Winspace M6 Review: Love-or-Hate Frame for a Good Price

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A little while after reviewing the Winspace SLC5 and T1600, I got my hands on the M6. The frame I’d been curious about since my Winspace Factory Tour. If you want the one-line version, the M6 is almost like the T1600, but for less. Nearly everything I rated about the T1600 is still here, but the M6 gives up a bit of comfort and a bit of calm in the wind. But there is much more to that.

NOTE: Winspace sent me the frame, cockpit, and wheels. I covered the rest, roughly $2,500 out of pocket plus the build time. As usual, you’re getting the good and the bad.

Winspace M6 Build Summary

Below, I list the technical specifications of my M6 build.

Winspace M6 Pros and Cons

Unboxing

The M6 turned up in a proper branded box with foam protection, a world away from the flimsy brown boxes that most low-end Chinese frames come in.

Inside were the frame, fork, cockpit, and the usual small parts. The one thing I’d add is a cable sleeve (e.g., Jagwire) to keep the hydraulic hoses from rattling. But a few years ago, I bought 10 meters, so I still have plenty of it left.

The frame in size L weighs exactly 1000g, so similarly to the T1600. But the fork is noticeably heavier, sitting at 450g. The seatpost is 175g and the cockpit 335g. The complete build weighs 7.75 kg (Favero Assioma DUO pedals, bottle cages, and bike computer mount included).

The Build Process

Most of the build was straightforward. A few things stood out, in both directions, though. The front derailleur wire routes through a hole hidden under the derailleur hanger, which has its own drilled channel. It’s a tidy, smart solution you can find on most new Winspace frames.

The fork was the headache. The front brake hose refused to drop into its exit hole, and it took me longer than expected to guide it into the correct one. The same job on the T1600 took me a few seconds.

There was also no printed manual, but it wasn’t needed. The upper and lower headset bearings are different sizes, so you can’t fit them the wrong way. The brake mounts were flat and needed no shimming. And unlike the T1600, there’s no built-in battery holder.

Here are a few photos from inside the M6 frame. The frame looked clean and smooth, except in the chainstay area, where the seam between the rear and front frame sections was visible. I also found a small remnant of epoxy in the fork.

My Experience with Winspace M6

This build is almost the same weight as my T1600. I’m not gonna lie, after riding the 6.6 kg SLC5, it feels heavy. However, it doesn’t compromise stiffness, so it transfers all the power to the forward movement. I mainly tested it with the UPVINE Pro+ and Pro+ 2 wheels, and you don’t have to fight it. It feels fast, and it wants to be ridden hard.

Comfort is where the M6 and the T1600 part ways. The T1600 has a calm, planted feel that soaks up some of the road vibration, and I feel like the M6 doesn’t quite match it. It sits a step below the T1600 in terms of comfort. I talked to a T1600 and M6 owner, and he rates the ride comfort of these two frames to be the same. Of course, tires make a big difference, but I tested both frames with the same wheels and same tires. With the M6, I simply feel like I struggle with more vibration fatigue than on the T1600. Go for a less-stiff, more-compliant frame, such as Agile or SLC5, if long, all-day smoothness is your priority.

The other difference is the stability. The M6’s deeper fork leaves it less settled than the T1600 in crosswinds. You have to be really careful about wind gusts because the wind has simply a larger area to lean against. I’m only 70 kg, so sometimes wind gusts play with me and the deep fork doesn’t help.

The sailing effect is hard to quantify, but felt similarly strong as on the T1600. However, it doesn’t feel like the M6 holds its line as well as the T1600. It feels more stable than the Agile, but the T1600 is still the most predictable of the three. The handling is a touch twitchier overall too. That suits fast, direct riding, but it asks for a little more attention than the T1600.

A quick word on the cranks. I run 165 mm after trying 160 mm, since I couldn’t reach max power as quickly when sprinting with the shorter cranks. I opted for 52/36T chainrings over the 50/34T since the 52/36T suits my local terrain and lets me maintain higher speed on descents, while the 50/34T is better for long Alpine climbs and I have those on SLC5.

Geometry

Winspace markets the M6 as an endurance frame, but the numbers tell a racier story. The stack, in particular, is lower than on traditional endurance bikes, so the front end sits closer to a modern race position than the label suggests. On paper, it’s almost identical to the T1600. One of the main differences is a 6mm higher stack. That’s not that much of an increase to call this an endurance bike.

Whether the lower stack works for you depends on fit and how aggressively you like to sit. It’s not a flaw, just something to check before you assume “endurance” means a tall, upright front end.

Aerodynamics

Based on the wind-tunnel test results, the M6 should be 8.9W faster than the C5 Aero. That’s undoubtedly a big savings. What I find disappointing, though, is that Winspace didn’t do a direct comparison with the T1600. I’d actually be more interested in that.

Finish and Colors

Winspace’s designs have come a long way, and the finishes hold up well up close. One piece of practical advice: pick a glossy color over a matte one. Matte grabs dirt fast and shows every smudge. Glossy finish is far more practical. Also, the frame color I got for the review was already discontinued.

Pricing

At around $1880, the M6 frameset sits right below the $2000 without the cockpit. That’s not low-end, but rather mid-range. The complete bike directly from Winspace tells a friendlier story. Fully built, the M6 with Ultegra Di2 and UNAAS carbon wheels comes in around $4900, and my discount code brings it down further. For the material, finish, and wind-tunnel work involved, that’s tough to beat. The catch is resale, since a Chinese-brand frame sheds value faster secondhand.

If you’re ordering directly from Winspace.cc, expect slightly longer delivery times (up to 3 months) during the busy season. There should be no import fees, as those are handled by Winspace (don’t ask me how they do it, I don’t know).

My Verdict

So who’s the M6 for? I recommend the M6 to strong, eventually heavier riders who enjoy riding fast on flats and in rolling terrain. Once you get it up to speed, it tends to maintain it well, and you get the aero benefits. However, if you are a lighter rider, you might benefit from a more compliant bike. Think about your riding style before pulling the trigger. If I had to choose between the M6 and the T1600, I would go for the T1600 also because of the looks. I’m not the biggest fan of the super deep fork.

Please consider using my discount code below if you decide to buy this bike. It’s the best way to save money and support my work. Thank you.

The product for this review was kindly provided by the manufacturer. This did not influence my overall verdict or my opinion about the product. You can learn more about how I approach reviews here.