Chinese Carbon Fibre Bars?

Vandiesel

I'm very tempted to get a set of CF bars made in China but have heard and read the rumours
Has or is anybody else using them with positive effect or are they just damn right dangerous?
Thanks
Andy

sloppyschleckonds

Why take the chance?

rickeverett

I went through this phase a while back.

In the end you can get some nice light aluminium bars. Carbon bars, seatposts and stems only save you a few grams here and there - prob 100-150g on average combined.

not worth it imo unless you are seriously wanting to cut weight everywhere which will equal new wheels and other bits of kit too.

Dont really know about rigidity or danger. Given a choice i would feel safe on alu bars but that's just down to trusting carbon.

Vandiesel

Thanks for the advice chaps albeit I'm not after weight saving if honest!
I'd like to hear if anybody has had "Fail" with these items?
I'm tempted by the cost being 2/3s cheaper!!

rickeverett

Vandiesel wrote:

Thanks for the advice chaps albeit I'm not after weight saving if honest!
I'd like to hear if anybody has had "Fail" with these items?
I'm tempted by the cost being 2/3s cheaper!!

The only thing to do is buy and try!

Theres some all-in-one carbon aero bars on ebay that look OK. Some are branded by the manufacturer themselves such as NESS and HYLIX. -

but again the total weights are 300-350g... my pretty standard Ritchy Aluminium bars and stem weigh 350-360 combined!

think carbon absorbs more of the vibe from roads but what about flex when standing up and powering down - you use your arms a and a fair bit of force doing that.

kajjal

Sounds like a bargain to me as direct Chinese sellers are renown for their high build standards and exacting quality control......

You do have health insurance ?

Vandiesel

I'll give them a punt

crankycrank

Vandiesel wrote:

I'm very tempted to get a set of CF bars made in China but have heard and read the rumours

Too general a question. Some are good, some dangerous. If you have a specific set of bars then post it here for people with experience to comment on. The main worry, even if they're quality is getting a warranty claim which even if they replace the faulty bars (no legal requirement for them to replace from China so no recourse for you if they don't) you may get stuck with postage. Check their return policies and if it's on Ebay look at the feedback comments.

diamonddog

No difference between carbon bars or alloy when riding IMO , £65 will get Ritchey WCS Logic II alloy bars about 230gm and available from Wiggle etc and no risk involved.

Vandiesel

Really very surprised nobody has given the a try!

chrisw12

I bought hylix branded carbon mtb bars 9 months go and have had no problems with them including some nastyish downhills. Took the plunge and bought some hylix road bars. Have clamped tri bars to them and been on the cobbles of Flanders and again no problems. Now bought a third set of 'flat top' drop bars which look rather good.

Advantages, I bought mine a lot cheaper than equivalent aluminium bars and they're lighter than most(all?) al bars I could find.

Disadvantage. To get them cheap I had to bid on ebay which could take up to 4 days plus two-three weeks delivery.

rickeverett

Checking out the weights of the eBay carbon bars they aren't any lighter.

Integrated ones go for 350-500g .. That's pretty heavy considering the ritchey alu ones quoted abive are 250g +100g stems.

FatTed

http://www.light-bicycle.com/carbon-roa ... -handlebar

I have a friend who rates their MTB rims, no idea about the bars.

StillGoing

rickeverett wrote:

Vandiesel wrote:

Thanks for the advice chaps albeit I'm not after weight saving if honest!
I'd like to hear if anybody has had "Fail" with these items?
I'm tempted by the cost being 2/3s cheaper!!

think carbon absorbs more of the vibe from roads but what about flex when standing up and powering down - you use your arms a and a fair bit of force doing that.

I have carbon integrated FSA Plasma compact bars and there is no noticable flex when standing or powering down. They absorb vibration a lot better than aluminium. Admittedly they aren't the cheap bars you get off Ebay, but I wasn't prepared to take the risk where bars came in to it.

bigmat

I bought my brother some of the Chinese carbon bars - they look good, no reported issues re sudden catastrophic failure. I think people need to consider how basic a product this is - its a carbon bar. If these people can't make one of those right, there's little hope for them. But the truth is, they can make them (and far more complex carbon componentry) perfectly adequately. Whether you consider carbon bars worthwhile or not is another matter - there's no massive weight benefit. They do dampen vibration (in my experience) but may be less stiff (depends on the exact bars being compared). They are also less likely to be fit to ride home after a smash, although in my experience no more likely to suffer irreperable damage.

Vandiesel

BigMat wrote:

I bought my brother some of the Chinese carbon bars - they look good, no reported issues re sudden catastrophic failure. I think people need to consider how basic a product this is - its a carbon bar. If these people can't make one of those right, there's little hope for them. But the truth is, they can make them (and far more complex carbon componentry) perfectly adequately. Whether you consider carbon bars worthwhile or not is another matter - there's no massive weight benefit. They do dampen vibration (in my experience) but may be less stiff (depends on the exact bars being compared). They are also less likely to be fit to ride home after a smash, although in my experience no more likely to suffer irreperable damage.

thats just the answer I've been looking for and many thanks .
I think and feel they are perceived as being inferior when in actual fact not many gave tried them!
I've heard of people on here that have bought Chinese frames and wheels with no dramas at a fraction of the cost!
Let's see!

Monty Dog

There's a lot of forgeries on ebay/Alibaba so make sure you go for a reputable seller.

francis666

Forget all the theoretical crap on here.

China is the biggest carbon bike/component manufacturer by far.

I weigh 18 stone and just rode the Thetforf Dusk Till Dawn with a set of Hylix MTB bars with integrated light mount.
Did they break, of course not and I fell off twice.
Look at my avatar, all Chinese carbon and if it can handle my 120 kilo weight up and down Surreys biggest hills (Ranmore, Boxhill, Whitedown, Leaf hill), it can handle yours.
You want to pay the extra price because it says "Specialized etc (who use Far East carbon), be a mug and go ahead.
Too much snobbery in this sport or yuppies with too much spare income.

On serious note, buy from Ebay with Paypal. Check the vendors feedback (99% at least). You will get your money back if it doesn’t show up, but allow about 3 weeks and perhaps a small customs duty.
The quality will be excellent but the wait can be annoying.

Vandiesel

francis666 wrote:

Forget all the theoretical crap on here.

China is the biggest carbon bike/component manufacturer by far.

I weigh 18 stone and just rode the Thetforf Dusk Till Dawn with a set of Hylix MTB bars with integrated light mount.
Did they break, of course not and I fell off twice.
Look at my avatar, all Chinese carbon and if it can handle my 120 kilo weight up and down Surreys biggest hills (Ranmore, Boxhill, Whitedown, Leaf hill), it can handle yours.
You want to pay the extra price because it says "Specialized etc (who use Far East carbon), be a mug and go ahead.
Too much snobbery in this sport or yuppies with too much spare income.

On serious note, buy from Ebay with Paypal. Check the vendors feedback (99% at least). You will get your money back if it doesn’t show up, but allow about 3 weeks and perhaps a small customs duty.
The quality will be excellent but the wait can be annoying.

Thanks for your honesty mate and tend to agree with some of your comments.

dennisn

Vandiesel wrote:

I'm very tempted to get a set of CF bars made in China but have heard and read the rumours
Has or is anybody else using them with positive effect or are they just damn right dangerous?
Thanks
Andy

If you have doubts why are you considering them? When you ask a question like that you'll get an equal number of responses from the yeas and the nays. If you have carbon paranoia then stay away from carbon. I don't follow all this carbon fear. Plenty of carbon frames and bunches of all things carbon are made in China.
Also why does where something is made have anything to do with quality?

Vandiesel

dennisn wrote:

Vandiesel wrote:

I'm very tempted to get a set of CF bars made in China but have heard and read the rumours
Has or is anybody else using them with positive effect or are they just damn right dangerous?
Thanks
Andy

If you have doubts why are you considering them? When you ask a question like that you'll get an equal number of responses from the yeas and the nays. If you have carbon paranoia then stay away from carbon. I don't follow all this carbon fear. Plenty of carbon frames and bunches of all things carbon are made in China.
Also why does where something is made have anything to do with quality?

I never mentioned doubt! I asked if anybody has used them with positive effect!
Have you used them?
You should also consider this is Forum!

dennisn

Vandiesel wrote:

dennisn wrote:

Vandiesel wrote:

I'm very tempted to get a set of CF bars made in China but have heard and read the rumours
Has or is anybody else using them with positive effect or are they just damn right dangerous?
Thanks
Andy

If you have doubts why are you considering them? When you ask a question like that you'll get an equal number of responses from the yeas and the nays. If you have carbon paranoia then stay away from carbon. I don't follow all this carbon fear. Plenty of carbon frames and bunches of all things carbon are made in China.
Also why does where something is made have anything to do with quality?

I never mentioned doubt! I asked if anybody has used them with positive effect!
Have you used them?
You should also consider this is Forum!

If you had no doubts then you would have those bars by now.

Vandiesel

Watch this space

Manc33

The carbon road bars on eBay seem to start at about £50 and weight 335g.

If an aluminium Ritchey is only £10 more and about that weight, why bother.

Don't forget if you need to post something back to China, postage costs are horrific.

I want to end up with carbon fiber everything possible, not just to save weight but to get vibration down more. Why have cotton when you can have silk for 1/5 the price.

I always thought these carbon items from China were simply made of carbon fiber and not lighter, I mean that is just assumed because they are carbon fiber, but they are knock offs. I don't know enough about it, maybe those £300 frames really are as light as a £1,500 frame with stickers on it. They do say "1050g" so yes, they are that light, the auction says that, on a frame costing £300.

limoneboy

Cycle division are doing Trigon carbon bars for £69.99 , i have had a pair of this and they are great bars also uk seller and have great rep , \Trigon make bars for FSA and many others .

adamfo

The Chinese websites are full of brand name fakes. The FSA carbon parts may look the same but the counterfeit stuff have subtle differences.
These look convincing at first glance but the heel logo on the left trainer is actually back to front. There are other small differences that only an existing owner would spot. They are all counterfeit.
http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?Sea ... 1130134840
I bought some inexpensive £85 Easton carbon bar from Wiggle.. Designed in the States and made over the border in Mexico. They cut out the high frequency buzz numbing my fingers I got with the cheapo Cannondale alloy ones.

DuncanKay

Well I took a punt on cheapo ebay carbon handlebars from a brand I'd never heard of and they've been superb. I bought GD Racing MARBLE CARBON 680mm Flat Handlebars for my 29er MTB and have used them for a year no problem. They cost about £49 and when they arrived they seemed really nicely made and weighed only 120g - a bargain as far as I can see. Don't forget most of the brand name stuff is made in China too:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/gobike88-GD-R ... 23301de90f

JoostG

I have a chinese no name handlebar on one bike and a no name integrated handlebar on the other bike. I rode around the 13000km in total since then. I agree with others that it isn't rocket science to produce handlebars, the chinese are experts, and they produce probably more than half of all carbon cycling products. Just stay away from fake and go for a seller with good feedback.

andy_wrx

All carbon is not the same, all alu is not the same.

Carbon can be built extremely stiff and it can be built very flexy, depending on the grade. the layup, the amount of carbon to resin, etc.

Alu can be extremely stiff or it can be very flexy, depending on the particular alloy used, tube thickness, etc

Simply saying carbon will absorb road buzz you get from alu is not correct - ultra stiff carbon bars could be worse...

crikey

I suspect that in a double blind test, not many people could tell the difference between carbon and alloy bars anyway, and that there is no performance advantage to either.

Telling too that there are a number of pro-cyclists who will opt for alloy bars...

I use cheap alloy bars; they work, and they're covered in bar-tape...

DKay

DuncanKay wrote:

Well I took a punt on cheapo ebay carbon handlebars from a brand I'd never heard of and they've been superb. I bought GD Racing MARBLE CARBON 680mm Flat Handlebars for my 29er MTB and have used them for a year no problem. They cost about £49 and when they arrived they seemed really nicely made and weighed only 120g - a bargain as far as I can see. Don't forget most of the brand name stuff is made in China too:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/gobike88-GD-R ... 23301de90f

Not even an introduction for your very first post, resurrecting a thread well over a year old ? What's your Chinese name Duncan?