Nice video Max. Kudos to the guys for setting up the brand - like you say not easy, but they have a pretty unique proposition. Hope it works out for them 👍
As an 85kg rider I have had no issues with 140mm rotors, even doing rides like the Etapekr doing UK races in absolute slop conditions. 140mm rotors on the front is not comparable to rim brakes! What a great looking bike though.
Stem width? How many watts that shave? Bespoke... virtually every bike shop in the country used to be that,buy their frame, which many actually made,build it up to your spec Nine grand,no way stick with my rim brake tcr,105 shock horror,all you actually need real world
I was meant to say 'bar width' not stem width but cycling, filming and presenting can be hard sometimes. Surprisingly theres a lot of high end bikes where you cant spec out stem length and bar width, which is crazy for these high prices.
Really enjoyed the video and appreciate the ethos this brand is trying to create. That said, I have to agree with many of the comments-these open mould frames come at a steep price. Brands like Elves, Windspace, and Seka offer similar options, but when a company truly invests in R&D, it stands out as a brand worth supporting, surely ? Especially given how expensive cycling has become. It's a Gorgeous looking bike, though. Great video as always, Max!
Yup, one thing I believe in is always that the whole is worth more than the sum of the parts. Frames get QC’d at the factory, then QC’d by the brand once they arrive. Plus a 3 yr warranty. Buying direct from Asia can be hard- I’m hearing a lot of stories about SEKA struggling to fill orders. So it’s not as clean cut as ‘it’s cheaper elsewhere’ because sometimes the experience of doing it that way can not work out. Just my two cents 🪙 👌🏻
its clearly different in london to N.Ireland. we don't tend to buy into brand, ethos, etc. we buy bikes to ride, but aren't buying into riding ideas or images. we ride rough winter bikes, then good bikes in spring, and some of the fast guys still ride rim brakes. not a criticism, just an observation. we rarely ever pay much heed to which bike folks ride. nice bikes are nice here too, but only that. i love the channel btw!
I am not saying I could afford it but at £9k with DA I don't think that is too excessive and Ultegra would probably be my level. That said both in your video and Raptor web site I cannot find a lot of information about the frame technology ! After all without a doubt we will be seeing knock off frames made of this design made overseas but made of inferior quality. Your point about being able to belong to a unique cycling group is well made but I think if that was my criteria I would prefer to buy one of the top brand bikes that have competed in major tours.
If anybody wanted “to buy something nice” and be part of a community, they’d be buying a Bastion and wear PNS, Maap or Rapha. ✌️😆 Raptor doesn’t have the brand appeal. “Raptor? Nope, never heard of them. Are they an open mould bike from China” would be the only vibe anybody is getting riding this.
I REALLY want to try the Exceed and I think I might prefer it to the Spear. I don’t think the RL1 and the Exceed are that similar though but you might know better as I haven’t had a close enough look
Fork very similar, handlebar very similar, fork to frame transition quite similar, seatpost pretty much the same. There is more of a kink on the top tube and seat stays where the seka has more of a bend. In the end they are both probably closely based on factor vostro/vam
I’ll caveat first that I know the founders of the brand, but also, they offer an option of wheels that are ~300g lighter than those DA wheels (which a pretty chunky wheels). So it can be built close to 7kg depending on what you spec.
@@markfly480 the new madone is a fusion between the emonda and the older madone which was a full aero bike the new madone is the SL8 style of do it all bike that’s not completely aero and the older madone was thicker and heavier. Think of the new canyon aeroad and cevelo S5, they are both 7.3kg and 7.6kg so I’d say that’s about what the market for a full aero bike is
The F&F is overpriced and for that reason I wouldn’t buy into the brand. They have zero R&D or mold ownership. The wholesale price will probably be £700 ish. Nothing wrong with them making a profit at all but it’s a bit too much for me..
Hi, nice video, good looking bike - when we think of visual Identity - it’s just a factor - the name sounds the same, the branding looks the same. One thing, I think you made the cycling culture point 4 times in the video. I know you care but it’s a bit of overkill in a 20 min vid. Cheers.
Im not suer what i would do if i was given £9k to spend on a bike, its a harder question to answer than you might think!! I dont think id opt for RED/Dura Ace though, i think id spec out a good frame and wheels
I enjoy your videos but every time I see the white socks on the outside of your tights I can’t help but think of teen girls wearing leg warmers in the 80s. Is this just a London style thing? I can’t say I’ve seen it anywhere else but if it makes you happy then rock on. 🤘🏻
Nice video Max. Kudos to the guys for setting up the brand - like you say not easy, but they have a pretty unique proposition. Hope it works out for them 👍
It is an awful lot of money for a generic Chinese frame.Anyone that's into cycling would just purchase a frameset and build a bike to their own fit.
As an 85kg rider I have had no issues with 140mm rotors, even doing rides like the Etapekr doing UK races in absolute slop conditions. 140mm rotors on the front is not comparable to rim brakes!
What a great looking bike though.
Exactly!!
Nice color!
Stem width? How many watts that shave?
Bespoke... virtually every bike shop in the country used to be that,buy their frame, which many actually made,build it up to your spec
Nine grand,no way stick with my rim brake tcr,105 shock horror,all you actually need real world
I was meant to say 'bar width' not stem width but cycling, filming and presenting can be hard sometimes.
Surprisingly theres a lot of high end bikes where you cant spec out stem length and bar width, which is crazy for these high prices.
Really enjoyed the video and appreciate the ethos this brand is trying to create. That said, I have to agree with many of the comments-these open mould frames come at a steep price. Brands like Elves, Windspace, and Seka offer similar options, but when a company truly invests in R&D, it stands out as a brand worth supporting, surely ? Especially given how expensive cycling has become. It's a Gorgeous looking bike, though.
Great video as always, Max!
Yup, one thing I believe in is always that the whole is worth more than the sum of the parts.
Frames get QC’d at the factory, then QC’d by the brand once they arrive.
Plus a 3 yr warranty. Buying direct from Asia can be hard- I’m hearing a lot of stories about SEKA struggling to fill orders.
So it’s not as clean cut as ‘it’s cheaper elsewhere’ because sometimes the experience of doing it that way can not work out. Just my two cents 🪙 👌🏻
@thewattlife bang on mate 👌🏼
looks like they copied the Factor ostro vam style for the font/placement except added a little bit of a squiggle in the middle
its clearly different in london to N.Ireland. we don't tend to buy into brand, ethos, etc. we buy bikes to ride, but aren't buying into riding ideas or images. we ride rough winter bikes, then good bikes in spring, and some of the fast guys still ride rim brakes. not a criticism, just an observation. we rarely ever pay much heed to which bike folks ride. nice bikes are nice here too, but only that. i love the channel btw!
Nice bike, the frameset looks pretty much indentical to th "GIRS Solo" wich is a nice bike to 😅
It's the same frameset as the Thai brand “Kaze Kanon XR” and it's a pretty good bike.
I am not saying I could afford it but at £9k with DA I don't think that is too excessive and Ultegra would probably be my level. That said both in your video and Raptor web site I cannot find a lot of information about the frame technology ! After all without a doubt we will be seeing knock off frames made of this design made overseas but made of inferior quality. Your point about being able to belong to a unique cycling group is well made but I think if that was my criteria I would prefer to buy one of the top brand bikes that have competed in major tours.
If anybody wanted “to buy something nice” and be part of a community, they’d be buying a Bastion and wear PNS, Maap or Rapha. ✌️😆
Raptor doesn’t have the brand appeal. “Raptor? Nope, never heard of them. Are they an open mould bike from China” would be the only vibe anybody is getting riding this.
Definitely a nice frame design, not too aero and not too lightweight. Price still bit too steep for my liking
CRAZY PRICE for an unknown brand 💯
Looks very close to my Seka exceed
I REALLY want to try the Exceed and I think I might prefer it to the Spear. I don’t think the RL1 and the Exceed are that similar though but you might know better as I haven’t had a close enough look
Fork very similar, handlebar very similar, fork to frame transition quite similar, seatpost pretty much the same. There is more of a kink on the top tube and seat stays where the seka has more of a bend. In the end they are both probably closely based on factor vostro/vam
That little smirk when you said £9k...
Ha personally I don’t have £9k to spend on a bike, it’s a lot of cheese 🧀
@thewattlife if I had the dough it would definitely be a consideration - I'd want some kinda half price coffee at the clubhouse to sweeten the deal
Haha I don’t think I’ve had a half price coffee from there but maybe I should ask for a loyalty card
@@thewattlife the amount you're spending on coffee and cake you could certainly benefit from one
Good price except the frame must be quite heavy if the bike with Duraace is 7.4kg. SWorks is 6.8kg but then you need to spend extra 3k!!
This is a full on aero bike though
I’ll caveat first that I know the founders of the brand, but also, they offer an option of wheels that are ~300g lighter than those DA wheels (which a pretty chunky wheels). So it can be built close to 7kg depending on what you spec.
Yes I see. The Trek Madone is about 7.4kg as well I think, and that's an aero bike.
@@markfly480 the new madone is a fusion between the emonda and the older madone which was a full aero bike the new madone is the SL8 style of do it all bike that’s not completely aero and the older madone was thicker and heavier. Think of the new canyon aeroad and cevelo S5, they are both 7.3kg and 7.6kg so I’d say that’s about what the market for a full aero bike is
Buy a Canyon Aeroad CFR for the same money
White socks over your cycling tights 😂
It’s a very polarising look
The F&F is overpriced and for that reason I wouldn’t buy into the brand. They have zero R&D or mold ownership. The wholesale price will probably be £700 ish. Nothing wrong with them making a profit at all but it’s a bit too much for me..
Raptor have a licence for the specific frame to sell as the only distributors in the UK
You make your choice and you pay your money.
Sounds like Factor
It's only a loan? 😔 I was hoping you finally got a new bike.
Only for a short time to make a vid but hopfully riding it more next year
What an anvil. My SLC3 3 ultegra di2 for less than half the price at 6.5kg
I’m in love with my SLC 3. What a great bike
Lots of $$ for an open mold frame from a brand we've never heard from outside of your channel
Hi, nice video, good looking bike - when we think of visual
Identity - it’s just a factor - the name sounds the same, the branding looks the same. One thing, I think you made the cycling culture point 4 times in the video. I know you care but it’s a bit of overkill in a 20 min vid. Cheers.
My dream bike max 😮🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑£9k
Im not suer what i would do if i was given £9k to spend on a bike, its a harder question to answer than you might think!! I dont think id opt for RED/Dura Ace though, i think id spec out a good frame and wheels
I enjoy your videos but every time I see the white socks on the outside of your tights I can’t help but think of teen girls wearing leg warmers in the 80s. Is this just a London style thing? I can’t say I’ve seen it anywhere else but if it makes you happy then rock on. 🤘🏻
Nice Chinese open mold frame 🤡🤡🤡
It is not an open mold frame they have the rights for it
That is a lot of cash for a company with no history/heritage. Hopefully they will still be in their coffee shop in a years time, but who knows.
Time will tell hey, they are starting a race team next year too so doing what they can to help build the brand
@thewattlife Good for them, it's always tricky to get your head round these figures when you only paid £8500 for your first home 😉
Haha damn 🏠
@@thewattlife Great films, keep up the good work. FYI, as yet white socks over tights have not quite take off yet in Derbyshire.