Brand-X frames?
Discussion
Decided on a bit of a whim to look at changing my road bike frame at the weekend. It's a self-built eBay special but I've never been completely happy with the size (I bought a 54" frame, but really need a 56") but I love all the bits and don't really want to go to the expense of a completely new bike.
Was looking around at cheapish road frames and stumbled across these at Chain Reaction Cycles.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod... is a link to the alloy frame, and
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod... and
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod... is their carbon frame.
One of the reviews suggests that these are made by the same people who do Cinelli's frames, and they certainly look extremely good value for the price. I just wondered if anyone had any experience or views, positive or negative?
Was looking around at cheapish road frames and stumbled across these at Chain Reaction Cycles.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod... is a link to the alloy frame, and
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod... and
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod... is their carbon frame.
One of the reviews suggests that these are made by the same people who do Cinelli's frames, and they certainly look extremely good value for the price. I just wondered if anyone had any experience or views, positive or negative?
You must be really tall! ;-)
I bought a Brand-X frame from CRC for my work bike. It was about £70 as a replacement for a Be-One frame that I had originally ordered (see below). It has mounts for mudguards and a rack etc, has a decent paint finish and seems to be ok. The downside is that is is really stiff vertically (alloy) but really flexible horizontally (low quality alloy) and the geometry is not great so is harsh yet inefficient. This bike was built out of spare parts and this frame and my usual ride(s) is (are) a Specialised Epic Marathon and an oldskool GT Zaskar so maybe not a fair test.
Brand-X kit is (as far as I know) made by many different manufacturers so can be a mixed bag. Mine is ok and was really cheap so good value I suppose but, due to posing tossers, last years paint job can wipe serious cash off branded bikes. Even if on face value they may not be as good as the Brand-X you will at least know what you are getting. The choice is yours.
Incidentally, the BeOne frame was £200 down to £60 so I got it and built all of my spare kit onto it. Seemed really good. Unfortunately the wheels and tyres were last as they were at my parents house (wheels) and a mates house (tyres). I put the bare wheels in and something just did not look right but as no tyres it took me ages to realise that it was a 29er!! I was not happy, as it had taken ages to build due to old parts faf. CRC were awesome even though I told them it was built and said they did not know it was a 29er. Full refund, postage and a couple of bits / discount.
Jon
I bought a Brand-X frame from CRC for my work bike. It was about £70 as a replacement for a Be-One frame that I had originally ordered (see below). It has mounts for mudguards and a rack etc, has a decent paint finish and seems to be ok. The downside is that is is really stiff vertically (alloy) but really flexible horizontally (low quality alloy) and the geometry is not great so is harsh yet inefficient. This bike was built out of spare parts and this frame and my usual ride(s) is (are) a Specialised Epic Marathon and an oldskool GT Zaskar so maybe not a fair test.
Brand-X kit is (as far as I know) made by many different manufacturers so can be a mixed bag. Mine is ok and was really cheap so good value I suppose but, due to posing tossers, last years paint job can wipe serious cash off branded bikes. Even if on face value they may not be as good as the Brand-X you will at least know what you are getting. The choice is yours.
Incidentally, the BeOne frame was £200 down to £60 so I got it and built all of my spare kit onto it. Seemed really good. Unfortunately the wheels and tyres were last as they were at my parents house (wheels) and a mates house (tyres). I put the bare wheels in and something just did not look right but as no tyres it took me ages to realise that it was a 29er!! I was not happy, as it had taken ages to build due to old parts faf. CRC were awesome even though I told them it was built and said they did not know it was a 29er. Full refund, postage and a couple of bits / discount.
Jon
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