chinese carbon wheels go bang

chinese carbon wheels go bang

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z4RRSchris

Original Poster:

11,218 posts

178 months

Tuesday 29th August 2017
quotequote all
after a nice crash and the demise of a front zipp i decided to buy something a little more robust and save the expensive carbon for non racing.

so a nice bowman palace, a mix of sram force and red i had lying around and other bits from the parts bin.

wheels i decided to take the plunge and order some 60mm carbon clinchers from ebay. they arrived after 3 weeks. looked the part until i put a tyre and tube on them and inflated. BANG!

opposite the value side the rim blew a hole!

awaiting a reply from the seller, pretty well known so hope for a swift replacement. not great start.


Dizeee

18,166 posts

205 months

Wednesday 30th August 2017
quotequote all
Hence why you don't buy these things, it is just NOT worth the risk especially at the moment, with eveything being squeezed for cheaper more cost efficient results.

Matt_N

8,900 posts

201 months

Wednesday 30th August 2017
quotequote all
Is that a DT240 hub? One of the better regarded retailers like LB, Farsport etc?

Be interesting to see how their after sales holds up, will they charge you another lot of postage and customs?

z4RRSchris

Original Poster:

11,218 posts

178 months

Wednesday 30th August 2017
quotequote all
ill keep it updated so you know how the aftersales hold up.

Its a fairly well known seller. i wont name them untill they provide a resolution.

So far they have asked for the serial etc and are talking to the factory. They did have the audacity to say its safe i should put some rim tape over it!.

fromage

537 posts

202 months

Wednesday 30th August 2017
quotequote all
I have seen far more cracked Zipp's than any other brand including Chinese carbon clinchers. Infact the only carbon wheels I have seen fail have been Zipps (about 5-6 wheels now).

ALawson

7,814 posts

250 months

Sunday 18th February 2018
quotequote all
Chris what was the final outcome of this?

z4RRSchris

Original Poster:

11,218 posts

178 months

Monday 19th February 2018
quotequote all
ALawson said:
Chris what was the final outcome of this?
they sent me another rim which i have had built into a track wheel, and i have continued to use the broken rim on my race bike. I put a bit of gel wrapper cut to size over the whole then a inner tube patch, bit of electrical tape over the whole lot and bingo. 110PSI .

ive done about 2000km on it, the little bit of carbon which popped out is now rattling in my rim which is pretty annoying.



Edited by z4RRSchris on Monday 19th February 14:07

OliilO

198 posts

136 months

Monday 19th February 2018
quotequote all
I've been impressed with the durability of carbon rims so far. I have a pair of LB mountain bike rims and put a fairly sizeable crack in the rear after coming up short on a very square edged jump. I drilled the ends of the crack to stop propagation and have probably ridden 20+ days on it since then including in the Alps, UK uplift days trail centres and hitting 20ft gaps. So far, its stayed straight (as you'd expect) and not become any worse. I think as long as you go for something from a reasonable company rather than an ebay special, they're pretty resilient.

lukefreeman

1,492 posts

174 months

Tuesday 20th February 2018
quotequote all
I've had 2 pairs (60's and 38's) and they've been fine. I treat my wheels like st and they're still fine.


JEA1K

2,484 posts

222 months

Tuesday 20th February 2018
quotequote all
Rims see to all come from the same place from what I've seen. Its the variety of hubs which has been more of an issue for me ... particularly the Novatec hubs made of cheese.smile

ALawson

7,814 posts

250 months

Tuesday 20th February 2018
quotequote all
Gents thanks for your thoughts, could you confirm suppliers you used.

I am considering these. £550 plus taxes etc. 1570g

https://www.wheelsfar.com/road-wheels/clincher-tub...

Decentish Hubs, spokes.

But may go usual wheel builder with these. 26.2mm wide. £800 1670g or £1290 1470g

https://thecycleclinic.co.uk/collections/road-rim-...

Additional weight is at hub and 50mm are never going to be for climbing. Still more expensive than Farsports but I have dealt with Malcolm a few times.

Zuus are about the same as TCC p, £700 25mm u shape but I don't know widths and Hubs/spokes are not defined.

I need to call SBC tomorrow and check my SL4 frame age as they are a little tight at the rear. Apparently Zipp 303 don't fit or will rub.

http://www.zipp.com/wheels/my-13-303-firecrest---c...

But 404 does which has a max width of 26.3.

Waiting LB to get back to me but it's Ney Year!

SoliD

1,112 posts

216 months

Wednesday 21st February 2018
quotequote all
lukefreeman said:
I've had 2 pairs (60's and 38's) and they've been fine. I treat my wheels like st and they're still fine.
Same here, 3 sets, no issues descending mountain passes in the alps or on Majorca, and have raised cross on a pair of 50mms with no issues!

Ebay - 2013cycling2013 were used for my first 2 sets, and carbonspeedcycle for my third pair.

z4RRSchris

Original Poster:

11,218 posts

178 months

Wednesday 21st February 2018
quotequote all
i went with carbon speed cycle

https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/carbonspeedcycle?_trksi...

i got the 60mm U shape ultra light ones.

Dannbodge

2,160 posts

120 months

Wednesday 21st February 2018
quotequote all
The alternative could always be the Prime Carbon wheels from Wiggle/CRC?

JEA1K

2,484 posts

222 months

Wednesday 21st February 2018
quotequote all
ALawson said:
Gents thanks for your thoughts, could you confirm suppliers you used.

I am considering these. £550 plus taxes etc. 1570g

https://www.wheelsfar.com/road-wheels/clincher-tub...

Decentish Hubs, spokes.

But may go usual wheel builder with these. 26.2mm wide. £800 1670g or £1290 1470g

https://thecycleclinic.co.uk/collections/road-rim-...

Additional weight is at hub and 50mm are never going to be for climbing. Still more expensive than Farsports but I have dealt with Malcolm a few times.

Zuus are about the same as TCC p, £700 25mm u shape but I don't know widths and Hubs/spokes are not defined.

I need to call SBC tomorrow and check my SL4 frame age as they are a little tight at the rear. Apparently Zipp 303 don't fit or will rub.

http://www.zipp.com/wheels/my-13-303-firecrest---c...

But 404 does which has a max width of 26.3.

Waiting LB to get back to me but it's Ney Year!
I bought some wheels from Zuus as I thought the hassle factor of sending back to China from Farsports etc would be a PITA. In reality, whether I had a 'Friday afternoon wheel' but it wasn't a great experience. Freehub broke after a few months, wheel was out of true ... wheel returned, new freehub fitted, rode again after a few months (was during winter so didn't use the wheel for 2/3 months) ... rode the wheel, still out of true so wheel was returned again and they replaced the wheel.

Used the wheel for 6 months, freehub goes on the new wheel. Gave up and replaced it myself ... and purchased a spare for when it goes again. So I may have been unlucky with Zuus here but I wouldn't recommend on the basis of the hubs, particularly the freehubs.

z4RRSchris

Original Poster:

11,218 posts

178 months

Wednesday 21st February 2018
quotequote all
i wouldnt bother with Zeus, CES, etc etc.. they are just chinese carbon bought in bulk and sent from the UK.

i would either buy ebay jobs, or go for something from a bigger seller, but the inbetween seems pointless to me.

JEA1K

2,484 posts

222 months

Wednesday 21st February 2018
quotequote all
z4RRSchris said:
i wouldnt bother with Zeus, CES, etc etc.. they are just chinese carbon bought in bulk and sent from the UK.

i would either buy ebay jobs, or go for something from a bigger seller, but the inbetween seems pointless to me.
Agreed but when you buy direct from China, the cost to return it and then have it sent back to you I suspect will need to be covered by the seller so could work out a pain and expensive.

z4RRSchris

Original Poster:

11,218 posts

178 months

Wednesday 21st February 2018
quotequote all
JEA1K said:
Agreed but when you buy direct from China, the cost to return it and then have it sent back to you I suspect will need to be covered by the seller so could work out a pain and expensive.
in my expierence, they dont both with the return. its broken, send them some photos and away you go

ALawson

7,814 posts

250 months

Wednesday 21st February 2018
quotequote all
The chap running Zuus has emailed me a few times, apparently the hubs are closed mould (exclusive to Zuus) made by powerway.,

He says they have a 0.5% return rate compared with Zipp via ProBikeKit (3%), he should know as he started that business up before selling. I suppose that 3% could be the older zipp hubs.

Spokes are cx-ray with Zuus even though I couldn't find it on their website.

Thanks for the feedback. SBC confirmed my frame is 2013 so shouldn't be that tight.

What are hubs like on the ebay specials, reliable or summer use only?

z4RRSchris

Original Poster:

11,218 posts

178 months

Wednesday 21st February 2018
quotequote all
ALawson said:
What are hubs like on the ebay specials, reliable or summer use only?
i have used mine all winter. fineeeeee.

the bearings are easy to replace with other cheap ebay ones if needed for a few quid.