Carbon Frames from China, would you buy one?

[Imploder]

With regards to this, do you think the whole, "Build-it-yourself" thing is a plus or a minus.

[ChUkKy]

Hi all, I'd like to see if there is a market here for these so-called "Blank" carbon frames from China.

 

Definitely, its gonna be growing from midnight tonight

[fandacious]

Agreed but the big difference is you get local support for each of those brands. Import a blank frame yourself directly from whoever at a discount and then good luck trying to satisfactorily resolve any quality/warranty/longevity issues with the manufacturer in China. If you have no problems with the bike then great - if not then I'm afraid your discount to a locally supported brand disappears immediately and you're now paying to ship your frame back to China to TRY claim the warranty ( get it repaired/replaced/upgraded). That will take weeks nevermind the logistical & language issues. Me I'll pay the premium thank you.

 

6k? so frikking what? insure it. If it breaks, claim from insurance. Or sure - do it your way. pay 20k to have some brand sprayed onto your frame. For that price you could bring in 3 frames and still be winning

[JA-Q001]

6k? so frikking what? insure it. If it breaks, claim from insurance. Or sure - do it your way. pay 20k to have some brand sprayed onto your frame. For that price you could bring in 3 frames and still be winning

 

My view aswell, you pay a third of the price, so expext a third of the service/lifetime. If it breaks, claim it, or take the 2thirds you saved in the first place and buy a new one. If you buy n Geely, do not compare it to a polo.

[sometime]

6k? so frikking what? insure it. If it breaks, claim from insurance. Or sure - do it your way. pay 20k to have some brand sprayed onto your frame. For that price you could bring in 3 frames and still be winning

 

Easy does it.

 

Insurance is about insuring against an insurable event - so you fall and the frame breaks, your policy covers that (?) and you claim. No difference to an SA brand. I'm talking about a warranty claim. The bottom bracket isn't secure in the frame, the headset comes loose, the carbon starts delaminating after 12 months of use etc etc. Then what? Your R6k is probably gone.

 

For the record my way is buy a quality (Chinese made obviously) carbon frame with lifetime SA warranty for less than R9k.

[ChUkKy]

My view aswell, you pay a third of the price, so expext a third of the service/lifetime. If it breaks, claim it, or take the 2thirds you saved in the first place and buy a new one. If you buy n Geely, do not compare it to a polo.

BUT... Polo made in Uitenhague, Geely made in Fong Kong

 

Tata ma chance is Indian isnt it?

 

Id rather have imported Japanese used cars than this crap on our roads

[Imploder]

Definitely, its gonna be growing from midnight tonight

Hey Sean, what's happening at midnight tonight?

[JA-Q001]

Which cheap frames in SA has lifetime warranty?

[sometime]

My view aswell, you pay a third of the price, so expext a third of the service/lifetime. If it breaks, claim it, or take the 2thirds you saved in the first place and buy a new one. If you buy n Geely, do not compare it to a polo.

 

Depends if you're happy driving a Geely in the first place and also if you're happy doing so at 2/3 price of a Polo?

[Robrider]

If you can get a 1200g aluminium mtb frame, why would you want a cheap Chinese carbon one that weighs more and potentially has more problems.

 

Not for me thank you

[sometime]

Which cheap frames in SA has lifetime warranty?

 

Apparently none because you have to spend R20k to get that plus a fancy spray job with a recognised brand on it?

[ChUkKy]

Hey Sean, what's happening at midnight tonight?

You havent heard?

 

Fuel is going up 93c a liter and you dont even get a tub of vaseline with it!!!

[JA-Q001]

Depends if you're happy driving a Geely in the first place and also if you're happy doing so at 2/3 price of a Polo?

 

You see, there is the crux. It all depends on what you whant. If you whant a flasy name bike, with lifetime warranty and and the colours of the rainbow on it, then you are going to pay for it. If you know that in a year or 2 you are anyway going to be bored with the thing you have, buy blank, and you can have 3 different bikes in the lifetime of you brand bike.

[Meezo]

 

You havent heard?

 

Fuel is going up 93c a liter and you dont even get a tub of vaseline with it!!!

 

more reason for me to commute on my cheap chinese carbon, than to drive my expensive locally made polo

Edited September 4, 2012 by Meezo

[sometime]

You see, there is the crux. It all depends on what you whant. If you whant a flasy name bike, with lifetime warranty and and the colours of the rainbow on it, then you are going to pay for it. If you know that in a year or 2 you are anyway going to be bored with the thing you have, buy blank, and you can have 3 different bikes in the lifetime of you brand bike.

 

On the assumption that your cheap bike lasts a year or two. If not your justification is fatally flawed. Also as a previous poster pointed out, people are buying these "cheap" blank carbon frames that weigh more than quality SA sourced aluminium frames. Once again the flawed assumption is that any carbon frame is better than an aluminium one.

[Imploder]

You havent heard?

 

Fuel is going up 93c a liter and you dont even get a tub of vaseline with it!!!

 

LOL! Ahhhh! Right - Gotcha!