Are Chinese Carbon Frames Any Good and Safe to Ride?

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I’ve been watching the Chinese carbon frames scene for multiple years already. I also discussed this topic with multiple bike builders who regularly build mountain, road, and gravel bikes using Chinese frames. I also bought a Chinese carbon road bike, YOELEO R12, a few years ago, and now I ride Winspace Agile.

Below, I give you some valuable tips to consider before buying a bike frame from China.

Are Chinese Carbon Frames Worth It?

Yes. Chinese carbon frames from established manufacturers are worth it because they often provide better value for the money than the frames of established brands. Their price starts at around $500. The sweet spot is around $1300, for which you can buy a high-quality carbon frame with a UCI-approval or other certifications.

Of course, this does not apply to every manufacturer to the same extent. Moreover, even frames from the same manufacturer can vary in quality (usually depending on the frame price).

Based on info from insiders, many Western brands outsource the manufacturing of carbon frames to China (eventually Taiwan) to one city in particular – Xiamen.

Chinese brands have gained much carbon manufacturing expertise throughout the years. As a result, their frames are becoming more competitive. The only area where Chinese brands play catch-up is carbon layup, which affects how the bike feels. The general consensus of people who tried Western and Chinese brands is that Chinese brands can’t combine important riding characteristics like comfort and stiffness that well.

It’s also difficult to compare their aerodynamics, but I assume they won’t be as optimized yet. Western companies invest heavily in R&D, and their resources are much larger than those of Chinese manufacturers.

Are Chinese Carbon Frames Safe to Ride?

If you have researched Chinese carbon already, I guess you have found some horror stories of frameset failures. Frames (eventually forks) can fail. But this happens even to frames from mainstream brands. I don’t know anybody who is riding a Chinese frame and experienced a catastrophic failure. Chinese brands have come a long way, and the quality of Chinese carbon has increased significantly over the years.

The question is:

How to Find Quality Chinese Carbon Frames?

Below, I summarize a few helpful tips you should consider before buying Chinese carbon frames, and how to maximize the chance you purchase a quality frame you can rely on.

Reviews and Brand Reputation

Reviews of other customers are also an important decision factor for me. I try to approach them objectively and unbiasedly. Even if the reviewer is somehow affiliated with a given brand, it doesn’t mean his review is useless and doesn’t bring me any value.

A red flag can be ‘positive only’ reviews. Every product has its flaws. Sometimes, it’s just hard to find them. That’s why I believe Cyclists Hub is a go-to source if you want to learn more. I always write about the good, the bad, and the ugly. You can learn more on the testing policy page.

If the brand cares about its reputation, it’s a huge green flag. It will do its best to avoid any issues and provide high-quality service. I can recommend several Chinese frame brands, mainly Winspace, YOELEO, ICAN, Tavelo, Elves, and SEKA.

Certification

One of the first things I consider when looking for Chinese carbon frames is whether they have a 3rd party certification or have passed other safety standards.

For example, the UCI approval is always a good sign, although it doesn’t say that much about the quality but rather about the ambitions to sponsor professional teams. You can find all UCI-approved road bike wheels in this document. Other certification authorities include TÜV Rheinland.

UCI-approved frames must pass the UCI approval protocol. You can read its requirements here. They are pretty extensive. So, obtaining UCI approval on a frame is more complicated than obtaining approval on wheels.

What if the frame has no certification or it’s not UCI-approved?
If the frame you are interested in has no 3rd party certification or is not UCI-approved, then try to find out more about the testing process of a given manufacturer. A frame without these certifications may still be safe to ride, but I recommend you do more research.

Warranty and Crash Replacement

You usually get at least a 2-year warranty when buying Chinese bike frames. Some Chinese manufacturers may offer a more extended warranty period of 3 years or more.

However, it’s not just about the warranty length but also how the manufacturer will react to a possible warranty claim.

I recommend reading the reviews of other customers. Remember that Chinese manufacturers sometimes still have problems with English, so you must be patient and write in simple English.

A great benefit is if a brand offers a crash replacement policy, so if you crash and damage the frame, you get a discount on your next order.

This is handy, especially when the frames are expensive, so you don’t have to be afraid of riding it in races, for example.

Why not Buy Chinese Carbon Frames?

When talking to friends about Chinese carbon frames and why not buy them, I mostly encounter the following arguments:

“Why should I buy a frame from an unknown Chinese brand when I can buy a frame from a mainstream brand?”
Except for the lower price, there is also the question of social status. It depends on your personality. If you care about your social status among peers, buy a frame from a brand that attracts you.

“What will you do when the frame (or fork) breaks or fails?”
This argument is valid and probably the biggest downside of Chinese carbon frames. If the brand doesn’t have a distributor in your country, you must discuss eventual claims over email (if they don’t have an official distribution in your country). Then, it depends from case to case on how the brand resolves your claim.

“The delivery time takes too long.”
Yes, unless you have a local distributor, you will have to wait a few weeks (maybe months), and you won’t get the frame by the next day. But some things are worth the wait.

“Chinese frames have more issues than Western ones.”
I don’t have experience with as many Western and Chinese frames to have a representative sample. However, when reading the experiences of others, it seems that Western brands have better manufacturing tolerances overall. With Chinese frames, you may encounter minor problems that can slow down your build or require opening a warranty claim.

Conclusion

Chinese carbon frames from established and reliable manufacturers who test their products and have strict quality control processes are worth it.

They usually provide a better price/quality ratio than frames from mainstream brands. The only issue you may encounter is claiming a refund if the frame or fork cracks or any other damage appears.

It depends from case to case on what steps the brand takes. It’s often cheaper for the brands to either provide you with a discount on your next order or send a replacement.

What is your opinion about Chinese carbon frames? Let me know in the comments below. Also, feel free to join my Facebook group, where we discuss everything about Chinese carbon.

Chinese Carbon Frames FAQ