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Octopuss

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I know Ali is a big lottery (perhaps less so than years ago when it was a synonym for junk), but some brands are legit and seem to at least try to make quality stuff.
I'm not looking for anything specific, just some random tools and accessories that catch my eye.
Thus far I found ZTTO.
Can anyone recommend me other decent and larger stores with bike stuff there?
 
#2 · (Edited)
Most people still think you can only get junk on Ali. I don't think many things changed in the past year (or 2-3 years). You just have to be careful and do your research, but that was always the case.
I think there are too many good brands to list. It's also a hit and miss, some brands like ZTTO make a ton of quality stuff, but some of their products are junk. I also bought no name stuff from random stores that were great, like a BB tool from "Healthy livings store".
ZTTO is mostly decent, Toopre is usually good as well (they mostly make tools, sometimes it's the same stuff as ZTTO), and i've had good luck with some Meroca pedals. Deckas chainrings are great as well. You can also find certain name brand stuff for dirt cheap.
Just look at the reviews, and look at them carefully. A lot of people write reviews straight after unboxing the product.
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
I wouldn't buy components like derailleurs or such for sure, that sounds like too much of a risk. But there are tons of interesting tools, some of which do look like being well made. I did manage to buy my share of junk in past, and sometimes it's inevitable, because a product might give you all the good impressions according to description and professional quality photos, but you only realize it's made out of chinesium when you unbox it. I guess if you don't spend a lot, you don't risk a lot.
But considering how horribly overpriced say Park Tool is, I guess I am willing to give something a shot to see if the brand in question is worth spending more money on.
 
#4 · (Edited)
I bought some "Raceworks" road brakes for next to nothing for my commuter/grocery getter, they're perfectly fine. Also have two ZTTO headsets, they're no worse quality than something like basic FSA, just much cheaper. Also bought some cheap pedals, and they're light years ahead compared to anything "name brand" that you would get for the same price at a bike shop. These are mainly cheap components that I use on "less serious" bikes tho. I'm not sure if I would be comfortable buying something more expensive either.
Although a few years ago I bought some TRP brakes as well from Ali, they were legit and less than half the price compared to EU webshops.
It's also a great place to buy random hardware. While sometimes I feel bad for shipping a €1 part from China, sometimes I just can't find the stuff locally, or shops want to charge €10-15 for shipping a few washers/whatever domestically.

With tools, look at the ratings. Some of the ratings are basically useless, but tools that have hundreds or thousands of good ratings are usually decent.
 
#5 ·
My ZTTO dropper lever cost almost as much as a lower end Shimano one and while it looks like it's good, it's junk. Good luck playing lotto.
(got it from alibabazon)
 
#6 ·
Had a good look at AliExpress stuff recently. My general impression is that it's basically a giant "Dollar Store". It's full of cheap crap that might work for a little bit, or at least handle light-duty use, but soothes an itch to play with new toys.

Risk brand ads seemed to impress me, marketing wise. ThinkRider had some accessories rivaling RockBros. From appearances, I felt like the general shape/design would work. Just don't know about actual quality.

I see MagicShine is sold on there and at pretty good prices. I'm in the market for a rear light, since my SeeMee 300 went missing (likely swiped while parked). I paid ~50, and Ali has it for under $37.44+tax.
 
#8 ·
#9 ·
#10 · (Edited)
noapathy said:
My ZTTO dropper lever cost almost as much as a lower end Shimano one and while it looks like it's good, it's junk. Good luck playing lotto.
(got it from alibabazon)
Click to expand...
What was your issue with the ZTTO lever?
I have both as well. The ZTTO works great, while the Shimano requires tons of force to actuate with certain droppers, and it doesn't pull enough cable for certain droppers.

The sad part is that you kind of play the lottery as well when you buy expensive, name brand stuff.
I know it's a little different, but it's pretty sad how many quality issues I had to deal with on name brand parts that cost hundreds or thousands of $$$.
 
#13 ·
Bought plenty of bike parts off AE. Complete M7000 drivetrain that's still going strong today, still the same chain, I think it's round or getting close to the 4000km mark, still well within wear limits.
Carbon handlebars, not broken any, carbon seat post, still going strong and I'm getting close to 100kg all geared up. Pedals, seats, cranksets, chain rings, all sorts. About the only disaster I can think of, is the Ingrid knockoff 12 speed derailleur I bought a few months back.
I quite enjoy just playing with fire, seeing how far you can go without getting burnt :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
 
#14 ·
HollyBoni said:
What was your issue with the ZTTO lever?
I have both as well. The ZTTO works great, while the Shimano requires tons of force to actuate with certain droppers, and it doesn't pull enough cable for certain droppers.

The sad part is that you kind of play the lottery as well when you buy expensive, name brand stuff.
I know it's a little different, but it's pretty sad how many quality issues I had to deal with on name brand parts that cost hundreds or thousands of $$$.
Click to expand...
Where to start? Sharp edges that don't feel great on both versions I've had. One just broke using it (soft metal) with no notable impacts/crashes (it was a week old). Tiny screws that feel like they want to strip in said soft metal making cable attachment a game of "will it slip or strip?" Another (V2?) version has this weird angle that points the cable UPWARD toward the bar/stem so much that it started to wear into the bar before I noticed. :(

Basically, poor materials and poor design. But ooh, shiny! No more for me, thanks.
 
#15 ·
noapathy said:
Where to start? Sharp edges that don't feel great on both versions I've had. One just broke using it (soft metal) with no notable impacts/crashes (it was a week old). Tiny screws that feel like they want to strip in said soft metal making cable attachment a game of "will it slip or strip?" Another (V2?) version has this weird angle that points the cable UPWARD toward the bar/stem so much that it started to wear into the bar before I noticed. :(

Basically, poor materials and poor design. But ooh, shiny! No more for me, thanks.
Click to expand...
That sucks. I had mine for about 4 months now and it's been great. I bought it as a cheap placeholder, but I actually really like the lever shape and texture, and the actuation with a PNW post is super light, so it stayed on my bike.
 
#16 ·
Octopuss said:
Oh I could tell wild stories about SRAM GX Transmission.
Click to expand...
I have so much "trauma" fueling my bias against SRAM that it feels like even the slightest report of SRAM being crap triggers it again, but here I am, trying to kill a bike that came stock with Lyrik Charger RC, SD shock, Code R, and NX, so I can replace it with something else, and it's been surprisingly tough. So far, the rear brake failed and some of the gears show slight skipping under torque, and the RD's pulley bolt fell out... the Lyrik is from 2020, which has the low ride height trait, leveling out ~30mm into its travel with no extra weight on it. For some odd reason, I'm like a masochist, trying to prove that it's not all that bad, when I know what I have ready to replace it will be massively better. Sadly, at the price points they serve, they're still one of the top 3 choices.
 
Discussion starter · #17 ·
Oh ok, you woke up my own trauma with Charger 3 Lyrik that came messed up out of the factory which I wasn't aware of, I spent a lot of money on tuning that didn't help either (no **** when the air chamber was messed up), and then I spent weeks arguing with the guy who spoke worse english than Google translate along with SRAM support. Eventually I managed to get it sorted out, sold the damn thing, bough Manitou Mezzer, and have been happy since.

Speaking of SRAM, the X0 Transmission is actually great. But it's also expensive AF. That's why I put X01 on my wife's bike, and if SRAM ever comes up with updates to Transmission, I'll consider it again for her.
 
#18 ·
I'm not so addicted to shopping-delivered dopamine that I have to go to aliexpress to get it. I don't like that lottery. the lottery with name brand products is a very different thing.

I'll buy cheap things for some product categories. but it's usually not for things I want to wait around for delivery via the slow boat. so I'll buy on amazon or ebay from sellers who ship from the US. And I've learned my lesson not to buy bike stuff this way. Nor will I buy apparel this way.
 
#19 ·
HollyBoni said:
That sucks. I had mine for about 4 months now and it's been great. I bought it as a cheap placeholder, but I actually really like the lever shape and texture, and the actuation with a PNW post is super light, so it stayed on my bike.
Click to expand...
Glad you were lucky at least with the QC lottery. When V1 worked, it was pretty good except the sharp edges. I was going to cover the lever with grip tape (skateboard sticky sandpaper stuff) but it died too early. I tried V2 thinking maybe they'd made improvements...now the only thing I have from there is some carbon headset spacers - not ZTTO...they actually had no name.
 
#20 ·
Worst AliEx buy I had was a 60t ratchet for my DT swiss 350. Lasted 10kms.



Other than that I have had good experiences.

Senicx 165mm cranks have been mint.

Garbaruk extended cage for sram. Fitted along with a "sunshine" 11-50t cassette. Didn't even need a barrel adjustment. Just worked and is still working flawlessly.

Ztto dropper levers. Mint.

Zrace M1 brake levers. Mint.
Bought 2 sets to run on my main 2 bikes with sram DB8 calipers.

Tmac copies (flat not convex though). Mint.

$90/set ARC MT009 hubs have done 1000kms so far. No issues.
 
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