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Chinese Carbon fatty

938K views 4K replies 511 participants last post by  Cerpss 
#1 ·
There's a huge thread over in the 29er forum about carbon Chinese 29er frames. Based on the thread it seems like they've been pretty successful, I can't say I've read all 255(!) pages, but generally people seem pretty happy with the bikes. Basically it looks like a direct sale model where the manufacturer in China sells direct to the public.

I emailed Peter, who is quite active in the 29er forum, asking if they were considering a fat bike, he responded very quickly saying that they were in the process of making the molds for a fat bike. The 29er frames are going for about $450, if the fat bike is in that range, that's a pretty cheap carbon fat bike frame!

I sent a follow up email asking for more details about the frames (hub width, geometry, axles). I'll post up when I get a response.

I'm loving my FB4, every ride is so much fun, but I keep thinking about making it lighter, the weird thing is that I never even think about making my RIP9 lighter. I guess I know I have my RIP where it needs to be from a strength perspective, but the Fatty doesn't see much/any air time, I figure it can be lighter.
 
#37 ·
I am just happy there will be another nice used steel or aluminum frame available to me soon as people flock to the carbon!!

I can hear a Moonie in my Future!
 
#147 ·
I am just happy there will be another nice used steel or aluminum frame available to me soon as people flock to the carbon!!

I can hear a Moonie in my Future!
I have one, you want it?? ;p

Been thinking about a Carbon myself. But I seen a BearGrease and I didn't care for the layup...big ass seams right down the top tube, and the down tube....I'm scared that my fat ass might split that carbon right open.
 
#39 ·
It seems strange that they can't answer the 170/190 question? I mean its one or the other, you can't easily swap between the two with a carbon mold. To me those frames in the pictures look to be 190.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to the launch date and seeing what pricing looks like.
 
#62 ·
Of all the people in the world, you US guys should understand and support free markets.

There are expensive 29ers, custom 29ers and cheap copy 29ers. All being produced and all being bought at the price point each customer can afford.

Fat bikes will be just the same, best of all more and more riders will enjoy their Fat Bikes, and have to confidence to spend greater amounts on custom and specialist frames and components.

Get real.

Brian
 
#145 ·
Of all the people in the world, you US guys should understand and support free markets.

There are expensive 29ers, custom 29ers and cheap copy 29ers. All being produced and all being bought at the price point each customer can afford.

Fat bikes will be just the same, best of all more and more riders will enjoy their Fat Bikes, and have to confidence to spend greater amounts on custom and specialist frames and components.

Get real.

Brian
Free markets are one thing, but supporting counterfeiters is another. What these cheap bikes feed is our sense of entitlement and ignore our responsibilities to our communities. I can't afford to buy a 9:Zero:7 or Borealis fatbike; I believe in supporting my "local" economy and the innovators that invest in it. When someone comes along with no connection to my community, offering a product similar to that, based on the intellectual property, but at half the price, but none of my money remains in my community as a result of that product, I will pass. I will instead buy what I can afford, or make sacrifices on my own to get what I want, but I will not sacrifice my community to satisfy my desire or greed. This goes for bikes, or general merchandise. I buy local when I can, but not necessarily exclusively. I support innovators and those who invest in my community and "community" does not have to mean local. A merchant selling someone else's intellectual property only hurts us all and will reduce the amount of innovation available to us all.
 
#64 ·
I suppose there is justification in what I wrote, but I can guarantee I won't be buying a $2,300 frame this year.

These frames, like the Bikesdirect bikes, are a disruptive force in the marketplace, just look at that 250 page thread over in the 29er forum.

Sorry to have brought it up and p!ssed people off, but I thought it was an interesting option. If the group doesn't like this thread, I have no problem deleting it.
 
#66 ·
Walmart was apparently selling knockoffs of Banksy art, with Banksy's name on it.

I guess it's OK because Banksy originals are really expensive and besides, it doesn't hurt anyone and it gets more people to appreciate art and stuff and really, who's getting harmed.

Banksy's "Destroy Capitalism" print for sale at Walmart.

And it's totally OK that GoldieBlox ripped off the beastie boys despite their ban on using their songs for any commercial product, ever because the song was really cute and it's for the kids and the original song was mean and really, who gets hurt, right?

Never Mind the Lawyers, GoldieBlox Won Big in Beastie Boys Fight

When you work on a project because you really love it (and want to get paid), pour serious money into it with the hope of getting your money back AND seeing a profit AND seeing the thing you love succeed, and then you get ripped off, let me know how you feel about it.
 
#73 ·
If I had a nice fat bike in the shed, this thread would not be threatening nor would I be suffering buyer's remorse. I think that's important to realize with one of these bikes (much like the FB4), you're not buying a high end product, and you'll get what you pay for in some regards.

There are definitely advantages to owning something high end, it can be as intangible as what the marketing guys tell you or as concrete as high resale value or knowing you can call someone to get help if you have issues. I totally get that and I wish I was in a position to participate in it.
 
#77 ·
I, for one, am enjoying reading through the responses, as long as the ideas keep flowing and there's no personal attacks, I think its a good healthy discussion.

I am sure the bike industry will adjust in the same way the music industry has adjusted (and for the record, I am a musician (hobbyist at best) and any music/media I have in my house I paid for).
 
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