Cheap Carbon frame and fork.

irezumi

I'm looking to build up a cheap Carbon bike to use for some amateur racing next season.

Only place/company I have seen that meets my requirements are Ribble. Any others I shouldbe looking at or is this the best place. Price range is around £600 give or take, which ribble meets.

Thanks for any help.

ride_whenever

Why?

Carbon isn't automatically better just because it's better. Look for a decent aluminium bike IMO.

irezumi

Purely personal choice as to why. Looked at ally with carbon stays and fork, full ally with carbon fork and decided on getting a basic entry level carbon.

Stuy-b

planet x sl pro
frame and fork works out under £500

Monty Dog

There's a few sellers from China that'll do a carbon frame and forks for less than £300 - try googling e-hongfu-bikes. There's a long thread over on weightweenies. Don't expect a Pinarello for Halfords money though.

andyrr

Also massive threads (one 75 pages and the current 36 page thread) on roadbikereview - I'm sorely tempted - £300 or so (less from a few places) for frame and fork. If you are seriously looking at a Chinese carbon frame have a good read as there seems to be some very ood and some equally dodgy sellers around.
http://forums.roadbikereview.com/forumdisplay.php?f=77

andyrr

Check out http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showth ... 09&page=36 for a few threads on cheap Chinese carbon frames.

TimB34

As well as Pedalforce/ebay/ribble/planetx there's this as well :

http://www.hedwheels.com/products.asp?cat=9

A few years old, and the fork has an alloy steerer, but it's only £399 and comes from a real bike shop in the UK.

irezumi

Interesting last few posts, thanks guys. Having read through some of the info regarding chinese frames it appears Planet-X may use exactly the same frames in some cases.

Was primarily looking at the Ribble Stealth. However trying to see if that again is possibly made by one of the same factories in China. Anyone have any particular info on this?

Berk Bonebonce

Ribble frames are only cheaper because their name doesn't have the cache of the market leaders.

Fogliettaz

Here is my chinese carbon bike, built beginning of last year done the French and Italian alps + 4000 UK miles, all up for less than £800.00 and it is bloody brilliant!

inseine

However trying to see if that again is possibly made by one of the same factories in China. Anyone have any particular info on this?

Let me help you here, they're ALL made in China! Well probably 99% of all bikes, be it carbon, aluminium or whatever. It's where bikes are made these days so don't let it put you off, unless you wouldn't tough a Cervelo, Colnago etc.

irezumi

Fogliettaz, who did you purchase your frame from and which one is it?

Thanks for any help.

ScottieP

The Ribble Stealth would be my choice - even though it's more than the cheapo Chinese ones, because I think it's a good frame (same as PedalForce RS3 I believe) and have someone in the UK for warranty back up if you need it.

Just my 2p - I think the Ribble Stealth will be a better frame than the Planet-X ones and can't wait to see reviews to prove me wrong or right

Fogliettaz

irezumi wrote:

Fogliettaz, who did you purchase your frame from and which one is it?

Thanks for any help.

I think I bought it from here anyway its the same frame, http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-Full-Carbon-R ... 776wt_1139

Also have a look at Hongfu bikes I have a MTB from them.

galatzo

I think the HED R1c has a full carbon fork now.
They may still be doing 15% off if your lucky.
Actually ordered one but before they could dispatch it I found some more money and got a Cannondale Super Six Hi Mod of Ebay but if I hadn't I'd have been more than happy with the HED for £340.