China Steel Frame build
Bozabyka
Posts: 252
I am aware several Chinese factories build titanium bike frames built as one offs.
Is anyone aware of a Chinese factory building steel frames, custom spec?
I only want one
Is anyone aware of a Chinese factory building steel frames, custom spec?
I only want one
0
Comments
-
Why does it have to be Chinese?I don't do smileys.
There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda
London Calling on Facebook
Parktools0 -
I want a cheap frame built to my spec.
I don't want to pay English prices0 -
Good luck with that.I don't do smileys.
There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda
London Calling on Facebook
Parktools0 -
I know of people who have bought custom time frames from China. The geometry was miles out from what they specified.
It's worth remembering that the Chinese quite often work in inches but their inches are different to British inches although sometimes they decide to work in British inches. Occasionally they work in metric but it rarely goes well.
Good luck.Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=130702350 -
By the time you've learned to speak Chinese and spent a few weeks in China chatting with various frame builders, you might as well have got one made here.Specialized Roubaix Elite 2015
XM-057 rigid 29er0 -
The material cost for a decent frame is 2/3rds the cost anyway, so the saving will not be huge unless they sell you a cheap steel as being a decent one.....Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.0
-
Why China?
Would Taiwan be OK?
Oraeng (they are at Eurobike this weekend)
Maxway
A one-off (prototype) will not be cheap
Don't want to pay" English prices"
what about
Welsh
PaulusQuiros
http://www.paulusquiros.co.uk/
or
Scottish
Steve Shand
http://www.shandcycles.com/
Or make it yourself at
The Bicycle Academy, Froome, England.
http://www.thebicycleacademy.org/courses/
UK frame builders
http://www.framebuilding.com/custom_uk_bicycle_framebuilders.htm0 -
Building yourself at the Bicycle Academy will be by far the most expensive option. The frame you build on the course is donated to charity. You would then have to go back and build another frame.
BTR or Curtis would be much cheaper.Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=130702350 -
"The frame you build on the course is donated to charity. You would then have to go back and build another frame."
False0 -
"The frame you build on the course is donated to charity. You would then have to go back and build another frame."
False
Thats the way they have always done it, unless it's changed recently.I know several people who have done the course and a couple people who worked there.Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=130702350 -
"The frame you build on the course is donated to charity. You would then have to go back and build another frame."
False
Direct from the page linked to above.
That is for the £1000 course, for the £1400 you get to make your own.Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.0 -
"unless it's changed recently"
18 months ago
http://www.thebicycleacademy.org/2014/02/06/meet-robin-and-ted-our-new-framebuilding-teachers/
They have Robin Mather working there, doing the custom /standard frame course.
http://www.thebicycleacademy.org/courses/standard-framebuilding-course/0 -
Did you bother to read the page linked to above? You know the one detailing what the course is about?Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.0
-
Did you ever get a frame made?0
-
The material cost for a decent frame is 2/3rds the cost anyway, so the saving will not be huge unless they sell you a cheap steel as being a decent one.....2015 Canyon Nerve AL 6.0 (son #1's)
2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #4s)
2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)0 -
The material cost for a decent frame is 2/3rds the cost anyway, so the saving will not be huge unless they sell you a cheap steel as being a decent one.....
Tube sets:
http://www.cycle-frames.com/bicycle-frame-tubing/TUBE-SETS/
Remember you still need a BB, cable guides, brake mounts etc.0 -
Yebbut they are retail prices of goods which already have had some labour input. The actual material cost of those products will be significantly less.
But if you took, say, the bottom of the range tubeset from that site, and sent it to a fabricator to convert into a frame, how much do you think the fabricator would be charging? $52 (to meet the 2/3 comment)? Significantly more I would expect.2015 Canyon Nerve AL 6.0 (son #1's)
2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #4s)
2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)0 -
I was agreeing with you!0
-
BB shell, Dropouts, cable stops, cage mountsCurrently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.0
-
I was agreeing with you!2015 Canyon Nerve AL 6.0 (son #1's)
2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #4s)
2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)0 -
The material cost for a decent frame is 2/3rds the cost anyway, so the saving will not be huge unless they sell you a cheap steel as being a decent one.....
Even mass produced frames have a fair amount of hand built element to them. Assemble tubes in a jig to correct geo. Tack. Align. Weld. Realign. Finish surface. The custom part is more in terms of having the tubing cut to your specified sizing and angles. Some builders may filet braze with brass instead of conventionally welding which would add more labour cost.Bird Aeris : Trek Remedy 9.9 29er : Trek Procaliber 9.8 SL0 -
-
If you buy a custom frame from China how do you know that they have used the grade of steel you specify or they claim to use?
I have used Chinese manufacturers through work and have been caught out them not using specified materials more than once. It's difficult to prove without materials testing and when you can prove it you have absolutely zero chance of getting it remade in the correct material.
If it turns up the wrong size or falls apart you also have no way of getting it replaced or refunded.Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=130702350 -
If you buy a custom frame from China how do you know that they have used the grade of steel you specify or they claim to use?
I have used Chinese manufacturers through work and have been caught out them not using specified materials more than once. It's difficult to prove without materials testing and when you can prove it you have absolutely zero chance of getting it remade in the correct material.
If it turns up the wrong size or falls apart you also have no way of getting it replaced or refunded.
A shame you've experienced this. I occasionally have parts made in China and haven't had a problem, material has been tested and has been as specified. Unfortunately there are companies in every country who will mislead.
The majority of work I outsource in the UK and more often than not am disappointed.0