Custom Ti frame direct from China

Compactkid

Anyone bought custom Ti frame direct from XACD in China?
Any tips? :shock:

Burghley

Yes - bought TWO this year, an audax/tourer and a racer to compliment my original off-the-peg XACD bought three years ago!

Very pleased with quality of frames, service received, and cost.

Email me @ p dot lucas at burghley dot net for correspondence, CAD drawings etc.

Rgds

Pete

Monty Dog

Me too - bought one a couple of years ago. Main thing is to know exactly what you want down to the smallest detail - know how to read a technical drawing and you'll be OK. Shipping can be quite expensive so worth sharing the cost with someone else. £/$ exchange rate is good too, so even more of a bargain. They can do pretty well anything - a variation from standard works out at around $50 each e.g. integrated headtube / polished finish etc - only your imagination and your wallet will stop you. Works about half the cost of a Setavento - so buy two and don't worry about a warranty!

Burghley

Agree Monty

My audax frame has pump peg on headtube, three bottle cage bosses, STI bosses on headtube, pannier rack bosses, mudguard eyes etc. plus custom size tubes and angles for £25!

If in doubt about your ability to design a frame, go on to the web sites of any major manufacturer and download their drawings - I used Van Nicolas as a starting point for the audax.

Rgds

Pete

gkerr4

oh right - I am tempted with this idea as the basis for a summer bike 08

so out of interest - I have a bike which I love the shape and fit of - nothing special it's just a specialized langster size54 (which shares it's geometry with the allez) - I love the fit of this bike it is perfect for me - so would it be easy for me to basically get them to make me a frame with this same geometry - so create me a "titanium Allez"??

Burghley

It certainly would, if you can get the specification from the Specialized web site, XACD can make an exact copy.

Do you want to see the CAD drawings they produced for me?

Rgds

Pete

gkerr4

well - the geometry is specified on the website

would love to see the CAD drawings - have sent a mail to your address above.

thanks,

Graham

Burghley

To clear up any misunderstanding - I supplied some basic measurements for the frames and XACD produced the CAD drawings by return.

Rgds

Pete

kiwirob

How much are we talking...total?
KR

Burghley

£370ish delivered

Pete

McBain_v1

A Ti frame for £370 :?: :shock:

Monty Dog

Or buy one from Setavento - who source from XACD for £725! You're obviously not having to pay distrbution costs and don't get any warranty or technical support, but if you know exactly what you want then go for it - I keep toying with the idea of getting another - can't choose between a TT bike or fixed gear or even fixed gear TT - decisions, decisions!

simon johnson

Burghley/Monty

If you remember, and, if possible, can you break down the £370 i.e. labour; shipping; customs costs? etc etc. And what about the standard/grade of the titanium? I'm not even sure how it differentiates generally, but I suppose I'm wondering how it compares with the ti used for other brands in the market (yes, I've seen the cracked Litespeed thread!).

I currently ride an Omega Helix, which I love to bits and which I hope will last for a lot longer, but this looks tempting, even to get one now while the exchange rate's in our favour and build it up gradually or keep it for when the Omega disintegrates/cracks/gets stolen/finds a better owner.

Lastly, any pictures?

Burghley

Hi Simon

No problem - drop me an email at the address above and I can supply all the details you require.

Rgds

Pete

rjsmith

Monty Dog wrote:

I keep toying with the idea of getting another - can't choose between a TT bike or fixed gear or even fixed gear TT - decisions, decisions!

This made me look at the blade TT frame on their site. Do you know where to find the geometry and prices for it please?

giant_man

That Blade TT frame does look nice, plus you could put your own designed decals on it. Sweet!

rjsmith

Ok, I emailed them at 7am this morning and within half an hour they'd replied with geometry and prices. Very very tempted!

Burghley

Hi

XACD don't hang about - did you deal with Porter? (Still not sure if this is an individual or a generic name for a group of staff).

Rgds Pete

rjsmith

Yes, dealt with porter. I was thinking it was the Chinese equivalent of admin/email support to incoming email traffic or similar.

Blade turns out to be just over £400. I wonder how much they weigh? What do you reckon 1500 grams?

Monty Dog

I'm not sure what XACDs TT geometry is like - I'd go for custom anyway or copy a proven TT frame design like Specialized's Transition

rjsmith

The geometry looks pretty much spot on to be honest. Good seat angles, headtube not ultra short but not long, so suits a middle age guy like me.

GF22

Can anyone help? I am getting a bike fit this weekend so that I can order my Ti frame from China. The advice I am looking for is whether or not I should be ordering ti forks and seatpost? I am not sure of the benefits of these against carbon?

Also, anyone who has ordered an XACD frame, how long does it take to arrive?

Thanks,

Gavin

rjsmith

What's the frame going to be used for Gavin?

GF22

It's a road frame - primarily for racing and sportives

giant_man

much better deal than Setavento who by all accounts are having problems with their frames, so steer clear of that name.

toontra

I'm very tempted to get a MTB frame (already have a ti road bike). If anyone else is ordering in the reasonably near future would they fancy doing a deal on splitting the shipping? That's quite a large proportion of the cost involved (not surprisingly).

Also, for people who've already ordered from China, what are the import tax & VAT liabilities?

orv

Very tempting.
Out of curiosity to one of those who's done it, what are the shipping/duty costs?

pawlfreehub

My XACD frame came through customs without getting hit for VAT or import tax, but I believe it's just luck. Perhaps it helped that the value on the box was fiction and it said gift! HM Gov. would only use the cash to bomb some poor soul in the middle East anyway.

GF22

Can anyone help me with my questions above regarding titanium forks and seatposts? I'd be grateful if anyone can. Thanks

toontra

orv wrote:

Very tempting.
Out of curiosity to one of those who's done it, what are the shipping/duty costs?

My quote was $150 for shipping. That was for a single frame. I doubt it would be much more for 2 (being as they are soooo light!).

pawlfreehub

Titanium forks: read bad reports previously, not generally regarded as a good material for forks, said to be too springy, no personal experience though.