OEM Carbon: Made-in-China Bike

Frame	OEM Carbon
Fork	OEM Carbon
Rear Shock	N/A
Rims	OEM Carbon 50mm Tubular
Hubs	OEM Chosen
Spokes	Sapim CX-Ray
Tires	Continental Sprinter Tubular
Pedals	Exustar E-PR200CKTi
Crank	Sram Red Black 170mm (Compact)
Chain	Sram Red Black
Rear Cogs	Sram Red Black
Bottom Bracket	Sram Red Black
Front Derailleur	Sram Red Black
Rear Derailleur	Sram Red Black
Shifters	Sram Red Black
Handlebars	Giant Contact SLR
Stem	OEM China
Headset	China OEM
Brakeset	Sram Red Black
Brakelevers	Sram Red Black
Saddle	Fizik Arione
Seat Post	NA
Sizes	43cm
Extras	Controltech Aerobar

My 2nd China OEM bike with spec-ed mainly with China OEM parts. With matt black theme in mind, I got to say that the price to aesthetic ratio is very low! Another amazing thing about this bike is its weight. Weighting only 6.76kg with the 323g Controltech Aerobar fixed on., which means it effectively only weight below 6.5kg.

Intend to fix this bike up as my triathlon bike. Aero tubing with 50mm deep rim tubular wheels. Not to mention the compact crank which can easily allows me to cruise at 30km/h. Not really keen in bar end shifters, i prefer to stick to dropbar with traditional shifters.

OEM Carbon: Cannondale SuperSix

Frame	OEM Carbon ISP
Fork	Cannondale SuperSix
Rear Shock	N/A
Rims	Fulcrum Zer0
Hubs	Fulcrum Zer0
Spokes	Fulcrum Zer0
Tires	Panaracer Extreme Evo3
Pedals	Look Keo Carbon
Crank	Ultegra 6700 (172.5mm)
Chain	Ultegra 6700
Rear Cogs	Ultegra 6700
Bottom Bracket	Ultegra 6700
Front Derailleur	Ultegra 6700
Rear Derailleur	Ultegra 6700
Shifters	Ultegra 6700
Handlebars	Syntace 7075
Stem	Syntace 7075
Headset	China OEM
Brakeset	Ultegra 6700
Brakelevers	Ultegra 6700
Saddle	Fizik Aliante
Seat Post	NA
Sizes	48cm
Extras	China OEM

Finally my China OEM Carbon Bike Project has come to an end. Would say its the only bike that i built which looks the best. Love all the positive comments from my peers. Also this bike has the highest similarity to its branded counterpart. Time to move on.

Jamis Xenith Comp

Frame	Jamis Xenith Comp Carbon
Fork	Jamis Xenith Comp Carbon
Rear Shock	N/A
Rims	Fulcrum Zer0
Hubs	Fulcrum Zer0
Spokes	Fulcrum Zer0
Tires	Panaracer Extreme Evo3
Pedals	CrankBro Eggbeater (Chromo)
Crank	Ultegra SL 10spd (165mm)
Chain	Ultegra 10spd
Rear Cogs	Ultegra 10spd
Bottom Bracket	Ultegra 10spd
Front Derailleur	105 10spd
Rear Derailleur	Ultegra 10spd
Shifters	105 10spd
Handlebars	FAS K Force (42cm)
Stem	EA30 (110mm)
Headset	N/A
Brakeset	Ultegra SL 10spd
Brakelevers	Ultegra 10spd
Saddle	Fizik Pave
Seat Post	EC70
Sizes	48cm
Extras	Look CX4

Got this bike for its wheels and group set. Will be shifting them to my upcoming bike project. Nice frame, in very good condition. Abit disappointed with the configuration of the group set and length of stem.. The rest are good.

Carbon Bike Frame Project: Part 4 | Making the Replica!!

Picture taken by my supplier for me to review the paint job

After much delay and corresponding with China Supplier, finally i decide to go ahead with ordering the frame. I managed to get a Cannondale Supersix fork from eBay. The fork is white and red, therefore decided to make a replica with it.

Frame with Cannondale Super Six

Cant wait to just put both the fork and frame together. Fork from USA while frame from China. Irony.. They fit each other well! Was abit disappointed with the paint job. They only coat it with one layer, a slight knock on it will chip/scrap the paint away.

Frame with custom reflective decals

How can it be a replica without decals.. Ask my friend whom is specialized in making decals, MZ Decals. Very pleased with his workmanship and fast delivery. I was expecting 1 week, yet he told me it will be done in 1 day. But i decided not to rush the job and in the end waited for only 2 days! Reflective decals, hopefully now cars will not have excuses to say they cant see me!

Finally frame is almost done. Left the cutting of seat tube and steerer tube. Will be looking for the groupset, wheels and contact points.


Adrenalin Pumping
C Cube

Carbon Bike Frame Project: Part 3.5 | Inspiring Bike Brand

This post is nothing to do with the progression of my carbon bike project. Just to share this blog, which records the process of them sourcing, designing and testing the own brand.

http://velocitebikes.blogspot.com

Designed bike frames for road made of all 3 common materials, aluminum, titanium and carbon. Namely their Selene, Millennium, Helios, Magnus and MTB frame, Flux.

Selection of wheels tubular and clincher version, aluminum and carbon rim of different width. Many more.. Slowly go through their posts, especially from first post.

Had been sourcing my carbon frame from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Hence somehow see the similarity of their products and the OEM frames. No much different. But from their post, i learn what to look out for and how to test my OEM suppliers.

Asking technical question (which answer might not make sense to you) is a good way to filter out the supplier, asking for quality pictures etc.. Fortunately the supplier which i have been corresponding is able to provide me these information without much hesitation, without throwing the questions back to me.

From these at least you can tell they know their products. Even if they don't, and the information are faked to me, at least they are prepared for such questions. Some pictures sent to me by the suppliers

BB, Head Tube and Dropout Stress Test

Matte Finish

Currently what the supplier is able to offer me is the above frame ( mine is ISP). Seems like the exact copy of the Trek Madone. However i don't really like the fork design, not fierce enough! Sourcing out other suppliers and monthly email the supplier if there is any new fork design.

From the picture and frame drawing, the rear seat stay is only 1 cm thick! Damn scary to ride on it. But consider Cervelo having the same thickness and my bike-look ego doesn't allow me to lose out on it. haha!

Stay Tuned For More Updates
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Carbon Bike Frame Project: Part 3 | Copy Which Frame Maker

Can see that my quest for a new frame is advancing. Whether or not i bought one in the end would not be that important now. This part will narrate on my search for the ideal supplier/manufacturer, new things that i tried to do which gave me much experience in dealing with oversea parties. If you had yet to read Part 1 and Part 2, you can read them first.

Have been doing much research on bicycle frame manufacturers, especially from Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Found many interesting designs and had my heart stuck on one of them already.

Why i choose this design.
Personally i like to copy the theme of some renowned frame makers, had my first project on CUBE's HPT. But turned out to be ugly due to the custom geometry! I liked the skinny 1cm thick seat stay which is much similar to what Cervelo is having. But i soon found out that not just Cervelo have this feature, few other frame makers also have it!

See the similarity!! Main difference is the Geometry and Fork used. Also means more design to refer on.
Cervelo: 3T
Cannondale: Own house brand
Cube: Easton EC90 SLX
Trek: Own House Brand

Set my mind to 'copy' the look of CUBE, even up to their EC90 SLX fork, Syntace handlebar and stem as Cervelo fork is too expensive. Just when i can start champagne popping, all the cheering and stuff. Brain starts cranking on how to get the red design on the plain black carbon frame. I then noticed the weird head tube on the China Made Frame, using tapered head tube!! Damn It! Since when they started moving so fast with the trend in Cycling Industry!

In fact not many frame makers have moved on with the tapered head tube design. A pretty recent change in the industry which had a few critics over the benefits of having it. Can google it if you want to know more. Basically its more of stability and steering/handling issues, maybe some strength contribution. I haven't gone much into it.

With a tapered head tube, the immediate problem i face is i cant use the EC90 SLX fork! Had thought of getting/fabricate a adapter to fit the 1 1/8 fork to the 1.5" head tube. But find that it will look weird and more hassle getting the adapter. CUBE design with the fork is thrown into the rubbish bin, same for Cervelo.

Left with Trek Madone and Cannondale. Luckily they are both using tapered head tube. Trek is using the same fork as what is available by the China Supplier. But few friends find the design sucky. I have the same impression too. Hence design in mind, left only Cannondale.

Problem with Cannondale is, its hard to get their fork as they often comes as a package with their frame! Tried eBay, so far had came across 2 forks, but price exceeding 130USD..

Carbon Bike Frame Project: Part 2 | Change of mind, Material of Frame

For those who came to this page first. It will be good to read up on Part 1 before carrying on.
Part 1 had left me hanging for another couple of weeks before i stubble randomly into some Chinese Carbon Frame Manufacturing Site. Saw this frame, which made me pause for a moment. Rethink the material, possibility of using carbon as my choice of material.


Noticed the nice Matt carbon finish? Unlike the usual 3k and 12k finishing. They are able to product Matt finishing, which they claimed as UD (unidirectional). Similar finishing as BMC SLC (one of my dream frame). But of course, not the same technology used, nano-carbon. But seriously who cares, if its cheap! haha~

Received some critics on the weaving of frame which claimed to have effect on structural strength. From my knowledge (back then), I understand that the weaving only affect the external look. However, few says the weaving pattern, 3k and 12k, 3k produce stronger and stiffer frames. However after seeing the above picture, i sets me wondering whether weaving really does play a role in frame strength?

Hence i decided to make use of my off day to do a research on carbon frame structure and weaving pattern. All you need to do is just open a new tab and type in the URL, www.google.com

I have arranged the sites and forums in order to have a better flow of idea on carbon weaving properties. Basically, the sites are branched out from the forum.

1. Bike Forum
2. Stork Bicycle
3. Weightweenie Forum
4. Calfee Design
5. Toray Carbon Fiber
6. Properties of Carbon Fiber

*Easier to start off reading Stork Bicycle and Calfee Design as they are meant for consumers.

My conclusion is, Strength of frame cant be judged by the weaving pattern, they only provide cosmetic look and riding feel. Instead we should be looking at the grade of the carbon fiber used e.g. T700, (read Toray Carbon Fiber) and the Tensile Modulus (measured in MSI, read Calfee Design and Properties of Carbon Fiber)

12k is not as weak as we think. They are cheap and slightly heavier. Console myself for having it. haha!