only to rhe point of sale, afterwards they were not responsive Guess that when i'll be looking for an upgrade i would rather buy used but well maintained bike instead of new one. At least i'll have better knowledge what i am getting.
Bought a sale £150 Planet X RT-58 Alloy frame with carbon fork, no faults with it and all that needed doing was chasing and facing the BB and cutting the steerer (fork perfect and had qc pass sticker). Guess it depends on the factory producing the frame. Rides as well as my previous Italian Bianchi frame, don't feel any need to upgrade to a more fashionable internal cabled aero carbon disc bike as I've seen the issues other club members have with them.
If they can’t be bothered to check the interfaces for components I dread to think what the rest of the frame is like. For £1500 you would expect far better. I’ve been riding road bikes hard for over forty years now and bought all sorts of parts and noticed in the last few years how more and more big name stuff just breaks before it would in terms of mileage. I think marketing bull has taken over and you are right to call it out. My latest disappointment is a pair of £800 Shimano wheels with spokes breaking after 3 summers of careful riding by an experienced 73 kg rider. I’ve replaced with a pair of classic j bend spoke built wheels that feel faster and are lighter for a third of the price.
My opinion on the UCI sticker, I'd give Dolan a pass... were it not crooked! This is sort of a fun bit for the casual rider, no? A non-pro who owns a bike with UCI sticker may enjoy showing it off at the cafe or what not and be proud to ride a UCI compliant bike. If a consumer assumes the sticker means "quality", then the consusmer is at fault for being ignorant of the meaning. A crooked application, though, inexcusable and very amateur-ish.
I don't even have a stake in this game but I'm outraged as well. Dolan portrays themselves as a completely corrupt company that people should avoid; they themselves have done this. How can they not understand that mistakes are ok, the important bit is the action afterwards. You should own mistakes and sincerely commit to fixing them, not hide and perpetuate them. Unbelievable.
I could'nt have put it better myself. Welldone. Nice job great video and lets keep up the fight! Nobody wants to pay big bucks for a bad product. Brands SHOULD be more aware of who they're buying from! The chinese and asians in general are very good manufacturers. But it all depends on how much the Corporate brand wants to PAY for it! Only they know how much they're ripping off the final customer! HA HA THAT'S WHAT THEY USED TO THINK. NOW WE'RE GETTING WISE TO ALL THIS RUBBISH WHICH IS TSUNAMI'ING THE GLOBAL MARKET. There's only one solution really, stop selling these brands and find an Honest authentic quality alternative.!
Thank you MCW for taking on this subject. I love racing bikes and I've been disappointed by the clear lack of quality control across the board. Tolerances mean nothing when ignored. We pay a high premium for their products and expect all parts of them to be above reproach. Dolan needs to improve their Qc, Atm its no better than the cheapest brand out there. It's quite a shame really. edited for civility:)
CF are made by hand and such, WILL have variability. Finishing and painting is the most precise work of the whole deal and will cost the most. Are faults you identified “material” (affecting form, fit and function)? Are they within the acceptable range for an $1800 frame? I don’t profess to know the answers to either of these questions. I am wondering if you are both extremely accurate and unreasonably critical? I would be curious to know what their customers think of the product. Not just one or two, but their customers at large. The video was super interesting regardless. I like to see you dissect a “good” bike from a high end brand to learn what lies under their covers!
Good questions. Fit and alignment are the absolute fundamentals to get right. Frame voids are hard to check and only become a problem if they are plentiful, large or concentrated in a stress area. Things must fit, if they don’t, bearings don’t turn, or just fall out like the first vid, headsets creak and stress the steerer tube, brakes will rub, gears won’t shift, etc etc etc. Yep. Things absolutely have to fit and be aligned, no matter the cost.
If I'm paying $1800 or £ for a frame, I expect it to be fit for purpose and had proper QC done on it including the paint job. That sticker alignment, well to me it says, if they can't do the simple things, what else have they not done properly? !
As a newbie to the world of cycling and the fact that this an out of the box frame and fork.. aren't you supposed to trim the fork to size? Wouldn't that take away all of the roughness that he's describing? I don't understand why it's a problem when it's right at the top?
My Dolan Ti Audax frame turned up without a mudguard bridge. I did complain and they agreed to replace the frame (which they did). I found out the whole shipment of frames were the same. I bodged a fix, as they said I could keep the frame, whilst I waited 6 months for the slow boat from china.
@@Mapdec The new frame was fine. but I believe they had a whole shipment of Ti frames with the same fault. No mudguard bridge at the BB, which is quite an integral part of the frame. when you want fenders on.
Top video, well explained. Factor in the price these frames are sold at and we as customers would expect better. Certainly expect things to Fit and Work. The finish quality to reflect the £ / $ being asked for.
@@Mapdec You're welcome. This kind of practice easily tarnishes the reputation and thus any credentials of any research institution. It is amazing that the business can claim defamation on their own terms. There are so many ethical violations here, it is not even funny.
Are these frames open mold ? As a layman i wouldnt know what tolerances are acceptable. If that frameset was built up withe decent componentry and it rode well would most people be aware of the defects youve highlighted. Its a shame for the employees at Dolan to be building up bikes and possibly being aware of poor quality.
Interesting, I’ve been considering a DOLIN bike for a bit now, their Rebus to be exact. I was actually gonna pull the trigger on the purchase tomorrow, then this pops up… maybe I’ll go with a FELT? Maybe I should go with a dealer from the USA where I am from… well I’ve got tyme… any thoughts?
@@Mapdec thanks for the heads up! I think I will stay with a bike “made” here. The thing I liked about the Dolan is the amount of customization that I can’t seem to get from FELT. I like some of the customization from FEZZARI Bikes, but I’m not impressed with their offerings for a road bikes… their mountain bikes are stellar though, but it’s not what I want… thanks again!
I'm pretty sure (some) of Dolan's frames are made by VeloBuild. I've asked Dolan about this on their Instagram page, and every single time they have been quick to delete my comments.
@@Mapdec The Dolan gravel bike is an open mold made by Flybike (the FM 696). This frame seems to be of reasonable quality and it's very popular, being sold by at least six or seven other brands, as well as being available as individually (and cheaply) as the "Carbonda CFR 696" for end customers.
You have to wonder how much ownership Dolan and others have of their frames. Producing moulds for frames isn't cheap so I can't see Dolan producing multiple moulds to fine-tune their own frame design. More likely they just pick one from a list of 2022 designs from their Chinese manufacturer, choose a name for it and slap on a couple of decals
I think buyers have to scrutinise everything and check if there is a grace period for returning any product they buy. If there is even any snagging reason with the purchase, just return it. The only problem with ethics is what I think is right may not be what you think is right. Therefore, it becomes a negotiation or confrontation.
Thank you for showing the things that should be evaluated on a new bike frame and where Dolan fell short. Is there a brand that you recommend that has good QC and stands behind their product?
It’s is hard to say one brand. There are bad eggs in all of them. It’s important to know what to look for and refuse poor quality. Look and Time are probably the only 2 brands I could say I have not seen a poor one.
i heard a story once of a company that actually had the boss of the company fly to the chinese factory and sleep in the factory until the run was complete. it wasnt a bike company but that says alot
Have you ever reviewed the dolan preffisio frame? Was planning on buying it as a winter bike. Have never heard anything bad about that frame and hoping they are ok because it’s a metal frame. If anyone has any feedback would be appreciated or if anyone has an alternative suggestion l, bearing in mind cost.
What happened to lead us to a place where many people couldn't give a turd what they put out anymore? What happened to taking pride in your work/product/service? Moreover, to a place where you may then have to deal with litigation should you highlight or point out any of these ethical issues because and any perceived "damage" it may cause a "brand". Don't churn out turd in the first place!?
Love it when hambini reamed the fuck out of the dolan frame they desperately tried to cover their own arse, they only apologise and offer refund when they are exposed on big youtube channels. Shocking
Sounds like a terrible cliche to say "They dont make them like they used to". They should make things far better than they ever have been able to, as manufacturing techniques have improved drastically over the last 50 years, but that's not always the case and it's not Chinas fault. Taiwan for instance is one of the most high-tech manufacturing regions on the planet, so the technology and capability is there. I guess it comes down to how high peoples standards are....maybe that what's slipping, or an increasingly unhealthy relationship with maximising profits.
imagine being bought by Dolan, a company who has repeatedly ignored warranty and manufacturer defects on customers unless they've been partnered on RUclips
Did Dolan know this frame was coming to you, or that this was the customers bike that featured in the Video. I ask that question as I am curious regarding the possibility of this frame being hand selected after inspection? We are still none the wiser regarding how the original frame passed QC and due to not having any information regarding improvements in the QC process I remain suspicious.
Yes. Like I said. This frame was hand delivered by Dolan. I would like to think it was very much hand selected and checked by their top QC. We are absolutely none the wiser how the other frames got though QC, if QC even existed, or if it failed and someone decided to send them out regardless.
It’s a repainted 350 quid Velobuild, and even that price is too expensive for the shitty quality. Vote with your money and just don’t buy from them. Hopefully they’ll improve but judging by this video, they aren’t.
@@TheMoodyedge velobuild make frames which Dolan buy. Velobuild make shit frames and are a nightmare to deal with. They are the lowest of the low regarding quality, customer safety and support.
Well that’s not strictly true. Velobuild don’t make them either ( I can’t remember who does ) but they doth have the same issues with paint, the bb , headset bearings and seat tube. The point is, you can get the full Donal experience and save a over a grand by buying “direct” I ‘m not sure what additional value Dolan add for that extra £1000 ? Clearly no additional QC
You would have thought that they would have learned from last time. Goes to show.
Once a Mistake, Twice a Coincidence, Thrice a Trend....
oh Look. Dolan had a lawyer remove the video in the UK again... Can anyone else smell Cover Up?
@@Mapdec You should start a gofund me page and get your own lawyer because this is unethical practice.
From my world experience (having a few years) people don't learn, and although we always talk about change, many are reluctant to change. That is human behaviour.
Bike companies learning from their mistakes lmfao damn Hambini when is the standup routine?
You and Hambini are doing a great job helping consumers. Unfortunately the cycling media are too dependent on advertising $$ from the manufacturers to bite the hand that feeds them.
Indeed.
I feel that channels such as yours are the last line of defense when it comes to real world reviews. Image scrubbing is so thorough with larger channels and media in general that getting at the "truth" about a product can be quite challenging! Thank you for taking the time to do this valuable work! In a world where there isn't any "universal" mark of quality I can see how a UCI sticker would be something to pin one's hopes on. I've done this. Thanks for the clarification. Loved the bit at the end about ethics, I think they chose option four. Having run a successful small business I always asked if I'd be happy with my product and in this instance would I ride it??? Great video!!
Thank you. I was scared to publish this one.
Any frame coming out of a box without having had an axle placeholder to stabilize the triangles in the rear, and the fork legs in front, I’d be wary of.
Mapdec, there’s a third scenario, and it’s one in which China business is well known for. They build you frames, send you pre production samples, and everything is perfect. You give the go ahead and they mass produce. The first batch or two are perfect because they know you’re looking close, after that, it’s buyer beware and a Russian Roulette. It’s hit or miss on what will be right or wrong. They have to know you’ll be over there constantly on a regular basis watching to make sure everything is done right. On top of that, if it’s your proprietary design, they’ll also be making copies and selling them unlabeled to someone else after they’re done making them for you.
Yes. I guess that would be the complacency scenario
Back in the early 90's I had a "custom fit" steel frame made by a well known UK builder. It didn't fit and had a dreadful speed wobble. I spoke to bike shops and frame builders who agreed the frame was not fit for purpose but refused to supply me with a letter stating this. I'm glad people like you are willing to raise your head above the parapet and help customers.
Thanks Dave. It’s a real shame your custom dream build didn’t work out.
Great video. I once bought a 3T Strada Due from Merlin. A crack developed at the top of the seat tube within a couple of weeks. Merlin replaced the whole bike in a 3 day turnaround. Great. The next one took excessive tightening to remove play from the headset so I stripped it down. The bearing seats were absolutely mindblowingly bad. Loose fibres, non uniform surface, shaped like a 50 pence piece with scores on the surfaces and the bearings didn't fit nicely. Merlin said they don't inspect inside frames so it's not their fault and there is nothing wrong. Also, the rear brake hose had been shoved into the frame so it curled the slack into the headtube and had rubbed a gouge into the fork steerer. I contacted 3T who said no, it shouldn't look like that but it would be ok 😂. I got a complete refund and Merlin resold it as ex demo. Bunch of criminals (Merlin & 3T) If only I could attach images to this comment.
Holy Sh!t that sounds like it should have gone to landfill
@@Mapdec Absolutely. I was annoyed cos it was actually great to ride. But I could no longer ride it after what I'd seen.
It's that scumbag Gerrard Vroomen. I don't know anyone who's had a cervelo and not had a frame.replacement for one reason or another
I bought a Due frameset, had a couple of terrible paint defects. It was bad enough that 3T were willing to ship my complete bike from the UK to Italy to respray it. Didn't want to be without the bike for many months so accepted just accepted the updated seat post as compensation.
When I was building it I really struggled to get a Di2 cable from the RD to the BB because the frame internals were so poor. Tried to pull the cable back through the RD exit hole but it was impossible as kept snagging.
It's hard to know who to trust. So I don't. I still ride a 45 year old steel bike purchased from the builder themselves. The wheels I mainly build myself since cassette hubs have to be modified to work on a 126mm OLD frame. My aluminum track bike is newer, but simple rugged and perhaps harder to screw up than carbon. The fork has an aluminum steer tube but is not a guarantee of indefinite longevity. Rear wheel of my own 36 spoke cross 4 build. I know who to blame if these things fail! Warranty performance can be tough to get, so choose wisely!
Wise
This speech was the most well spoken, well delivered reaming since Marc Anthony said “but Brutus is an honorable man”.
That’s very kind John 😎
In all seriousness, sounds like you got dropped into the middle of a bad situation only to have your integrity called into question. You did the right thing. Hambini has taken down some big hitters but his delivery overshadows his engineering knowledge most of the time. I really liked your approach
@@JMcLeodKC711 that sums it up well. Thank you John.
Hi there.
I do own 2007 Bianchi 928L road bike. It doesn't have a UCI sticker. But I still use it. I do group rides and race with it. Still going strong. I'm not worrying about not having a UCI sticker. I know it's reliable brand. The Reparto Corso and Made In Italy stickers are enough for me. lol 🤣
Thanks for sharing knowledge and give good advice, you and Hambini makes the best videos ever.
Im sure that i will never buy a carbon frame again,i just sold my Cannondale synapse and Trek Domane, what a crap. Next frame will be a hand build steel frame but unfortunately its almost imoppisble to buy an English frame after Brexit because of the customs fee in Sweden.
Wow, amazed this video resurfaced... Thank you.
Great video. At least these frames are quite cheap though. Hambini regularly finds similar or worse quality issues on much higher priced items. I don't think you can really send a frame back for a sticker that's a bit crooked! Many people wouldn't even notice that. I wouldn't mind it unless I had put the sticker on myself in which case it would bug me.
Thank you Ben. I guess what I should have added was how ready the buyer would be to correct the steerer and brake mounts.
I'm dealing with a Giant with an oversized BB ,can take the bb in and out by hand too .They are now looking for an out with it to not replace it .Seems you can't trust anyone anymore
I had to return a Giant a short while ago, due to rear caliper mounts needing facing which their dealer couldn’t sort, also the paint finish was poor. They were awful to deal with and completely uninterested in my complaint and out of pocket expenses.
Jai, is it a press fit or bearing direct into the carbon similar to Trek BB90 netmolding?
@@GNX157 it's a pressfit ,shimano BB71
I think there's a real dumbing down of quality going on, it's made worse by chasing only profit.
What is their reasoning for refusing warranty?
I've been looking at your videos and subscribed after watching this one.
cool. thanks .
Hi Paul. I watched your videos containing both the Dolan DR1 and the later one featuring the ARES (which I recall you specifically *didn't* identify as being a Dolan frame). On watching this one, and finding out that you've had to delist one of them, I was sufficiently intrigued to check out the Hambini assessment of the ARES.
I took immense joy from discovering that it included the phrase "clusterf**k of sh*tness".
Haha Thanks Gary. Was great to see you at Malverns.
I once used a crash replacement program (from a big brand) and the new frame didn't come with any of the bits and pieces (as mentioned in this video). Maybe that's to be expected? Secondly regarding the paint work, if applied too thin at parts where you can't see it, why would you call that an imperfection... Some bikes have a thin paint layer in the visible areas as a lightweight feature, haha. I do agree it's silly to have paint overspray inside the frame, that should be easy enough to prevent. If we take Hambini's word, almost none of the big brands are capable of producing a round BB, but this Dolan appears to be good. Well congrats. I think Dolan has corrected the issue, but sad that the original frame was so poorly made.
Good points Bart. Thank you.
Great video, very informative
I notice that Dolan have lifetime warranty on the Tuono frames since Jan 2024. Do you think this represents a quality control or assurance change?
Sadly the videos we made about that got removed in the uk after lawyers got involved. Weirdly the Hambini colab we did with it still exists.
"systems only work if you use them"
Bam! An addition to the Dolan list of shame... needing to advise them on basic principles. Well done.
I bought a Dolan in 2017 which has been really good, but I agree the paint on mine wasn’t great, the rear brake cable guide rattled on the inside of the top tube etc, I didn’t mind too much because back then it was a £700 frame, they have now doubled in price and the quality is the same if not possibly a bit worse from what’s being seen on your channel.
I think the western brands have cashed in on the demand over the pandemic period and don’t take enough interest in QC, in the meantime Chinese brands have made sure their own products either meet or exceed the quality from the western brands and now pose as a serious alternative for those looking for new bikes.
Well said David.
I'd be interested to know what Ribbles bike quality is like? Dolan/Ribble/ Planet X had a similar business model, low cost high volume until recently whereby Ribbles prices have joined the mainstream ££££££....
Indeed...Ribble used to be good "Value for money". I wouldn't touch them now having heard a few stories.
We have a Ribble coming in on Monday…
It seems like there is an overall quality problem.
I've bough new entry road bike this year and was ready to safe ride only after servicing in external bike mechanic.
Dealership qas interesed only to rhe point of sale, afterwards they were not responsive
Guess that when i'll be looking for an upgrade i would rather buy used but well maintained bike instead of new one.
At least i'll have better knowledge what i am getting.
Bought a sale £150 Planet X RT-58 Alloy frame with carbon fork, no faults with it and all that needed doing was chasing and facing the BB and cutting the steerer (fork perfect and had qc pass sticker). Guess it depends on the factory producing the frame. Rides as well as my previous Italian Bianchi frame, don't feel any need to upgrade to a more fashionable internal cabled aero carbon disc bike as I've seen the issues other club members have with them.
Brilliant video and its terrible to see the junk thats being sold these days!!!
Thank you Neil.
If they can’t be bothered to check the interfaces for components I dread to think what the rest of the frame is like. For £1500 you would expect far better. I’ve been riding road bikes hard for over forty years now and bought all sorts of parts and noticed in the last few years how more and more big name stuff just breaks before it would in terms of mileage. I think marketing bull has taken over and you are right to call it out. My latest disappointment is a pair of £800 Shimano wheels with spokes breaking after 3 summers of careful riding by an experienced 73 kg rider. I’ve replaced with a pair of classic j bend spoke built wheels that feel faster and are lighter for a third of the price.
You can’t go wrong with some classic wheels. Hand built to your liking.
My opinion on the UCI sticker, I'd give Dolan a pass... were it not crooked! This is sort of a fun bit for the casual rider, no? A non-pro who owns a bike with UCI sticker may enjoy showing it off at the cafe or what not and be proud to ride a UCI compliant bike. If a consumer assumes the sticker means "quality", then the consusmer is at fault for being ignorant of the meaning. A crooked application, though, inexcusable and very amateur-ish.
Brilliant never had these problems with steel frames
Well done. From z follower in Australia.
Thanks.
I don't even have a stake in this game but I'm outraged as well. Dolan portrays themselves as a completely corrupt company that people should avoid; they themselves have done this. How can they not understand that mistakes are ok, the important bit is the action afterwards. You should own mistakes and sincerely commit to fixing them, not hide and perpetuate them. Unbelievable.
I could'nt have put it better myself. Welldone. Nice job great video and lets keep up the fight! Nobody wants to pay big bucks for a bad product. Brands SHOULD be more aware of who they're buying from! The chinese and asians in general are very good manufacturers. But it all depends on how much the Corporate brand wants to PAY for it! Only they know how much they're ripping off the final customer! HA HA THAT'S WHAT THEY USED TO THINK. NOW WE'RE GETTING WISE TO ALL THIS RUBBISH WHICH IS TSUNAMI'ING THE GLOBAL MARKET. There's only one solution really, stop selling these brands and find an Honest authentic quality alternative.!
Boom! Yes Richard. Thank you.
Thank you MCW for taking on this subject. I love racing bikes and I've been disappointed by the clear lack of quality control across the board. Tolerances mean nothing when ignored. We pay a high premium for their products and expect all parts of them to be above reproach. Dolan needs to improve their Qc, Atm its no better than the cheapest brand out there. It's quite a shame really.
edited for civility:)
Well said!
Besides all this: can anybody here provide some information about the actual bike and riding experience? How does it handle ?
Thanks !!
CF are made by hand and such, WILL have variability. Finishing and painting is the most precise work of the whole deal and will cost the most. Are faults you identified “material” (affecting form, fit and function)? Are they within the acceptable range for an $1800 frame? I don’t profess to know the answers to either of these questions.
I am wondering if you are both extremely accurate and unreasonably critical? I would be curious to know what their customers think of the product. Not just one or two, but their customers at large.
The video was super interesting regardless. I like to see you dissect a “good” bike from a high end brand to learn what lies under their covers!
Good questions. Fit and alignment are the absolute fundamentals to get right. Frame voids are hard to check and only become a problem if they are plentiful, large or concentrated in a stress area. Things must fit, if they don’t, bearings don’t turn, or just fall out like the first vid, headsets creak and stress the steerer tube, brakes will rub, gears won’t shift, etc etc etc. Yep. Things absolutely have to fit and be aligned, no matter the cost.
If I'm paying $1800 or £ for a frame, I expect it to be fit for purpose and had proper QC done on it including the paint job.
That sticker alignment, well to me it says, if they can't do the simple things, what else have they not done properly? !
As a newbie to the world of cycling and the fact that this an out of the box frame and fork.. aren't you supposed to trim the fork to size? Wouldn't that take away all of the roughness that he's describing? I don't understand why it's a problem when it's right at the top?
No guarantee it will be any better when we cut it. It should be uniform throughout.
@@Mapdec thanks for the clarification.. I can add it to my knowledge
TG for people and companies like you Sir long may you trade.
Thank you David.
My Dolan Ti Audax frame turned up without a mudguard bridge. I did complain and they agreed to replace the frame (which they did). I found out the whole shipment of frames were the same. I bodged a fix, as they said I could keep the frame, whilst I waited 6 months for the slow boat from china.
They replaced the frame without checking the new frame didn’t have the same fault?
@@Mapdec The new frame was fine. but I believe they had a whole shipment of Ti frames with the same fault. No mudguard bridge at the BB, which is quite an integral part of the frame. when you want fenders on.
@@gooders9093 wow. Sound like also a vital element of frame rigidity too.
@@gooders9093 did you check if they will still warranty if the Ti cracks in that area?
@@Mapdec it's not, the small metal bridging the chainstays is really just for the fenders
Top video, well explained. Factor in the price these frames are sold at and we as customers would expect better. Certainly expect things to Fit and Work. The finish quality to reflect the £ / $ being asked for.
Thank you Chris.
Very candid and thoughtful review from the perspective of a PhD student.
Thank you. Such a shame Dolan had it removed in the UK.
@@Mapdec You're welcome. This kind of practice easily tarnishes the reputation and thus any credentials of any research institution. It is amazing that the business can claim defamation on their own terms. There are so many ethical violations here, it is not even funny.
Are these frames open mold ? As a layman i wouldnt know what tolerances are acceptable. If that frameset was built up withe decent componentry and it rode well would most people be aware of the defects youve highlighted. Its a shame for the employees at Dolan to be building up bikes and possibly being aware of poor quality.
Hey. Yes. The tolerances really matter if you want your bearings to turn, and for the bike not to creak and rub.
Interesting, I’ve been considering a DOLIN bike for a bit now, their Rebus to be exact. I was actually gonna pull the trigger on the purchase tomorrow, then this pops up… maybe I’ll go with a FELT? Maybe I should go with a dealer from the USA where I am from… well I’ve got tyme… any thoughts?
A dolan to the USA would be a bad idea. Thats a whole lot of shipping if something isnt right. We have another Dolan worse than this on the way.
@@Mapdec thanks for the heads up! I think I will stay with a bike “made” here. The thing I liked about the Dolan is the amount of customization that I can’t seem to get from FELT. I like some of the customization from FEZZARI Bikes, but I’m not impressed with their offerings for a road bikes… their mountain bikes are stellar though, but it’s not what I want… thanks again!
I'm pretty sure (some) of Dolan's frames are made by VeloBuild. I've asked Dolan about this on their Instagram page, and every single time they have been quick to delete my comments.
Yes. I have noticed that too.
@@Mapdec The Dolan gravel bike is an open mold made by Flybike (the FM 696). This frame seems to be of reasonable quality and it's very popular, being sold by at least six or seven other brands, as well as being available as individually (and cheaply) as the "Carbonda CFR 696" for end customers.
Interesting. Thank you.
You have to wonder how much ownership Dolan and others have of their frames. Producing moulds for frames isn't cheap so I can't see Dolan producing multiple moulds to fine-tune their own frame design. More likely they just pick one from a list of 2022 designs from their Chinese manufacturer, choose a name for it and slap on a couple of decals
Case closed.
I think buyers have to scrutinise everything and check if there is a grace period for returning any product they buy. If there is even any snagging reason with the purchase, just return it.
The only problem with ethics is what I think is right may not be what you think is right. Therefore, it becomes a negotiation or confrontation.
Great content, thank you. I feel blessed that my Santa Cruz Stigmata frame looks flawless. Sadly, they don't make any road bikes.
Thank you.
Assuming you’re not racing, the stigmata is plenty good for a road bike.
Alu, steel, titanium are they any beter? I hope so
Not always, Keep watching Kevin. Thanks
Are you sure....recommend these Brand as high quality?
I’m not sure I understand your question Richard.
Thank you for showing the things that should be evaluated on a new bike frame and where Dolan fell short. Is there a brand that you recommend that has good QC and stands behind their product?
It’s is hard to say one brand. There are bad eggs in all of them. It’s important to know what to look for and refuse poor quality. Look and Time are probably the only 2 brands I could say I have not seen a poor one.
@@Mapdec Noted and thank you. My only experience with Look is their Geo City pedals. So far I am very pleased with their quality.
I watched the original video it's a shame RUclips have taken it down , and Dolan still send a non perfect frame !
Thanks Scooter
i heard a story once of a company that actually had the boss of the company fly to the chinese factory and sleep in the factory until the run was complete. it wasnt a bike company but that says alot
Sounds completely reasonable thing to do with such a large investment at stake.
Is there at least a CHANCE that their aluminum alloy track frames are true, aligned, and decent build quality??
I haven’t seen one recently to know. Sorry David.
Have you ever reviewed the dolan preffisio frame? Was planning on buying it as a winter bike. Have never heard anything bad about that frame and hoping they are ok because it’s a metal frame. If anyone has any feedback would be appreciated or if anyone has an alternative suggestion l, bearing in mind cost.
We had an RDX, there is a RUclips short about it. I haven’t seen the Preffisio.
DOLAN, one to avoid, probably out of business in the near future.
What happened to lead us to a place where many people couldn't give a turd what they put out anymore? What happened to taking pride in your work/product/service? Moreover, to a place where you may then have to deal with litigation should you highlight or point out any of these ethical issues because and any perceived "damage" it may cause a "brand". Don't churn out turd in the first place!?
send them the best frame we have! the best frame...
😂
interesting yet shocking video - so pleased i purchased a mason bokeh frame set to build up my own bike.
Thank you Christopher.
Love it when hambini reamed the fuck out of the dolan frame they desperately tried to cover their own arse, they only apologise and offer refund when they are exposed on big youtube channels. Shocking
Keep sharing the vids and getting the message out. Thanks Olek
This is splitting hairs imo, who cares about .5 mm differences in steerer tubes.
dolan plz
It's a good thing I'm in Australia and not have t deal with this.
Dolan Ares? More like Dolan Arse 🤣🤣🤣
Sounds like a terrible cliche to say "They dont make them like they used to". They should make things far better than they ever have been able to, as manufacturing techniques have improved drastically over the last 50 years, but that's not always the case and it's not Chinas fault. Taiwan for instance is one of the most high-tech manufacturing regions on the planet, so the technology and capability is there. I guess it comes down to how high peoples standards are....maybe that what's slipping, or an increasingly unhealthy relationship with maximising profits.
Yes. If we keep asking them to make it cheaper they will, by dropping standards.
Hang on a review is a review. Surely. But in this day and age you have to BS people for continued business. Honesty is punished
Yup
This frame is reminiscent of Fawlty's "gourmet" night.
An absolutely classic episode 👏
An absolutely classic episode 👏
🤣
imagine being bought by Dolan, a company who has repeatedly ignored warranty and manufacturer defects on customers unless they've been partnered on RUclips
UCI mark is a joke. So are the ISO standards
It’s just not whT we wanted.
Dolan is on a mission to burn all bridges and ruin their reputation as quickly and noisily as possible.
It does seem like a self destruct button has been pressed.
Did Dolan know this frame was coming to you, or that this was the customers bike that featured in the Video.
I ask that question as I am curious regarding the possibility of this frame being hand selected after inspection?
We are still none the wiser regarding how the original frame passed QC and due to not having any information regarding improvements in the QC process I remain suspicious.
Yes. Like I said. This frame was hand delivered by Dolan. I would like to think it was very much hand selected and checked by their top QC. We are absolutely none the wiser how the other frames got though QC, if QC even existed, or if it failed and someone decided to send them out regardless.
Sounds to me like Dolan has no idea how they can get out of this alive...
Depressing to watch. I would give Dolan a miss.
Sorry Barry.
@@Mapdec Sorry to see a company acting like that, I always liked the brand.
It’s a repainted 350 quid Velobuild, and even that price is too expensive for the shitty quality. Vote with your money and just don’t buy from them. Hopefully they’ll improve but judging by this video, they aren’t.
Legit Velobuild probably churn out far better quality stuff tbf.
@@TheMoodyedge velobuild make frames which Dolan buy. Velobuild make shit frames and are a nightmare to deal with. They are the lowest of the low regarding quality, customer safety and support.
Well that’s not strictly true. Velobuild don’t make them either ( I can’t remember who does ) but they doth have the same issues with paint, the bb , headset bearings and seat tube. The point is, you can get the full Donal experience and save a over a grand by buying “direct” I ‘m not sure what additional value Dolan add for that extra £1000 ? Clearly no additional QC
You would think that the added value could only be QC. Crazy.
Shame on you Dolan. If you can't get the basics right then there is no hope for you. It's not that hard.
Underwhelming at best given the price
Dolan….wtaf?