Chinese Carbon Frames

Has anybody tried any of the chinese carbon frames selling in EBAY?

I'm looking at this one: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=320348985566

The geo seems to fit and need something inexpensive. It seems very close to some of the Scattante (Performance Bikes) frames. I've also looked at Pedal Force and Motobecane Immortal frames and seems that their wholesale price is comparable to what this manufacturer is selling for.
In terms of performance, is there really that much difference (for the "enthusiastic" rider) between a brand name and a generic? All I know is this same factory makes frames for "other brand names" and my guess is thses are last year's "left overs"

Warranty, and the ability to make reasonable assumptions about the build quality, are the major difference between named brands and generic frames. The first reason is not relevant to an ebay purchase in most cases.

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Too much MSG in them.

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Doesn't that add to the frame strength and reduce weight?

Now, seriously. I'm curious to know. The more research I do, the more confident I get about the quality of those frames but..... You never know.
I thought it would be great to get a nice 1200 gram frame for $350 bucks.

How do you know anything about the quality of build and materials used? How do you nokw these weren't rejects?
What are you going to do if there is anytihng wrong?

No Brand
No Reputation
No History of quality
No History of Performance

and quite likely

No warrently or back up.

Just because it LOOKS like something else doesn't mean it is the same. It could come from the same factory but be different layups, different processing, and different quality. It could also come from a different factory made made to look like something else. Might even have some glass fiber in it instead of the cheaper CF to same some $$$.

When it comes to buying a frame, I buy a brand name bike, from a shop. You take you life in your hands when you buy name less frames from faceless ebay sellers on the other side of the planet.

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Precision Sports

My club here in Japan are getting our own brand carbon frame made in China.
I was reluctant at first about them. After 2 years now of seeing more and more club members buying them and having good results with them, I'm starting to believe they are as good as if not better than a lot of European, U,S or Taiwanese brands.
I'm told the factory that makes them makes some other famous brands but not told yet what those other brands are.

Our best rider is using one and he is in the top level amateur SS class here in Japan and (He's over 40, been riding for 3 or 4 years, has lost 25kgs in weight since he started).
He's been in 4 races so far this year that count towards the annual tally for the championship. He's come 3rd, 1st, 1st and crashed out in the 4th while in a 4 man break away near the finish.

I'm thinking of getting one too when my Trek5500 frame gives up.

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True.
But I think it's a similar situation when you buy a used frame on EBay. This frame may become my "beater" bike or just a fun project... I don't know yet. I don't race so my demands are not as exacting. Regarding warranty. most bikes around here only have a 1 year warranty unless you buy the super expensive "brands".
So far the feedback I've received from buyers has been positive though.

JAPANic is not talking about a generic frame, but rather a known brand from a factory with a known track record and, presumably, someone who is locally responsible for warranty claims. Really, these frames do not differ from Trek/Giant/Colnago/ etc. Noone is arguing that the Chinese cannot make good frames, what we are talking about is a "brown paper bag" frame from ebay. It's a world of difference.
In any case, I wouldn't buy any composite frame from ebay, or even second hand from anyone I didn't know. You need to know the history of these frames.

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"All that we see and seem is but a dream, within a dream..."

Thanks!

I bought a pair of carbon forks off a guy in China selling carbon frames.
They've been fantastic. Really light and robust. Cost about £50 all told. For 300g forks.
I wouldn't hesitate to buy a frame from this guy.

Without traceability how do you know they're not factory seconds which some enterpreneur bought up & resold?

How do you know they're not the frames used to train new workers?

There's a pretty high crap potential here.

Agree.....plenty of opportunity for seconds and rejects to be sold out the back door of the factory for a few bucks rather than being destroyed. Could be just cosmetic defects, minor misalignments, or something serious that could bite you down the road.

When it comes to stuff like forks and frames, I just don't trust some guy (from China or anywhere else) selling "no-name" bargains on ebay. Seems to me it's worth paying extra for a brand with some assurance of quality, as well as a warranty and product liability insurance if all else fails.

For what it's worth
http://www.carbon-fiber-products.com...wmenuid=500055

So far, I've been able to contact 27 buyers. All VERY positive. Just bought one. I'll be able to tell soon...

Sorry, but I had the impression you were buying from a third-party dealer on ebay, rather than direct from the manufacturer. After checking out the website, can see how you would be interested. Of course, pictures of test stations don't tell us anything about the strength and quality of the frame, but I suppose that's true of any big-brand website as well.

You could have found a source for good frames at a bargain price, without the major-brand markup.....who knows? The positive customer feedback has to give you confidence. Would like to hear your impressions after you get the frame...goodluck.

Maybe what the site is saying is that the factory sells frames to Trek or Giant and these are the test specimens!