Unbranded Frame
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Unbranded Frame
Hi all, So I am looking to buy a used bike at my LBS and found one with no branding on the frame. The previous owner must have bought the frame and then speced the way they wanted. Ultegra front and rear, FSA crank and headset, Mavic wheelset. Frame is carbon and there is what I am assuming is a serial number sticker on the BB. I tried to figure out what frame it is by that number but no luck. Best I can guess by looking at pics online is that it is a Fuji Altamira or SL. Price is $800. Any thoughts on how I might find out what kind of frame it is and thoughts on the Bike its self and the price? TY!
The tacky gold tape will be the first thing to go!
The tacky gold tape will be the first thing to go!
#2
Full Member
Hi all, So I am looking to buy a used bike at my LBS and found one with no branding on the frame. The previous owner must have bought the frame and then speced the way they wanted. Ultegra front and rear, FSA crank and headset, Mavic wheelset. Frame is carbon and there is what I am assuming is a serial number sticker on the BB. I tried to figure out what frame it is by that number but no luck. Best I can guess by looking at pics online is that it is a Fuji Altamira or SL. Price is $800. Any thoughts on how I might find out what kind of frame it is and thoughts on the Bike its self and the price? TY!
The tacky gold tape will be the first thing to go!
The tacky gold tape will be the first thing to go!
#4
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 15,062
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 51 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6234 Post(s)
Liked 4,839 Times
in
3,336 Posts
Seems a lot of money to me for a frame of unknown provenance and not too spiffy components as best I can tell from the pics.
Just consider it for what it is, not what you think or want it to be. It's a bike.
Just consider it for what it is, not what you think or want it to be. It's a bike.
Likes For Iride01:
#5
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,615
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3700 Post(s)
Liked 5,521 Times
in
2,795 Posts
Can you tell if it's unbranded from the factory or a repaint? You can't just remove the graphics if they are under the usual clear coat. At best it's generic Chinese $200 pig in a poke. At worst it's been repainted to conceal damage. I think you can do better.
Likes For shelbyfv:
#7
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 15,062
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 51 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6234 Post(s)
Liked 4,839 Times
in
3,336 Posts
They are good companies. But they make both high end stuff and low end stuff. Perhaps FSA's high end stuff doesn't quite reach to the heights of others.
Are the brakes Ultegra? 11 speed? They didn't look like it to me in the pics and I couldn't tell about the RD. The bars have a lot of drop for a bike that already looks like it has a low stack height.
But the asking price might be about what the person that put it together paid for it. How old are they claiming it to be?
Are the brakes Ultegra? 11 speed? They didn't look like it to me in the pics and I couldn't tell about the RD. The bars have a lot of drop for a bike that already looks like it has a low stack height.
But the asking price might be about what the person that put it together paid for it. How old are they claiming it to be?
Last edited by Iride01; 03-29-24 at 02:40 PM.
#9
Newbie
Thread Starter
Can you explain more please about paint covering damage? I looked over it and cant find any cracks or dents and stuff. Can paint cover cracks?
#10
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 15,062
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 51 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6234 Post(s)
Liked 4,839 Times
in
3,336 Posts
Though I'd think the brand name bike companies would have some contractual agreements that the molds not be used by others.
Last edited by Iride01; 03-29-24 at 02:46 PM.
Likes For Iride01:
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: South Italy
Posts: 1,015
Bikes: BMC SLR01; Cannondale Trail; Lot's of project and vintage bikes..
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 334 Post(s)
Liked 168 Times
in
101 Posts
somehow reminds me the scott cr1... probably the fork is the first detail.
#13
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 15,062
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 51 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6234 Post(s)
Liked 4,839 Times
in
3,336 Posts
Pull the hoods up and there should be a part number embossed on the plastic body somewhere. ST-Rnnnn or something similar. Knowing that you can look at the release dates to guess what age the components might be. PN will also be on the back of the parallelogram of the RD. That'll tell you what it is so you can make sure it'll handle any gearing change that you might want to make to the rear cassette. As well ensure the guy that built it out didn't go outside spec and is selling it because it never performed well for him.
Since it appears that you are local to the bike, you should ask for the saddle to be set to the correct height for you. Then judge what the saddle to bar drop is. If you need higher bars than what it is on that bike, then you are looking at the wrong bike. You can get a ballpark for the saddle height by putting your heel on the pedal and extending your leg almost straight.
Since it appears that you are local to the bike, you should ask for the saddle to be set to the correct height for you. Then judge what the saddle to bar drop is. If you need higher bars than what it is on that bike, then you are looking at the wrong bike. You can get a ballpark for the saddle height by putting your heel on the pedal and extending your leg almost straight.
#14
Newbie
Thread Starter
We did a guesstamate saddle height and I took it for a ride. It was comfy. Maybe a longer stem or a seatpost with an offset. I like to stretch a bit more than I should. Shifted and braked well.
#15
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 15,062
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 51 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6234 Post(s)
Liked 4,839 Times
in
3,336 Posts
Just realize you can get a brand new Trek Domane for $999. Though it'd be Claris 8 speed on the rear. Or for 1400 bucks a new Domane with Sora 9 speed. Albeit it'll be the aluminum frame version, but still new. And it won't have those old style drops on them. Newer thoughts on drop bars are short reach and shallow drop. I tend to like them better. It means I stay more aero when on the tops and don't waste as much energy for the long rides by not being as aero.
But if that's the bike you want, get it. Though I do think it's too high a price. But you do have to consider if you'll find anything else you like for the price. Just don't expect it to be a hidden brand name bike of great pedigree. <grin>
But if that's the bike you want, get it. Though I do think it's too high a price. But you do have to consider if you'll find anything else you like for the price. Just don't expect it to be a hidden brand name bike of great pedigree. <grin>
#17
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 15,062
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 51 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6234 Post(s)
Liked 4,839 Times
in
3,336 Posts
Oh, a e-bike!
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Southwestern Ontario
Posts: 5,133
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1582 Post(s)
Liked 1,206 Times
in
612 Posts
Lol!
Seriously: how could anyone on here tell you anything significant? It's a blue frame.
You say it is at a (local) bike shop. What do they say about it; any hard information? Surely they must know something about its provenance. If they don't, I'd run away if it were me looking at this bike.
Seriously: how could anyone on here tell you anything significant? It's a blue frame.
You say it is at a (local) bike shop. What do they say about it; any hard information? Surely they must know something about its provenance. If they don't, I'd run away if it were me looking at this bike.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 8,528
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4454 Post(s)
Liked 4,917 Times
in
3,044 Posts
There is no way I would put $800 into a totally unknown bike. I would consider the frame to be more or less worthless, maybe $100 at most. Ultegra of that vintage isn't worth a great deal either. Not to me anyway! I would pass and look for a known quantity at that price, especially with carbon.
Likes For PeteHski:
Likes For badger1:
#22
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,615
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3700 Post(s)
Liked 5,521 Times
in
2,795 Posts
You can get a Giant Contend for as little as $800, with discs and modern frame spacing and gearing. For a few hundred more there is a version with carbon fork and clearance for 38mm tires.
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 3,703
Bikes: Too many bikes, too little time to ride
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 440 Post(s)
Liked 464 Times
in
320 Posts
No idea what it is. Tube shapes/profiles seem kind of modern (compared to my carbon bikes from the late 2000s - early 2010s), but external cable guides means it's probably older than 2015. Components are ok - certainly rideable. I like rim brake bikes from this era but I'm not sure I'd throw down $800 for this one. I'm not saying $800 isn't a fair price, just not worth it to me given the unknown frame and parts spec.
#24
Newbie
Not sure of the used bike prices in your neck of the woods, but Facebook and Craigslist have some good prices on brand name bikes for less than your bike would cost. Lots of great used bikes are coming into the market since covid. I paid $1,100 last year for a 2016 Spec Roubaix with Di2. It was like new. Also, a no brand used bike would be hard to resell if you wanted to move up.
Likes For Ramshackle:
#25
Newbie
Thread Starter
Thank you all for your advice, comments and opinions. I agree with those of you who said "beware". I decided paying $850 for a frame of unknown origin would just be foolish. I have decided on a carbon Scattante. Ultegra/105, FSA crank and headset, Shimano R500 wheelset, Tektro brakes. All very basic stuff but given that I am 58 and returning after 6 years of no riding I think it will suit me well. At $465 it is much less of a risk. Thanks again!