TanTan x38 Review - Aero Isn't Everything
Summary
TLDRIn this video, the reviewer shares their experience with the Tantan X38 Aero frame set, discussing its components, weight, and performance after four to five weeks of use. They highlight the frame's aerodynamics, lightness, and value for money at $700, while addressing minor drawbacks like the need for paint to prevent headset rattling. The reviewer compares its ride feel to higher-priced bikes, noting it's not as refined but suitable for fast rides and sprints, with a comfortable seat post that surprises by absorbing road bumps.
Takeaways
- π΄ The video introduces a new Tantan X38 Aero frame set, which the reviewer purchased personally for $700 USD.
- π¨ The frame set is raw carbon without paint, which saves some weight but can cause rattling in the headset bearings.
- π’ The bike's total weight is approximately 7.3 kilograms, which is considered light for an aero frame.
- βοΈ The bike features an integrated cockpit, a 120mm stem, and SRAM eTap AXS Force groupset.
- πΊ A full-on carbon S-Works power saddle with 143mm width and 7x9 carbon rails is used, contributing to the bike's light weight.
- π΄ββοΈ The reviewer's first experience with a 1x setup, using a 52-tooth chainring and 10-30 cassette for drivetrain efficiency.
- π© The bike uses a ceramic T47 bottom bracket from Panda Podium, which offers smooth performance at a reasonable price.
- π οΈ The wheels are Machine DB508 XR Ultra, with 50mm front and 58mm rear depth, carbon spokes, and ceramic bearings, weighing around 1380 grams.
- π The bike's performance is not as refined as higher-priced bikes, especially on rough pavement, but it holds speed well and is suitable for fast group rides.
- π° For $600, the Tantan X38 frame set offers good value with its aero profile, comfort, and speed capabilities, though it lacks the refinement of more expensive bikes.
Q & A
What is the main feature of the Tantan X38 frame set discussed in the video?
-The main feature of the Tantan X38 frame set is its super aero design, which is unapologetically aero and stands out compared to many other bikes on the market.
How much does the Tantan X38 frame set cost and how long does it take to ship?
-The Tantan X38 frame set costs about 700 USD and it takes about three to four weeks to ship due to it coming from China.
What is unique about the paint job on the Tantan X38 frame set?
-The Tantan X38 frame set is unique in that it has no paint; it's completely raw carbon unfinished. The rider has added gold decals to enhance its appearance.
What is the weight of the Tantan X38 bike without additional components?
-The Tantan X38 bike weighs approximately 7.3 kilograms without a power meter, pedals, or a computer mount.
What components were used to achieve the light weight of the Tantan X38 bike?
-The light weight of the Tantan X38 bike is achieved through the use of an integrated cockpit, a full-on carbon saddle, a 1x setup, ceramic T47 bottom bracket, and lightweight wheels.
Why did the reviewer choose to use a 1x setup on the Tantan X38 bike?
-The reviewer chose a 1x setup because they are in a flat area where they never use the small ring on their other road bikes, and they wanted to experiment with this setup on an affordable bike.
What is the gear ratio equivalent to the 52 tooth chainring and 10-30 cassette setup on the Tantan X38 bike?
-The gear ratio equivalent to the 52 tooth chainring and 10-30 cassette setup is like a 57 by 11 in a Shimano drivetrain setup.
What are the specifications of the Machine DB508 XR Ultra Wheels used on the Tantan X38 bike?
-The Machine DB508 XR Ultra Wheels have 50mm depth in the front and 58mm in the rear, carbon spokes, ceramic bearings, an external width of 30mm, and an internal width of 23mm.
What are some of the dislikes the reviewer has about the Tantan X38 frame set?
-The reviewer dislikes the rattling noise from the headset bearings due to the unpainted frame, limited saddle adjustment range, and the difficulty in aligning the caliper to the rotor because of the frame's quality.
How does the Tantan X38 frame set perform on the road, especially at higher speeds?
-The Tantan X38 frame set performs well on the road, especially when the pace gets fast. It's not the most refined ride but offers a sense of speed and is suitable for fast group rides and sprinting.
What are the reviewer's final thoughts on the Tantan X38 frame set considering its price point?
-The reviewer can recommend the Tantan X38 frame set for its aero profile, comfort, and speed capabilities at the price point of 600 USD, but notes it lacks refinement and road composure compared to higher-priced frames.
Outlines
π΄ββοΈ Introduction to the Tantan X38 Aero Frame Set
The video introduces the Tantan X38 Aero frame set, which the presenter purchased with their own money due to its distinctively aerodynamic design. The presenter discusses their decision to leave the frame unpainted, saving some weight, and the addition of gold decals to match the rims. The frame's integrated cockpit, SRAM eTap components, and S-Works power saddle are highlighted, along with the decision to use a 1x setup for efficiency, despite the presenter's strength as a rider. The video promises a road test and personal thoughts after four to five weeks of riding the bike.
π Detailed Breakdown of the Bike's Components
The presenter provides a detailed examination of the bike's components, including the use of a 120mm stem, SRAM eTap components, and a S-Works power saddle. The decision to use a 1x setup with a 52-tooth chainring and a 10-30 cassette is explained for drivetrain efficiency. The presenter also discusses the use of a ceramic T47 bottom bracket from Panda Podium, which offers smooth performance at a reasonable price. The Machine DB508 XR Ultra Wheels are praised for their light weight, aerodynamics, and the comfort they provide due to their internal width, which complements wider tires.
π¨ Assembly and Weight Reduction Strategies
The presenter outlines the steps taken to assemble the bike and reduce its weight. This includes the use of a carbon cockpit, a lightweight carbon saddle, and ultra-light wheels. The removal of the front derailleur and battery from the SRAM eTap setup saves additional weight. The use of TPU inner tubes instead of latex is mentioned as a way to save around 100 grams. The presenter also notes the bike's overall weight of approximately 7.3 kilograms, emphasizing the effectiveness of the weight reduction strategies employed.
π€ Dislikes and Assembly Challenges
The presenter discusses the dislikes and challenges faced during the assembly of the bike. These include the rattling of the headset bearings due to the unpainted frame, which could be resolved with paint or additional tape. The limited saddle adjustment range and the difficulty in aligning the caliper to the rotor are also mentioned. The presenter suggests that these issues are expected with a budget frame and that patience is required to achieve a proper setup.
π£οΈ On-Road Impressions and Final Thoughts
The presenter shares on-road impressions of the Tantan X38, noting that while it is not as refined as higher-priced bikes, it performs well for its price point. The bike is praised for its aerodynamic profile, comfortable seat post, and sense of speed. However, it is criticized for its lack of refinement over rough pavement and its geometry, which does not suit the presenter's riding style. The video concludes with a recommendation of the frame set for those seeking an affordable, aerodynamic option, but with the caveat that it may not match the performance of more expensive frames.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Tantan X38
π‘Aero frame set
π‘Raw carbon
π‘Weight
π‘Integrated cockpit
π‘One by setup
π‘Ceramic bearings
π‘TPU inner tubes
π‘Ride feel
π‘Geometry
Highlights
Introduction of the Tantan X38 Aero frame set and its unique aero design.
The frame set was personally purchased, not a review item, showing the reviewer's genuine interest.
Price point of the frame set is approximately 700 USD, offering value for money.
The frame is raw carbon, unfinished, which saves weight but may cause rattling issues.
Custom decals were added for aesthetic appeal, despite the frame being unpainted.
The bike's total weight is approximately 7.3 kilograms, which is light for an aero frame.
Integrated cockpit with a 120 stem and super cast bar tape enhances the bike's aerodynamics.
Use of a full-on carbon saddle with gold accents matches the rims and adds to the bike's aesthetic.
First-time setup with a 1x system, opting for a 52-tooth chainring for drivetrain efficiency.
The 10-30 cassette provides a wide gear range, suitable for the reviewer's riding conditions.
Ceramic T47 bottom bracket from Panda Podium offers smooth performance at an affordable price.
Machine's DB508 XR Ultra Wheels are praised for their light weight and performance.
The bike's ride feel is not as refined as higher-priced bikes, but suitable for the price point.
The frame's geometry and design make it suitable for fast group rides and sprinting.
Despite the frame's aero profile, it does not climb as well as other bikes in the reviewer's collection.
The reviewer's personal preference leans towards stiffer rides offered by other frames in a similar price range.
Final thoughts include the frame's suitability for those seeking an aero look at an affordable price.
Transcripts
welcome back to the channel boys and
girls in today's video we are finally
taking a look at my brand new tantan x38
super duper Aero frame set so in this
video guys we're going to be going over
all the different components that I put
on this Frame because it is pretty
interesting I've done a few things that
are a little bit different than what
I've done in some of my previous builds
of course I'm going to talk about the
things I dislike about this bike going
to talk about of course the things that
I like about this bike and then we're
going to take it out on the road and I'm
going to give you my thoughts on this
build because now I've been able to ride
this bike for about four to five weeks
or so so without further Ado let's begin
alright guys so as I mentioned in the
introduction to this video this is my
latest tantan x38 frame set as you guys
can see it is quite an aero frame set
and this is really the main reason why I
chose to buy this frame with my own
money I didn't have it sent out to me uh
for review or anything like that I paid
with my own money and the reason why I
selected this frame is because this is
as you guys can see it is
unapologetically uh arrow and a lot of
bikes we're seeing today are sort of the
room one bike to rule them all of course
with the brand new specialized sl8 a lot
of frames now just don't look as Arrow
as this bike does here so when I saw it
on tantan's website I was like yo let me
go ahead and buy this so first I'm going
to start with the price of just the
frame set itself so the frame with
shipping is going to run you about 700
USD expect it to arrive in about uh
three to four weeks because it's coming
all the way from China our next up let's
talk about the paint job because there
is no paint um this is completely raw
carbon unfinished it's not painted I
haven't even put any sort of glossy or
matte clear coat on it which you
shouldn't do because it's probably not
good for the frame but I mean it's a 600
frame so I don't really care too much
um and being that it's unpainted that
does save a little bit of weight maybe
100 to 200 grams what I did do is I did
put these uh kind of ghetto janky decals
on here I probably went a little bit OD
with the decals but they just kind of
make it pop because the decals are gold
and of course it matches the gold
accents on uh the rims so uh before I go
into more of the details let's also talk
about the weight of this bike because
this bike is actually pretty light for
what it is so without a power meter
without pedals without a computer Mount
all that stuff just a stock bike that
you would expect to buy in a store this
bike actually weighs only about
7.3 kilograms uh for the frame that's
right 7.3 kilograms for a cheap all-out
Arrow frame so now let's talk about how
that is possible so first up we have the
integrated cockpit this is a 120 stem
and the width on these is like I think
it's 40 centimeters super cast bar tape
we have SRAM axis
etap Force I've been running that my
specialized La Sprint and I like it a
lot a lot next up let's move on to the
uh saddle now this is a full-on carbon
saddle this is a s-works power saddle
and a 143 millimeters with a 7x9 carbon
rails I like this saddle a lot I also
run this on my specialized La Sprint I
like it a lot next up let's talk about
the one by setup so this is my very
first time running one by not just on a
rose header but actually on all my bikes
all together now you're probably
wondering why am I running a one by well
as I've said plenty of times on this
channel now for like basically the last
three years uh Chicago is very very flat
and I never ever ever use the small ring
on any of my other road bikes so I
figured it would be appropriate to
experiment it on such a cheap affordable
bike so the chainring you see here is uh
it's by pass quest uh you can purchase
this chain ring from AliExpress to run
you about
I don't know maybe like 40 50 it's gonna
take about four weeks to ship but this
is a 52 tooth chain ring now you're
probably saying that's not that large
for an arrow uh chain ring right for one
buy but keep in mind that this is a um
SRAM uh etap axis setup so we have our
back for the cassette we have uh a uh 10
to 30. so at the largest Cog or the the
biggest uh setup I would have which
would be the uh 52 by 10. that's
basically like the equivalent to like a
57 by 11 in a Shimano drivetrain setup
now I'm I like to say I'm pretty strong
as a rider I am by no means anywhere
near that strong to be ever to be able
to crank out the equivalent of a 5211
I'm sorry 57 to 11 or 5210 uh gear
there's no way the reason why I did this
setup is simply for drivetrain
efficiency because when I'm cruising
along especially doing some of the fast
group rides here in Chicago I want to
make sure that my chain is more or less
within the middle cogs of the cassette
and by running this 52 tooth Arrow chain
ring I'll have all the gears I want and
I'll have this sort of drivetrain
efficiency because it seems like that's
one of the things that people have been
talking about about basically making
sure your drivetrain is efficient
um so that's the whole setup here of
course I have my cork uh Spider based
power meter I have these look carbon
ceramic pedals I've been using these for
like the last three years I really
really like the setup on them super
reliable and everything just spins well
alrighty now the next thing I want to
talk about which you can see is I am
running a ceramic t47 bottom bracket
courtesy of Joe at pandaponium
um he did not send this out to me for
free I did pay for it with my own money
although he did offer just a tiny
discount
um now obviously you guys know that I
have a great relationship with Joe I
really love what he's doing with this
brand new website uh Panda Podium he's
got some great stuff on his on his
website I do definitely want to check
out some of his latest Wheel sets that
he's been offering that I hear are
supposed to be a game changer
um so if you haven't already please make
sure to visit Joe's website pantopodium
I'll be sure to link uh his website down
below yeah so the uh
bottom bracket is ceramic bearings
hybrid Ceramics I don't really know but
super duper smooth super buttery um the
retail on the ceramic bottom bracket
from pandaponium is like a hundred
dollars USD and so far as I've been
running it it's been really really good
it's as good as the sort of uh ceramic
bearings version of sram's own in-house
uh bottom bracket and it's also just as
good as cocoa bearings um that's also a
brand of ceramic bearings that I've been
using in the past and this one has been
just as good as those and it's half the
price so for a hundred dollars for
ceramic bottom bracket especially from a
brand that I like that offers good
customer service it's a no-brainer next
up let's talk about the wheels all right
guys so next up are these wheels now
these wheels have truly been special now
I've been running these wheels back and
forth on uh this Frame the x38 tan tan
as well as my specialized La Sprint and
no lie these are some of the best wheels
that I've ever used
um so let me give you some of the specs
on these so these are um from machine I
am going to do a separate video on these
wheels but this is a machine's latest
set of wheels this is their uh
db508 XR Ultra Wheels but basically what
you need to know is you have 50
millimeters in the front 58 in the rear
uh we have carbon spokes uh ceramic
bearings we have a uh external width of
30 millimeters and an internal width of
23.
um and then the way for these these are
like I want to say these are the second
lightest set of wheels that I've ever
tested on this channel I want to say
these come in just at like three or
1380 grams something crazy like that so
basically
um you know some of the lightest wheels
that you can buy on the market retail on
these I believe they are 1 200 USD but
these wheels man guys I'm not kidding
you like I've said this before and I've
said maybe a lot of sort of
exaggerations or hyperboles but for sure
these are some of the best best wheels
I've tested no question I would put them
slightly above the elite Drive uh set of
wheels
um just a hair below the wind space
hyper the d67 only difference is because
these are not that deep of wheels so
it's hard to do a true apples to Apple
comparison on say like the elite Drive
uh 65s or the d67 wind space hypers but
if you're looking for a wheel set in
that 50 to 60 millimeter depth range
these are the ones I would pick no
questions asked and because they offer
up a uh 23 millimeter internal that
basically plumps up uh my set of
Continental gp5000 28 wheels so
basically almost like 29 or 30
millimeter width uh because of just how
wide the internal whip is on these
wheels So that obviously offers up a
very very comfortable ride for my weight
um I'm pumping these up at about 74
kilograms and even that might still be a
little bit too high but it definitely
does take out some of the harshness on
this bike so let's continue alrighty so
as I mentioned guys this bike weighs
about 7.3 kilograms which is a pretty
good weight considering this is an
all-out aero bike it's not intended to
be a climber or one bike to rule them
all sort of frame this is obviously a
narrow bike and it does of course
resemble the Scott foil RC Pro whatever
it's called
um so now you're wondering how did I
make this bike so light so let's first
start with some of the obvious things so
the first thing is this saddle this
saddle comes in less than 200 grams
um it comes in I don't know I think it's
like 160 or something like that so that
obviously helps we have the carbon
cockpit so that of course makes the um
the uh wait a little bit less too like I
said these wheels because they're only
like
1390 grams obviously that makes it very
very light and even just by going one by
by removing the front derailleur and the
battery that also removes was like 200
grams another thing too is instead of
using latex inner tubes I decided to
test out the TPU inner tubes they are a
little bit more pricey than the um
actually no that's not true actually
nowadays you can get
um tpus for about the same price as
latex tubes the difference being is that
if you go with TPU inner tubes you're
going to save a total of about 45 to 50
grams per tire so now we're talking
about a hundred grams total just by
switching uh from latex inner tubes to
TPU so you figure you're saving 100
grams from the inner tubes you're saving
like 200 grams because these wheels are
super duper light you're saving another
200 grams by ditching the front
derailleur and the heavy battery from
SRAM you also are using a carbon saddle
and then of course you have the carbon
cockpit so all those things collectively
this bike can easily be closer to say
7.9 kilograms or 8 kilograms total but
by removing all that stuff all the
things I don't really need especially
for the the type of roads that I ride
here in Chicago that's what brings this
bike down to about 7.3 kilograms and
it's so interesting because when I pick
up this bike versus my wind space and of
course my specialized La Sprint you can
definitely feel when you pick it up I'm
not talking about Road feel or anything
like that but you can definitely tell
that this bike is significantly lighter
than those bikes so anyway guys let's go
ahead and talk about the things that I
dislike about this bike oh yeah I forgot
to mention of the size on this Frame so
this Frame set is a uh 56 uh size on the
frame my saddle height is about
77.8
77.7 centimeters from the center of the
bottom bracket up to the center point on
the top of the saddle so anyway let's
talk about the things I dislike about
this bike okay so the first thing I
dislike about this frame is because I
opted to not paint the frame which you
should paint your frame you should at
least do
um a layer of uh clear coal protection
is because the bike is unpainted it
unfortunately makes uh the headset
bearings it makes them rattle not
necessarily physically you can't feel it
out on the ride or if you were to hold
the the front brake you can't feel it so
it's definitely secure in place but it
does make a rattling noise when you go
over bumps and I think the only reason
why it's doing that is because you know
they the tolerances on the uh the the
headset cup obviously is intended to be
painted to make those bearings be a
little bit tighter and have them seat
just a little bit more tighter inside of
the cup so that's I suppose not really a
negative
um you know because if you paint your
frame this problem should be gone but if
you choose to not paint your frame like
myself or if you choose to use a very
thin layer of paint you'll probably need
to add some sort of helicopter tape
something like that just to just to make
the bearing sit a little bit tighter uh
inside of the headset the second dislike
that I have for this bike is as you can
see this is running the um the style of
um this saddle clamp that you can
basically move the saddle for and aft
without having to actually loosen and
adjust the saddle itself now some people
like this style others don't I don't
mind it uh yolio they're notorious for
using this style so I've gotten used to
it however the problem for some reason
on this particular frame set is when I
loosen up these two bolts inside to be
able to move the saddle for an aft it
doesn't give me all of the range
um within the track so on here I should
have maybe I don't know maybe two
centimeters front and back to be able to
adjust the saddle but for some reason
it's it's stuck and I don't know why
it's not like completely stuck but
instead of giving me that two
centimeters of four and a half I'm only
getting like maybe one centimeter of
movement so that means that if I need to
make any super extreme adjustments to
the saddle for an aft I can't use that
while keeping my saddle um where it's at
as far as position goes I have to
basically loosen the whole entire saddle
and move it back so I'm sure maybe if I
were to use some a little bit of extra
Force I could probably fix that but just
keep that in mind and maybe this is just
because my frame is unpainted I don't
really know but yeah for some reason I'm
only getting about one centimeters of
four and a half allowance versus the
standard maybe two centimeters all right
and the third thing I dislike about uh
this Frame um and this uh dust just
comes with the territory when you buy a
cheap Chinese frame is um it took quite
a while to align the uh caliper to the
rotor uh because even though there was
some effort to face the caliper mounts
albeit you know the frame is unpainted
um tantan did not do a great job uh so
the front caliper was okay but for some
reason the rear caliper it took it took
a while it took a while to finally get
it dialed there but now I've got it
everything lined perfectly to the point
where I can take the rim on and off I
can remove the rotor on and off put
everything back on and everything will
still be perfectly in mind so just keep
that in mind that it's going to take
some patience to get everything aligned
because that is what you're paying for
or I should say not paying for when you
are dealing with these sort of
do-it-yourself uh you know cheap bike
frames from China next up let's talk
about some of the things that I like
about this Frame before we get on to
sort of The on-road Impressions on this
Frame so number one I do like the weight
of the frame it's only about 1100 grams
which isn't bad again if you add paint
it's probably like maybe 1200 grams but
that's not bad considering you know this
is an aero frame so I like the weight of
this Frame um so kudos to tantam for
that
um I really like this uh this the seat
post um now you would think that having
a seat post like this that it would just
basically offer all this harsh feedback
from the road but I've actually found it
to be the opposite in fact this chunky
seat post it actually soaks up a lot of
the bumps and I can confirm this because
when cam Nichols reviewed his um his
elves uh fall off Pro or whatever the
arrow frame he had he said the same
exact thing he said that the chunky seat
pulse on the elves frame he thought it
would be super duper harsh as far as
Road field goals but it ended up being
uh quite comfortable and I can also
confirm with Cam Nichols is that this
style of seatpost which is going back to
the negatives really quickly is um all
of your rear light mounts um because
this is a very chunky boy um you have to
be mindful that probably your mounts are
not going to fit so just uh you're gonna
have to figure out what you're gonna do
to mount this uh this light this Bond
trigger works okay but it's basically at
the limit as far as stretching out the
rubber to the absolute limit
um I just I like the overall look of
this Frame like I said in the
introduction guys
um you know there aren't really too many
uh frames cheap frames on the market
that are really offering up the sort of
super out um super Arrow looking profile
and I think that tantan did a great job
with this Frame set so yeah
um those are the dislikes I mentioned
the likes so now let's take this all
right you guys want to see my face right
so let's take this out on the road and
I'm gonna let you know how this bike
feels um so let's continue alrighty so
we are out taking the tan tan x38 8 for
a spin like I said guys I've been riding
this bike for about four to five weeks
now and I've put it through all my usual
Paces so of course sprinting taking it
out for some sort of you know spirited
efforts and um yeah I want to share some
of my thoughts on this so ah I don't
want to get hit alrighty so how does
this bike feel out on the road
um it feels okay
um it's not a super racy as I expected
it to be to be honest with you but it
definitely is a suitable ride in feeling
for six hundred dollar frame
um I know you guys want me to compare
this to a wind space or a specialized La
Sprint and obviously it is unfair to
compare this to that because those bikes
are like three times the the price
um one of the things with this Frame is
it's not super duper harsh or anything
like that
um it's just not a very refined ride
um could you do some fast group rides
with this of course you could that's not
going to be an issue or anything like
that but it's not going to be the most
refined ride you've ever had in your
life I don't know if that's just because
of the geometry it could be just of my
my position on this Frame
um like I said it it's not sloppy or
messy it's just not gonna be super
composed and that becomes apparent
quickly when you are out on rough roads
now with that being said despite the
lack of refinement this frame has over
rough pavement and I know it's the frame
and it's not the bike as a whole because
I've been using these wheels with my
specialized La Sprint is that despite
the despite the lack of refinement on
this Frame uh where the speed really
kicks in is when you start getting above
22 to 23 miles an hour that's where this
bike really really shines
um I don't want to use the term that it
holds the speed really well because I
don't have any scientific way to measure
that but once the pace gets going and
once you get up to speed
um you can tell that this is where this
bike likes to live
um it's not going to be the best climber
but when it comes to sprinting and when
this pace gets really really spicy you
can tangibly feel that yo this is
definitely not a climbing bike this is a
bike that's made for speed and for 600 I
mean it's gonna be really hard to
complain because it's an aero bike
um it's comfortable in this saddle
believe it or not it's just you know not
super duper refined over rough pavement
which Chicago has a lot of uh bad
pavement so like
you know I'm running 28
I see tires on these wheels I would
highly suggest to not use 25c because
the ride's not going to be punishing but
I think it's just going to exacerbate
the sort of sloppiness that this frame
has when you're going over rough
pavement now going back to the sort of
ride filling on the road as far as uh
the lack of refinement
um this unfortunately has been one of my
main gripes when it comes to dealing
with these cheap bikes now obviously for
six hundred dollars you can't expect
anything mind-blowing and like I said
these are all sort of marginal uh
nitpicks that I have with this bike I'm
not saying this this Frame is crap it
absolutely is not I think for 600 I can
recommend this Frame to you guys based
on the amount of writing and testing
I've done with this bike but I just do
want to set the expectations that you
know a bike like this is not going to
compete with anything significantly
higher in price than what this bike is
at the end of the day you know it's an
open mold frame
um it's a Chinese bike
customer service is pretty good you know
the bike came in like three weeks or so
I know I sound kind of monotone but part
of the reason why I'm sort of monotone
is because to be honest with you guys
reviewing all these cheap frames it's
begotten it's gotten kind of monotonous
and after a while you realize that a lot
of these Chinese bikes if I'm being
honest a lot of them are the same final
thoughts on the tantan x38 frame set
when I was building this up I was really
excited because I thought maybe this
Frame set could replace my specialized
La Sprint and I think that was my first
mistake expecting a 600 frame to replace
such an amazing bike in my opinion as a
specialized La spread for this Frame it
does have a lot of things going for it I
really like the Aero profile I like the
chunky but comfortable seat posts I
really like the sense of speed you get
when the pace gets fast and just the
Unique Look of this Frame set especially
in the world of so7 and so8 clones this
is something that's difficult to find in
general and it's especially difficult to
find around 600 USD for my bike fit
having such a long and low reach I
really couldn't get the bike fit so set
up for my style of riding because the
geometry just doesn't suit me that well
both the stack and the head tube are
pretty tall which makes setting up the
saddle and handlebars for me pretty
difficult again this is just a rider
issue not necessarily a problem with the
frame for such an arrow looking frame it
really isn't as stiff as my dangfu R12
although that frame is out of production
or The Velo build 177 despite all three
frames basically being around the same
weights my guess is it seems like 1010
is probably using the same typical
volume of carbon overall for this Frame
and the price point as both the dangfu
and The Velo build however the carbon
thickness or the carbon walls are less
in order to accommodate having more of
an arrow tubing profile now when the
speeds get fast this Frame is going to
put a smile on your face trust me
however you will be constantly reminded
that you're riding on bad roads and you
also will be reminded that you are just
riding a 600 frame versus writing a
fifteen hundred dollar frame now for six
hundred dollars overall I can recommend
this Frame set simply for the sake of it
looks super Aero it has a frame geometry
to accommodate most people it likes to
go fast and it does offer up a decently
comfortable ride now if you want a cheap
super Aero looking frame this is
basically your only option for six
hundred dollars however for my money
personally I would rather take the
dangfu R12 or the available 177 because
both of those frames will offer up a
stiffer ride and they do offer up a
little bit better Road composure they
just won't look as Aero that's going to
do it for today's video guys thank you
for sticking with me all the way to the
end of course if you have any questions
comments or concerns please feel free to
leave them down below and I will check
you on the next one and also to a big
thank you uh to Joe at Panda Podium for
helping me uh get my hands on their uh
ceramic bearings t47 bottom bracket
anyway guys I will talk to you on the
next one peace
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)