All Reviews

A user in r/ChineseCarbon shared their experience building and riding the TanTan TT-R18 (also referred to as Seraph TT-R18), a Chinese carbon road bike. They purchased it as a complete set for €1300, including shipping and customs to Germany, and found it comparable to bikes costing over €3500. The bike was praised for its value, ease of assembly, and performance, though some minor build quality aspects were noted. Comments highlighted its unbeatable price-to-performance ratio, but also mentioned it's not UCI-approved for competitive racing.

A user built a BXT 145 Pro carbon road bike frame, reporting it as a fast, stiff, and responsive aero bike that performs well on smooth asphalt, with a total build cost around €1,500 plus additional accessories and tools.

The BXT 145 PRO is a Chinese carbon road bike frame discussed on the forum. Users note it has a T47 bottom bracket, clearance for 32c tires, and an integrated handlebar design. It's compared to frames like the SPCycle SP-R065 and Tideace CR0068, with mentions of free shipping on AliExpress. Build experiences vary, with some reporting smooth assembly and good ride quality, while others encounter issues like seatpost slipping, headset looseness, or internal cable routing problems. The frame is described as relatively heavy, with one user reporting 1500g for a size 58 frameset (including BB, axles, etc.). Paint quality is generally praised as durable and attractive.

A user built a TanTan TT-X38 road bike with custom modifications including an Erzero dropbar system with tribar mount support, XMCS rims, and a single chainring setup. The bike is being used for bikepacking and touring, with the owner planning a 2.5-month trip to Japan.

A user reviews the Winspace C5 Aero after 2000 km, praising its speed, efficiency, and component quality while noting initial handling adjustments and crosswind sensitivity. The bike was purchased at a significant discount compared to competitors.

A user built a Quick Pro AR One carbon road bike frameset, achieving a weight of 6995g for a cost just over £3000. The bike features a distinctive Harlequin colorway designed in collaboration with an influencer, but is noted for its aggressive geometry and stiff ride, which may not suit those prioritizing comfort.

The Tavelo RISE is an integrated riser handlebar with 20mm of rise from the stem center, designed to increase stack height without spacers. It features a -10° stem angle, short-ish reach (actual measured around 60mm due to stem being 10mm longer than stated), and is available in 34cm width. The bar is made of carbon fiber, weighs approximately 280g (plus adapter weight for 1 1/8" steerers), but actual weight including shim is around 306g for 380/100mm. It is compatible with electronic groupsets but not mechanical due to limited internal routing space. It uses a 1 1/4" steerer clamp with an adapter for 1 1/8" steerers. Users appreciate its aerodynamic design and aesthetics, but criticize the hood transition shape, short reach, weight, spacer compatibility, flat-sided drops, and ergonomics. The -10° stem angle can negate the rise benefit and tilts computer mounts downward. Return shipping costs are high. Alternatives include Incolor Aerowav (good hood transition), XMCS (stiff, heavier, addresses transition), Winspace Hyper 2.0 (40mm rise), and others. An aftermarket computer mount from TiParts is available. Recent user feedback indicates that the overall rise compared to a -6° stem is about 13-15mm, and the bar is stiff and solid. The computer mount is solid, but the provided headset cover for FSA ACR is 3D printed with rough finish. Some users find the transition smooth with proper setup and thicker tape. Handling may be affected with more weight on the front wheel, leading to snappier cornering for some. The hood transition issue also occurs with SRAM shifters, creating a small step. The shifters sit low when hoods are leveled, which some find aesthetically flawed. For stem length selection, coming from a 100mm -6° stem with 75mm reach bar, the 100mm Tavelo RISE with about 13mm less spacers maintains similar reach and is about 13mm higher; the 90mm stem would be shorter. The effective rise compared to a -6° stem is about 13mm, not the full 20mm, due to the -10° stem angle reducing rise by about 2mm per degree difference. The Tavelo RISE is often praised for its looks, considered by some as the best-looking riser bar, but the shifter position is a significant flaw.

The FM-GV201 Tideace Noah is a carbon gravel bike frame discussed by forum users as a value-oriented, modern option for gravel racing and adventure. Key attributes include a price of approximately $825 USD unpainted, a weight around 1150g for a size 52 frame (with actual weights reported higher, e.g., 1403g for a painted size 58), carbon construction, and features like UDH (Universal Derailleur Hanger), T47 bottom bracket, 50mm tire clearance, in-frame storage, and a race-oriented geometry with a long reach (e.g., 400mm for size 54). Users are building it up with various groupsets (SRAM AXS, Shimano GRX) and components for events like the Traka 200.

The Carbonda CFR-696 is a carbon fiber gravel bike frame sold by Carbonda and also rebranded by various companies like Obed, Bombtrack, Ridley, and others. Users report it's available directly from Carbonda for around $891 with custom paint, while branded versions cost significantly more (e.g., $1949 from Obed). The frame is noted for its low stack height, which some find aggressive, and a BB drop of 67mm that some criticize as too road-like for gravel. Builds can achieve weights around 8.4kg. Key concerns include significant toe overlap issues in certain sizes and a front derailleur mount that requires a sticky plate, which is tricky to set up. Despite these, users praise Carbonda's customer service, paint quality, and overall frame quality.

The Carbonda CFR-696 is a versatile carbon fiber gravel/cyclocross frameset praised for its lightweight construction, excellent tire clearance, and compatibility with various components. Users highlight its ability to serve as a multi-purpose bike for commuting, gravel riding, and even light MTB racing. It supports disc brakes, full fender mounts, and custom paint options, with builds ranging from 7.68kg to 9.5kg depending on size and components. The frame is noted for its durability and performance in technical conditions, though some minor issues like seatpost clamp failures are mentioned.

The Carbonda CFR-696 is a carbon fiber road bike frame designed for training and road use, with UHD construction. It supports tire widths up to 30mm and is compatible with 1x drivetrain setups, accommodating chainrings up to 46 teeth. The frame features a chainstay length of 43.5cm, which users note provides clearance for larger chainrings and tires. It is commonly built with SRAM Force XPLR groupsets and standard road cranksets, with discussions focusing on drivetrain compatibility.

The Tideace XC832 is a 32-inch carbon hardtail MTB frame designed for XC/downcountry riding, priced at $499 (frame only) with an optional $199 fork. It features a 66° head tube angle, T47 BB, Super Boost 157×12mm rear axle, UDH hanger, integrated downtorage, and compatibility with 100mm travel forks (15×110mm front hub). The frame uses carbon material, supports 32×2.4" tires, and has internal cable routing through the headset (with optional cable ports). Key concerns include limited hub/spoke availability for 32" wheels, few tire options, and the niche Super Boost standard increasing build complexity and cost.

The TanTan/Tideace/LongTeng GR201 (also called GV201 or Noah) is an open-mold carbon gravel frameset popular for its aggressive race geometry, high tire clearance (officially 50mm, fits 2.1" Thunder Burts tightly), and integrated storage compartment. It features a T47 bottom bracket, flat-mount disc brakes, and numerous mounting points for bikepacking. The frame is relatively affordable, with prices around $730-$740 for a frameset (frame, fork, headset, axles). Typical frame weights are reported around 1270-1350g for a size 54. The geometry is long and low, with a short headtube, making it suitable for riders seeking an aggressive, road-like position on gravel. Builds often achieve weights under 9kg. The frame is also praised for its lively feel on road tires, though it may not handle as well in fast group rides. It is compatible with Tailfin bags and available in raw carbon finishes. Some users report issues with the downtube storage cover rattling and front brake alignment difficulties.