Excellent Frameset, Unfinished Package
I built my size L Winspace G3 at home with a SRAM Rival XPLR E1 groupset, Farsports gravel wheels and a Vision Metron EVO cockpit. Overall, it is an excellent frameset offering outstanding value for money, but a few shortcomings prevent it from being the complete package it could have been.
Build quality and weight
Frame quality is excellent, assembly was straightforward, and I encountered no issues during the build. Packaging was also excellent.
My size L frameset weighs just 1,050 g, excluding all hardware, which is impressive for a frame of this size and versatility. At £1,250 in the UK, it is also very competitively priced.
On the road and gravel
Using the same wheels and tyres as my road bike, the G3 performs remarkably well as an endurance road bike. It is extremely comfortable and makes a convincing case for itself as an all-road bike.
Cornering is slightly slower than on a dedicated road bike, but the bike feels more stable at higher speeds. It offers a different riding character rather than a compromised experience.
On gravel, handling and comfort are equally excellent. The G3 is a genuinely versatile platform for anyone looking to combine road and gravel riding on one bike.
The shortcomings
1. Mudguard compatibility
It is disappointing that Winspace incorporated mudguard mounting points without ensuring compatibility with a suitable mudguard.
The absence of a seatstay bridge and the underside design of the fork crown make it difficult to find an existing mudguard that fits properly. The mounting points feel like a feature added without sufficient consideration of the complete package.
Other major brands, including Canyon, Trek and Scott, offer proprietary mudguard solutions. If Winspace includes dedicated mounting points, it should provide a compatible solution.
2. Rear tyre clearance
The rear tyre clearance could have been better. An increase of approximately 5 mm would have made the G3 more future-proof and better suited to modern gravel setups.
The front already offers generous clearance, even for 2.4-inch tyres in suitable configurations. It is frustrating that the rear was not designed with similar ambition. Clearance for 2.2-inch MTB tyres would have made the G3 an even more versatile platform.
The bigger problem: a lack of product refinement
This is my main criticism, and it goes beyond the G3 itself.
One of the biggest challenges facing Chinese cycling brands is not necessarily manufacturing quality or value for money. Winspace has demonstrated that it can produce a high-quality, lightweight frameset at a competitive price.
The concern is the apparent rush to introduce new models without fully refining existing products.
Why rush to release the G5 with similarly limited tyre clearance and a substantially heavier frame, rather than refine the G3 into an outstanding all-road platform?
I would much rather have seen Winspace address the G3's shortcomings while developing the G5 as a genuinely distinct product: an aerodynamic, lightweight platform with clearance for tyres of 2.2 inches or wider.
Rushing new models to market might generate short-term hype, but it does little to build customer loyalty. At times, it feels as though new concepts are introduced before existing designs and the overall product package have been fully developed.
A great frame is not necessarily a great product package. The difference lies in the details: compatibility, practical accessories, tyre clearance and a commitment to improving existing products.
Winspace has the manufacturing capability to compete with established Western brands on quality and price. What it needs now is the patience and product-development discipline to match that capability.
Final verdict
The G3 is an excellent frameset: lightweight, comfortable, versatile, well made and competitively priced. It performs exceptionally well on road and gravel, and I have no regrets about building one.
However, the mudguard compatibility issues and limited rear tyre clearance are frustrating because they feel avoidable. These are not criticisms of the frame's fundamental quality, but of the decisions made around its design and usability.
Winspace, you are producing high-quality products at competitive prices. Please refine your products rather than rushing to the next release. Building a strong brand requires more than generating hype; it requires well-considered products and a commitment to customers.
And finally, a simple request: design a bloody mudguard for the G3! It would be an easy win and a good first step towards showing customers that you stand behind your products after the sale.
