Chinese Carbon Gravel frame set - Carbonda CFR707

180 replies · 27,519 views

Colt__Seavers
385 posts
#1Aug 26, 2020, 2:23 PMedited
Hi folks,

BIG NEWS! After Carbonda sold the CFR505 to Thesis, they were working on a new gravel frame set. It seems to be finished now. It's code name is CFR707 (FM1186 is the flybike name)
Common sizes will be available very soon. The uncommon sizes like XXL will be available at the end of this year most likely.

The frame set is like a combination of 505 and 696. It has a more appealing design like the 505 with its lower seat stays and the big tire clearance like the 696. Its wheelbase is pretty large to make room for big tires, so it's not like the 505 with its pretty short WB. So right now Carbonda is not offering road based / short WB / low stack gravel frame as a 505 successor, which might be a downside for some of you. Still, this new frame will be the right fit for a lot of you guys.

I like the sleek integrated seat post clamp and the 505 front end and seat stays. And I like the big tire clearance. If you want to run 700c 32mm on it, it might look odd with that big space between rear tire and seat tube.
Also the very high stack values are appealing. Top tube length is a little longer than the 505, but could be compensated by shorter stem.

Here are two pictures with 700c road wheel set, the frame drawing and the geometry sheet.

Update:
Position of water bottles might be changed based on the customer feedback, which is already coming in.
BB type will be BSA (pre production units are BB86)

Source: Carbonda staff

Updated drawings and geometry sheet:
https://forum.ridinggravel.com/post/chinese-carbon-gravel-frame-set-carbonda-cfr707-10652655?pid=1319404052

2
antiman167
14 posts
#2Aug 26, 2020, 2:40 PMedited
wow it looks great!
However the placement of the bottle mounts seem a bit inconvenient to me...
From the first look it seems the frame has integrated cables. Does this mean you’d have to run integrated handlebars?

1
heybrady
39 posts
#3Aug 26, 2020, 3:00 PM
Looks awesome. And as a tall guy (6'2" with long legs) it is nice to see XL and XXL available.
0
GravelCat
49 posts
#4Aug 26, 2020, 3:51 PM
Wow those dimensions are very different from the CFR696. Especially the reach. And I just ordered by CFR696 but I'm a fan of the 696 design. How'd you get this insider info 🙂 ?
1
zilcho
44 posts
#5Aug 26, 2020, 4:06 PMedited
antiman167 wrote:
wow it looks great!
However the placement of the bottle mounts seem a bit inconvenient to me...
From the first look it seems the frame has integrated cables. Does this mean you’d have to run integrated handlebars?

Agree with both points. I run 750ml bottles and doubt one will fit on the seat tube based on that picture.

The bars definitely look to be integrated with internal routing based on the stem spacers, but the fork has the external hole for the brake hose. Maybe its early production and the fork is being borrowed from the 696?
Edit: the bars look to have some mean flare though!
1
GravelHAWK16
41 posts
#6Aug 26, 2020, 9:39 PM
Very interesting. I'm in the process of ordering my 696 and working with Wing. Not sure I'd get this over that. This looks very "aero" and not a fan of the stem/handlebar. I wish they would offer two screws/mounts underneath the top tube and one up towards the head tube but on the down tube like Niner does on its RLT9 RDO. Straps be gone! And those water bottle mounts are weird. Cool insider info tho! Thanks! And if anything, just order one down the road and swap parts over. These frames are cheap enough.

Anyone ordered theirs slow boat? I'm in no rush to get mine and $190 for UPS or $95 for slow boat...I'm actually OK with it. Difference can be used on something for the bike!
0
Colt__Seavers
385 posts
#7Aug 26, 2020, 11:32 PM
I'm in close contact with Carbonda for about 1,5 years and they let me promote the frame here.

They changed the name to CFR707 now.

Water bottle placement seem to be optimized for three bottles inside the triangle. So the seat tube bottle had to move upwards. Looks like they want you to run those sideways ejectable water bottles. These are very nice by the way.
0
GravelCat
49 posts
#8Aug 27, 2020, 12:15 AM
GravelHAWK16 wrote:Very interesting. I'm in the process of ordering my 696 and working with Wing. Not sure I'd get this over that. This looks very "aero" and not a fan of the stem/handlebar. I wish they would offer two screws/mounts underneath the top tube and one up towards the head tube but on the down tube like Niner does on its RLT9 RDO. Straps be gone! And those water bottle mounts are weird. Cool insider info tho! Thanks! And if anything, just order one down the road and swap parts over. These frames are cheap enough.

Anyone ordered theirs slow boat? I'm in no rush to get mine and $190 for UPS or $95 for slow boat...I'm actually OK with it. Difference can be used on something for the bike!

I did about 2 weeks ago and it hasn't shipped or been painted.
0
Colt__Seavers
385 posts
#9Aug 27, 2020, 12:36 AM
GravelHAWK16 wrote:Very interesting. I'm in the process of ordering my 696 and working with Wing. Not sure I'd get this over that. This looks very "aero" and not a fan of the stem/handlebar. I wish they would offer two screws/mounts underneath the top tube and one up towards the head tube but on the down tube like Niner does on its RLT9 RDO. Straps be gone! And those water bottle mounts are weird. Cool insider info tho! Thanks! And if anything, just order one down the road and swap parts over. These frames are cheap enough.

Anyone ordered theirs slow boat? I'm in no rush to get mine and $190 for UPS or $95 for slow boat...I'm actually OK with it. Difference can be used on something for the bike!

id depends on the country you are living in. slow bat for me means there will be added fees, which are around 21% on top of the final carbonda price. That's way more than the additional costs of XDB, so I went with XDB last time. Did take 10 days from orderring till shipping (no paint) and did take 2-3 weeks for shipping without added fees.
0
antiman167
14 posts
#10Aug 27, 2020, 2:52 AM
Just heard back from Wing.
She told me that they expect to start taking reservations at the end of September.
1
widerisfaster
253 posts
#11Aug 27, 2020, 7:15 AM▲ Top
From the diagram it looks like clearance for 54mm tyres with a maximum radius of 365mm. That translates to 650b x 2.2" or 700 x 50mm. If you want to run less clearance you could probably squeeze in a 700 x 53 aka 29 x 2.1".

That means it has similar clearance and same chainstay length as a CFR696.

A Medium CFR707 has a 1 degree slacker head tube angle and the same fork offset as the CFR696, which means 6mm more trail.
On steep downhill dirt sections, the 707 would be more stable than the 696 in size medium.
On road the 707 would be slower turning than the 696.

For size Large, the 707 head tube angle and offset are the same as the 696, so they should steer quite similarly.

BB drop is 3mm more than the 696, making for more stability than the 696, and I think a better amount of drop if you plan to run 700 x 45 or 700 x 50 tyres.
4
Thijsvanderwal
209 posts
#12Aug 27, 2020, 7:30 AM
That's great analysis widerisfaster, thanks for that. I'm definitively not into the look of this frame, the balance seems to be a bit off around the seat post clamp area if you ask me. I still think there's a place in the Carbonda line up for a more racey setup / endurance bike that takes a max of 38mm wide tires on 700c wheels as a true successor to the 505 with shorter chainstays.
2
GravelHAWK16
41 posts
#13Aug 27, 2020, 7:52 AM
Colt__Seavers wrote:

id depends on the country you are living in. slow bat for me means there will be added fees, which are around 21% on top of the final carbonda price. That's way more than the additional costs of XDB, so I went with XDB last time. Did take 10 days from orderring till shipping (no paint) and did take 2-3 weeks for shipping without added fees.

In in the USA so not sure what added fees or taxes I would pay. Wing said most people claim $120-200 as the amount. But yeah, if it's 21% then Ill just pay the extra
0
madlad
7 posts
#14Aug 27, 2020, 8:16 AM
Does anyone know if you can order any of Carbonda's gravel frames with T47?
0
Colt__Seavers
385 posts
#15Aug 27, 2020, 8:23 AMedited
widerisfaster wrote:From the diagram it looks like clearance for 54mm tyres with a maximum radius of 365mm. That translates to 650b x 2.2" or 700 x 50mm. If you want to run less clearance you could probably squeeze in a 700 x 53 aka 29 x 2.1".

That means it has similar clearance and same chainstay length as a CFR696.

A Medium CFR707 has a 1 degree slacker head tube angle and the same fork offset as the CFR696, which means 6mm more trail.
On steep downhill dirt sections, the 707 would be more stable than the 696 in size medium.
On road the 707 would be slower turning than the 696.

For size Large, the 707 head tube angle and offset are the same as the 696, so they should steer quite similarly.

BB drop is 3mm more than the 696, making for more stability than the 696, and I think a better amount of drop if you plan to run 700 x 45 or 700 x 50 tyres.

very well analysed! Thanks for that!
But I wouldn't fully believe the geomtery sheet for now, as they seem to change some things like BB from preproduction to final product. The chances are low, but keep an eye on the first post. I will update it when new info is coming in.

madlad wrote:Does anyone know if you can order any of Carbonda's gravel frames with T47?

never heard of such an option, but I assume the amount requests will grow. I assume if they offer it, you would need to order way more than one frame.

Looks like they will use BSA for final product
0
zilcho
44 posts
#16Aug 27, 2020, 8:44 AM
Colt__Seavers wrote:
...keep an eye on the first post. I will update it when new info is coming in.

Looks like they will use BSA for final product

Thanks for all the info Colt! (this is elZilcho from the FM936 thread on Chinertown btw)
Any details on the cable routing? I guess I'm ok with BSA BB but I don't think it is the end all gold standard people treat it as.

Also, would be great to see people keep this post dedicated to the 707 and not become 4000 responses like the 505/696 thread.
2
Colt__Seavers
385 posts
#17Aug 27, 2020, 9:57 AMedited
zilcho wrote:

Thanks for all the info Colt! (this is elZilcho from the FM936 thread on Chinertown btw)
Any details on the cable routing? I guess I'm ok with BSA BB but I don't think it is the end all gold standard people treat it as.

Also, would be great to see people keep this post dedicated to the 707 and not become 4000 responses like the 505/696 thread.

Ah hi, it's you from Chinertown...

There are two routing options available they say. Completely inside or one half external.

Yeah the 505/696 talk can stay in the >3000 posts thread.
0
widerisfaster
253 posts
#18Aug 27, 2020, 10:11 PM
Thijsvanderwal wrote:I still think there's a place in the Carbonda line up for a more racey setup / endurance bike that takes a max of 38mm wide tires on 700c wheels as a true successor to the 505 with shorter chainstays.

Agree, This is more a 696 successor. I will also wait for the 505 successor, something with Exploro/Open U.P./Aspero type geometry for my 700x38 wheelset as a commuter and all-road bike. I would then keep my 650b x 48 wheelset on the CFR696 and make it a dedicated offroad and bikepacking bike.
1
smoothmoose
210 posts
#19Aug 28, 2020, 11:50 AM
Looking good and closer to what I'm looking for. Design seems to borrow from the Devinci Hatchet: http://www.devinci.com/bikes/bike_1272_scategory_332

Like:
- slacker HTA
- shorter ST (for dropper post clearance)
- longer reach and ETT

Dislike
- prefer a degree steeper STA (for flat pedal foot position)
- long CS/RC
- high stack height (too common of a trend right now)
1
Colt__Seavers
385 posts
#20Aug 28, 2020, 12:14 PM
smoothmoose wrote:Looking good and closer to what I'm looking for. Design seems to borrow from the Devinci Hatchet: http://www.devinci.com/bikes/bike_1272_scategory_332

Like:
- slacker HTA
- shorter ST (for dropper post clearance)
- longer reach and ETT

Dislike
- prefer a degree steeper STA (for flat pedal foot position)
- long CS/RC
- high stack height (too common of a trend right now)

Nice find that Devinci! It definitely has some parallelism.

Wonder why the Devinci can "only" copy with 650b 2,1" tires having both chain stays lowered almost like the OPEN WIDE.
0

Related threads

Chinese Carbon Gravel Build - CarbondaBikes · 6,034 replies · Mar 30, 2025
Smileteam ST-F119 (chinese carbon frame)Bikes · 28 replies · Feb 2, 2020
ICAN GRA02 Gravel Bike FrameBikes · 10 replies · Sep 13, 2018
Any gravel frame sets that take 50/34 oval or 52/36 chain sets?Bikes · 5 replies · Dec 18, 2018
China carbon with all-road (moderate gravel) geometryBikes · 3 replies · Oct 3, 2022