Planet X Bikes

MarksMintness

Hi guys, I'm brand new to the forum and have only been road cycling for about 18 months on a Trek 7.5FX straight bar 'road' bike (but more like a hybrid.
I've really enjoyed the Trek but would like to spend about £1k on a drop-bar road bike.
My emphasis is on comfort more than outright performance. I dropped the wife off at Meadowhall last week and went and had a look at Planet X in Rotherham and was well impressed.
I wondered if anybody thought the SL Pro Carbon is comfortable/uncomfortable? I want to extend my mileage to 30-50 miles from the usual 10-20 I have been doing in the evenings.
Any thoughts? I've also highlighted the Specialized Secteur Elite and Boardman Team Road as possibles but like the bargain spec of Planet X.
I also saw their new carbon road frame, which I was told is replacing the Nanolight frame! If i can figure out how to upload a pic I will!
Cheers

MarksMintness

Hi guys, just uploaded a pic

cougie

A lot of my friends have used the SL Pro Carbon frames for 112 mile Ironman bike rides with no problems, so it'll be fine for your distances - no bother !

Dog Breath

Hi Mark

I can't really make any durect comparisons between bikes, but I bought the Planet X Pro Carbon 2 years ago. I thought it was a bargain given the finishing kit on it. The only thing I've upgraded since then are the Tektro callipers to Ultegra.

I don't get out on the bike as often as I should, but have always found it to be comfortable and responsive.

You won't regret it if you get one

DB

daveb99

I've just completed the build of an SL Pro Carbon with Ultegra 6700 group set as my best bike. 3 rides in, loving it so far, so much smoother than an aluminum frame.

I don't have any other 'carbon experience' to compare it to, but it hasn't cost me much to build up so I have no complaints. I had a Secteur Sport previously, nice bike but they are streets apart.

Really like the look of that new Carbon road frame, a nice upgrade for me in a year or two methinks!

You can't go wrong with Planet X.

petemadoc

Just get the new one

You know you want to! :twisted:

gmb

I love my SL Pro. I would definitely get another. Just wish I could get hold of a pink one with the old style logo, they look great with black forks....

styxd

I had an SL Pro, it was a bit big for me, but very comfy. Used to climb very nicely aswell. I'd have another for sure (or perhaps a nanolight)

MarksMintness

Cool thanks guys! I feel a lot more confident about the comfort aspect of their bikes now.
I came off the bike last night on my regular little 16 mile circuit. Ended up in the roadside hedge after a car blinded me on full beam.
Thought I had broken my fibula but managed to limp home, think the rear wheel is buckled and my rear mech is a bit out.
Oh well at least I'm alive. I hate cars, 2 went past me in a heap in the hedge!

MarksMintness

Hi guys,
Yes they seem to be producing a matt frame finish and a glossy one like the SL Pro for this new bike, both look great! I think the guys said that this frame has a chunkier bottom bracket area which can accommodate BB30/press-fit bearings as well. Looks like a winner, but would like to hear from anyone who has bought one yet?!
Another pic for us all to admire. The glossy finish is behind the matt finish bike.

nunowoolmez

I bought a Nanolight with full Dura Ace & am chuffed to bits with it. I have replaced the stem, saddle, bars, seat post & wheels but only because i'm a bit of a tart. The frame is a tad on the big size for me but is easily rideable & very comfy to ride. Great frames for the money. Get one!

ahbtsang

Strangely enough, I was talking to the mechanics in my LBS few weeks ago.. one of them said to me.. "Haven't you heard of the news about Planet X Bikes?? Someone found out that they used more GLASS FIBER then carbon fiber."

I was planning in getting one of their carbon 50mm tubular wheels, but the staffs there strongly adviced against buying from them.. so.. I'm not as confident now to be honest. But so far, I've read a lot of positive reviews on their bikes and wheels, so I think it would be best if you get a test ride and see how you feel on them. (If they allow).

Monty Dog

ahbtsang wrote:

Strangely enough, I was talking to the mechanics in my LBS few weeks ago.. one of them said to me.. "Haven't you heard of the news about Planet X Bikes?? Someone found out that they used more GLASS FIBER then carbon fiber."

I was planning in getting one of their carbon 50mm tubular wheels, but the staffs there strongly adviced against buying from them.. so.. I'm not as confident now to be honest. But so far, I've read a lot of positive reviews on their bikes and wheels, so I think it would be best if you get a test ride and see how you feel on them. (If they allow).

I didn't realise that LBS employ materials scientists these days...Planet-X frames are made in China by a company who makes frames for many others including DeRosa. As for the quality of their rims, what were they trying to sell you instead?

galatzo

Cant do quotes on my tablet but that 1st post by ahbtsang looks like crock to me either from him or his lbs.
Anyone had a problem with their planet x frame or wheels ? Thought not, they have no more issues than any other manufacturer and always get praised for sorting stuff out for customers.
I was in JE James after planet x last week and a sales boy in road dept told me that ALL the Ti frames had cracked on seat and chain stays ! Thought I'd have heard about it on here. Seems to be some bad feeling towards Planet X based purely on the fact they're a well run and popular business.

I DONT RIDE A PLANET X OR WORK FOR THEM EITHER !

And they told me the new bike would only be available in the matt finish for now.
To the op I'd say get one without hesitation with your budget best of the "budget" brands imo.

Best get out on the bike now........

craker

ahbtsang wrote:

Strangely enough, I was talking to the mechanics in my LBS few weeks ago.. one of them said to me.. "Haven't you heard of the news about Planet X Bikes?? Someone found out that they used more GLASS FIBER then carbon fiber."

I was planning in getting one of their carbon 50mm tubular wheels, but the staffs there strongly adviced against buying from them.. so.. I'm not as confident now to be honest. But so far, I've read a lot of positive reviews on their bikes and wheels, so I think it would be best if you get a test ride and see how you feel on them. (If they allow).

I can do quotes and that sounds like a bag of crap!

I have a nanolight and it's incredibly light and very comfortable. Would not hesitate to buy another px.

amaferanga

ahbtsang wrote:

Strangely enough, I was talking to the mechanics in my LBS few weeks ago.. one of them said to me.. "Haven't you heard of the news about Planet X Bikes?? Someone found out that they used more GLASS FIBER then carbon fiber."

I was planning in getting one of their carbon 50mm tubular wheels, but the staffs there strongly adviced against buying from them.. so.. I'm not as confident now to be honest. But so far, I've read a lot of positive reviews on their bikes and wheels, so I think it would be best if you get a test ride and see how you feel on them. (If they allow).

Muppet :roll:

BillyMansell

ahbtsang wrote:

Strangely enough, I was talking to the mechanics in my LBS few weeks ago.. one of them said to me.. "Haven't you heard of the news about Planet X Bikes?? Someone found out that they used more GLASS FIBER then carbon fiber."

I was planning in getting one of their carbon 50mm tubular wheels, but the staffs there strongly adviced against buying from them.. so.. I'm not as confident now to be honest. But so far, I've read a lot of positive reviews on their bikes and wheels, so I think it would be best if you get a test ride and see how you feel on them. (If they allow).

If this story is true then it's time for you to find a new LBS. Whenever salespeople talk such unsubstantiated and subjective BS then I take my money elsewhere.

To the OP, I've got an SL Pro Carbon and for the money you can't go wrong.
As well as almost daily rides of up to 60 miles it gets used for everything from 10mile TTs to century rides without any comfort issues, but getting your position right and having a good seatpost and the right saddle for you will add greatly to your comfort.

ahbtsang

Hey guys, like I said I was being told about that by my LBS.. I tried doing some research online about this but couldn't find anything... Well.. Originally I went in to my LBS wanted to ask about tubular rims and was asking if they had any opinions on planet x, and how much would they charge to build a pair of wheels. One of the staff, which wasn't the one serving me, joined our conversation and told us about the glass fibre story. then they were saying, since I'm spending this amount of money, it's better go to for a better brand like mavic, zipp or hed. They mostly sell Trek, and was suggesting one of the bontrager.

So more on the glass fibre story, here I'm just quoting what the guy told me. He said.. Someone online said he ripped the bike apart and found more glass fibre than carbon fibre inside... Whether that bike was a very old model, or recent, he ripped it due to an accident or on purpose, I don't know, and he never quoted the source.. But if this was true, then it could be quite scary.

I suppose planet x bikes are make in china, and likely to be from one of the common carbon fibre factories used to manufacture other bike brands. So I think, if the reviews have been positive, then they should be fine.. Probably I just need to find another LBS.. Lol :roll:

inseine

So more on the glass fibre story, here I'm just quoting what the guy told me. He said.. Someone online said he ripped the bike apart and found more glass fibre than carbon fibre inside...

This bloke told me he'd read something online, that your lbs was a load of c$$p!

cougie

Load of bull from that LBS.

How many Planet X bikes are out there ? 1000s. Go to a triathlon and you'll see a big part of the field on them.
Their old TT frame was even used by a pro team in the tour.

If they lie like that about others - what else would they lie about ?

epo-aholic

I've had a PX carbon SL pro and really enjoyed it. Really stiff and reletively light and ideal for what you want to use it for and if you decide to start racing it'll be fine for that too. For £1k you really cant go wrong, first upgrade would probabably be the wheels but only if you do decide to race on it.

As another poster said, there are thousands out there and i personally have only heard good things!

All the best

ChrisSA

GFRP? So what? I've been flying in GFRP gliders for the past 16 years.

CFRP just has a different material in it.

compositepro

Depends what kind of glass fibre

Certain kinds of glass are stronger (tensile strength) than carbon , It wouldn't bother me if there was glass fibre in it which coincidently there isn't, said bike shop boy is reciting an old rumour where manufacturer A was supposedly trying to make a bit extra profit by replacing carbon with supposedly cheaper glass hence making out the product to be crap, IF they had a clue Glassfibre in a carbon product is sometimes a good thing not neccesarily a cost saving cheating measure

This was probably a by product set off by company B who found glass fibre in their handlebar which coincidentally there may have been many years ago as certain carbon cloths were stitched together with a glass fibre weft to hold the fibres together THIS HAS BEEN DOING THE ROUNDS FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS.

petemadoc

This fibre glass issue shouldn't even be up for discussion!

If Planet X were selling carbon fibre frames and wheels that were made of fibre glass I think trading standards and a few owners of these bikes would be pretty unhappy.