I Bought Two Cheap Chinese Aero Frames (here's why)
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- Опубликовано: 7 сен 2022
- Channel Subscription: bit.ly/2NViYKI
Carbon Steed: carbonsteed.com.au
Taylor Cycles: taylorcycles.com
Building the cheapest race bike money can buy, with a catch. The catch is I took this project to the audience and you voted for the products we would be using to create this cheap Chinese carbon bike build. However, it was a close call between the Elves and Trifox frames. So I though why not buy them both and get them inspected by Gary at Carbon Steed and Jay at Taylor Cycles.
#cheap #carbon #bike 
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This content is super relevant given the ridiculous prices of race bikes from the big manufacturers who make owning a quality rig an elitist pursuit....well done Cam, keep them coming.
Well said. On top of that the QC from the big brands are crap as exposed by Hambini. These are two triangles put together with good alignment compare that to the cost of motorcycles and cars the prices of bikes are out of hand. Thanks for the content Cam.
100%. Mid level bikes used to be $3/4k. The same thing is now about $7/8k. Top end used to be about $9k. It's now about $15k. Crazy 🤪
Exactly 20 years ago, an American made, carbon Trek 5200 (exact frame Postal rode), with a Shimano Ultegra groupset and Bontrager wheels (which were made by DT Swiss for Bontrager), retailed for $2,700USD. That's pretty insane...even accounting for inflation, that's $4,500 in today's money. Now you'll pay twice that for a Chinese made Ultegra bike.
In my cycling circle there is a lot of talk about this... prices, spares availability, being forced to 'upgrade' (change for the sake of it), prices are crazy for what you can get, will be get used to fork out 2k pounds (I am writing from the UK) for a tiagra entry level road bike? when 10 years ago we were getting Ultegra quality at race specs.
I think we are witnessing a huge change in the industry, putting apart the fact that manufacturers are pushing the industry to ONLY supply whatever is most incompatible with what we had until recent (rim brakes, mechanical) they are forcing obsolescence at high speed to depart with our wallets, and forced obsolescence is a huge issue they should be accountable for - what are we doing with all the waste?
Also in my cycling circle, there is A LOT more appetite to try Chinese groupsets, the big brands Shimano, SRAM, Campagnolo... might have shot their own foot with their recent business decisions and they are creating a HUGE market for these Chinese brands, as soon as they go through a second generation of product development I am sure they will be much more common in the West and it's going to hurt the big brands...
A home that cost $60000 in my parents’ day now cost $1.5m. What’s your point?
Haters are always insecure, like Cam said, it saves lots of money for someone who doesn’t have that much budget to built some nice bike. Keep up the content for us viewers who enjoy and learn something new not just for well known brand but also alternative and quality brand bike frame and parts.
Just laughing 😂 poor people, like me 🤔
The world loves making China rich somehow.
Confident people know that if you want something you got to save up for it. It's a choice.
Insecure people say it's too hard, and I can never afford that...
If you say you cannot afford it, wouldn't you say you can say that you *_can_* afford it too?
If you got a pulse, it means you got choices and I'm only responsible for myself.
@@Perception_ why? Save up 4k or up just so that BIG manufacturers like SPECIALIZED still commit mistakes. Or trek. Or cervelo
@@gersonFls7 Most people tell themselves quality does not exist, so they will remain unfullfilled in life. It's selfpity talking and all too common. In the long run it cost less to own something that cost more if you've just cared enough to find your own true needs, and find the quality you feel is needed and that will not interfear with anything more important. It's expensive to buy cheap all the time, because you build a desire to just buy more shit because you think you actually have saved money, and in the longrun you just end up throwing away money on trash items you don't really want in the first place. This is how the rich become richer, and the poor remain poor.
So, go the distance and pay for quality is my advice. I'd rather have less but good quality items in my life, because I will care more about them and make them last longer.
Pay once, and with money you own.
99% of the high price frames and forks are made out of China the last 12 years. They then ship to Taiwan for logistics and less dumping taxes.
100% of dentists dont know this fact.
I currently own over 40 high end road bikes and work on bikes daily as a mechanic when in Australia. The Trifox X16 rim brake is an incredible machine. I sold my SL7 S-Works after the first ride. The S-Works SL7 you see being ridden by big name riders is a different frame and fork. This has been confirmed to me by a team mechanic and video proof. It is hilarious how most cyclists are conned by these big brands. Just look at the prices they charge now for frames made in the same industrial estate as these brands Cam features.
You did not mention in your videos how rough the finishing was on trifox bikes, goes to show Cam is a lot more credible than you are!
Dentists also know that if the fork breaks because of a defect and your teeth are knocked out, you want a name-brand OEM so you can sue them for damages.
Man, that Elves frame looks great! I'm rolling on a Trek Emonda SL7 and I still love the look of it. I reckon the Elves + Sensah set would make an amazingly flash cheaper bike for racing/commuting, something you wouldn't be too concerned about.
I would argue this content is some of the most valuable cycling content in the space at the moment. RUclips's like Tracevelo have brought forward the idea of Cheap Chinese carbon builds to the forefront and Francis doing bits here and there as well but these builds from a technical standpoint offer a ton to the average Joe and are rewriting how we approach cycling marketing and brands now. Love the content!
Love your work Cam! This content is extremely relevant to all of us who can't contemplate buying a big brand super-bike.
I thoroughly enjoyed the video and your experimentation with the Chinese bikes. I have ordered a few myself over the years and you nailed it when you said they are hit and miss. I have had some great ones and some where the rear triangle was crooked. I am one of those not willing to spend 10k on a bike. Thanks again!
Thanks for sharing on the thread.
So what did you do with the ones that didn't work out? I'm interested but couldn't you argue that if you had to trash those bikes the price gets pretty comparable to a solid bike like one from Canyon?
@@jackwright3098 Great question! I have found that I can buy 4 new frames from China before I hit the price of a brand new frame from the name brands. I have really only had one lemon from China and the other 7 or 8 were perfect. I enjoy buying and building up bikes so that is why I have experienced so many. Now many of the Chinese brands have some sort of warranty but even if they do not, you can buy 4 frames before you get to the cost of 1 name brand frame. Riding a Chinese frame, I do not have the fear of a frame breaking like I would if I was riding a name brand who may try to shaft me with their warranty fine print.
@@BlackWaterCyclist hey thanks for the reply. So you're not worried about the qc when you're going fast downhill? You could definitely have the same issues with a named brand but people have just made me paranoid maybe regarding Chinese manufacturers.
@@BlackWaterCyclist The problem is, if you have the money to buy 4, 8 or 10 or whatever Chinese frames in the hope one of them is good then you have the money to buy one frame that you'll know will be good and may as well do that. If the only downside to buying a known good frame is "might have spent a bit too much money" then you've lost nothing and you'd be better spending your time and energy finding ways to make money than buying multiple frames.
What typically happens for someone who isn't just playing on their youtube channel is that they don't have the money to buy multiple Chinese frames and they don't have the money to buy the expensive frame, and they're attracted to the idea of getting a bargain from China. If they get a lemon they're left with nothing, out of pocket and living in regret sans a bike (that's without even taking into account the very real possibility that they discover the 'lemon' carbon parts when they break as they are riding along - because they don't have the money to take everything along to some carbon fibre specialist to xray either)
So that's the flaw - playing at being poor and buying cheap products isn't the same as being poor. That person who genuinely cannot afford to take the hit if a cheap carbon frame is a lemon really needs to buy a known good quality metal frame or a used bike - because the hunt for non-lemons from China is a game they can't afford to play, in the same way the S-work frame is a game they can't afford.
Cam, you are doing every one a huge favor by doing these videos. I always wondered about both of these manufacturers! Great information!
I've really enjoyed watching the Chinese bike frame series, very relevant at a time where the big brands have lost the plot with the amount of money they are charging for a push bike (Specialized) outragious for example.
I'm so glad that the viewers chose that frame because it is WAY sexier than the other frame. Super nice paint job and I love the colors and the color change. Can't wait to see how this build comes along.
On a side note, I love these Chinese bike videos. Yes, they make some poor quality stuff, but they also make some really good quality stuff, and it's thanks to people like you that we don't have to spend our hard-earned money to know the difference. In another year or so I plan on buying what will probably be my last bike (I'm not a young man anymore), and I'm going Chinese all the way. I want the most bang for my buck while still having a great looking and great performing bike. So keep it up and don't mind the haters, they can buy the $10,000 bikes and leave the smart choices to the rest of us.
Absolutely worth doing this content Cam, point 2 for the win! Yes bikes have become ridiculously priced and cannot justify the money with a straight face. But until the market, ie us, show them its not on they will of course continue. We do that with taking our business elsewhere and that's where you come in. Thanks for looking at the options because point 3 is spot on too.
elves seem to know what they're doing. francis cade built one up a few days ago, just over 6kg. there was a cable holder with "cervelo" on it, so they could in theory produce cervelo bikes, but who knows. anyway great to see where your content is going, love the high effort videos relevant to things people care about. keep it coming!
Because elves are used by the pros here in Philippines and other south east asian countries
@@Jardsss yea forgot to mention that
@@The86rick in what ways did he disagree with this video?
@@The86rick lmao, fair enough considering they probably pay the minimum amount for the frame anyway
Hambini did a review of an elves frame. It was bad
Love your videos, Cam! Keep doing what you're doing and if people don't enjoy the content, they can do one! Have recommended your channel to a lot of people at the club over here in the UK and they've got really good use out of it- especially the Neil bike fitting vids 👍
I do appreciate the 'Chinese' bike builds, as someone who'd like to build up a bike in the future, i feel that the cheaper parts etc are a good place for me to start that first build.
Such content is very useful for people who like to explore other options, at the end each can choose and buy what they wish and can! Keep up the good work!
I've only bought one, an ICAN A10. It is really good. Hambini had a good one too. The details are better than my Tarmac. The Elves ones have great paint jobs.
Seriously good videos, thanks Cam for doing what we've all been wondering.
Loved this video. My road bike I built up myself is a china carbon frame. After putting good quality, albeit used, components (Mostly sram red stuff), It weighs in at 14.6lbs. I.E. Lighter than the brand new Tarmac SL7. I have put a little over 3000 miles on it. It is still solid. Love riding it.
what frame did you buy?
Just found your channel through this video. Will be watching more. 👍
As a Chinese I must say I've never heard of nor saw Trifox frame until I watch this video😂 Elves is quite popular among the "budget brands" though, lots of college students do custom builds with Elves or Upland frames. Winspace are quite rare, we know they focus on the foreign market(especially SEA). A few years ago Winspace had tried to introduce itself to Chinese domestic market but its frames have some quality issues then and they end up with a bad reputation in China.
what is the top chinese brand in China then?
@@jaaxc1036 Many people in mainland China regard Giant and Merida as Chinese brands. The market share and number of stores of these two brands are overwhelming in mainland China. If these two Taiwanese brands are not counted, Parous should be the "top brand" in enthusiastic bike market. There are also some small brands that have made good progress in focusing on cost performance. Most of the carbon fiber frames of these products use slightly modified designs of other brands, and are manufactured by factories in Guangdong.
Trifox is basically repainted TFSA frame😂
Pardus ，not Parous@@zhixiaoliu3017
Well done on the channel Cam, relevant, interesting and insightful content. Keep up the great work.
Excited to watch this build as I have been planning on doing an Elves/Sensah build over the winter. Great content, love it.
Great video Cam, lovely piece at the end with the mission around the need to help uncover more affordable gear for both retailers and you're everyday enthusiast!
Just waiting for my Falath frame to arrive, glad to see it's come out on top! Looking forward to seeing you build it up.
Honestly as someone who's looking at building their own bike for the first time this kind of content is super helpful. Just standalone frames from the bigger names start around $2500. To see something like the Elves frame have an amazing paint job and good build quality for less than half the price is a no brainer. Especially for the average rider who's just does local rides and events.
bit of a weird one, the elves frame that was bought anonymously for my channel was pretty crap. the trifox frame in contrast was immaculate.
Things tend to be reversed in the Southern Hemisphere so it makes perfect sense.
I’d say all of the frames are hit or miss really I think that’s the main difference with say giant whose we means each frameset will be a similar quality
Hey Hambini, small time fan here. I did recall you mentioned the trifox frame was sent to you by them to get roasted. Maybe a point to factor in?
“Trifox sent to me by Lily from the Company” said Hambini…….
Yeah, probably just a random bike from production 🧐
Let me get this right.The Trifox was the best.Correct?
Ciao from Italy.
I love this series already! I bought an Elves Vanyar frame a couple of months ago, for the same reasons you mentioned in the video and it’s great to see that more and more people are discovering this great brand and frames. It’s a lovely ride for a sensible price.
Where on their site can you find what the tire clearance is for each frame? I can’t figure it out. Lol
@@cincydooley just email them, their customer service is great. My Vanyar has 25mm max width on paper, but I think 28mm will fit as well.
Great vid Cam as always.. as others have said these series of Chinese builds are valid and very interesting especially as big manufacturer costs rise. 😊👍🚴🤩
Cheers Pete
Keep the great inexpensive bike content coming! Count me in as one of those looking to get good quality but less expensive alternatives. Piss off to the naysayers. Good on you Cam! 👏🎉
Thank you for creating this video Cam!!
Kudos to this video! Coming from the Philippines. I can say that these types of videos are fun to watch as it is very informative, timely, valuable, and relevant as we are often offered with these kinds of brands. Without the knowledge of its quality or even its origin. Especially since all sorts of brands are popping up, and prices of decent to well-known brands are skyrocketing.
I appreciate this bike build video series. Thank you for making these videos.
This is great content...i wish you'd continue. Ive learned alot from them
Very happy you're testing these out for the rest of us! Keep it up.
That Elves frame is beautiful! Can't wait to see it built!
Perfect timing on this video… I’ve literally got this frame in my basket. Great content, and super relevant.
Super cool video and no nonsense review. Thanks for that!
Three VERY good reasons!! These types of video reviewing this type of frames r rare. Especially from a perspective of some one like you who also experiences the more higher end main stream brands like Specialized, Cannondale and the likes of it. Hope you continue to review both mainstream and Chinese brands. Not just either one.😊👍🏽
Timely content, informative and practical. Elves has built a solid rereputation in South East Asia. The brand has good customer service and after sales support here. Cheers!
Thanks i appreciate different perspectives and enjoy this content
Very interesting. Your justification about the crazy price of bikes nips really good. Thanks for the helpful info.
Great content. It is interesting to go to Hambini vids afterwards and see his reviews of trifox and elves. Looking forward to the next episode 🤘
I just discovered your channel at RUclips and I really liked the video of the Chinese bike frames. You are doing very well and keep the videos coming to have a good time in our free time
Enjoyed this video. Always enjoy hearing what experts have to say.
Can't wait for the next installment!
Great video and fair play for the last couple of minutes. As others are saying - this is totally relevant right now - and you're not the only RUclipsr doing this, so that says something in itself. I never get why some people feel the need to complain about RUclips content - it's all free, the end result of someone else's hard work and, at the end of the day, if you don't like it. Personally, I really appreciate your videos. Top job. And the Elves frame looks top notch.
Nice one sir ... can't wait for the build
Great vid, keep it going. It's very relevant content. Thank you
Well done as ALWAYS - Keep Doing You🙂
Thanks for the great content. I’ve built a TriFox X8 and ridden for past year. Amazing quality and superb service from them. Can’t recommend highly enough.
I'm from Brazil and i purchased this Elves Falath 2022 Disc. I built with Elite Wheels and I'm loving it!
nice mate thanks for the info ❤️ you and gc p snd hambini is the best content in cycling especially in budget frame and wheels to give more idea to build
Keep up the content on the Chinese made bikes. For the first time in awhile I’m looking at buying another bike and I’m blown away by the prices. Getting a mid level ultegra bike now with a decent wheel set from one of the big brands is close to 7k! I think these are a great option for those who still want a quality bike at a better price! I’m actually looking at the winspace stuff.
Keep this kinda video coming! Definitely gonna help alot ppl like me !
Great comparisons, love the look of those frames 🔥
looking forward to seeing how this rides and the relationship between build quality and layup/ride quality
This made me a subscriber. Thanks for your work bro.
Subscribed because of the last 2 minutes! Thank you!
We appreciate these vids. Thanks.
Well done! Don't stop, this is the right direction. I have been studying the market of Chinese bicycle manufacturers for more than a year. I assembled a bike on the cheapest frameset and wheels from Seraph. He painted himself, corrected the production defect. I am satisfied with the result.Now I'm looking at ELVES and DARE.
If I visit Australia, I would be glad to meet you.
Oh I have the same Trifox frame!
Though the headset bearings on mine were smooth, and the paint is on par with the opinions in this video.
Though still rides great and love it 🙂
Definately gonna get an elves for the next frame, that paint job alone is worth the little more 🤤
Good job Cam. Your contents are relevant
Keep doing it mate it’s brilliant. It’s real world as you say not everyone can afford the price of new bikes. Quality inspections is a great reference for everyone.
Very appreciated topic and project. Greetings from Brazil!!
8:30 yes! The help and insight you are providing are helping us new riders who are struggling to figure out who offers the best value and is reputable.
Cheers mate.
Great video keep them coming!
Thank you for doing this video. I think it's great that you're making a video that's value oriented using Sensah groupset. As a follow up video, maybe you can also fit the Elves Falath frame with Shimano groupset and compare it against your other bikes like Winspace, BMC, Giant, etc. I'm sure many folks here are very interested in how they compare and whether the cost savings is actually worth it.
The ‘alternative’ bike supplier content is great! I love it - it’s varied. I can go watch GCN if I just want to know about the big brands. Keep it up 👍🏼
Only if you want Orbea, Canyon or Pinarello
@@Superfly1503 Normally yes, however they've also been showcasing Ribble bikes lately. Also there was one episode where they examined a Lapierre. I think the presenters themselves would love exploring more bikes if it weren't for having to be loyal to their sponsors.
Looking good Cam. Really interested to see what happens next. From other videos Trifox doesn’t get great reviews on quality. But if price is all then they hit the mark.
Yes definitely seen some other RUclipsrs use this frame very nice!!!
Great video. My Cervelo frame was painted by Gary (before I bought it), it's beautiful.
Great stuff man ✊🏾👊🏾
I'm looking forward to the builds. So I can definitely pull the trigger on the Elves Falath. I've seen other reviews and people are saying that's fast bike and bang for your buck.
Hey Cam….. once again a cracking video!! TBH Was getting bored on the windspace bikes so these are something different and interesting to hear on Chinese bike frames!!! BUT I would never complain to you about it….. at the end of the day your doing us all a favour researching these for us because money is getting tight for the big €€€s for the mainstream brands!!! So 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 to you!! 😍 from 🇮🇪
You make really good content. Forget about people who does not aprecciate it. Weel done. Keep going
I bought an Elves Vanyar (their "lightweight" road bike) a couple of years ago. Not sure if they still do it but at the time custom paint was free. I got my design painted in three colors, one of them a chameleon paint like on your frame. It is beautiful and the best bike I've owned. It's not the cheapest Chinese frame but it's worth it and a way better deal than the mainstream bike brands.
I really like how you explained the difference of both brands. I think I would buy an elves soon.
Hi, new subscriber here in USA.
Liked the channel because you cover training, nutrition and also the technical aspects of cycling related products. Keep up the outstanding work.
Thanks for the support
Its great you are showing us in depth what is good coming out of China, as i think we will be seeing more and more Chinese bikes on the roads.
Great stuff mate, I’m more likely to pick up something like an Elves to race (and crash) on than any of the big brands these days.
Great job and very relevant! 🥂
Great purpose, mate. Wish you all the best
Well done Cam,fair play greetings from Ireland!
Thank you, awsome content.
Thanks Cam, this was a great look into Chinese products, I’m noticing a huge uptake in these products here in Oz given the current state of the industry, peoples mindsets are certainly changing, and giving the big three a run for there money
Thanks for doing these vids, i have a similar build velobuild with sensah and taylor is also my LBS, I was contemplating taking the bike to him but currently doing all my own work, curious to see how he gets on with the sensah 😆
Spot on Cam. I cannot even imagine new bike day being a reality these days. I bought my Addict in 2015, full dura ace and all the bits for a price well below the ticket price of $8K (helps to have friends that own bike shops), but I "window shop" now for similarly specced machines, and there's nothing south of $15K. It's not even a joke anymore, and I fear that cycling is becoming such an exclusive domain, it won't be long before families can't afford to buy a Kmart cheapie for the kids. Your content is always relevant, and always interesting, and no doubt for every person knocking what you do, you'd have a dozen with both thumbs up. Looking forward to the Sensah reveal! 👍👍
Videos like these are a godsend for people on a budget, which is me. The Elves frame is a real looker.
A important video thank you very much Cam.
Keep it up Cam and keep it real.
Anyone presenting affordable bikes and tech in todays market of inflating prices and sensibly comparing them with respect to their ups and downs has my support. Keep up the good work! 👍 I did my own build two years ago and just went with a little older tech. I ended up with a well working bike many would have lusted after three years before but at a fraction of the cost. Beeing a few years older puts such things into perspective too, just dont go oberboard and fall for nostalgia instead.
Solid work mate
Never heard of the Elves frame but it looks nice. To know its build quality is better is good to know. Their logo looks legit too, not something just thrown together with basic computer fonts.
Great video Cam once again. I bought an iCan gravel/ roadie around March this year. Chose raw black no logos. Put the awesome Campag Ekar GS on it. I can ride on the chain gang with the GC (Gold Coast) not the other GC (as in Gramd Tour Contemders!) at 45kms to 63 km sprints without a drama. I run Spesh Roval 38’s wheels with 30mm tubelss Roubaix tyres. I’ve also on these tyres thrashes it along the coastal grass an gravel around Ballina to Lennox. If I’m going serious all day gravel I swap out for some 3840 Spesh Pathfinders tubeless.
This bike is brilliant. It weights about 1kg heavier than my 2021 Emonda SLR with AXS Red and top end RSL 37s. I love riding both but the “own label” STEVENS BEAST as I’ve badged it is a brilliant all rounder. I even put a small BMC decal on the seat post as I remind everyone who comments that in my instance BMC stands for Bicycle Made in China….!
Frame, forks and carbon bars all up was $1200 delivered to Gold Coast. Qld Aus.
So far so good folks.
Good job man!
Thanks for the content Cam. Dont listen to the negative Nancy's out there, keep doing what you enjoy.
I was very close to building myself a chinese carbon frame bike with all the bits but changed paths and will be taking delivery of a new Ribble CGR tomorrow. End price for the complete bike delivered is about $5k AUD with 105Di2.
I still love to watch your content and a few others who review cheap frames and components even though getting another new bike is out of the question for me, I am interested in a hopefully upcoming cheap carbon wheels review!
Take it easy!
Jeez, what possesses people to waste their own time, and yours, with negativity when this is wholesome and informative content. First time stumbling across your vids, but a straight up sub. Gonna enjoy poking around the uploads list.
Enjoy all of your videos
I got the Trifox x12 and love it, got a full review on my channel. Mine had a few Sharpe edge's around the inside too but nothing a file and a bit if TLC can't sort out. Thanks for a great video cam. Also got the sensah empire Pro 12 speed and will be doing a review soon too. Looking forward to seeing how you got on l. Had a few issues on my set up but I figured it out at the end and will explain it in my video soon.
Cam another great video and as you say many of us given cash restraints really have no other chose than to buy Chinese parts bikes if we want to update our bikes.