A Complete 2x Road Bike for £399 - What’s the catch?
Trace Velo
April 04, 2026
Checking out one of the cheapest drop bar road bikes in the UK!
On this channel, I usually build bikes piece by piece, often using cheaper components from AliExpress and other direct to consumer Chinese brands, but this time, I wanted to try a different angle. What happens when you just buy a complete box bike for £399?
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In this video, I take a closer look at one of the cheapest complete road bikes I’ve come across in the UK, and break down exactly what you’re getting for the money. From the aluminium frame and finishing kit, to the 2x drivetrain, Sensah groupset, and overall build quality, because at this price point, there are always compromises.
Why it’s interesting:
A £399 road bike undercuts pretty much everything you’ll find from the big brands, especially on the UK high street. But unlike a lot of the budget stuff I cover, this isn’t a pile of parts from AliExpress…Iit’s a ready-to-ride bike from a physical shop in London.
Disclosure:
I forgot to include it in the episode, but I did get this bike sent over for review, however I am not being paid by V-Ride or Sunpeed to make this content. If you end up buying a bike and use my discount code, this is how I make a small commission 🙂
Check out their bikes below, and if you use my code ‘Tracevelo5’ you’ll get 5% off.
Website:
https://vride.co.uk
Contact:
info@vride.co.uk
Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro
00:57 – Unboxing and setup
02:26 – Bike reveal and weight
03:21 – Specs
03:51 – Weight
05:23 – First ride impressions
06:49 – Fixing a shifting issue
09:16 – Good stuff & compromises
12:34 – What about Decathlon?
16:01 – Bonus clip
Intro roll:
Created by Dev Joshi - http://www.go2dev.co.uk
Instagram:
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Email:
tracevelouk@gmail.com
Please note:
I am not a professionally trained bike mechanic. There can be risks associated with using products that are unbranded, untested, or come from sources where the provenance is unknown. Please talk to a qualified bike mechanic if you are in any doubt.
In essence, be careful, do your research, and cycle safe!!!
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Parts Mentioned
Sunspeed Triton
Choice Day / Outdoor Fun
KompletträderSunspeed Triton
Created: April 04, 2026The reviewer presents a detailed review of the Sunspeed Triton road bike, a complete bike purchased for £400. They describe it as a rim brake bike with an aluminium frame and fork, weighing 10.3 kg for a 53cm frame. The reviewer initially had significant issues with the rear shifting, which felt stiff, clunky, and inaccurate, making the bike feel cheap. However, after diagnosing excessive cable friction and replacing the gear cable with a thinner, lubricated Jagwire cable, the shifting became 'flawless,' 'super light and clicky,' and transformed the bike's feel. They praise the bike's vibrant and nice-looking design, tidy cable routing, and decent components like the Sensah Reflex 2x8 groupset, Zeus saddle, and Jagwire cables. Compromises noted include the budget 8-speed groupset needing fettling, a heavy basic crankset and wheels, cheap bar tape, and cup-and-cone wheel bearings. The reviewer concludes it's a compelling first road bike, especially after the simple fix, and a good platform for upgrades. They compare it favorably to a similarly priced Decathlon Triban, stating the Triton looks better and has a 2x drivetrain.
AI-Summary
Pros
- Price is very low (£400) for a complete drop-bar road bike.
- Vibrant, nice-looking design that makes it appear more expensive.
- Decals are vibrant and nicely applied.
- Multicolor Sunpeed logo under the down tube is cool.
- Frame welds are ground flat in visible areas for a slicker look.
- Cable routing is nice and tidy with full-length housing.
- Uses decent brand cables (Jagwire).
- Saddle is nice and comfortable (from Zeus/OZ).
Cons
- Initial rear shifting is stiff, clunky, 'agricultural,' and inaccurate, especially in higher gears (6,7,8).
- Chain skipped at the rear before the cable fix.
- The initial issue made the bike 'feel like a £400 bike.'
- The budget Sensah Reflex groupset is 8-speed, which is 'pretty basic these days.'
- Cheaper Chinese mechanical groupsets are 'a little more sensitive' and need fettling.
- The crankset is basic, heavy, uses steel chainrings, and a square taper bottom bracket.
- The wheels are basic, heavy aluminium with cup and cone bearings (old school).
- A spoke creaks when sprinting.
Key Points
- Model: Sunspeed Triton road bike.
- Price: £400 complete.
- Frame/Fork: Aluminium, rim brake.
- Weight: 10.3 kg (53cm frame, without pedals).
- Groupset: Sensah Reflex, 2x8 speed.
- Cassette: 11-28.
- Crankset: 50/34 chainrings, brand 'Pro Wheel', cast aluminium, square taper BB.
- Wheels: Aluminium, 30mm deep, brand 'Solon', cup and cone bearings.