Chinese Carbon Gravel frame set - Carbonda CFR707

180 replies · 27,519 views

steadyuk
9 posts
#81Nov 17, 2021, 3:21 PM
Thanks for the info @jannmayer. I will place my order and share progress on this thread. I think this might be a rebad 707 though seatpost dia is differrent?
https://www.forwards.cc/gr-gravel
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jannmayer
45 posts
#82Nov 17, 2021, 3:37 PMedited
steadyuk wrote:Thanks for the info @jannmayer. I will place my order and share progress on this thread. I think this might be a rebad 707 though seatpost dia is differrent?

Good find! That's definitely the CFR707. I think they have an error on the seatpost diameter. I just measured mine and it's a 27.2 mm post. Their other gravel bike (GR20) is a Carbonda CFR696 and the road bike is a CFR1056.

To their credit, the "About our Bikes" page clearly states that they are open mold frames, although they don't mention Carbonda (or Flybike) by name.
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steadyuk
9 posts
#83Nov 18, 2021, 2:41 AM
@jannmayer I am trying to place the order but am struggling on the topic of Internal / External routing with Wing. I see you went external routing. I want to run 1x fully internal with an FSA K-Wing, FSA SMR stem and FSA ACR headset but also want the option in the future to route the rear mech cable semi external (eg internal to bar, external to stem then internal through entry point on downtube). I also want to run the rear mech cable in a full length housing so am asking for additional entry/exit stopper grommets to allow this. I am describing all this as follows:
Cable Options
1 – Fully internal (brakes and gear cable) through bars/stem/head tube and fork. Blanking / cover piece required for both sides of down tube
AND
2- Semi Internal – front and rear brakes through bars/stem/headtube/fork. Rear mech cable through bars/ external / then internal through downtube
Option to run with outer housing full length (eg internal) so need special grommet/bung at entry point in down tube and exit at seat /chain stay to suit cable and housing + standard cable grommets where housing stops at entry and exit from frame

Wing keeps on saying that fork is either Internal or External which I get and only want internal as the brake hose will always be run internally. Can you see how I am confusing the issue with how I am describing it? How did you request the external routing and do you know if this will still work fully internally?

On another topic what is the general opinion of the Carbonda paint quality. I have scheme which includes multiple colours and mix of fade and sharp lines. Would you trust them?
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jannmayer
45 posts
#84Nov 18, 2021, 8:46 AM
@steadyuk I believe the full internal option does not have cable entry ports cut into the carbon. For the external routine option, the headset cover plate does not have routing holes, and the fork is drilled for external entry.

Sounds like what you want is the internal cable routing with one cable entry port on the side of the frame. Also request the regular cable entry insert and a blanking plate, although they may not have a blanking plate available.

I haven't built mine up yet, but it looks like I will need to slightly enlarge the holes in the cable entry inserts to fit the housing though. Perhaps it's best to ask for a couple of extra inserts just in case you need to experiment. They are fairly simple pieces of plastic that clip in tot he holes.

I can't speak firsthand to the custom paint quality. The matte finish on mine was very evenly applied. From what I've seen on this forum, the Carbonda custom paint is generally pretty good, but not quite perfect. Seems like it chips a bit more easily than most factory paint, and the colors aren't always exact matches. But for the price it's really hard to beat.
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Thijsvanderwal
209 posts
#85Nov 19, 2021, 5:30 PM▲ Top
Thijsvanderwal wrote:Frame has been produced & painted within the lead time as promised:

Shipping took a while, the frame arrived on Wednesday 17th, about 4w duty paid to Europe. I ordered the headset and axles and went fully integrated. I’m coming from a 696 size L (I’m 182cm) with a 100mm stem. In order not to compromise too much on agility I went for a size M instead for the 707. That allows again for a 100mm stem keeping the reach about the same, but with a slightly slacker fork rake. Having both frames side by side, measurements are really close, the seat tube is exposed more and I now need all the spacers I got under the stem. The head tube is much lower in size M vs L so if you want to get low, sizing down is the way to go.

The finishing of the inside seems quite a bit better vs the 696: no sharp edges and all cables seem to find their way easily through the frame. I removed all inserts and used a magnetic tool to get the cables to the right exits. The roof in the bottom bracket cavity is enlarged and makes it easier to feed the Di2 cables around. The 650b tire spacing in the back seems a bit less, I can jùst about fit 60mm slicks in there but your wheels need to be straight AF: the 696 seems to have a bit more wiggle room. The front fork looks like it might fit 700c55 easily, and now also has a screw on the front: not so nice.

The biggest surprise to me was the standard back caliper position being 160mm, seemingly making it impossible to mount anything smaller than that? I’m coming from 140mm in the back so need to re-think my wheel swapping strategy a bit.
I’m on 2x and really appreciated the updated FD mount and cable entry. They’re both more hidden behind the FD and therefore adding to the clean integrated look. The FD mount also doubles as the FD positioning base instead of the sticky metal bit. The seat tube cavity seems a bit smaller vs the 696: where I had slippage issues on the latter, the 707 seat tube sits firmly. Please note I use a Pro carbon seat tube, not the supplied one. The wedge to fixate the seat tube seems to work well.

I went full internal cabling with a Deda Elementi stem and the FSA K-WING carbon handlebars. I really wanted fully integrated but the Carbonda ones don’t go to 400mm/100mm and alternatives with flare are extremely hard to find, and priced about €600. Installation was pretty straight forward, I used the bearings supplied by Carbonda and the headset cover and spacers that came with the stem. The result is pretty slick and the spacers seem to stay into position pretty well, so far :-)

All in all I think the 707 is a step forward manufacturing/design wise from the 696 (mine is now 2y old), I haven’t yet ridden it properly so still curious about the ride feel.
jannmayer
45 posts
#86Nov 20, 2021, 11:44 AM
Looks great! I can't wait to hear how it rides. I sized up (XL, I'm about 190 cm) for additional stability on rougher roads.

I have mine mostly prepped for painting. Of course now I'm headed out on a lengthy business trip, so it will be a while longer before I can work on it again...
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steadyuk
9 posts
#87Nov 22, 2021, 2:15 AM
@Thijsvanderwal that is a lovely looking finished product. Very understated. How does it ride?
I have just got my invoice from Wing and will press the button later. I am choosing not to get their headset as I have bought an FSA ACR headset
https://shop.fullspeedahead.com/en/headsets/road-mtb/no-55r-1-5-acr

(to be used with their SCR Stem and K-Bars), but spotted you chose to go with Carbonda headset bearing. Any reason why the FSA wouldn't work? The Carbonda top cover looks like a copy of this?

Thanks
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Thijsvanderwal
209 posts
#88Nov 22, 2021, 3:23 AMedited
Thank you both! I had a first tarmac ride in over the weekend on the 700c GK SS 38mms and the bike felt good, but it is also the first time I have ridden anything over 700c30 on this bike so the jury is still out on whether it is less nervous / more stable vs the 696. I'm planning to get some 650b47 offroad action in this weekend that should give a better indication. The handle bar is now made of carbon instead of aluminium on my 696 and the seat post is more exposed (about 8cm?) so I expect more comfort. The 15mm longer wheelbase and mainly the 1.5 degree slacker fork will have the biggest effect on handling. I actually really like the 696 and felt one with the bike on the trials, let's hope that continues on the 707.

Indeed @steadyuk the Carbonda top cover looks identical to the FSA ACR one. I guess it all depends what stem you pick, as the headset cap determines what spacers you can use and the spacers again are often stem specific. ACR stems (FSA) have differentlt shaped spacers vs DCR stems (Deda), but they both use the same 52mm outer diameter top bearing so you can switch out top covers between their or Carbonda's bearings.
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pascal
1 posts
#89Nov 29, 2021, 7:26 AM
I am watching to buy this frameset too. What is the maximum tire size you could use in 650b with it, for the front and the back ?
Carbonda says 2.1 but for the front could I go larger ? I currently have a 2.3 on my gravel for the front and it is more adapted to my pratice, I just want to be sure if the original fork accepts it or if I would need another one.
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jannmayer
45 posts
#90Nov 29, 2021, 12:50 PM
I don't have a 650 wheel to check, but I would be surprised if you could fit a 2.3 inch tire on either the front or rear unless you are on with very little clearance for mud.

On the fork, I had 7 mm on each side with a 700x52 mm tire. I don't think there would be any more clearance with a 650 wheel. There would only be a couple mm on each side of a 2.3 inch tire.
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Thijsvanderwal
209 posts
#91Nov 30, 2021, 1:54 PM
2.35 / 60mm 650b just about fits on the front. As long as you don’t have big side knobs and proper spoke tension you should be fine, I used a G One Speed slick in there. The same tire in the back is getting very close to the chainstays and I wouldn’t be very comfortable riding anything over 55mm on this frame.
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mila
1 posts
#92Dec 14, 2021, 6:46 AM
Hello,
I have just ordered a 707 frame.
I am planning to build the frame with SRAM Force 1x XPLR crankset. But SRAM produces "normal" and "wide" version crankset.
I want to use 38t or 40t up front and 10-44 cassette.

Which one will be better to use, normal or wide?
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Thijsvanderwal
209 posts
#93Dec 20, 2021, 4:40 AM
You can go with normal to minimize the Q-Factor. The wide versions are only really needed for road boost frames like Focus Atlas.
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steadyuk
9 posts
#94Dec 29, 2021, 3:38 AM
I have just received pictures of my painted frame from Wing and I noticed that it does not have rope tube or under downtube mounting bolts. I pointed this out and they said they selected the wrong frame and I can take as is or have them added. If they mean drilling frame and adding retrospectively I would be very nervous to accept as this must weaken the structure of the frame. Anyone got a view on this? Thanks
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jannmayer
45 posts
#95Dec 29, 2021, 9:04 AM
If I'm not mistaken, that's how they normally add the mounting holes, so I don't think there is any issue with the strength. There could be a chance of paint damage when adding them thought.
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steadyuk
9 posts
#96Dec 29, 2021, 12:18 PM
@jannmayer thanks I think you are right. They are post drilled but the rivnut gets bonded into the carbon before painting so the raised shoulder gets painted. If I get mine retrospectively fitted the shoulder will be exposed metal/bonding resin. The missing top tube sockets are right in the middle of a colour fade too so will look fugly.
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steadyuk
9 posts
#97Jan 23, 2022, 1:52 AM
My frame is somewhere in uk now so a few days from delivery so I need to assemble the build parts. I’m going to be running fully internal Force 1X mechanical through FSA SMR bar stem and headtube. I’m told the frame it designed for full length outer. I want to get the best flexible sealed smooth cable set which has minimal maintenance requirements. I guess these needs to be 4mm OD to fit frame. Any recommendations? Looking at Jagwire Pro but have no prior knowledge. Also I’m guessing the internal routing and slightly slacker geo will mean I need to get longer brake hoses than I have on my existing frame. Should these be Sram original parts or generic unbranded just as good?
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Thijsvanderwal
209 posts
#98Jan 24, 2022, 6:17 AM
I'm not sure about the 4mm OD, don't have mechanical. I have also just purchased the FSA SMR stem (the Deda elementi stem wasn't a good fit afterall...) and was surprised to see there is a second way to move at lease one other cable through the headset, via the expander. Maybe this will help in getting the cables through?
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steadyuk
9 posts
#99Jan 24, 2022, 11:54 PM
@Thijsvanderwal thanks just seen space in spacers/ring. Going to stick to 4mm as I suspect exit at rear dropout is sized for standard housing,
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chriscweis
9 posts
#100Feb 9, 2022, 2:23 PM
For those of you that ordered your frames, how long after you placed your order was it before your received notification that it was being processed or shipping? FWIW, I went with the 707 frameset + bar combo in size XL (unpainted). Thx!
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