Chinese CF frame or custom steel?
Moderator: Moderator Team
I have a deal where I can get a normally $2700+ steel custom frame by a local builder for $1500 (no fork). Or I can simply buy a Chinese frame for roughly $600 with a fork. The $900 is quite a bit. Would I honestly get something $900 better? It will be a CX racing frame. I haven't seen too many reviews on the Chinese CX frames -- I have seen a lot on the road frames.
Either way I think it will be a disc setup and I need to build up 2 new wheelsets to go with it.
Either way I think it will be a disc setup and I need to build up 2 new wheelsets to go with it.
I'd go with the steel custom !
I'm currently running a custom CX Ind. Fab and previous = Speedvagen CX..
I've tried carbon CX frames which are nice although I'd stick with the custom steel as it will be something that should last you forever.
I'm currently running a custom CX Ind. Fab and previous = Speedvagen CX..
I've tried carbon CX frames which are nice although I'd stick with the custom steel as it will be something that should last you forever.
Parlee Z3c
Independent Fabrication SSR // 953
Independent Fabrication Planet X
Knolly Chilcotin
Independent Fabrication SSR // 953
Independent Fabrication Planet X
Knolly Chilcotin
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depends how you like bikes.
if you like a nice, unique bike that you can display, give affection to and keep, go with steel.
if you don't care and just want a bike that works well, but doesn't look special or something, go with the chinese carbon. bonus: cheaper, and you can replace it/crash it/etc without feeling nearly as bad
so yeah, its not so much about what works better - they probably both work well enough - but what you like better.
if you like a nice, unique bike that you can display, give affection to and keep, go with steel.
if you don't care and just want a bike that works well, but doesn't look special or something, go with the chinese carbon. bonus: cheaper, and you can replace it/crash it/etc without feeling nearly as bad
so yeah, its not so much about what works better - they probably both work well enough - but what you like better.
if you're willing to throw down the cash id go custom, but i don't think theres really anything wrong with chinese frames. they sure are cost effective. but in the end it just comes down to what you want and how much money you're willing to spend.
1500 bones is a pretty good price on a custom though
1500 bones is a pretty good price on a custom though
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If money isn't an issue, I say custom steel. Something about a handmade frame that screams to me. $1.5k is a damn good deal too.
How many other CX bikes do you have? If you have one or more and are really sure what you want, then go steel. But if you haven't put a season or two of racing in on CX bikes yet, go for the cheaper bike.
Wait for custom until you are sure, and then come back to it once you've saved up again.
Wait for custom until you are sure, and then come back to it once you've saved up again.
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Do you want light or heavy? The steel frame will weigh twice as much and will probably be a harsher ride. But then, weight and ride aren't everything.