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u/Fifteen20

I've reviewed 15 carbon wheelsets over the last 12 months...
▲ 10 r/ChineseCarbonWheels

I've reviewed 15 carbon wheelsets over the last 12 months...

It can be confusing when there are so many carbon wheels to choose from.

Why buy one set over another?

So I created the Carbon Wheel Scoreboard...

A comparison of all the carbon wheels I've tested.

From Elitewheels to YOELEO to Superteam to ICAN.

Each wheelset gets around 20 hours of testing...

Including at least 500-1000km of real-world riding before it's scored.

That testing includes checking spoke tension, carbon fibre quality, and weighing each set.

Every metric is scored out of 5.

Objective numbers, not vibes.

👉 You can access it for free here.

u/Fifteen20 — 6 hours ago
▲ 24 r/ChineseCarbonWheels+1 crossposts

Elitewheels ENT 2.0: Still the best upgrade on my Trek Domane SL5 after 2 years

Just finishing my 2-year Elitewheels ENT 2.0 carbon wheel review on YouTube.

Before it goes live, I'm curious how yours are holding up if you own a set?

Especially keen to hear from anyone who's been running them long-term.

What's held up well, what hasn't?

u/Fifteen20 — 4 days ago
▲ 101 r/ChineseRoadBikes+2 crossposts

I'm at China Cycle 2026 in Shanghai right now - I review carbon road bikes and wheels for a living. AMA about the show!

I'm at Shanghai Bike Show 2026 right now (also known as the China International Bicycle Fair, or China Cycle 2026 - why so many names?!)

This place is absolutely wild.

It's huge, it's loud, it's hectic.

The main themes I've been noticing this year:

✅ Wider tyre clearance is becoming more standard (finally!)

✅ Geometry is getting more relaxed - comfort is slowly becoming a priority

✅ Brands are getting experimental with very unconventional aero designs

✅ The Chinese are no longer just competing on price - they're going premium

✅ AI is slowly making its way into bikes - with varying degrees of success

The biggest thing for me, though, is that Chinese brands are moving upmarket fast, while Western brands are increasingly reliant on the same factories.

The gap that used to justify a huge price premium is shrinking faster than in pretty much any other year.

Ask me anything about the show, the products, or the brands.

And I just uploaded my first video covering the Shanghai Bike Show 2026 over on YouTube.

u/Fifteen20 — 8 days ago
▲ 36 r/ChineseCarbonWheels+1 crossposts

Just finished testing the Elitewheels Drive II carbon wheels

They're possibly the most hyped premium wheels on the market.

But are they worth the hype?

Here's the TL;DR

3 things I liked:
✅ Stiff but comfortable because of the lower spoke tension.
✅ Hub sound. Deep, loud. One of the best I've heard.
✅ 3-year warranty, 38% crash replacement, UCI-certified.

3 things I disliked:
❌ Not class-leading on weight. 1479g for the 65mm.
❌ Resin pooling on the endoscope. Not as clean as they claim.
❌ $1299. Great value vs Western brands, but still expensive.

Verdict: 4/5

The comfort-to-stiffness ratio is something most brands haven't nailed at this price.

One of the most complete wheelsets I've tested.

Drop any questions below - happy to answer them :)

u/Fifteen20 — 11 days ago
▲ 36 r/ChineseCarbonWheels+1 crossposts

Bike racks are off the table. Both rear-mount and roof-mount are illegal here, so this is what I'm working with.

u/Fifteen20 — 12 days ago
▲ 29 r/ChineseRoadBikes+2 crossposts

I have my Ironman 70.3 in 2 weeks, so I was wondering what wheels to put on them.

Elitewheels Drive 2 65D or the YOELEO CS60.

Tough decision.

❌ The Elitewheels are a couple of hundred grams heavier.

✅ But they're 5mm wider (60mm vs 65mm).

The deciding factor was how these gloss wheels (and the rainbow decals) shine in the sun.

I didn't realise I was so shallow 🫠

Anyone tried either of these?

u/Fifteen20 — 18 days ago
▲ 59 r/ChineseRoadBikes+1 crossposts

Nearly 2 years. 7,000km. And I'd still buy these again without hesitation.

The ENT 2.0s are a 50mm carbon disc wheelset, around $350 on AliExpress.

I've thrashed them through Ironman 70.3 training, group rides, and roads that have no business being called roads.

3 things I like:
✅ Ride quality still identical to day one
✅ Clean carbon internals for the price
✅ Hubs perfect after 7,000km. Zero creaking

3 things I dislike:
❌ Spoke tension scored 2/5. Lowest of 13 wheelsets tested
❌ Zero crash replacement policy
❌ 1,605g. Heavy for carbon

The spoke tension result is a bit of a red flag, but not a single failure in 7,000km. Make of that what you will.

One thing worth knowing: buy from the official Elitewheels store on AliExpress. Not third-party sellers. That's where the warranty actually lives.

Drop any questions below - and the full video breakdown is on YouTube if you want the deep dive:

👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORlJXLML3Ts

u/Fifteen20 — 22 days ago
▲ 35 r/ChineseRoadBikes+1 crossposts

✅ SAVA A7L Pro bike = $1500
✅ Superteam Classic II carbon wheels = $300

Any better value AliExpress bike or wheel alternatives?

u/Fifteen20 — 24 days ago
▲ 10 r/ChineseCarbonWheels

Testing out the Elitewheels Drive 2 with the new Reflective Rainbow decals.

Gloss black wheels have never been my thing - matte all the way.

But this design...it's completely changed that.

Although they look so much better in person than in photos 🫠

Any other decent-looking gloss wheels out there?

I also have the Elitewheels Marvel 2, which are gloss.

Decent wheels, but not loving the gloss finish.

u/Fifteen20 — 25 days ago
▲ 4 r/ChineseCarbonWheels

I've been running Elitewheel ENT 2.0 from AliExpress for almost 2 years now, and they're great wheels. But are there any new wheels on AliExpress, in the $300-$400 price range, that you guys recommend?

I'm looking to buy a wheelset for a new bike coming, but ideally, I don't want to spend more than $400.

I'm curious if, over the last couple of years, any better wheels than the ENT 2.0 have been released for the same price?

u/Fifteen20 — 29 days ago
▲ 5 r/ChineseCarbonWheels

Ridden about 7000km on my Elitewheels ENT 2.0 carbon wheels on my Trek Domane.

I paid about $315 for them 2 years ago - couldn't be happier with them.

Has anyone else tried them? Or have alternative options for $300-$350?

u/Fifteen20 — 1 month ago
▲ 2 r/ChineseCarbonWheels

Hey everyone! I'm u/Fifteen20, a founding moderator of r/ChineseCarbonWheels

This is our new home for all things related to Chinese carbon wheels.

We're excited to have you join us!

What to Post
Post anything that you think the community would find interesting, helpful, or inspiring.

Whether you have a question about a Chinese wheelset you've been eyeing...

Or you've just completed a new build and want to show it off - you're in the right place.

How to Get Started

  1. Introduce yourself in the comments below.
  2. Post something today - even just a simple picture of your current bike!
  3. If you know someone who would love this community, invite them to join.

Thanks for being part of the very first wave.

Together, let's make r/ChineseCarbonWheels amazing.

reddit.com
u/Fifteen20 — 1 month ago
▲ 3 r/ChineseRoadBikes

Testing the new YOELEO QianKun CS60 wheels.

The best wheels I've ever ridden on.

And the hub sound is 🤯

u/Fifteen20 — 1 month ago
▲ 15 r/ChineseRoadBikes

8 months ago, I bought the SAVA A7L Pro for $1,500 from AliExpress.

https://preview.redd.it/pgjf30u2lyug1.jpg?width=6000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=126d9479bac3eaa07af504a23535f9c6da51d33c

I bought it with my own money (not sponsored in any way), and this is my honest review.

On paper, it's incredible value for money.

✅ Shimano 105 R7100 12-speed
✅ Integrated aero bars with internal cable routine
✅ Carbon fork
✅ Carbon seatpost
✅ 50mm carbon wheels

All for $1500!

Was it too good to be true?

Yes...and no.

I bought it directly from SAVA's official AliExpress store for $1,557 (I had an $80 discount code).

It arrived in 8 days with no customs fees. I was expecting 2-3 weeks so that was a nice surprise.

The unboxing though... not so great.

Three issues straight away.

Issue #1: The handlebar tape was ripped.

https://preview.redd.it/iv75mfgqlyug1.png?width=3600&format=png&auto=webp&s=d264ea0a7b824ddb8bb87003a6db721fc473649f

Issue #2: One of the rubber hood sleeves had a cut through it.

https://preview.redd.it/mm1p92vrlyug1.png?width=3600&format=png&auto=webp&s=1c61bb3f94895de70bc0881f6ed33007f9b962a6

Issue #3: There was a small paint chip above the carbon fork.

https://preview.redd.it/24c3wtnslyug1.png?width=3600&format=png&auto=webp&s=30d3e365d50900d8bed864140de3bee8d782d58e

I hadn't even assembled it yet!

Looking back at the box, there was extra yellow tape on one side where it had clearly been damaged in transit and "repaired" by the courier. All the damage was to the front of the bike, which made sense.

https://preview.redd.it/r4odlintlyug1.png?width=3600&format=png&auto=webp&s=5c5ffb799e0aee0e96e601b0254ebe362027f47f

I contacted SAVA's customer service half-expecting the usual runaround. Instead, they replied immediately, asked for photos, and told me to take it to a bike shop, get it repaired, send them the invoice, and they'd cover it.

They did. Hats off to SAVA's customer service.

And the damage was more of a courier problem, not a SAVA problem.

The specs for the price

Once it came back from the shop, I had a proper look at it. A few things stand out at this price point:

Integrated handlebars. That alone would cost $200-400 as an aftermarket upgrade. Included as standard here.

50mm carbon wheels. On a $1,500 bike. Also standard.

The seat tube has a wheel cutout carved into it for aerodynamics, the same as you'd see on much more expensive bikes. My Trek Domane SL5 doesn't even have this.

T800 carbon frame, fork, and seatpost. Total weight comes in at 8.9kg.

The saddle (they call it the DE99) is genuinely one of the most comfortable I've ridden. I've ridden 150km+ nonstop with no issues. Looks suspiciously close to an S-Works Power saddle. No idea if that's intentional, but it works well.

https://preview.redd.it/i7d8490ilyug1.jpg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6c3181370f607774070dcecf0f157fa08396bd46

How it rides

I've had the bike for 8 months now - more than enough time to get to know it properly.

The carbon frame smooths out road vibrations without feeling dead. It's an aggressive geometry, but not punishing. I can comfortably sit in the saddle for 3-4 hours. Shimano 105 shifts exactly as you'd expect: crisp, reliable, no drama.

It feels planted at speed, which was my biggest concern with a bike at this price. No flex, no weird handling. It just rides like a road bike should.

The 25mm stock tyres are the one thing I swapped out immediately. The roads where I ride are rough, so I put 28mm Continental GP5000s on it. Huge improvement.

The handlebars are on the narrow side, which took some getting used to coming from the Domane. My bike fitter also flagged the stem as slightly short. Neither is a dealbreaker, but worth knowing if you're between sizes.

Minor complaints

A few small quality control things worth mentioning:

Two or three tiny bubbles on the chain stay protector. Won't affect anything, but shouldn't be there.

When assembling, I had to trim two plastic bumps on the stem before it would fit. I ended up slamming the stem anyway so it didn't matter, but still.

Matte black shows every fingerprint and speck of dust. That's a matte black thing in general, not specific to SAVA, but worth knowing.

The max tyre width is 28mm. I would have loved to put some 32mm GP5000s on - but the bike just won't (safely) allow it. That's a shame.

How it compares to my Trek Domane SL5 ($3,500)

The Domane has a few genuine advantages. IsoSpeed decouples the seatpost from the frame to absorb road buzz, which does make it smoother on rough surfaces. It has in-frame storage, which I use constantly. And you can walk into a bike shop and buy one.

https://preview.redd.it/ucoqyaqllyug1.jpg?width=1121&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1a9c65ab3797d93fcd2c5799c08aa3f303ff025e

But the Domane weighs 9.5kg vs the SAVA's 8.9kg, partly because of those extra features. And it came stock with 21mm aluminium wheels that look completely out of place on a road bike. To get 50mm carbon wheels, you're looking at at least another $350-400 on top of the already higher purchase price.

Knowing what I know now, if I was buying a road bike for the first time, I'd probably take the SAVA and keep the $2,000+ difference.

Who is this bike actually for?

Anyone who wants a proper carbon road bike without spending $3,000+. First carbon bike, budget-conscious rider, or someone who wants a second bike without a second-bike-sized price tag.

Happy to answer questions in the comments, too.

reddit.com
u/Fifteen20 — 1 month ago
▲ 5 r/ChineseRoadBikes

Hey everyone! I'm u/Fifteen20, a founding moderator of r/ChineseRoadBikes.

This is our new home for all things related to Chinese road bikes and carbon wheels.

We're excited to have you join us!

What to Post
Post anything that you think the community would find interesting, helpful, or inspiring.

Whether you have a question about a Chinese road bike or wheelset you've been eyeing...

Or you've just completed a new build and want to show it off - you're in the right place.

How to Get Started

  1. Introduce yourself in the comments below.
  2. Post something today - even just a simple picture of your current bike!
  3. If you know someone who would love this community, invite them to join.

Thanks for being part of the very first wave.

Together, let's make r/ChineseRoadBikes amazing.

reddit.com
u/Fifteen20 — 1 month ago