Cheap chinese bits.

OK, so this isn't strictly "retro" but it's potentially relevant for anyone doing a retromod build on a budget.

I've seen lots of cheap impressive looking kit on eBay recently, from chainrings up to titanium forks. All unknown brands over here, but it looks good in the pictures, and sellers feedback also looks good.

e.g.: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-4-Colors- ... 1687549060

I've bought tons of these for tidying up old road bikes and they're fine, although undoubtedly a budget product: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Out-S ... 2235402472

I've bought generic audio gear from China before and been knocked out, also heard of people buying unbranded chinese Les Paul copies (electric guitars) which give vintage Gibsons a run for their money. With Shimano etc doing loads of their manufacture in China, I can't help but wonder how these sorts of bits compare...

Anyone tried any of this stuff?

Just had a closer look and the chainsets I linked to are actually made in Taiwan...

Yes, most of the cheap chinese stuff has been good e.g. ti bolts, carbon posts and bars, alloy jockey wheels, scope probes, (one has broken adjuster), audio valves, only two items i ve had problems with were sony in ear headphones, cheap knock off that were rubbish and a cd box set.

I think i've only bought a chinese made bottle cage which i've got fitted to my Raleigh and tbh seems okay atm but it's pretty obvious when under close inspection that it's not a top quality product ..

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Cant go wrong for 30 quid! But i wouldnt be surprised if they came loose or splines start to wear after a while. Ive bought a few parts from china, lower quality, you have to be careful what you buy, i wouldnt put much trust in a pair of ripoff ritchey carbon handlebars for example. But some parts you wouldnt even notice

Has anyone else tried owning a chinese motorcycle?

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I recently bought one of these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bike-Bicycle- ... SwzJ5XaQkx

Actually not bad at all!

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Racin'snake":17xjaed5 said:

I recently bought one of these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bike-Bicycle- ... SwzJ5XaQkx

Actually not bad at all!

Click to expand...

Nice! I like the total lack of branding... Wondering if I should send back the FSA Orbit MX I just spent £22 on... :?

SEANSTEPHENS":17xjaed5 said:

Has anyone else tried owning a chinese motorcycle?

Click to expand...

Funny you should ask... I'd forgotten my dad's just bought one of these:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2016-SS50-ret ... SwwPhWhY7E

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Oh god... Chinese bikes, dont get me started :facepalm:

I wouldnt think twice about buying one of those fsa orbit headsets though, i doubt you'll notice any difference between that and a genuine one, id opt for the cheaper chinese copy given the choice

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I've bought some random bicycle bits and bobs for cheap fixes. I have a Rabid branded headset: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RABID-Externa ... p_yMLT5UKA, which looks similar to the one that Racin' Snake linked to, with sealed cartridge bearings. It's been on my "shopping bike" for a couple of years, and so far, it's as good as the day I fitted it and much smoother than some of the cheap, caged ball bearing headsets I've used.

I also bought a Kalloy Uno stem: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KALLOY-UNO-AL ... 7Pl8cj7zlQ, which is quite light and once I'd removed the lairy graphics with some acetone, quite smart; no problems so far.

The cranks in the first post look a little like Shimano XT cranks and they might be fine, but I doubt they are as light, strong or as stiff as the real thing. Genuine Shimano Hollowtech cranks really are hollow, this is a Saint crank, but other models are similar:



And look at this Dura Ace chainset, I always thought some of the Shimano road chainsets looked a little chunky, but there's an awful lot of air in them:



With regards to audio gear, some Chinese made stuff has been getting rave reviews outside the mainstream, What Hi-Fi etc., however, I do worry about electrical safety and how genuine some of the components are with some of the really cheap stuff. There have been reports of fake components, resistors, capacitors and some op-amps, on some of the DIY electronics forums, for example genuine Dale resistors might cost 50 or 60 pence each, whereas a no-name resistor of a similar resistance value might cost a penny, or less, so you can see why someone would fake them.

You have to wonder if a that little amp sold on Ebay, showing a circuit board with a couple of dozen Dale resistors and a handful Nichicon, or some other recognizable brand capacitors, really contains genuine components if it's been sold for £20 or £30, when the genuine parts alone would cost more than that. :?

i regularly peruse the Aliexpress site looking for parts. I must admit there is some good looking CNC parts available. Also some very questionable copies. Such as the Chris King headsets. :facepalm: