Winspace T1600 Review: An Aero Rocket with Question Marks

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I’ve been teasing the Winspace T1600 build on my Instagram and Strava in the past few weeks. I finally gathered enough data to share my early riding impressions and experience with the build. I’m not gonna lie. I was very excited about this one.

NOTE: I invested approximately $2500 and my time in this bike build. I received the frame, handlebar, and wheels for this review, but as always, I will be 100% honest with you and share both the good and the bad.

Winspace T1600 Build Summary

Below, I list the technical specifications of my build.

Winspace T1600 Pros and Cons

Unboxing

Winspace doesn’t affect the shipping quality much, but the box with the frame arrived pretty much wrinkled, so I was worried about whether the frame would be okay. Fortunately, I didn’t find a scratch on it.

What Winspace does affect is how the frame is packaged. Compared to the YOELEO, the unboxing experience was average. The frame was indeed wrapped in protective foam, but the unboxing definitely didn’t give a premium impression, which is a shame because the price is premium, at least as far as Chinese frames are concerned.

However, I was told that my frame was one of the last to be delivered in the old brown packaging. If you order the T1600 now, you should receive it in the redesigned box that looks like this:

The Build Process

The first road bike I built was the Winspace Agile. Then I built the YOELEO G21 Altera, and now the Winspace T1600. I chose Ultegra Di2 over SRAM Force AXS for its more affordable price and the hidden buttons in the shifters. I was curious to see how smoothly the build would go. Unfortunately, I ran into a few issues that could have been easily avoided.

The first problem was with the seatpost clamp screw. It didn’t have a head, so I couldn’t tighten it. I didn’t expect that at all. Luckily, my neighbor helped me by cutting a new groove so I could use a flat screwdriver, and I didn’t have to wait for a new bolt to arrive. I informed Winspace about this. They apologized and assured me they would pay more attention to this next time. Of course, they also sent me a new seatpost clamp.

The second issue was routing the rear derailleur electric wire through the chainstays. It took me about 10 minutes. This was likely because of the rough connection between the rear and front triangles of the frame, which prevented the cable from passing through.

The last problem was with the bike computer mount. It only had two drilled holes. This is an issue if you want to use the Wahoo adaptor. It could only be rotated the same way as the Garmin adaptor, but Wahoo computers are rotated 90°. This means that I had to drill two new holes in the mount. Winspace was already aware of this issue when I received the frame, so the mounts from the latest batches already have four holes to accommodate all adapters.

Routing cables through the cockpit was easy, and there was no play in the headset bearings. I also installed a Token T47 threaded bottom bracket without issues.

One more note about the HYPER cockpit. The dimensions of mine are 380×105mm. However, note that the handlebars have a back sweep of about 1 cm. This means that the reach is actually one centimeter shorter. At the same time, the stem length is measured from the center of the fork to the handlebars, as shown in the following photos.

I made a mistake when routing the Di2 wire for the front derailleur. I used the wrong hole that guided the cable too close to the tire. I had to thread the cable through the front derailleur so that it wouldn’t touch the tire.

However, after receiving the Winspace SLC5 frame, I noticed that it didn’t have this hole, so I began to question whether Winspace had forgotten to drill it. The answer is no, they just have a much cleaner solution. The hole is hidden under the front derailleur hanger!

Here are a few pictures from inside the T1600 frame. The frame looked clean and smooth, except for the chainstay area. I also found some epoxy residue in the HYPER Integrated Handlebar. Luckily, it didn’t make routing the hydraulic cables difficult, as these were just thin sheets.

I must admit I didn’t really like this color in the videos or at Eurobike 2025 when I saw it in person. Its added value is mainly in direct light, when it creates a beautiful rainbow effect. When the sun was shining into my room during the build, it almost made me sit on my ass. It looks terrific and reminds me of Peter Sagan’s custom Specialized S-Works Venge ViAS. It also turned many heads when I attended the Czech Tour, and I’ve been receiving a lot of compliments.

By the way, the Tour de France Femmes details are included as a tribute to the Winspace women’s team. It was the first professional team riding a Chinese-branded bike at the Tour de France (in 2024).

My Experience with Winspace T1600

Let’s finally discuss riding impressions. Before the T1600, I rode a Winspace Agile for just over a year (and over 10,000 km), which I honestly can’t praise enough. It’s a comfortable bike with relatively relaxed geometry. That’s why I was a little worried about the more aggressive riding position and higher stiffness of the T1600. Indeed, I had to adjust to the new riding position for a while. Ultimately, my reach is approximately 3 cm longer, and I have a greater drop. After my first longer ride, which lasted about three hours, my neck was a little sore. But after a few rides, I no longer experience this soreness.

You may also have noticed that I chose 160mm cranks. The reason was simple: the 165mm cranks with 52/36 chainrings were not in stock, so I decided to try the 160mm ones out. By the way, I am 185 cm tall, so theoretically I should have cranks that are 172.5mm or longer. For now, I’m riding with the short 160mm cranks, but I sometimes feel that the cadence is too high (especially when attacking or sprinting), so I have to shift gears more frequently. It’s also not the ideal length for sprints and accelerations, as it takes longer to reach maximum watts. I also noticed that my maximum power is about 10% lower than with 165mm cranks. That’s why I’ll most likely go back to 165mm.

As for the frame itself, I started riding it with stiff Lún MEGA wheels. The entire set feels very stiff, but surprisingly not as uncomfortable as I had expected. A lot depends on the tire pressure and the quality of the roads. The roads in our area are not the best, but some district roads are even worse. Logically, riding comfort is relatively poor here. However, if I were to rate the comfort of the Agile and SLC5 5/5, then the T1600 would be 4/5, and the YOELEO R12 would be 2/5. I would also like to emphasize that I sit in a much more aggressive position on the T1600, which makes this result all the more surprising to me.

Although I am a lighter rider, weighing around 70 kg, I can feel the increased frame stiffness, especially when accelerating and riding out of the saddle. I assume that the D-type intakes contribute to the rear end’s lateral rigidity. Although I don’t think that the Agile is a soft bike, the T1600 somehow goes easier under the pedals. It’s hard to describe, but I can tell in side-by-side rides. The SLC5, on the other hand, feels like it absorbs some of my power and feels less stiff when riding out of the saddle.

The T1600 is Winspace’s fastest frame. It should save 5.5 W at 48 km/h (30 mph) compared to the T1550 Gen 2. So, is there a noticeable difference compared to Agile? Not really at speeds around 30 km/h. However, when I’m riding above 35 km/h, in a group, or descending, it feels like it requires less effort to maintain that speed. The faster I ride, the more I enjoy it. The T1600 simply flies. I didn’t expect that the difference would be as great. The SLC5 sits somewhere in the middle between these two, but closer to the T1600.

Winspace states that D-type intakes improve aerodynamics and downforce. As far as aerodynamics are concerned, I don’t have the resources to perform wind tunnel testing. However, the downforce argument sounds ridiculous to me, especially at the relatively low speeds (below approx. 80 km/h) at which most of us ride. I haven’t noticed that the rear of the bike holds better in corners thanks to higher downforce. In my opinion, this feature is more of a marketing gimmick. But you know what, I don’t really mind. The bike looks different, it’s a great conversation starter, and it’s a design element that I personally like. It looks much cooler in real life than in photos. It just makes washing the bike a little more complicated.

The last feature worth mentioning is stability. I was very interested to see how this aero bike would behave in crosswinds or at high speeds. And again, I was pleasantly surprised. I feel “safer” and more confident riding it. It’s as if the bike behaves more predictably than the Agile. The same goes when riding at high speeds. The bike holds its line. It also feels like the sailing effect works quite well. The effect is less noticeable with the SLC5.

Pricing

Price is a topic with every bike, and the T1600 is no exception. Compared to Agile, it’s $420 more expensive. Without my 10% discount, the T1600 costs $2400 ($2160 after discount). Considering that it’s a Chinese frame, that seems like a lot. But I don’t think so. For example, the Quick Pro ER:ONE costs $1999, the Evolve Cima $2299, the Intropy Speedster SS+ around $2550, the Winspace SLC5 $2800, and the Intropy SSR $4399. However, none of these brands sponsors a professional continental cycling team that would participate in the Grand Tours, like the Winspace Orange Seal did.

The problem with Winspace pricing is that many of us remember when their frames cost around $1300. Logically, we don’t like it when each new frame is more expensive than the last. However, the T1600 was tested in two wind tunnels, and the level of engineering and R&D is evident. So, in my opinion, the price is fair.

By the way (and this deserves its own article), Winspace has started selling complete bikes at absolutely unbeatable prices. The T1600, equipped with a Dura-Ace Di2 groupset, integrated HYPER cockpit, and HYPER 3 carbon wheels, costs $6299 without discount and $5670 after my 10% discount. Show me one road bike that offers a similar price-to-value ratio. If you are considering any of the Winspace bikes, I would definitely not hesitate, because I would not be surprised if the prices were adjusted later. They seem too low.

My Verdict

This review may seem biased in favor of Winspace. However, people who know me know that I say things as I feel them. And I consider the T1600 to be a great bike. It’s hard to find any negatives.

I was disappointed by the minor problems that arose during the build, which could have been easily avoided by conducting a thorough inspection before packing all the parts. Mistakes like sending a bolt without a header or a bike computer mount without holes for all types of adapters can’t happen with a frame at this price range. I have provided feedback to Winspace and have been assured that they have now been rectified.

The T1600 pleasantly surprised me with the paint job, which looks absolutely fantastic in direct sunlight. I also didn’t like the details of the Tour de France Femmes stages at first, but now I don’t really mind them, and many people seem to enjoy them (based on many discussions I had).

If I had to rate the ride impressions, the T1600 flies. I enjoy it especially at higher speeds, i.e., on flats, downhill, and in undulating terrain. It’s stiff, stable, and fast. It’s a rocket that deserves a good ride. Personally, I’m more of a hill climber who is accustomed to a more relaxed geometry, so I’d probably opt for the Agile, SLC3, or SLC5 for high mountains. But even with the T1600, you can ride fast up hills, especially with the proper gearing.

The T1600 is surprisingly comfortable, despite its stiffness and aero shapes. Of course, again, it also depends on the wheels and tire pressures used. But it’s definitely not a bone-shaker, as it might seem at first glance.

If I encounter any issues, I will update this review. I also plan on updating after long-term use. For now, though, I am happy with the frame, and I believe you will be too if you decide to buy it. If you do so, please consider using the code below. It’s the best way to save on the frame (or a complete bike) and support me and my website. Thank you very much in advance.

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.