Buying frame+wheelset from china

I bought a Workswell frame about 18 months ago and apart from waiting many weeks for delivery I have had no problems whatsoever. The attached photo I took a few minutes ago so you can see it has retained a good condition. I know putting my name on is a bit"naff" but I am 73 and always have an "open"phone on me in case I am involved in an accident. Also I know Workswell have started exhibiting at shows and have a large selection of frames to choose from.

I had a Hongfu FM066 which was fine and looks exactly the same frame as the ones Planet X sell.

The owner of Cycling Holiday Spain (CHS) promotes Farsports wheels and rides them with no issues when he's guiding clients in a fairly mountainous area of Spain near Altea.

I've also had Hylix handlebars and iCan seatpost.

If it was fake branded and too cheap, I'd stay away, but if it's branded with the actual Chinese manufacturer's name then I'd be happy to ride it.

Yes you will die, and pay taxes too 

A good friend of mine rides on the NZ sprint squad, and at 16 his father bought him a no name frame and carbon wheels from China for $1500. They painted it up really snazzy and all the other guys on the development squad loved the look and ride of it. He rode that until last year when he made the squad and had to ride the provided bikes. He had raced that bike internationally, at 3 world champs, oceana games etc.

Quite simply you have no way of telling if it's a lemon, and no comeback if it is. If you're comfortable with that risk, go for it. In the experience of my friends you will get a decent machine 4 times out of 5

i bought a generic model carbon mtb frame from china or somewhere im not sure, ridden it over some pretty rough stuff and no issues at all. 

Personally I wouldnt risk carbon wheels though, theres more to go wrong on them, what quality are the spokes, hub, bearings etc.

https://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1391868#p1391868

& 

https://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=113&t=103936

You can buy direct from the far east, it seems the main issue is 'finding a reputable factory to buy from and not a carbon cowboy chop shop.

There is a lot of forum talk out there and real world useage. It seems HongFu or Workswell for frames is a pretty safe bet and wheel wise I'd trust Farsports , Light Bicycle and yishunbike.

There a current 210 page thread on weight weenies about frames and the wheel one is up to 118 pages.. if you stick with buying from the brands above and pay for someone in the UK to build the wheels and frame up for you, I don't think you'll go too wrong.

Do some research beforehand, lots of stories of people not being specific enough with their requirements in communications and maybe the odd quirk in a frame which needs a workaround.