There isn’t a recent thread on Alien frames that I could find, so I thought I’d start one (hence the title). So, questions:
[list]
[]How are folks who participated in the group buy liking their frames, now that they’ve had a chance to do some longer term living with them?
[]For anyone who’s purchased recently, how’s the lead time like? Pretty consistent with what Joseph has posted on the site currently?
[]How’s the quality looking these days? On par with price?
[]Obligatory GTFO question: should I expect toe overlap on the 61cm frame, assuming 170mm cranks and 700x25 tires and “normal” length cages?
[/list]
That movie was awesome.
Nice use of the bullet point feature. I don’t think I’ve seen anyone use that yet.
Sorry I dont have any useful information for you.
you’re a big dude, right?
The 61 size has 59x59 measurements. There was a 63 option for the groupbuy.
[quote=BF groupbuy thread]
Update 9/16:
Geometry of the 63cm frame is the same as the 61 except the seat-tube is 61 c-c, the top-tube is 60.5, and the head-tube is about 21cm. [/quote]
I decided I was right between the 2 sizes and didn’t go with either.
If you’re seriously thinking about one and you need a bigger size, I’d email the dude. I was vaguely under the impression that the 63 might go into production in the future. Or wait for one on ebay.
Ignore this if it doesn’t apply to you.
By cycling norms, yes: 6’3" and 210lbs.
A 60cm Cross Check (60st x 60tt) fits me perfectly with a 110 stem, as does my LeMond road bike with a 60cm top tube & 110 stem as well. I’m thinking a 61cm Alien (59x59) will work great with a 120 quill stem and drops.
I have proportionally shorter legs and proportionally longer torso, so a “square” frame (with seat tube & top tube the same length) like the Cross Check (and Alien) seems to work best for me. I seem to fall in between sizes for the various Kilo clones, plus would like something a little bit more unique.
Also for aesthetic reasons I’d rather go lugged. Considered a Mercian but the lead time is really quite long. Plus, the best time to jump on one of those was in January/February when the exchange rate was bottoming out. Now that it’s back to 1.6:1 or whatever it’s not quite as attractive.
So anyways, short of ordering a Yamaguchi (LOL I wish I could justify it!) the Alien seemed like a pretty good way to fulfill the above desires.
I cant believe theres still debate over whether or not to get a Alien/Kazane. THEYRE FUCKING AWESOME.
Is there even anything out there thats comparable and within the same price point??
They’re out of my size now that I have the money… (missed the GB)
[quote=fezdango]I cant believe theres still debate over whether or not to get a Alien/Kazane. THEYRE FUCKING AWESOME.
Is there even anything out there thats comparable and within the same price point??[/quote]
A) Do you have one?
B) If there is, I haven’t seen it.
doesn’t natas kaupas ride a kazane or something like that?
[quote=surfimp][quote=fezdango]I cant believe theres still debate over whether or not to get a Alien/Kazane. THEYRE FUCKING AWESOME.
Is there even anything out there thats comparable and within the same price point??[/quote]
A) Do you have one?
B) If there is, I haven’t seen it.[/quote]
A)
B) exactly. get the alien.
yep[/quote]
I specifically remember Stratton from Kazane telling us, back on Bike Forums, that they were not made by the same people and that he had never heard of Alien (at the time). They are also sized differently and have different geometry, based on the charts both provide. I see no reason to think that they are the same.
it is possible they are not.
however to say there is no reason to believe they are is not totally true.
word of mouth tells me they are. obviously thats not reliable.
However the frames themselves have a striking resemblance to each other by way of the lug set, drop outs, and seatstay join. also they’re both made in taiwan.
No, Alien and Kazane are not the same… Kazanes are ever so slightly better IMO, for the following reasons: the steel is modern oversized diameter, instead of the traditional diameter that Alien uses, and it’s slightly thinner walls (.8/.5/.8 on the Kazane vs. .9/.6/.9 on the Alien), threadless is an option, and the geometry is a little different but pretty close. I’ve ridden a Kazane but not long enough to get any sort of impression of it. Just looking over the two frames side by side though, they “appeared” to be made in the same factory, if only because the seat stay clusters are identical. Kazanes also have shorter, fatter lugs vs. the Alien’s long point ones.
All in all I like my Alien. I did a fun 40 miler with a couple roadie friends on it yesterday and felt great in the rolling hills. Can’t really say anything bad except that front clip on fenders are a tight fit on my 55cm c-c and that I wish that threadless was offered.
Oh, they’re both made in Taiwan - that really narrows it down.
[quote=trackatino]No, Alien and Kazane are not the same… Kazanes are ever so slightly better IMO, for the following reasons: the steel is modern oversized diameter, instead of the traditional diameter that Alien uses, and it’s slightly thinner walls (.8/.5/.8 on the Kazane vs. .9/.6/.9 on the Alien), threadless is an option, and the geometry is a little different but pretty close. I’ve ridden a Kazane but not long enough to get any sort of impression of it. Just looking over the two frames side by side though, they “appeared” to be made in the same factory, if only because the seat stay clusters are identical. Kazanes also have shorter, fatter lugs vs. the Alien’s long point ones.
All in all I like my Alien. I did a fun 40 miler with a couple roadie friends on it yesterday and felt great in the rolling hills. Can’t really say anything bad except that front clip on fenders are a tight fit on my 55cm c-c and that I wish that threadless was offered.[/quote]
SOURCES! haha
Kazane geometry: http://s130.photobucket.com/albums/p254/keirinculture/kazanegeometry/ Shows the tubes being larger diameter, wall thicknesses.
Alien geometry: http://alienbikes.com/gear.php
Aliens being .9/.6/.9: emailed Jospeh.
I do not know, but could easily believe that the Alien and Kazane frames are made in the same factory in Taiwan (I believe that is Maxway for the Alien). As noted by others above, they clearly share the same (or very very simliar) track ends and construction techniques (i.e. the seatstay cluster).
That said, they definitely do not have the same geometry, and are not offered in the same sizes. The 60cm Kazane has a sloping top tube per this chart on the Keirin Culture site, whereas the Aliens are level top tube. Per above posts, the tubing used is different too.
As it turns out, the Alien is exactly what I’m looking for: level top tube, traditional tubing size, threaded fork, no braze-ons or bottle bosses.
Glad to hear that people are enjoying them. Now I just have to decide between painted and powdercoated
