Best carbon frame under £500?

petehendrick
petehendrick Posts: 10
edited February 2012 in Road buying advice
I've got a 2009 BMC Streetfire SSX, which I find too harsh a ride - ali frame with carbon fork. It's got 105 groupset and decent wheels (planet X) and tyres, so am considering buying a new frame and having my LBS swap the BMC frame out and then selling it on ebay. seems more sensible to do that than to spend circa 1200 on a new carbon bike that prob has an inferior groupset - unless anyone can persuade otherwise?

Any advice on the best carbon frame/fork combo i can get for under £500? Have obviously looked at the Planet X but reviews state it's a bit too soft at the front end and being 90kg and living in the Surrey Hills, it needs to be fairly stiff (whist being comfortable). Not going to touch Ribble as poor rep for service. Any suggestions outside of these two please?

Comments

  • Wirral_paul
    Wirral_paul Posts: 2,476
    FM028 from China - more like £350 from Ebay (inc delivery) and various online traders direct. I've got one and it rides really nicely -very comfortable but no discernable flex under power. I'm a similar weight to you and have proper Welsh hills nearby. I also have a 1:10 climb on my doorstep that i have little choice but ride up to go anywhere.
  • CYCLESPORT1
    CYCLESPORT1 Posts: 471
    You can't have the "Best" carbon frame for under £500 as is will be rubbish :lol:
  • mfin
    mfin Posts: 6,729
    The best £500 frame would most likely be a secondhand one, something that was £1500-£2000 5 years ago in mint condition? ...only throwing the thought in there.
  • Wirral_paul
    Wirral_paul Posts: 2,476
    CYCLESPORT1 wrote:
    You can't have the "Best" carbon frame for under £500 as is will be rubbish :lol:

    I dont even know where to start with such a silly comment!! So because a £500 (or less) Far East carbon frame doesnt have a fancy paint job and a few stickers to turn it into a £1000 frame (or a Ribble / Planet-X at much more sensible prices) means it will be rubbish?? lol
  • turnerjohn
    turnerjohn Posts: 1,069
    as above....Planet X are great as are Ribble. You get the guarrenty if anything goes pear shaped which you obviously don't with the china ones....and before anyone says yes their both made in China or alike but least their quality controlled !! Personally I wouldn't go for the China one...everyone knows their not great when it comes to copying stuff !
  • petehendrick
    petehendrick Posts: 10
    Anyone ridden or heard much about Pedal Force framesets?
  • CYCLESPORT1
    CYCLESPORT1 Posts: 471
    I was refering to the RRP :)
    But look at this:
    http://www.parker-international.co.uk/1 ... -Fork.html
    Wirral_Paul wrote:
    CYCLESPORT1 wrote:
    You can't have the "Best" carbon frame for under £500 as is will be rubbish :lol:

    I dont even know where to start with such a silly comment!! So because a £500 (or less) Far East carbon frame doesnt have a fancy paint job and a few stickers to turn it into a £1000 frame (or a Ribble / Planet-X at much more sensible prices) means it will be rubbish?? lol
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Oh dear, those poor unscrupulous Chinese getting grief again - as soon as our western backs are turned they want to rip us off and palm-off poor quality product. If we weren't watching them, they'd be making them from papier mache! Get real, there isnt a carbon frame out there for less that £2k that isn't made in China! If you want to pay £1000extra for a paintjob and a warranty, don't ley us stop you, but underneath is a £200 frame
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • stoobydale
    stoobydale Posts: 535
    Monty Dog wrote:
    Oh dear, those poor unscrupulous Chinese getting grief again - as soon as our western backs are turned they want to rip us off and palm-off poor quality product. If we weren't watching them, they'd be making them from papier mache! Get real, there isnt a carbon frame out there for less that £2k that isn't made in China! If you want to pay £1000extra for a paintjob and a warranty, don't ley us stop you, but underneath is a £200 frame

    Well said, don't have a "chinarello" my self but not opposed to buying one. Personally I like Argon18 as they were little known and I thought they were a good price, ie not paying too much for the name, paint job and stickers.
  • Velonutter
    Velonutter Posts: 2,437
    Monty Dog wrote:
    Oh dear, those poor unscrupulous Chinese getting grief again - as soon as our western backs are turned they want to rip us off and palm-off poor quality product. If we weren't watching them, they'd be making them from papier mache! Get real, there isnt a carbon frame out there for less that £2k that isn't made in China! If you want to pay £1000extra for a paintjob and a warranty, don't ley us stop you, but underneath is a £200 frame

    Yep +2

    Both my son and daughter ride Chinese Frames, my daughters 48cm comes in at 980g and my sons which is a 58cm comes in at 1040g.

    Superb frames nicely built clean threads, nice geometry and good finish.

    A pro rider will ride whatever he is given and not moan about his tools.

    Oh forgot to mention both frames were £210 + Carriage!
  • greasedscotsman
    greasedscotsman Posts: 6,962
    Have you thought about running some slightly fatter tyres with a little less pressure? Might take some of the harshness out of the frame and would be cheaper to do than buying a new frameset.
  • flasher
    flasher Posts: 1,734
    greasedscotsman wrote:
    Have you thought about running some slightly fatter tyres with a little less pressure? Might take some of the harshness out of the frame and would be cheaper to do than buying a new frameset.

    Way too sensible, where's the fun in that!
  • petehendrick
    petehendrick Posts: 10
    Velonutter - would you be able to share where they bought theirs please?
  • Velonutter
    Velonutter Posts: 2,437
    petehendrick wrote:
    Velonutter - would you be able to share where they bought theirs please?

    Check out the following thread, all the details are in there: -

    viewtopic.php?f=40042&t=12751016&hilit=Chinese+Carbon+Frame
  • beeroclock
    beeroclock Posts: 80
    Ok, not carbon, but if the size fits my money would go here :

    viewtopic.php?f=40049&t=12836166

    If your seeking a more comfortable ride - you can't beat a bit of titanium. Its what I us for my daily ride now.

    cheers philip
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    Monty Dog wrote:
    Oh dear, those poor unscrupulous Chinese getting grief again - as soon as our western backs are turned they want to rip us off and palm-off poor quality product. If we weren't watching them, they'd be making them from papier mache! Get real, there isnt a carbon frame out there for less that £2k that isn't made in China! If you want to pay £1000extra for a paintjob and a warranty, don't ley us stop you, but underneath is a £200 frame

    To be fair though, someone who is nervous of buying from Ribble is not likely to be an enthusiastic direct customer for a Chinese frame with the minimal and effectively expensive warranties those come with.
    Faster than a tent.......
  • petemadoc
    petemadoc Posts: 2,331
    petehendrick wrote:

    Any advice on the best carbon frame/fork combo i can get for under £500? Have obviously looked at the Planet X but reviews state it's a bit too soft at the front end and being 90kg and living in the Surrey Hills, it needs to be fairly stiff (whist being comfortable). Not going to touch Ribble as poor rep for service. Any suggestions outside of these two please?

    For £500 then there aren't really any other options other than Planet x, Ribble and direct from China.

    I got my frame from carbonzone on ebay. Service and delivery time was excellent for me but there is a risk involved. If something goes wrong it can be difficult to amend. For the money though it is probably worth the risk.

    As Monty said any frame under £2K will likely be of a similar quality and made in the far east. Prices vary based on paint jobs and distribution channels.
  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    if you are prepared to go s/hand then some tidy 2010ish Giant TCR advanced framesets go for around £500 these days.
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • The Spiderman
    The Spiderman Posts: 5,625
    I bought a complete and immaculate 2010 Giant Defy Advanced for £820. on ebay.Find something similar and sell the unwanted bits?
    2006 Giant XTC
    2010 Giant Defy Advanced
    2016 Boardman Pro 29er
    2016 Pinnacle Lithium 4
    2017 Canondale Supersix Evo
  • Velonutter
    Velonutter Posts: 2,437
    maddog 2 wrote:
    if you are prepared to go s/hand then some tidy 2010ish Giant TCR advanced framesets go for around £500 these days.

    There's one for £220 in the for sales at the moment!
  • jonbristol
    jonbristol Posts: 83
    I agree with the majority of posters. Get a second hand frame, likely to be properly made and developed - though you wont know if it has been crashed or how it has been looked after.

    Why carbon? A good aluminium frame will be less money and most likely much, much better and probably lighter than a brand new 'carbon' frame at this price.
  • rake
    rake Posts: 3,204
    how will it be much much better. :?:
  • RedJohn
    RedJohn Posts: 272
    What size do you need? I'm seriously considering selling my Storck Scenario C1.2, size Large (57cm), because it's a little small for me. I've ridden it about 2000 miles. I'd discuss around the £500 mark.
  • Wirral_paul
    Wirral_paul Posts: 2,476
    jonbristol wrote:
    Why carbon? A good aluminium frame will be less money and most likely much, much better and probably lighter than a brand new 'carbon' frame at this price.

    My FM028 is barely over 1100g (54cm - with integrated seat post) and the fork is light too at around 360g after cutting the steerer. It rides and handles far better than any aluminium frame i've ever owned.

    God knows where this assumption that Chinese carbon frames are poor quality and literally fall apart comes from! I did a lot of research before i bought and there are very few reports of failure - i saw more big name frames that had broken reported.

    I've only ever had one frame break on me - and that was an aluminium mtb frame that cracked across the base of a weld!! That was a very expensive Tomac frame.

    Cracksinframe002.jpg
  • RedJohn
    RedJohn Posts: 272
    Practically all carbon frames are made in China.
    I think Time are made in France, some Italian brands are made in Italy, virtually everything else is China.

    That doesn't mean they're all the same though, there are different grades of carbon, different ways of using it, also simply different geometries. There are also several different factories in China making them.

    I would certainly never (nowadays) conclude that made in China = poor quality.
    Of course the opposite is not necessarily true!
  • CYCLESPORT1
    CYCLESPORT1 Posts: 471
    http://www.manufacturers.com.tw/bicycle ... frame.html
    Interesting link :!:
    RedJohn wrote:
    Practically all carbon frames are made in China.
    I think Time are made in France, some Italian brands are made in Italy, virtually everything else is China.

    That doesn't mean they're all the same though, there are different grades of carbon, different ways of using it, also simply different geometries. There are also several different factories in China making them.

    I would certainly never (nowadays) conclude that made in China = poor quality.
    Of course the opposite is not necessarily true!
  • kingrollo
    kingrollo Posts: 3,198
    the planet x carbon frame was available for £300 last time I looked.

    or the ribble nero corsa - my mate has one of these and in the flesh it is very nice bike indeed. £295

    http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-t ... IBBFRAR910

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