Winspace T1600 Review: An Aero Rocket with Question Marks

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I’ve been teasing the Winspace T1600 construct on my Instagram and Strava up to now few weeks. I lastly gathered sufficient information to share my early driving impressions and expertise with the construct. I’m not gonna lie. I used to be very enthusiastic about this one.

NOTE: I invested roughly $2500 and my time on this bike construct. I acquired the body, handlebar, and wheels for this evaluate, however as at all times, I shall be 100% sincere with you and share each the great and the unhealthy. I may also replace the evaluate as soon as I check the Winspace SLC5.

Winspace T1600 Construct Abstract

Beneath, I record the technical specs of my construct.

Winspace T1600 Execs and Cons

Unboxing

Winspace doesn’t have an effect on the delivery high quality a lot, however the field with the body arrived just about wrinkled, so I used to be nervous about whether or not the body can be okay. Happily, I didn’t discover a scratch on it.

What Winspace does have an effect on is how the body is packaged. In comparison with the YOELEO, the unboxing expertise was common. The body was certainly wrapped in protecting foam, however the unboxing positively didn’t give a premium impression, which is a disgrace as a result of the worth is premium, at the least so far as Chinese language frames are involved.

Nevertheless, I used to be instructed that my body was one of many final to be delivered within the previous brown packaging. When you order the T1600 now, you need to obtain it within the redesigned field that appears like this:

The Construct Course of

The primary highway bike I constructed was the Winspace Agile. Then I constructed the YOELEO G21 Altera, and now the Winspace T1600. I selected Ultegra Di2 over SRAM Power AXS for its extra reasonably priced value and the hidden buttons within the shifters. I used to be curious to see how easily the construct would go. Sadly, I bumped into a number of points that might have been simply averted.

The primary downside was with the seatpost clamp screw. It didn’t have a head, so I couldn’t tighten it. I didn’t anticipate that in any respect. Fortunately, my neighbor helped me by slicing a brand new groove so I may use a flat screwdriver, and I didn’t have to attend for a brand new bolt to reach. I knowledgeable Winspace about this. They apologized and guaranteed me they’d pay extra consideration to this subsequent time.

The second challenge was routing the rear derailleur electrical wire by the chainstays. It took me about 10 minutes. This was seemingly due to the tough connection between the rear and entrance triangles of the body, which prevented the cable from passing by.

The final downside was with the bike laptop mount. It solely had two drilled holes. This is a matter if you wish to use the Wahoo adaptor. It may solely be rotated the identical manner because the Garmin adaptor, however Wahoo computer systems are rotated 90°. Which means I needed to drill two new holes within the mount. Winspace was already conscious of this challenge after I acquired the body, so the mounts from the most recent batches have already got 4 holes to accommodate all adapters.

Routing cables by the cockpit was straightforward, and there was no play within the headset bearings. I additionally put in a Token T47 threaded backside bracket with out points.

The outlet for the derailleur cable is just too near the tire. I needed to thread the cable by the entrance derailleur in order that it wouldn’t contact the tire. In my view, the outlet could possibly be positioned in a greater place in order that it could possibly be simply plugged in with out the chance of contact with the tire.

There are a number of extra particulars value mentioning:

The field didn’t embrace an instruction handbook.

The highest and backside headset bearings are the identical measurement, in order that they can’t be blended up.

The brake mounts had been flat and didn’t require further changes.

The built-in battery holder on the backside of the body makes battery manipulation simpler.

It will be nice if Winspace provides its frames with a Jagwire cable (or its different) to keep away from cable rattling. YOELEO consists of them within the field.

Listed below are a number of footage from contained in the T1600 body. The body appeared clear and easy, aside from the chainstay space. I additionally discovered some epoxy residue within the HYPER Built-in Handlebar. Fortunately, it didn’t make routing the hydraulic cables tough, as these had been simply skinny sheets.

I need to admit I didn’t actually like this colour within the movies or at Eurobike 2025 after I noticed it in particular person. Its added worth is principally in direct mild, when it creates a good looking rainbow impact. When the solar was shining into my room through the construct, it virtually made me sit on my ass. It seems terrific and jogs my memory of Peter Sagan’s customized Specialised S-Works Venge ViAS. It additionally turned many heads after I attended the Czech Tour, and I’ve been receiving plenty of compliments.

By the way in which, the Tour de France Femmes particulars are included as a tribute to the Winspace girls’s workforce. It was the primary skilled workforce driving a Chinese language-branded bike on the Tour de France (in 2024).

My Expertise with Winspace T1600

Let’s lastly focus on driving impressions. Earlier than the T1600, I rode a Winspace Agile for simply over a yr (and over 10,000 km), which I truthfully can’t reward sufficient. It’s a snug bike with comparatively relaxed geometry. That’s why I used to be slightly nervous concerning the extra aggressive driving place and better stiffness of the T1600. Certainly, I needed to regulate to the brand new driving place for some time. In the end, my attain is roughly 3 cm longer, and I’ve a higher drop. After my first longer trip, which lasted about three hours, my neck was slightly sore. However after a number of rides, I now not expertise this soreness.

You may additionally have observed that I selected 160mm cranks. The explanation was easy: the 165mm cranks with 52/36 chainrings weren’t in inventory, so I made a decision to attempt the 160mm ones out. By the way in which, I’m 185 cm tall, so theoretically I ought to have cranks which are 172.5mm or longer. For now, I’m driving with the quick 160mm cranks, however I typically really feel that the cadence is just too excessive (particularly when attacking or sprinting), so I’ve to shift gears extra ceaselessly. It’s additionally not the best size for sprints and accelerations, because it takes longer to succeed in most watts. I additionally observed that my most energy is about 10% decrease than with 165mm cranks. That’s why I’ll more than likely return to 165mm.

As for the body itself, I began driving it with stiff Lún MEGA wheels. The whole set feels very stiff, however surprisingly not as uncomfortable as I had anticipated. Loads will depend on the tire stress and the standard of the roads. The roads in our space will not be the perfect, however some district roads are even worse. Logically, driving consolation is comparatively poor right here. Nevertheless, if I had been to charge the consolation of the Agile 5/5, then the T1600 can be 4/5, and the YOELEO R12 can be 2/5. I’d additionally like to emphasise that I sit in a way more aggressive place on the T1600, which makes this end result all of the extra shocking to me.

Though I’m a lighter rider, weighing round 70 kg, I can really feel the elevated body stiffness, particularly when accelerating and driving out of the saddle. I assume that the D-type intakes contribute to the rear finish’s lateral rigidity. Though I don’t suppose that the Agile is a delicate bike, the T1600 in some way goes simpler below the pedals. It’s laborious to explain, however I can inform in side-by-side rides.

The T1600 is Winspace’s quickest body. It ought to save 5.5 W at 48 km/h (30 mph) in comparison with the T1550 Gen 2. So, is there a noticeable distinction in comparison with Agile? Probably not at speeds round 30 km/h. Nevertheless, after I’m driving above 35 km/h, in a gaggle, or descending, it feels prefer it requires much less effort to take care of that velocity. The sooner I trip, the extra I get pleasure from it. The T1600 merely flies. I didn’t anticipate that the distinction can be as nice.

Winspace states that D-type intakes enhance aerodynamics and downforce. So far as aerodynamics are involved, I don’t have the assets to carry out wind tunnel testing. Nevertheless, the downforce argument sounds ridiculous to me, particularly on the comparatively low speeds (under approx. 80 km/h) at which most of us trip. I haven’t observed that the rear of the bike holds higher in corners due to greater downforce. In my view, this function is extra of a advertising gimmick. However you already know what, I don’t actually thoughts. The bike seems totally different, it’s an excellent dialog starter, and it’s a design ingredient that I personally like. It seems a lot cooler in actual life than in pictures. It simply makes washing the bike slightly extra difficult.

The final function value mentioning is stability. I used to be very to see how this aero bike would behave in crosswinds or at excessive speeds. And once more, I used to be pleasantly stunned. I really feel “safer” and extra assured driving it. It’s as if the bike behaves extra predictably than the Agile. The identical goes when driving at excessive speeds. The bike holds its line. It additionally feels just like the crusing impact works fairly effectively.

Pricing

Value is a subject with each bike, and the T1600 isn’t any exception. In comparison with Agile, it’s $420 costlier. With out my 10% low cost, the T1600 prices $2400 ($2160 after low cost). Contemplating that it’s a Chinese language body, that looks as if lots. However I don’t suppose so. For instance, the Fast Professional ER:ONE prices $1999, the Evolve Cima $2299, and the Intropy Speedster SS+ round $2550. Nevertheless, none of those manufacturers sponsors knowledgeable continental biking workforce that will take part within the Grand Excursions, just like the Winspace Orange Seal did.

The issue with Winspace pricing is that many people bear in mind when their frames value round $1300. Logically, we don’t prefer it when every new body is costlier than the final. Nevertheless, the T1600 was examined in two wind tunnels, and the extent of engineering and R&D is obvious. So, for my part, the worth is truthful.

By the way in which (and this deserves its personal article), Winspace has began promoting full bikes at completely unbeatable costs. The T1600, geared up with a Dura-Ace Di2 groupset, built-in HYPER cockpit, and HYPER 3 carbon wheels, prices $6299 with out low cost and $5670 after my 10% low cost. Present me one highway bike that provides an identical price-to-value ratio. If you’re contemplating any of the Winspace bikes, I’d positively not hesitate, as a result of I’d not be stunned if the costs had been adjusted later. They appear too low.

My Verdict

This evaluate could appear biased in favor of Winspace. Nevertheless, individuals who know me know that I say issues as I really feel them. And I contemplate the T1600 to be an excellent bike. It’s laborious to search out any negatives. I’ll come again to it and replace this evaluate as soon as I’ve tried extra bikes (I’m already trying ahead to testing the Winspace SLC5, for instance).

I used to be disenchanted by the minor issues that arose through the construct, which may have been simply averted by conducting an intensive inspection earlier than packing all of the elements. Errors like sending a bolt with out a header or a motorcycle laptop mount with out holes for every type of motorcycle laptop adapters can’t occur with a body at this value vary. I’ve supplied suggestions to Winspace and have been assured that they’ve now been rectified.

The T1600 pleasantly stunned me with the paint job, which seems completely incredible in direct daylight. I additionally didn’t like the main points of the Tour de France Femmes phases at first, however now I don’t actually thoughts them, and many individuals appear to get pleasure from them (based mostly on many discussions I had).

If I needed to charge the trip impressions, the T1600 flies. I get pleasure from it particularly at greater speeds, i.e., on flats, downhill, and in undulating terrain. It’s stiff, steady, and quick. It’s a rocket that deserves an excellent trip. Personally, I’m extra of a hill climber who’s accustomed to a extra relaxed geometry, so I’d most likely go for the Agile, SLC3, or SLC5 for top mountains. However even with the T1600, you’ll be able to trip quick up hills, particularly with the correct gearing.

The T1600 is surprisingly comfy, regardless of its stiffness and aero shapes. In fact, once more, it additionally will depend on the wheels and tire pressures used. But it surely’s positively not a bone-shaker, because it might sound at first look.

If I encounter any points, I’ll replace this evaluate. I additionally plan on updating after long-term use. For now, although, I’m pleased with the body, and I consider you can be too in the event you determine to purchase it. When you achieve this, please think about using the code under. It’s the easiest way to save lots of on the body (or an entire bike) and help me and my web site. Thanks very a lot prematurely.

The product for this evaluate was kindly supplied by the producer. This didn’t affect my general verdict or my opinion concerning the product. You’ll be able to be taught extra about how I strategy critiques right here.