Worthwhile upgrade over Planet X pro carbon?

flopstocks

Hello,

Thinking about upgrading from my Pro Carbon Rival 22, and have found this

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXRT80CMP/planet-x-rt-80-comp-capagnolo-athena-road-bike

As it's 7.07KG it is over 1KG lighter than my current setup, just wondering what the opinion was on this.

Thanks

cookeeemonster

That's a shockingly low weight for a bike that price! Wonder how they do it? I've seen plenty of 2k bikes recently that struggle to get much (if at all) below 8kg

flopstocks

Yeah exactly what I thought. My mates £2.5k bike is about the same weight

bendertherobot

I'd be slightly wary of weights. Athena is 200g heavier than Ultegra, yet the Ultegra is listed at 7.5kg. Fulcrum wheels on that might be heavier than the Khamsins but I doubt they are 600g heavier.....( I think they might be heavier than the Khamsin by 150g or so but that doesn't really offset the lighter Ultegra)

That said the RT80 Ultegra refers to disc wheels and that may be an error in its own listing.

paulc33

I found my extremely light weight px pro carbon flexed a lot and was twitchy at speed.

I upgraded to a specialized Carbon frame of a similar weight slightly heavier and find it much more stable.

I think Planet X frames are light but you get what you pay for a. Mass produced carbon frame of poor layering.

fenix

I've seen the flexy thing talked about with the earlier Pro Carbon frames - but not heard the same about any of their other frames. I've the N2A and love that bike. Its faster uphill than my mates S-works. ;-)

Matthewfalle

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19756928#p19756928]paulc33[/url] wrote:

I found my extremely light weight px pro carbon flexed a lot and was twitchy at speed.

I upgraded to a specialized Carbon frame of a similar weight slightly heavier and find it much more stable.

I think Planet X frames are light but you get what you pay for a. Mass produced carbon frame of poor layering.

So the same as 90% of every other sub £2k bicycle then. And probably from the same factory as your bike, made in the mould next to yours by the same dude/dudette.

The P/X frames are actually very good value for money - if the all round componentry and frame is better then yes, its an upgrade.

if it makes you feel happy then yes, its an upgrade.

And its not actually that much money.

If you hate it, just sell it. Jobs a fish.

ravey1981

I am looking at one of these to replace my pro carbon for next summer but will probably go down the frame only option and keep the kit from my current bike. The frames are actually a hong-fu fm066 frame which are pretty well respected on various bike sites. Buying direct can get you a lighter frame than the px as it has no paint. But on the minus side, it has no paint, and I quite like the px paint schemes..... decisions, decisions....

http://www.hongfu-bikes.com/html_products/2013-new-road-HF-FM066-266.html

paulc33

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19757037#p19757037]Matthewfalle[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19756928#p19756928]paulc33[/url] wrote:

I found my extremely light weight px pro carbon flexed a lot and was twitchy at speed.

I upgraded to a specialized Carbon frame of a similar weight slightly heavier and find it much more stable.

I think Planet X frames are light but you get what you pay for a. Mass produced carbon frame of poor layering.

So the same as 90% of every other sub £2k bicycle then. And probably from the same factory as your bike, made in the mould next to yours by the same dude/dudette

I doubt my S-Works in made in the same factory. but yes a lot of carbon frames are all made there.

The PX N2A is a very different frame to the pro carbons and a lot of reviews stat they flex.

I agree with what you say though if it makes you happy and its an upgrade give it a go. Nothing to lose.

I have to say the new Aero PX frame looks good, interested to see what the reviews say on that one, Not the usual cheap price from them either so will it be value for money.....

pblakeney

Just to show that PX are not just budget frames.

http://www.planetx.co.uk/news/products/q/date/2013/07/02/stealth-in-the-tdf

rickeverett

The RT 90 frameset is awsome. Stiff and light and layers slightly different to the RT80 using the same frame as planet x viner mitus which has excellent reviews.


Love mine. The comments of dodgy cheap layups etc are bollocks. Just brand snobbery which is massive in the cycling world with no grounding or truths.

ravey1981

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19757772#p19757772]rickeverett[/url] wrote:

The RT 90 frameset is awsome. Stiff and light and layers slightly different to the RT80 using the same frame as planet x viner mitus which has excellent reviews.


Love mine. The comments of dodgy cheap layups etc are ****. Just brand snobbery which is massive in the cycling world with no grounding or truths.

Whaaaaat? You mean that specialized frames aren't made by americans who delicately lay up the carbon whilst singing the star spangled banner??

The Chinese stuff might be a step behind in terms of the latest technology as they don't do their own r&d but copy (and I use that word in the best possible way) the best designs or trends of the mainstream manufacturers, however I have no doubt that the quality of workmanship is good. They are not stupid, if you make crap you don't sell much of it these days. I've been very happy with my px pro-carbon (cheap Chinese frame) and its only because I fancy a change rather than needing an upgrade that I'm contemplating changing it.

The px rt90 is the fm066sl frame, its made with toray 1000 rather than the 800 of the rt80, no idea what that means in real terms but bigger numbers are better, right?

I'm more than happy to ride a bike that costs less than some peoples frame. Vfm = chinese, or chinese with uk backup etc ala planet x, ribble etc if thats what you prefer.

theraggyone

Upgraded my pro carbon to a viner mitus a couple of months back, brought the frame and swapped parts across ( viner mitus is the same frame as the rt90). The geometry is more racey and the steering is snappier which is what I wanted, its the same geometry as the canondale supersix.

Its definatly stiffer I used to see the bottom bracket area flex in my trainer with my pro carbon the viner doesnt. The steering is more direct, it looks better/more modern and its a little lighter mine wieghs in at 7.5kg with pedals.

I liked my pro carbon but I love my viner mitus and im faster on it ( it might be in my mind though lol). I did swap from a medium to a small frame though as I always found my pro carbon to be right on my top limit size wise the small fits like a glove.


Hope that helps. Check the link in my signature if you want to see the bike

flopstocks

Good too see mate

Out of interest how tall are you? There are some small Viner Mitus bikes in the clearance, I am 5'9" so wondering if I could chance the small frame also.

theraggyone

im 5ft 7 and a half fits me perfectly with a 110mm stem

flopstocks

Ah, I was going to go for this bike

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/YBSH937904/planet-x-rt-90-comp-road-bike---small---carbon--neon-green

There is a 10% voucher so could have been mine for £900, after speaking with Planet X they said small would be too crampt with me being 5'9"

balb0wa

I had a XL pro carbon, got it cheap earlier this year with a 20% code, i put a 100mm stem on it and i was still stretching too much.

I think if you are 5ft 7 to 5ft 11 you can get away with a small, im 6ft , i tried my brother in laws medium pro carbon in the summer and i still think that is slightly too big.

Id get away with a small and get the saddle up and maybe 110-120 bar stem.

They say you can make a small bike bigger but cant make a big bike smaller, very true!

ravey1981

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19758856#p19758856]flopstocks[/url] wrote:

Ah, I was going to go for this bike

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/YBSH937904/planet-x-rt-90-comp-road-bike---small---carbon--neon-green

There is a 10% voucher so could have been mine for £900, after speaking with Planet X they said small would be too crampt with me being 5'9"

You need a medium. I'm 5'10 and my medium fits me great.

cadseen

I see Planet-x are running a stock liquidation sale at the moment.
Didnt see any frames though.

balb0wa

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19759923#p19759923]cadseen[/url] wrote:

I see Planet-x are running a stock liquidation sale at the moment.
Didnt see any frames though.

RT90 frame for £399

flopstocks

I seen the frames on special, but price rises to £499 when clicking on my size

diamonddog

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19760013#p19760013]flopstocks[/url] wrote:

I seen the frames on special, but price rises to £499 when clicking on my size

Still a good buy at £499 IMO.