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I recently bought a Motobecane Fantom pro because it was the only way I could get the frame in my size, the team xt versions sell out pretty quickly. I just wanted to critique what I did and what I learned from the experience.
First a lot of people knock these frames but they are actually pretty awesome. Titainium is titainium and this is 3 al 2.5 v , 3 percent Aluminum and 2.5 percent vanadium- that's the formula for a great ride.
Why are they cheap?
1 . Because all the components of the frame are massed produced before they are robot welded.
2. They understand lean manufacturing and eliminate any waste in the manufacturing process.
3. Since they use these methods, and that cuts cost dramatically, the frame work is very consistent and well done.
4. It's the same system Sieko manufactures watches by and how Toyota builds cars.
The engineering and design in this system really determines the product performance.
That being said I found I had to replace most of the parts to get a ride that was so good.
SRAM elixer 5 brakes removed, SRAM X9 front and rear "10 speed" derialeurs gone, FSA comet crankset outta there. WTB tires-later. Ritchey stem gone, Ritchey streem saddle (like sitting on a board) Bye Bye.SRAM PG-1050 cassette- hasta luego baby....
Here's how it ended up;
Brakes- SLX with XT ice tech rotors
Rear Deraileur-(XTR M951 rapid rise) didn't work well in the dirt switched to new XT long cage
Front Deraileur-XTR M952 mega 9
Crankset Deore XT- 40/28 for 20 speed
Shifters -kept SRAM and replaced front with 2 pos for 20spd-ebay -3/21 - after I changed to a XT dynasys rear D I found the SRAM shifters weren't compatible so the XT dynasys shifters are in the mail........there's nothing else to change now.
Saddle- Selle San Marco Concor Carbon-ebay used
Chain- replaced KMC 10spd SL (with holes in links) with KMC 10 speed
*I have broken 3 8 speed chains over the last 20 years and when you break one it usually hurts pretty good.
Tires- Maxxis Ignitors 29X 2.1 folding
Stem Race Face 70mm evolve
Grips- race face good n' evil
Cassette- XT 10 speed
Down the road I'll put on some Easton Carbon handlebars when my piggy bank recovers.
A couple last notes;
The deraileur hangers are made by melting pop cans over a campfire so you should carry a spare. Good deraileur hangers are produced on a CNC mill
using the "hat" method and using 6061 T6 aluminum. The ones in question are made in a mold so all they have to do is tap them, the molding process is well underpressured and the result is a brittle porous product. They can make these for 2 bucks and charge you $20. Then they come up with some hype that is nonsense to sell it to you.
I'm sorry, no I take that back, I'm not sorry , my frame of reference is the quality that is possible. When I started riding bikes back in the 70's , when quality was something to be proud of and the bikes like my Campy record/ Regina equipped Masi Gran Turismo or my Bob Jackson track bike were a work of art worthy of museum placement.
I always use tires now that have a close outer tread pattern like the Maxxis because tire like those WTB's can get a rock in between the tread and when you are on a banked turn it acts like a marble and you're going down. I learned this by loosing a Molar and had oral surgery.
This thing is so sweet now if it had a twat, I'd be sleeping with it...
First a lot of people knock these frames but they are actually pretty awesome. Titainium is titainium and this is 3 al 2.5 v , 3 percent Aluminum and 2.5 percent vanadium- that's the formula for a great ride.
Why are they cheap?
1 . Because all the components of the frame are massed produced before they are robot welded.
2. They understand lean manufacturing and eliminate any waste in the manufacturing process.
3. Since they use these methods, and that cuts cost dramatically, the frame work is very consistent and well done.
4. It's the same system Sieko manufactures watches by and how Toyota builds cars.
The engineering and design in this system really determines the product performance.
That being said I found I had to replace most of the parts to get a ride that was so good.
SRAM elixer 5 brakes removed, SRAM X9 front and rear "10 speed" derialeurs gone, FSA comet crankset outta there. WTB tires-later. Ritchey stem gone, Ritchey streem saddle (like sitting on a board) Bye Bye.SRAM PG-1050 cassette- hasta luego baby....
Here's how it ended up;
Brakes- SLX with XT ice tech rotors
Rear Deraileur-(XTR M951 rapid rise) didn't work well in the dirt switched to new XT long cage
Front Deraileur-XTR M952 mega 9
Crankset Deore XT- 40/28 for 20 speed
Shifters -kept SRAM and replaced front with 2 pos for 20spd-ebay -3/21 - after I changed to a XT dynasys rear D I found the SRAM shifters weren't compatible so the XT dynasys shifters are in the mail........there's nothing else to change now.
Saddle- Selle San Marco Concor Carbon-ebay used
Chain- replaced KMC 10spd SL (with holes in links) with KMC 10 speed
*I have broken 3 8 speed chains over the last 20 years and when you break one it usually hurts pretty good.
Tires- Maxxis Ignitors 29X 2.1 folding
Stem Race Face 70mm evolve
Grips- race face good n' evil
Cassette- XT 10 speed
Down the road I'll put on some Easton Carbon handlebars when my piggy bank recovers.
A couple last notes;
The deraileur hangers are made by melting pop cans over a campfire so you should carry a spare. Good deraileur hangers are produced on a CNC mill
using the "hat" method and using 6061 T6 aluminum. The ones in question are made in a mold so all they have to do is tap them, the molding process is well underpressured and the result is a brittle porous product. They can make these for 2 bucks and charge you $20. Then they come up with some hype that is nonsense to sell it to you.
I'm sorry, no I take that back, I'm not sorry , my frame of reference is the quality that is possible. When I started riding bikes back in the 70's , when quality was something to be proud of and the bikes like my Campy record/ Regina equipped Masi Gran Turismo or my Bob Jackson track bike were a work of art worthy of museum placement.
I always use tires now that have a close outer tread pattern like the Maxxis because tire like those WTB's can get a rock in between the tread and when you are on a banked turn it acts like a marble and you're going down. I learned this by loosing a Molar and had oral surgery.
This thing is so sweet now if it had a twat, I'd be sleeping with it...