All my Aliexpress MTB purchases reviewed.

[danncam]

Swapped the original square bottom bracket FSA cranks and the 2x8 Shimano Claris on the Marin gravel over to Sensah SRX PRO 1x11 Speed 11s Road Bike Groupset STI R/L Shifter Rear Derailleurs GR3 Crankset.

I only usually do basic wrenching, but it went smoothly, looks much better, and I assume the rear derailleur with a clutch will stop the dropping of the chain etc compared to the floppy loosey goosey Claris one (can you tell I hate it?).

Including shipping it was around $340, but I also bought some bar tape, a second cluster for the second wheelset, two new brake cables for the cable disc bakes and some really shit cheap quick links.
In case someone cares, it saved me a massive 285 gms. If I buy a better cluster at some point I can shave that by another 104gms. I googled the GRX weights just for fun as well (only found a GRX shfters wieght for both so just plit it into two).

Is it worth the it, for the price hell (so far, I haven't ridden it further then just tuning the gears around the street). For a tight arse like me I think it's great. If it all goe to shit I'll post an update.

 

[marsbe]

Youre right. Brake pads are so over-priced for what they are. Even discs prices have got out of hand.
That combo of cooma gold and centrelines handled a non-stop fast for me run, top to bottom at Maydena on black/double black all the way down. Im 86kg.

Any long-term reviews of the Cooma Gold pads? I'm interested to see how they compare to the likes of Galfer, Discobrakes, Uberbike etc.

 

[bigdamo]

Just got this digital shock pump Works good ,Doesn't loose much air when disconnecting. early days so far. And aliexpress is having their aniversary sale now.

17.21AU $ 75% OFF|NEWBOLER 320psi Bike Pump High Pressure Digital Gauge MTB Road Portable Bicycle Pump Schrader Valve Cycling Hand Pump Tire Pump| | - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

 

[spinner]

Still on shock pumps , I have been using one of these for a couple of months now. Very happy with it. Doesn't feel cheap in action , has the nifty little engagement screw to depress the valve core after you have screwed onto the schrader body. Absolute bargain at $16 delivered,

17.87AU $ 62% OFF|ThinkRider Portable High pressure 300psi Bike Air Pump with Gauge for Fork & Rear Suspension Shock Absorber Mountain| | - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

 

[Isildur]

So, I've ordered a bunch of mechanical Shimano gear from Ali, usually from Delic Bike Store, and so far has really good results.

Has anyone ordered Shimano brakes, like M7100, M8100 or M8120? They're basically a full set for a price of a single end locally, so I'm considering taking the plunge, unless someone else has ac reason not to?

 

[zooks]

Has anyone ordered Shimano brakes, like M7100, M8100 or M8120? They're basically a full set for a price of a single end locally, so I'm considering taking the plunge, unless someone else has ac reason not to?

I got some M7100's from Ali a while ago. All good

 

[Isildur]

I got some M7100's from Ali a while ago. All good

Cheers, that's very good news!

 

[oldcorollas]

I like the look of the Meiser accu-gages...
but taking a punt on one of these (30psi) for $15, same type of mechanism. fingers crossed!

17.26AU $ 30% OFF|Atsafepro Presta Valve Pressure Gauge With Air Pressure Relief For Road Bicycle Tires Range To 160 Psi 11bar Bike Pressure Gauge - Tire Pressure Monitor Systems - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

 

[fjohn860]

I like the look of the Meiser accu-gages...
but taking a punt on one of these (30psi) for $15, same type of mechanism. fingers crossed!

17.26AU $ 30% OFF|Atsafepro Presta Valve Pressure Gauge With Air Pressure Relief For Road Bicycle Tires Range To 160 Psi 11bar Bike Pressure Gauge - Tire Pressure Monitor Systems - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

Definitely interested on how it goes.

I think my thumbs are wearing out.

 

[oldcorollas]

Definitely interested on how it goes.

I think my thumbs are wearing out.

i thumbed badly today and things got a bit squirmy....

 

[Ackland]

Hey @danncam how are the sensah bits going?

Looking to put a 2x system on my zwift rig as I've run out of gears with a single ring setup.

Tossing up whether I go sensah phi 10spd for ultra cheap or get the 11/12 SPD carbon levers

 

[bigdamo]

I like the look of the Meiser accu-gages...
but taking a punt on one of these (30psi) for $15, same type of mechanism. fingers crossed!

17.26AU $ 30% OFF|Atsafepro Presta Valve Pressure Gauge With Air Pressure Relief For Road Bicycle Tires Range To 160 Psi 11bar Bike Pressure Gauge - Tire Pressure Monitor Systems - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

I got one a year ago. Works well compared its accuracy with other guages I had at the time I bought it. Just don't go over 30 psi on the 30 psi guage it spins the needle round the dial like a big lucky dip wheel. You can take the guage apart to fix it though.

 

[danncam]

Hey @danncam how are the sensah bits going?

Looking to put a 2x system on my zwift rig as I've run out of gears with a single ring setup.

Tossing up whether I go sensah phi 10spd for ultra cheap or get the 11/12 SPD carbon levers

Glad you asked.
Only rode with it for the first time today.
Mainly road but some dirt road big corrugations and some dirt trail small roots.
Very happy with my "Ali-GRX". The clutch works well. The cranks are quite schmick looking and have narrow wide teeth pattern.
Most importantly I have no complaints about how it shifts. It is the one brake lever only shifting, push to go up to the larger cogs, click to go down to the small cogs.

I kept my cable disk brakes and I prefer the new sensah brake levers to the previous Shimano (um..coff) Claris ones.

If you are grabbing stuff for a swift only setup, I assume weight is irrelevant, save the money for new pair of riding glasses or something else.

 

[oldcorollas]

I got one a year ago. Works well compared its accuracy with other guages I had at the time I bought it. Just don't go over 30 psi on the 30 psi guage it spins the needle round the dial like a big lucky dip wheel. You can take the guage apart to fix it though.

their factory photo on Alibaba doesn't inspire too much confidence (but they may be artisans in spite of crap working conditions imposed on them! )

Ningbo Godeson Instrument Technology Co., Ltd. - Tire Pressure Gauge, Tire Repair Kit

Ningbo Godeson Instrument Technology Co., Ltd., Experts in Manufacturing and Exporting Tire Pressure Gauge, Tire Repair Kit and 0 more Products.

godeson.en.alibaba.com

tested, consistent

 

[bigdamo]

their factory photo on Alibaba doesn't inspire too much confidence (but they may be artisans in spite of crap working conditions imposed on them! )

Ningbo Godeson Instrument Technology Co., Ltd. - Tire Pressure Gauge, Tire Repair Kit

Ningbo Godeson Instrument Technology Co., Ltd., Experts in Manufacturing and Exporting Tire Pressure Gauge, Tire Repair Kit and 0 more Products.

godeson.en.alibaba.com

View attachment 408019
tested, consistent

That image has been manipulated . Only five peope working in a factory in China. Come on.

 

[fjohn860]

Bought these recently. Turned up today.

26t chainring (only in 0mm offset), hence the spacer.

After putting the 155mm cranks on I wanted to try a smaller chain ring than the existing 28t one (though it's probably, most definitely possible that my issue stems from lack of fitness lol).

PASS QUEST do pose a valid question though...

 

[birddog69]

I got some M7100's from Ali a while ago. All good

Do they come right brake front and left rear? Or do you need to swap them?

 

[zooks]

Do they come right brake front and left rear? Or do you need to swap them?

From memory I had to swap them. It was a different Ali store (think the one I got them of is gone now). Maybe double check and ask them

 

[fjohn860]

Bought these recently. Turned up today.

26t chainring (only in 0mm offset), hence the spacer.

After putting the 155mm cranks on I wanted to try a smaller chain ring than the existing 28t one (though it's probably, most definitely possible that my issue stems from lack of fitness lol).
View attachment 408023


PASS QUEST do pose a valid question though...

Realised I didn't link any of the items yesterday.

Just found this amazing item on AliExpress. Check it out!
AU$46.39 17%OFF | PASS QUEST Direct Mount For GXP Chainring 24/26/28/30T/32T/34T/36T/38T/40T Chainwheel for SRAM NX GX XX1 XX1 Eagle X01 X01 Eagle

46.83AU $ 17% OFF|PASS QUEST Direct Mount For GXP Chainring 24/26/28/30T/32T/34T/36T/38T/40T Chainwheel for SRAM NX GX XX1 XX1 Eagle X01 X01 Eagle| | - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

a.aliexpress.com

The link for the spacer is toast but this is the same one...

10.87AU $ |Pass Quest Gxp Offset Crank Washer 1.6mm 2mm 2.5mm Al7075-T6 For Sram Crank

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

a.aliexpress.com

The only thing with the spacer is that it pushes the mounting torx screws out towards the BB and so an extra spacer washer is needed so the screw don't foul on the BB. This is just a interim fix to see if the 26t with 155mm crank is worth it.

Then I think I'll fork out for a proper offset steel ring

 

[birddog69]

From memory I had to swap them. It was a different Ali store (think the one I got them of is gone now). Maybe double check and ask them

Thanks. Will do.