for those who haven't seen them and would like to; the link I posted above, as Nobody mentioned, doesn't work. Just go to ebay and search for "triathlon bike" you will see the titles and pictures several times...nude carbon weave frame/fork next a price around $560

Not trying to be tacky, but making links work isn't hard. See the "BCC Code" guide? It's just a little [url=] [/url] script.

But to your OP, the concept of "cheap" and "plastic" (as in, carbon fiber reinforced plastic) doesn't work for me. Matching dollar for dollar, a comparably priced aluminum frame does not have the same risk and opportunity for catostrophic failure or structural integrity issues. If you are that intrigued by carbon, save for one that isn't bottom-of-the-market cheap. If you can't/don't want to spend the money for a $2,000 to $5,000 carbon fiber frame, get an aluminum or steel frame.

I advise this not because I'm a huge fan of carbon (I think many fabricators sacrifice durability and safety to save a few grams because it's easy and sexy to market a sub-1 kilogram frame). But I am a fan of riding something that won't make me cringe every time I hit a bump. I wouldn't trust a "cheap" parachute either for the same reason. Also, the made in Korea/Tawain issue isn't that big of deal either. In fact, even Colnago makes frames in Taiwan - and they advertise it. (But I'm still dissapointed.)

The company that produces this frame (to which I have spoken with) makes carbon fiber bikes for some small bike companies in Europe. From what I have found these frames are normally prototypes that these bike companies test with and may no longer want to produce, so the manufacturer is stuck with a mold and looking to produce the bikes anyhow.
I was working with another carbon fiber company in Taiwan who supposedly had their own "in-house" team of designers looking for entrepreneurs to "brand" their parts under their another name. I was pretty amazed to see the wide range of products this company offered including 5 different TT frames. I was interested so I ordered a frameset, 85mm carbon wheels and aerobar so I could test them. I'm still waiting for the frameset and aerobar, (should be in this week). I received my wheels this past week and must say they are pretty darn nice! But here's the kicker.......
I just received April's triathlete (bike buyers guide) and low and behold the frameset and even the aerobars that I ordered are in there. It's actually branded under the another name. The aerobars are actually branded under two different companies but are identical. The first thing I asked this company (3 months ago) if their parts were original design of their company (to avoid legal troubles) and informed with me with a yes. So I don't know if this is an original design or if this U.S. company just picked up this pre-designed bike and parts and added it to their line. But their frameset retails for $2999.00

Based on what I've seen (and I have been researching this stuff for the past 6 months) I would buy the frameset on ebay. The mark-up on these bikes are anywhere from 300-500%!!!! There's a reason why Cervelo and other companies can go out and spend 1 million on wind tunnel testing. The aerobars I ordered are retailing under 2 different names for $699 and $729. I paid less than $200 to the manufacturer.

The particular frame you are looking at, if you haven't noticed, is being sold by about 10 different people. I have reason to believe the carbon manufacturer went and produced these bikes and the bike company backed out and now is stuck with a couple hundred framesets. Reason being, I talked to this manufacturer 3 months ago and her price to me was $520 each for a 50 frameset purchase. So I'm imagining they've dropped the price to dump them. So, their loss is your gain!!

Keep me informed on your decision.

OK so you order the frame cheap off of e-bay. What is the cost to get the thing built? Assuming you do all of the assembly?

I didn't plan on buying one when I started the thread, but after sonicson's response I was interested. I looked and looked, thought about it, shopped around for component groups etc.. During one of my daily browsings on ebay I came across a QR Kilo with a low low reserve and only a couple bids on it. I ended up winning this morning, got it for under a $1k, which is outstanding. My fiance has a spreadsheet for our wedding/honeymoon etc, when I saw it yesterday my plans to build up a bike were slightly humbled. When I found the QR it felt like Christmas. Should be here in a couple days, I will post pictures. I don't really need all the bells and whistles so this should fit me just fine. I'm excited to get off my Schwinn roadie.

Check out the February 2009 issue of Triathlete magazine. They profile the Suplicy bike, which you will notice is the same as the framesets on eBay. Triathlete rated the bike pretty danged good too. It sounds to me if the geometry is right, and building it up yourself (or via your LBS) is a project you'd like to undertake, it is a pretty good deal.

are you guys talking about those french frames?

edit... nm i think i found it. 560 bucks plus 88 to ship? i'm iffy on cheap carbon stuff. the last thing you want is to be cruising at speed on one of those and have it crack or break.

Sonicson - You are right on most of the carbon frames on eBay. They look similar to the Suplicy, but many do not have the seat tube full contouring to the rear wheel. But some do and I still think they look remarkably like a Suplicy (or an Element 6 or a Sampson Diablo).

Attached are a pic of the Suplicy and one of the no-name frames from eBay.

fixed link

Not on the roads around here (damn chipsealed rural crap roads). I would never ever ride an aluminum frame here, you get beat to heck. Then again, I got lucky and picked up a nice titanium frame for a song. But I test rode a lot of carbon and aluminum frames on one of our typical back-country roads and I would take carbon any day, especially if you're looking at putting in 100-mile days.