Planet X Road Bikes

ipodrocker

Hi,

has anyone had much expeirence with planet x road bikes? Are they recommended over such brands as specialized, Felt , Giant etc...

Doc_Savage

use the search feature if you can... there are loads and loads of threads asking this.... but yes bang for buck they seem to be the best bikes about at the minute

now where's Blorg?:pac:

The tax man

The only bad thing you'll hear about Planet X bikes around here is that there are too many of us riding them.:D

I love my titanium stable.Picked up both bikes when they had special offers on and no other brand came anywhere near Planet X's pricing.I've heard of many others going for the titanium frames which are(currently) crafted by Lynskey. Loads of happy owners of the pro carbon road bike on Boards. Can't comment on the new Nanolight frame yet.

Quality is as good as any of the big name manufacturers and the service is good. I had a few issues with one of my orders but it was dealt with quickly.

DirkVoodoo

There really should be a "planet-x roll call" thread at this stage.

They are certainly a very good bike, probably not in the same league as the others you have listed from a brand value stance.

Basically, if the frame is good enough for Martyn Irvine then it is probably more than enough for you. I certainly have no complaints, well the ridiculously super compact frame makes bottles trickier to manage.

tunney

To balance it out - I, and plenty others, do not like their carbon fibre bikes.

Unfortunately on this board everyone has one so to read it you'd think they were the dogs. Not many people are willing it say "Actually my PX flexes more than a bendy bus".

If you are all about being able to say "I have a carbon fibre Dura-ace/Ultegra equipped bike" then they are the bike for you though.

RobFowl

Martyn Irvine rides the new Planet X Nano.

He only rode the Planet x compact in one or two domestic races while waiting delivery of the new ones.

That photo from the TON shows him on the Nano BTW.

Lumen

RobFowl wrote: »

Martyn Irvine rides the new Planet X Nano.

I think I saw a picture of him riding branded FFWD wheels too, which is a bit odd since Planet-X 50s are apparently the same wheel with different decals.

I don't think riders on sponsored bikes means much TBH. Who knows how much they bitch about the equipment in private?

I think the Planet-X specs are a bit wierd TBH. I'd rather have a better frame or cheaper bike with 105 than have a cheaper frame/pay more with Ultegra. But they're doing Rival now so that's OK.

But also don't know why they do Rival and Red but no Force.

TinyExplosions

Lumen wrote: »

But also don't know why they do Rival and Red but no Force.

Probably because the price difference wouldn't be that huge I imagine... Force is a strange one, as Rival is *so* close to it that it's almost not worth going for Force

tunney wrote: »

Unfortunately on this board everyone has one so to read it you'd think they were the dogs. Not many people are willing it say "Actually my PX flexes more than a bendy bus".

I'd be more than happy to say that if I found it to be the case, and I'm sure it's been mentioned a number of times that the bikeradar review mentions wobbles on descending, but I've never found either to be the case -it's stiff enough for me, and I'm a big fella that would flex most things... I get far more movement out of my Fulcrums (which are supposed to be stiff) than I do out of the frame fwiw.

The P-X love is mostly down to value for money I reckon...

RobFowl

Lumen wrote: »

I don't think riders on sponsored bikes means much TBH. Who knows how much they bitch about the equipment in private?

I remember an interview with Sean Kelly when he was asked what was the best bike he'd ridden," the one I'm being paid to ride" he said

ednwireland

RobFowl

If you're going to post porn at least label it NSFW .........

ednwireland wrote: »

anoble66

for me personally it came down to this. I was on a budget and although I could of comprimised and went with a specialized or felt with a lower groupset spec and higher overall bike weight but with a better name / badge I decided to go with the planet-x, which for me was much better value.

Yes -there is some debate over the frame flex - personally I have never experienced that as of yet, to be honest it doesnt concern me too much. If you are heading out on group / club spins then yes your going to see a few PX bikes around but so what....

The fact is, for the money you cannot get a better spec'd bike. If the bike spec doesnt concern you but more the name on the frame then go with a more mainstream brand.

Enjoy whatever you choose.

ipodrocker wrote: »

Hi,

has anyone had much expeirence with planet x road bikes? Are they recommended over such brands as specialized, Felt , Giant etc...

tunney

anoble66 wrote: »

for me personally it came down to this. I was on a budget and although I could of comprimised and went with a specialized or felt with a lower groupset spec and higher overall bike weight but with a better name / badge I decided to go with the planet-x, which for me was much better value.

Yes -there is some debate over the frame flex - personally I have never experienced that as of yet, to be honest it doesnt concern me too much. If you are heading out on group / club spins then yes your going to see a few PX bikes around but so what....

The fact is, for the money you cannot get a better spec'd bike. If the bike spec doesnt concern you but more the name on the frame then go with a more mainstream brand.

Enjoy whatever you choose.

Some would argue that you *did* comprimise by getting an inferior frame.

TinyExplosions

tunney wrote: »

Some would argue that you *did* comprimise by getting an inferior frame.

And others would argue that there's nothing inferior about the P-X frames... swings and roundabouts

DualFrontDiscs

TinyExplosions wrote: »

And others would argue that there's nothing inferior about the P-X frames... swings and roundabouts

P-X swings and roundabouts!?! Count me in.

DFD*

*DreamingFunfairDreams

tunney

DualFrontDiscs wrote: »

P-X swings and roundabouts!?! Count me in.

DFD*

*DreamingFunfairDreams

Flexy swings - recipe for disaster and accidents!

Lumen

tunney wrote: »

Some would argue that you *did* comprimise by getting an inferior frame.

The one unarguable quality of Planet-X bikes is that they make triathletes very emotional.

anoble66

as I have said before there is no flex from my PX frame. I would genuinely be interested in the reasons you think they are an inferior frame?

tunney wrote: »

Some would argue that you *did* comprimise by getting an inferior frame.

TinyExplosions

Lumen wrote: »

The one unarguable quality of Planet-X bikes is that they make triathletes very emotional.

That's bloody triathletes for you

I'm neither particularly pro or anti P-X, but I like mine, and there seems to be a lot of bashing from people who haven't ridden them and base it on the fact that they're cheap re-branded carbon frames from China.... either way, I'll continue to ride mine (occasionally)

Billy Whizz

Lumen wrote: »

I think I saw a picture of him riding branded FFWD wheels too, which is a bit odd since Planet-X 50s are apparently the same wheel with different decals.

Everything is different about FFWD wheels.

FFWD use a different rim than the Gigantex rim used by P-X. Also the stock FFWD hubs are made by Quando, P-X hubs by Novatec I think. P-X hubs are notoriously bad, the FFWD branded aren't great but most lads will get the FFWDs built up around DT240s. Also FFWDs use DT Aerolite spokes, think P-X use Pillar.

tunney

TinyExplosions wrote: »

That's bloody triathletes for you

I'm neither particularly pro or anti P-X, but I like mine, and there seems to be a lot of bashing from people who haven't ridden them and base it on the fact that they're cheap re-branded carbon frames from China.... either way, I'll continue to ride mine (occasionally)

Most carbon bikes are all from China anyways.

And I have ridden PXs (road and TT)

TinyExplosions

tunney wrote: »

Most carbon bikes are all from China anyways.

And I have ridden PXs (road and TT)

That wasn't a direct dig at you mate -I know you've ridden both, and have your (vocal) opinions

ednwireland

anoble66 wrote: »

Enjoy whatever you choose.

+1

so glad i bought the focus cayo when i did, 1500 km later no regrets

Billy Whizz

I have to agree with Tunney on the P-X frames, waaay too flexy.

If you deduct the price of the groupset and consider the fact that P-X have to make a profit they must be sourcing those frames for peanuts.

P-X marketing strategy obviously works around the premise that a lot of newer riders seem to be impressed by a good groupset.

Can't argue with their success though.

Lumen

Billy Whizz wrote: »

Everything is different about FFWD wheels.

FFWD use a different rim than the Gigantex rim used by P-X. Also the stock FFWD hubs are made by Quando, P-X hubs by Novatec I think. P-X hubs are notoriously bad, the FFWD branded aren't great but most lads will get the FFWDs built up around DT240s. Also FFWDs use DT Aerolite spokes, think P-X use Pillar.

Sorry, I was thinking of the disc which is apparently exactly the same.

blorg

I have never noticed this reputed frame flexiness myself. It's not as if the PX is the only bike I've ridden either, I have plenty to compare it against.

RobFowl

blorg wrote: »

I have never noticed this reputed frame flexiness myself. It's not as if the PX is the only bike I've ridden either, I have plenty to compare it against.

That must be the understatement of the year

RobFowl

I think the Planet X is a very good value package. The frame is not the greatest but not bad at all. It does seem flexy to riders with big power outputs mainly but TBH for riding, sportifs and racing at the level most of us are at its absolutely fine.

ROK ON

I have never ridden a PX so I don't know how flex they are.

However in live I try to pay attention to situations where one man has a difference of opinion from the crowd. I have learned most in life by listening to contrary opinions.

Lumen

ROK ON wrote: »

However in live I try to pay attention to situations where one man has a difference of opinion from the crowd. I have learned most in life by listening to contrary opinions.

Too right. Beware Reptilians riding Planet-Xs!

ipodrocker

thanks for the good responses cant seem to see any fault in the PX from what people have said so far.

DirkVoodoo

We could buy some strain gauges, stick Tunney on his own bike, then the Planet-X and see how much difference in real world flex there is. I certainly think my Ridley is a better (stiffer) frame, but to say that people are buying an inferior frame is complete rubbish. The only thing I don't like, which I said, is the ridiculously sloping top tube, which the nanolight doesn't have.

I saw Martyn Irvine on a pink SL Pro carbon at one of the races, I'm not saying he loves the bike but my point was that if the frame was as flexy as amateur cyclists report, do you not think this thing would be bending like a slinky when he puts the power down?

No one is saying that it's a Cervelo beater, I think everyone knows that, but when someone comes on looking at an aluminium Giant with Tiagra and Alex rims on no name hubs for 1,000 euro, do you not think they would get a much better package if they bought a planet x?

biker_joe

I built up a PX SL Pro last year as training bike, and I really like it ....... I have raced it in a few league races too ... and it stands up to the punishment to north county roads in the winter too, the nearest surface to flandrian cobbles :eek: especially after our short ice age .... I have ridden a few other carbon bikes, and my current race bike is carbon with titanium weave, is a bit stiffer than the PX ... but hey we need a little flex here on our roads which are a complete joke for bikes !!!

Biker Joe