Hongfu Frame issue

remidq
remidq Posts: 19
edited February 2020 in Road buying advice
Hi all

I just received my new hongfu frame (LINK)

but i am unsure of what to think about this huge hole close to the bottom bracket...



What do yo guys think, is it ridable?

After receiving the frame I had a look at the forum for people who bought from this shop and I have to admit it seems like I made a costly mistake
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Comments

  • StillGoing
    StillGoing Posts: 5,211
    Looks like an access port to help with cable threading and there should be a cover going over it?
    I ride a bike. Doesn't make me green or a tree hugger. I drive a car too.
  • thistle_
    thistle_ Posts: 7,218
    StillGoing said:

    Looks like an access port to help with cable threading and there should be a cover going over it?

    +1
    Looks normal and I'd expect there to be a cover plate of some sort to go over it.
  • remidq
    remidq Posts: 19
    I could not find any other manufacturers that drilled such huge openings for that. Ok so I guess it is not too alarming
  • step83
    step83 Posts: 4,170
    Did it come with a cover though?
    Titanium Px Spitfire
    Easty commuter
    Tripster AT
  • remidq
    remidq Posts: 19
    step83 said:

    Did it come with a cover though?

    Yes for the big hole but it looks bad, and it does not cover the 2 small holes above it
  • darkhairedlord
    darkhairedlord Posts: 7,180
    Have you tried one of the chinese bike import forums?
    What do they look like built up?
  • fenix
    fenix Posts: 5,437
    That hole is the same as on the pics on the website.

    Why did you buy it if you think it's a problem ?

    Tbh I don't see the issue but if you're risk averse why did you buy the frame in the first place ? Go to your LBS in future.
  • remidq
    remidq Posts: 19
    fenix said:

    That hole is the same as on the pics on the website.


    Clearly it was not as described...
  • remidq
    remidq Posts: 19
    edited February 2020
    darkhairedlord said:

    Have you tried one of the chinese bike import forums?
    What do they look like built up?

    What brought me to buy it from China was this video:
    CARBON BIKE BUILD, for less than £730!!!

    But now I am starting to feel like buying an aluminum frame from a reputable company would have been a 1000x better idea
  • step83
    step83 Posts: 4,170
    remidq said:

    step83 said:

    Did it come with a cover though?

    Yes for the big hole but it looks bad, and it does not cover the 2 small holes above it
    What Deng Fu model is it? I have a Dengfu FM066 I would have killed for a cable access like that, it'll be for shoving Di2 gubbins in plus makes internal cable routing a heck of a lot easier.
    Titanium Px Spitfire
    Easty commuter
    Tripster AT
  • remidq
    remidq Posts: 19
    I think they call this model Avenger R7...

    For me I dont really care about easy cable routing as I am using the SRAM Force eTap groupset: only the rear break cable is going through the frame
  • darkhairedlord
    darkhairedlord Posts: 7,180
    or just buy this for 899

  • remidq
    remidq Posts: 19
    edited February 2020
    Looks like a good bike but I was after a 1X drive with disc brakes ( we all have been in a descent after the rain and experienced the 0 braking force of the rim brakes!)
  • svetty
    svetty Posts: 1,904
    edited February 2020
    There's nothing wrong with the frame - and other posters with an apparent axe to grind against Chinese 'direct to customer' frame sales don't really contribute to helping you.....
    FFS! Harden up and grow a pair :D
  • veronese68
    veronese68 Posts: 27,864
    I don't think anyone has an axe to grind, all of the comments seem perfectly reasonable. Buying from the far side of the world makes it a lot harder if there are any issues, so there is an element of risk compared to buying locally. So saying for the risk averse buying locally is a good idea is not unreasonable.
    There are definitely advantages to buying direct from China, but there are also downsides. Each person has to consider what is important to them when making the decision.
    Kinesis Pro6
    Marin Nail Trail
    Cotic Solaris
  • StillGoing
    StillGoing Posts: 5,211
    Have you contacted the manufacturer to ask them if it is correct, what its for and whether the cover should cover all holes?
    I ride a bike. Doesn't make me green or a tree hugger. I drive a car too.
  • remidq
    remidq Posts: 19
    edited February 2020
    StillGoing said:

    Have you contacted the manufacturer to ask them if it is correct, what its for and whether the cover should cover all holes?

    I am still waiting for an answer from Hongfu, the chinese new year is over now, I should get a response hopefully within a month


  • me-109
    me-109 Posts: 1,915
    I'm sure you could get a couple of rubber grommets from a motor factors or fit place that would suffice.
  • remidq
    remidq Posts: 19
    me-109 said:

    I'm sure you could get a couple of rubber grommets from a motor factors or fit place that would suffice.

    Would you be happy about that if you paid $1200 for it?
  • fenix
    fenix Posts: 5,437
    Its on the photos of the frame on the website. CF is incredibly strong and there is a lot of material in the area to make it strong.

    I really don't understand your worry. You're the one who was happy paying that much for a Chinese frame in the first place.
  • w00dster
    w00dster Posts: 880
    It looks absolutely fine to me, Nice big port for Di2 and cabling plus drain holes. I’ve had bikes with that large port and it was fine. Understand you’re not going to use the port, but it’s part of the design of the frame.

    As an example, while it’s not the same have a look at the underside of this....

    https://cyclingtips.com/2019/08/cannondale-topstone-carbon-long-term-review-a-superb-ride-a-few-quirks/



  • me-109
    me-109 Posts: 1,915
    remidq said:

    me-109 said:

    I'm sure you could get a couple of rubber grommets from a motor factors or fit place that would suffice.

    Would you be happy about that if you paid $1200 for it?
    Yeah, if I was blocking up a couple of holes I hadn't noticed before buying. It's either that or a couple of socket cap bolts, soft washers and nuts.
  • step83
    step83 Posts: 4,170
    Its honestly fine, I'm sure if you had taken that into a shop for them to build up their eyes would have lit up seeing a cable port like that. Most your lucky to be able to get a hook tool into, my kinesis took me half an hour to get a single cable to come out where it was meant to.
    Titanium Px Spitfire
    Easty commuter
    Tripster AT
  • redvision
    redvision Posts: 2,958
    step83 said:

    Its honestly fine, I'm sure if you had taken that into a shop for them to build up their eyes would have lit up seeing a cable port like that. Most your lucky to be able to get a hook tool into, my kinesis took me half an hour to get a single cable to come out where it was meant to.

    That's where you need one of these
    https://www.wiggle.co.uk/park-tool-internal-cable-routing-kit-ir-12/

    OP as others have said, the frame looks fine. The port size will be a godsend for cable routing, and once the cover is on you will forget all about it.

    Just get the bike built and enjoy riding it!
  • remidq
    remidq Posts: 19
    Thanks for all your inputs!
  • step83
    step83 Posts: 4,170
    redvision said:

    step83 said:

    Its honestly fine, I'm sure if you had taken that into a shop for them to build up their eyes would have lit up seeing a cable port like that. Most your lucky to be able to get a hook tool into, my kinesis took me half an hour to get a single cable to come out where it was meant to.

    That's where you need one of these
    https://www.wiggle.co.uk/park-tool-internal-cable-routing-kit-ir-12/

    OP as others have said, the frame looks fine. The port size will be a godsend for cable routing, and once the cover is on you will forget all about it.

    Just get the bike built and enjoy riding it!
    Good luck on a steel frame with that :D
    Titanium Px Spitfire
    Easty commuter
    Tripster AT
  • johnegan
    johnegan Posts: 1
    The frame will not be weakened by this opening it's designed around it. I have had two chinese road"copies" now and can tell you after years of riding them that they are the same as the top marques. to all the "dangerous carbon" people out there. please back up your erratic claims with a picture and date etc as all I can see when I read about "broken" frames and injuries are same few pictures with no date no location and about fifty different stories relating to one particular downtube break all claiming it happened to them. did it ever occur to the people that say chinese frames are dangerous that the same factory and possibly same workers that built your Giant frame that day also built your copy? where do you think they are built? in a shed? in a rice paddy? have you ever stopped to think how a carbon frame is built? moulds etc? the sourcing of material and specific tolerances? and pray tell whilewe are at it why if millions are built are there not any verifiable pictures or stories? and I'm not talking about your mates friend in basingstoke that knows a guy....etc or worse again some "expert" who just happens to import Taiwanese or chinese marque branded frames.
    so I would not worry as some carbon components on mach 2 machines have openings so a bike designed for specific tolerances is fine plus you are not handing over 1000% profit to a few people that don't deserve it for the cost of a bit of carbon.
    john
  • w00dster
    w00dster Posts: 880
    Johnegan, correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t think anyone on this thread has criticised Chinese (or Far Eastern imported) frames? Only semi marginal comment was about being risk adverse, buy from lbs, which is a fair comment. (Pretty sure the majority on here are well aware of where mainstream bike companies get their frames manufactured)
    In fact most have said the frame will be fine, get it built.
  • remidq
    remidq Posts: 19
    After talkingt to Hongfu their view is that the opening is for the "Di2 battery"...
  • iviattycebsEmkk1
    iviattycebsEmkk1 Posts: 2
    @remidq I am thinking about buying this frame and I would love to hear your opinion. Thanks

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