The beginners guide to chinese carbon wheels

Cycloslalomeur

Cycloslalomeur wrote:

xixang wrote:

I got some 50mm clinchers from Xiamen. Weight was sub 1300g the pair (w/o skewers etc). Build was sapim cx-ray spokes with hubsmith hubs (IIRC). Been ridden on some really nasty roads - first with care, but more lately without another thought. No issues whatsoever in terms of trueness or anything. Only issue is that fitting the tyres was a bit of a pain as they are so tight. Delivery was very quick - ordered/paid Monday and had wheels by following Monday with no customs etc. As I'm on campag and didn't want tubs PX wasn't an option

Link?

Is it these?

http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/50602 ... heels.html

xixang

Cycloslalomeur wrote:

Cycloslalomeur wrote:

xixang wrote:

I got some 50mm clinchers from Xiamen. Weight was sub 1300g the pair (w/o skewers etc). Build was sapim cx-ray spokes with hubsmith hubs (IIRC). Been ridden on some really nasty roads - first with care, but more lately without another thought. No issues whatsoever in terms of trueness or anything. Only issue is that fitting the tyres was a bit of a pain as they are so tight. Delivery was very quick - ordered/paid Monday and had wheels by following Monday with no customs etc. As I'm on campag and didn't want tubs PX wasn't an option

Link?

Is it these?

http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/50602 ... heels.html

look the same but I went direct. I emailed them to see what options there were and the sent details of hubs, rims (depth/finish/tub or clincher), spokes, nips etc with the prices and weights and I chose from there

dirtymonkey1985

Got these beauties in the post this morning




Won't be until the weekend until I can give them a good thrashing but on looks and build alone I'm very pleased with them

Wazza1878

Hello Dirty Monkey,
what spec are your wheelset please i'm looking to get a pair from China as well, trying to whittle down who to get them from for the best price, there are quite a few to choose from!
cheers

dirtymonkey1985

I went for the matt 3k 38mm rims with white novatec hubs. Here's the link http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-38mm-carb ... 4166d02a65

Wazza1878

Cheers mate, i toen between just ordering the 50mm rims and getting the spokes/hubs built by Pete Matthews a specialist wheel builder up these ways, thats what i'll do i think.
Yours look lovely though with the white novatec hubs, will go lovely on my white Bianchi!

appletrees

Update on my chinese wheels - 20mm carbon tubs from Carbonzone.

Just got back from a trip to the alps. The wheels had seemed fine over the last 12 months or so, but have only been used for the odd Sunday ride. First descent in the alps, came out of the first serious corner and all felt OK, next corner, serious wobble from rear wheel, thought I'd broken a spoke. Pulled over at first opportunity to check.

Rim had cracked all the way through at near the valve hole and a section about 2-3cm long had split away from the braking surface - bear in mind that these aren't clinchers so should be plenty of strength there. Basically, the tub being glued on well held the rim together and saved my arse. I only got back late last night but will try to post a piccy. I'll also be contacting carbonzone to see if they're prepared to help. Feel very lucky that the only consequence was a couple of k's walking and a 2 hour wait for my mates to go and get the car to pick me up. :roll:

willy b

Wow, that's unlucky! I was thinking about a set of 20mm or 38mm tubs to replace the 50mm clinchers, not sure it's worth it now though!!

Looking forward to seeing the photos though, and see what Carbonzone do!

appletrees

Luckily I took my spare wheels with me as I wasn't sure if I fancied descending in the wet on carbon rims. As it happened it didn't rain, but I was glad to have them as that would have been an expensive trip to the bike shop. Of course, there will still be an expensive trip to the bike shop, but just slightly deferred

ariege_cyclist

A couple of questions for anyone who has bought wheels or rims from any of the Chinese suppliers.

Do they build their wheels with washers under the spoke nipples or not? If so what size/type.
Does anyone know if the suppliers quoted ERD's are accurate or not? I'm about to pull the trigger on a couple of rims fron Far Sport and was going to order spokes but am concerned that maybe the quoted ERD may not be totally accurate.

Thanks.

t20cricket

Hello I haven't read all the posts (just tell me if some one has answered my question) but was just wondering if any one has bought any thing from this website http://www.light-bicycle.com and if so was the the product any good?

mjbennett

A mate of mine has had these C clinchers for about a month now, the ones with Novatec hubs. They look the business and have ridden well, until yesterday. Basically the rim caved out and would have blown his tyre off had he not spotted something was wrong. He had to ride home (about 50 miles) with his front tyre deflated without using his front brakes. Based on what I've seen I would steer well clear of these wheels.
He now has to send them back to china and ask for a refund.....

Barts27

Hi guys,

I am new to this forum. I searched true all the topics about Chinese carbon clinchers. I have done some homework on them and I am pulling the trigger on these wheels.

Item no.Xiamen Farsports FSC50-CM
Rim: Super light 50mm carbon clincher with basalt braking surface
Hubs: Novatec shimano
Spokes: Sapim CX-Ray black
Nipple: Sapim SILS nipple internal
Appea:3K MATT
Weight:1400+/-30g

I have a few questions.
1: Is this a good setup?
2: What about internal or external nipples. What is better?
3: Do you guys now the rim width of the Farsports FSC50-CM rims?
4: Is there a quality difference between Farsport and Yishun wheelsets (YS-CP50C or YS-CP light)?

Thanks in advance.

Bart

xixang

Barts27 wrote:

Hi guys,

I am new to this forum. I searched true all the topics about Chinese carbon clinchers. I have done some homework on them and I am pulling the trigger on these wheels.

Item no.Xiamen Farsports FSC50-CM
Rim: Super light 50mm carbon clincher with basalt braking surface
Hubs: Novatec shimano
Spokes: Sapim CX-Ray black
Nipple: Sapim SILS nipple internal
Appea:3K MATT
Weight:1400+/-30g

I have a few questions.
1: Is this a good setup?
2: What about internal or external nipples. What is better?
3: Do you guys now the rim width of the Farsports FSC50-CM rims?
4: Is there a quality difference between Farsport and Yishun wheelsets (YS-CP50C or YS-CP light)?

Thanks in advance.

Bart

I bought the farsports wheels but with hubsmith hubs. Can't comment on yishuns but the farsports have performed flawlessly. 500+ dry miles, which I know isn't really that much, but still true and have been over some pretty rough roads at speed. Only things to be aware of if first few rides they do a lot of pinging as spokes settle. Same as every wheelset I've owned only with them being carbon it sounds much worse. Also tyres (conti gp4000s) are a tight fit, but no worse than onto neutrons I've got. I think this is more the tyre than the rim as I've always found contis a tight fit. Once bedded they are a great wheel IME, but obviously time will tell.

appletrees

Update on mine. 1 year warranty only, wheel s just outside that, so no joy, which is fair enough I guess. I'd avoid in future and have just replaced with some planet x 50's 2year warranty and metaphorically just up the road if any probs. hubs will be for sale shortly, as theres not wrong with them!

FunBus

here's another good UK option, if you want tubs:

http://www.kovertracing.com/?page_id=176

supercyril

Thought id resurrect this as I have finally made my mind up over PX tubs vs Chinese clinchers. I have had a quote for the same wheels as Bart27 and I just want some words of reassurance before I hit the send button.
Thanks

Barts27

Hé Guys,

The wheels are in the house. It took 6 days to fly them over from Xiamen China to the Netherlands at my home. Pretty impressive if you ask me. Communication with Farsports was very good and within 24 hours I got the information about the wheels when I asked for it. On Tuesday I did a 70km testride and everything worked out fine.
when I got the wheels everything was well packed in a sturdy wheelbox. It took me quite some time to get the Veloflex clincher tires (22mm) on the rims. Normally I have no issues what so ever with installing tires on a rim. Now I have three blisters on my hands :-( I noticed also al little valve rattle but that was easy to fix). Now the wheels are fine and spin very good. I like the Novatec super light hubs. The free wheel rattle is fine. Not too loud and maybe a little bit to soft. On the photo's you see my own Pop Products skeewers from Switzerland. POP Products also makes the skeewers for Carbon Sports Lightweight. I also use the Reynolds cryo blue brake pads and I have no brake noise or screeming with these rims.
At this moment I am happy with the Farsports FSC50-CM wheels. The quality is very good for around 500 dollars that I paid. The wheels are not as good as my Fulcrum Racing Speed XLR tubulars, but that is not a surprice because the Fulcrums are much more expensive and better balanced when riding and with a better overall finish.

ShutUpLegs

^^
Why clinchers :?:

Barts27

I already have top of the bill full carbon 50mm tubulars and I wanted to know what the quality is of 500 dollar Chineese carbon clinchers. Besides that riding clinchers is sometimes easier than tubulars (flat tires and cyclo's)

Missbaksel

Barts27 wrote:

Hé Guys,

The wheels are in the house. It took 6 days to fly them over from Xiamen China to the Netherlands at my home. Pretty impressive if you ask me. Communication with Farsports was very good and within 24 hours I got the information about the wheels when I asked for it. On Tuesday I did a 70km testride and everything worked out fine.
when I got the wheels everything was well packed in a sturdy wheelbox. It took me quite some time to get the Veloflex clincher tires (22mm) on the rims. Normally I have no issues what so ever with installing tires on a rim. Now I have three blisters on my hands :-( I noticed also al little valve rattle but that was easy to fix). Now the wheels are fine and spin very good. I like the Novatec super light hubs. The free wheel rattle is fine. Not too loud and maybe a little bit to soft. On the photo's you see my own Pop Products skeewers from Switzerland. POP Products also makes the skeewers for Carbon Sports Lightweight. I also use the Reynolds cryo blue brake pads and I have no brake noise or screeming with these rims.
At this moment I am happy with the Farsports FSC50-CM wheels. The quality is very good for around 500 dollars that I paid. The wheels are not as good as my Fulcrum Racing Speed XLR tubulars, but that is not a surprice because the Fulcrums are much more expensive and better balanced when riding and with a better overall finish.

Hello Bart,

I also ordered some Farsports Wheels and also live in the Netherlands did you had some issues with the customs?

kind regards,

Martijn

Barts27

Hi Martijn,

No issues with customs!

Missbaksel

Barts27 wrote:

Hi Martijn,

No issues with customs!

Thats a relief to hear!

ferritic

Got one of these Blackburn Mars 4s,

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Blackburn-Mar ... 43b11c20d6

No probs with water ingress over the past three winters and bright enough to shine through 2inch thick lead.

bails1310

Missbaksel wrote:

Barts27 wrote:

Hé Guys,

The wheels are in the house. It took 6 days to fly them over from Xiamen China to the Netherlands at my home. Pretty impressive if you ask me. Communication with Farsports was very good and within 24 hours I got the information about the wheels when I asked for it. On Tuesday I did a 70km testride and everything worked out fine.
when I got the wheels everything was well packed in a sturdy wheelbox. It took me quite some time to get the Veloflex clincher tires (22mm) on the rims. Normally I have no issues what so ever with installing tires on a rim. Now I have three blisters on my hands :-( I noticed also al little valve rattle but that was easy to fix). Now the wheels are fine and spin very good. I like the Novatec super light hubs. The free wheel rattle is fine. Not too loud and maybe a little bit to soft. On the photo's you see my own Pop Products skeewers from Switzerland. POP Products also makes the skeewers for Carbon Sports Lightweight. I also use the Reynolds cryo blue brake pads and I have no brake noise or screeming with these rims.
At this moment I am happy with the Farsports FSC50-CM wheels. The quality is very good for around 500 dollars that I paid. The wheels are not as good as my Fulcrum Racing Speed XLR tubulars, but that is not a surprice because the Fulcrums are much more expensive and better balanced when riding and with a better overall finish.

There seems to be a huge amount of 50mm clincers on Farsporst page, do u still have the link to your partular purchase, hope they're still going well?

Barts27

http://www.farsports.cn/ViewProduct.aspx?id=685

Wheels are doing fine! :-)

bails1310

BBH wrote:

Yes mate, got them, lovely wheels really sexy on the best bike and ride well.

If you ring parcel force they will give you your code and you can pay via their website and the wheels will be delivered next day. I was charged 7 import duty and 13.50 fee, so not too bad I suppose. However, it appears that carboonzone are now being targeted by customs for fees so I may look elsewhere for 88's for a future TT bike build??

Is the £20ish pounds the worst case, or is there more possible [duty?]

lakeland

What are peoples thoughts on these? They are a similar weight to the cosmic carbones but only $353.50 inc delivery but not import tax

http://www.shop-yishunbike.com/wheels/a ... e-wheels-2

davep123

Well after a summer racing in France I can say that I'm well pleased with my rear 50mm chinese carbon wheel. I noticed a lot of the guys in france had them too except they were branded up with stickers from shops etc.. I'm 80kg and have raced them hard with no problems at all. The service was great apart from they sent brake blocks for the carbon rims but this wasn't a major problem. The import duty etc ended up being £27 which was a bit of a shock. They look great as well. The braking surface is a bit grabby but that's getting better. BUY SOME!!!

bails1310

Davep - Who did you end up getting them from ?