eBay Carbon Forks

calumf50
calumf50 Posts: 16
edited February 2015 in Road buying advice
Hi, has anybody had any experience of these: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Full-Carbon-UD-Bike-Road-Front-Forks-700c-1-1-8-Threadless-Mail-1st-Class-/400754430129?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item5d4ed350b1

They look a similiair shape to Enve...

$_57.JPG

2.0enve.jpg

Sorry if this has been covered before, I did search... :roll:

Comments

  • rowlers
    rowlers Posts: 1,614
    I had a set of chinese carbon forks and they juddered under braking. This was on my old Ribble GF, so went back to original forks, juddering gone...
    Felt F1
    Deda Acciaio
    Pro6
    Cotic Soul
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    rowlers wrote:
    I had a set of chinese carbon forks and they juddered under braking. This was on my old Ribble GF, so went back to original forks, juddering gone...

    And, funny that you should say that, the forks in the pic also look remarkably like those on my Gran Fondo (albeit mine have an alloy steerer - presume yours did too hence the experiment with the Chinese forks?). Maybe that means my Gran Fondo has Enve forks! (or maybe not.....)

    OP - the only experience I have of the Chinese carbon was a pair of bottle cages. They were crap in so many ways aside from superficial appearance that it would worry me that the forks might come from the same factory!
    Faster than a tent.......
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    I have some full carbon forks on my Boardman carbon and can't fault them
  • calumf50
    calumf50 Posts: 16
    Rolf F wrote:
    rowlers wrote:

    OP - the only experience I have of the Chinese carbon was a pair of bottle cages. They were crap in so many ways aside from superficial appearance that it would worry me that the forks might come from the same factory!

    This is why I ask the question; as, cheap - eBay - forks, are three words that one side of me doesnt like to hear in the same sentence. The other side of me thinks well everything must be made in the same factory over there?

    Probably worth spending the extra money for peace of mind.
  • rowlers
    rowlers Posts: 1,614
    Rolf F wrote:
    rowlers wrote:
    I had a set of chinese carbon forks and they juddered under braking. This was on my old Ribble GF, so went back to original forks, juddering gone...

    And, funny that you should say that, the forks in the pic also look remarkably like those on my Gran Fondo (albeit mine have an alloy steerer - presume yours did too hence the experiment with the Chinese forks?). Maybe that means my Gran Fondo has Enve forks! (or maybe not.....)

    Yeah, I had the Alloy steerer and "upgraded" to the full carbon ones, soon downgraded though ;)
    calumf50 wrote:
    This is why I ask the question; as, cheap - eBay - forks, are three words that one side of me doesnt like to hear in the same sentence. The other side of me thinks well everything must be made in the same factory over there?

    Probably worth spending the extra money for peace of mind.

    I agree that most forks probably do come from the same factory, but for peace of mind I'd spend the extra ;)
    (Although loads of folk swear by chinese carbon frames - hong_fu and the like)
    Felt F1
    Deda Acciaio
    Pro6
    Cotic Soul
  • desweller
    desweller Posts: 5,175
    It's big place! There will be more than one factory!
    - - - - - - - - - -
    On Strava.{/url}
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Just check they are the reputable places. Hong fu, carbonzone etc and they'll be fine
  • stevie63
    stevie63 Posts: 481
    Reading the description, I think I would be concerned buying from somewhere that said the following:

    Special design, so that he can be installed almost anywhere, Waterproof and more concise handlebar

    What on earth does that mean?
  • bigmat
    bigmat Posts: 5,134
    Been riding Chinese carbon forks for the last 8 years without any incidents, they are superlight (330g) and the carbon weave is a perfect match for my frame. From recollection, they were from a UK eBay seller though, so I guess some confidence that if things went wrong you might have someone to pursue. FWIW, like Rolf my Chinese carbon bottle cages were utter c**p and have long since been replaced with cheap alloy ones. I guess it's a bit of a lottery and for that reason alone I can understand why people wouldn't want to mess around with carbon forks.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/41991871@N ... otostream/
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    I'd have thought forks would be one place not to buy cheap. Just because they look similar doesnt't mean they're expensive ones without the stickers. Buy from a reputable outlet.
  • Grill
    Grill Posts: 5,610
    Ride at your own risk. Personally not a risk I would take.

    Also, just because it looks like an ENVE fork does not make it so (the 1.0 is made in the US and the 2.0 is from Taiwan and both have very complex layups). Take a look at the Chinese S-Works saddles (now the McLaren) compared to the genuine article and just the difference in flex is frightening.
    English Cycles V3 | Cervelo P5 | Cervelo T4 | Trek Domane Koppenberg
  • dirtymonkey1985
    dirtymonkey1985 Posts: 529
    I bought a pair of the exact ones in the picture. Never fitted them as the finish was shocking and i just didn't have any confidence in them. Ended up with a pair of Enve 2.0's instead after a bit of budgeting. Still have the chinese ones in my workshop!
    Scott Foil - viewtopic.php?f=40044&t=12982779
  • The secret rider
    The secret rider Posts: 812
    I've been looking at these forks too. . . mostly because i have a cheap bike with alloy forks and no money :)

    £34.99 if i remember right.

    Thing is im not sure I can trust them. If they 'go wrong' its not going to be a pretty sight especially if going at speed !

    Saying that many reports of faultless running . . guess rider weight plays a part.
  • man+machine
    man+machine Posts: 8
    http://uis-carbon.en.alibaba.com/produc ... _Fork.html

    Have purchased this fork and my frame (also from Zhongwei) in use since April 2014, with approximately 3600 miles.
    I chose to buy direct from the manufacturer rather than eBay (most of the Alibaba sellers have stores on eBay)
    And there are hundreds of Re-Sellers on eBay for the Chinese/Taiwanese carbon bikes and parts, but only a handful of actual manufactures.

    Very pleased with my frame and fork so far...
  • The secret rider
    The secret rider Posts: 812
    man+machine wrote:
    http://uis-carbon.en.alibaba.com/product/1494842846-212987509/2014_OEM_700C_Bicycle_Fork_New_Super_High_Quality_Full_Carbon_Front_Fork.html

    Have purchased this fork and my frame (also from Zhongwei) in use since April 2014, with approximately 3600 miles.
    I chose to buy direct from the manufacturer rather than eBay (most of the Alibaba sellers have stores on eBay)
    And there are hundreds of Re-Sellers on eBay for the Chinese/Taiwanese carbon bikes and parts, but only a handful of actual manufactures.

    Very pleased with my frame and fork so far...

    Do you have pictures of the actual fork as the ones on that site look shabby as anything :) Im sure thats not how they really look in the flesh thanks
  • man+machine
    man+machine Posts: 8
    Here are some links to my build

    https://theroadsofascension.wordpress.c ... -test-day/

    https://theroadsofascension.wordpress.c ... 02-review/

    You could also purchase from the official rep, velobuild
  • Welsh boy
    Welsh boy Posts: 38
    man+machine wrote:
    Here are some links to my build

    https://theroadsofascension.wordpress.c ... -test-day/

    https://theroadsofascension.wordpress.c ... 02-review/

    You could also purchase from the official rep, velobuild

    So basically, what you are describing is a pile of crap and not a good advert for cheap Chinese imports. When you think that you have to play around with tyre profile to get a bike to handle properly you should just accept that you have bought a pig in a poke. What will happen when your perfect tyre profile (if you ever find one) starts to wear after a few hundred miles and you are left with an ill handling bike again?
    I admire your enthusiasm in trying to work around the shortfall of a cheap buy but I dont think you are selling it to the rest of us.
  • bigmat
    bigmat Posts: 5,134
    Welsh boy wrote:
    man+machine wrote:
    Here are some links to my build

    https://theroadsofascension.wordpress.c ... -test-day/

    https://theroadsofascension.wordpress.c ... 02-review/

    You could also purchase from the official rep, velobuild

    So basically, what you are describing is a pile of crap and not a good advert for cheap Chinese imports. When you think that you have to play around with tyre profile to get a bike to handle properly you should just accept that you have bought a pig in a poke. What will happen when your perfect tyre profile (if you ever find one) starts to wear after a few hundred miles and you are left with an ill handling bike again?
    I admire your enthusiasm in trying to work around the shortfall of a cheap buy but I dont think you are selling it to the rest of us.

    Eh? What I read was a refreshingly honest review rather than the usual "my bike is brilliant" waste of space. Sounds like it maybe isn't the right frame for him, but that doesn't make it a "pile of crap" does it?
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/41991871@N ... otostream/
  • man+machine
    man+machine Posts: 8
    edited February 2015
    It's clear you're a blithering muppet...who didn't bother to read the vittoria tyre post and-or subsequent posts on the bike. As far as the tyres go...3500+ miles so far. After a couple of stem changes, bike handles like it is on rails. I suggest before you go spewing crap out of your ill informed piehole. You research first...

    And as far as trying to "sell" you something, I could give a SH*T less about what YOU buy. At just under 17lbs, for a total of 1748 usd, with the Gruppo, Cranks and wheelset, it's as good as ANY 3500 usd bike out there.

    Welsh boy wrote:
    man+machine wrote:
    Here are some links to my build

    https://theroadsofascension.wordpress.c ... -test-day/

    https://theroadsofascension.wordpress.c ... 02-review/

    You could also purchase from the official rep, velobuild

    So basically, what you are describing is a pile of crap and not a good advert for cheap Chinese imports. When you think that you have to play around with tyre profile to get a bike to handle properly you should just accept that you have bought a pig in a poke. What will happen when your perfect tyre profile (if you ever find one) starts to wear after a few hundred miles and you are left with an ill handling bike again?
    I admire your enthusiasm in trying to work around the shortfall of a cheap buy but I dont think you are selling it to the rest of us.
  • man+machine
    man+machine Posts: 8
    edited February 2015
    Thanks Mat, I appreciate your feedback, because that's exactly what I tried to provide. An honest, unbiased review.
    BigMat wrote:
    Welsh boy wrote:
    man+machine wrote:
    Here are some links to my build

    https://theroadsofascension.wordpress.c ... -test-day/

    https://theroadsofascension.wordpress.c ... 02-review/

    You could also purchase from the official rep, velobuild

    So basically, what you are describing is a pile of crap and not a good advert for cheap Chinese imports. When you think that you have to play around with tyre profile to get a bike to handle properly you should just accept that you have bought a pig in a poke. What will happen when your perfect tyre profile (if you ever find one) starts to wear after a few hundred miles and you are left with an ill handling bike again?
    I admire your enthusiasm in trying to work around the shortfall of a cheap buy but I dont think you are selling it to the rest of us.

    Eh? What I read was a refreshingly honest review rather than the usual "my bike is brilliant" waste of space. Sounds like it maybe isn't the right frame for him, but that doesn't make it a "pile of crap" does it?
  • man+machine
    man+machine Posts: 8
    man+machine wrote:
    Thanks Mat, I appreciate your feedback, because that's exactly what I tried to provide. An honest, unbiased review.
    BigMat wrote:
    Welsh boy wrote:
    man+machine wrote:
    Here are some links to my build

    https://theroadsofascension.wordpress.c ... -test-day/

    https://theroadsofascension.wordpress.c ... 02-review/

    You could also purchase from the official rep, velobuild

    So basically, what you are describing is a pile of crap and not a good advert for cheap Chinese imports. When you think that you have to play around with tyre profile to get a bike to handle properly you should just accept that you have bought a pig in a poke. What will happen when your perfect tyre profile (if you ever find one) starts to wear after a few hundred miles and you are left with an ill handling bike again?
    I admire your enthusiasm in trying to work around the shortfall of a cheap buy but I dont think you are selling it to the rest of us.

    Eh? What I read was a refreshingly honest review rather than the usual "my bike is brilliant" waste of space. Sounds like it maybe isn't the right frame for him, but that doesn't make it a "pile of crap" does it?
    BigMat wrote:
    Welsh boy wrote:
    man+machine wrote:
    Here are some links to my build

    https://theroadsofascension.wordpress.c ... -test-day/

    https://theroadsofascension.wordpress.c ... 02-review/

    You could also purchase from the official rep, velobuild

    So basically, what you are describing is a pile of crap and not a good advert for cheap Chinese imports. When you think that you have to play around with tyre profile to get a bike to handle properly you should just accept that you have bought a pig in a poke. What will happen when your perfect tyre profile (if you ever find one) starts to wear after a few hundred miles and you are left with an ill handling bike again?
    I admire your enthusiasm in trying to work around the shortfall of a cheap buy but I dont think you are selling it to the rest of us.

    Eh? What I read was a refreshingly honest review rather than the usual "my bike is brilliant" waste of space. Sounds like it maybe isn't the right frame for him, but that doesn't make it a "pile of crap" does it?
  • Welsh boy
    Welsh boy Posts: 38
    Oops, seems like i touched a raw nerve there. Anyway, the points i picked up from the reviews were:
    The front end feels a bit less stable at higher speeds, which does not inspire confidence on descents.
    ...less stable steering feel. This is something I will need to sort out, or at least find a compromised setup
    The bike seems to have a split-personality, with respect to overall chassis design. Something of an engineering flaw
    It’s not at all smooth and/or controllable over rough roads it’s a one-trick pony
    ...very disappointed with the bike’s ability to track over unstable roads

    But there you go, I am sure that if I research the tyre post I will change my mind.

    Its a shame that you feel you have to get nasty with me for airing my opinion.
  • man+machine
    man+machine Posts: 8
    Welsh boy wrote:
    Oops, seems like i touched a raw nerve there. Anyway, the points i picked up from the reviews were:
    The front end feels a bit less stable at higher speeds, which does not inspire confidence on descents.
    ...less stable steering feel. This is something I will need to sort out, or at least find a compromised setup
    The bike seems to have a split-personality, with respect to overall chassis design. Something of an engineering flaw
    It’s not at all smooth and/or controllable over rough roads it’s a one-trick pony
    ...very disappointed with the bike’s ability to track over unstable roads

    But there you go, I am sure that if I research the tyre post I will change my mind.

    Its a shame that you feel you have to get nasty with me for airing my opinion.


    If you had aired your 'opinion' in a respectful manner in the first place, I would have replied in a respectful manner.
    But since you CHOSE to be a dbag about it, I reciprocated...

    I initially installed an 80mm stem, which made the front end feel twitchy, because of the relatively shorter trail. Then I went to a 90mm, which improved it slightly but then ultimately I installed a 100mm stem which (again if you bothered to do the follow up research on subsequent posts you would have read) -that now the bike is solid and stable with the 100mm stem.

    But you DIDN'T bother, rather instead voiced your opinion before knowing all the facts about all of the review posts on the bike and its componentry. What is a really a shame, is that you do not bother to do any research beyond a posted link. That falls on you mate not me.
  • SimonCHAN
    SimonCHAN Posts: 1
    I bought an Enve 1.0 in September and found there is a Chinese character on it.
    I afraid that 1.0 is no longer made in the US.

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