Fake / Counterfeit Bikes & Components: News and how to spot them

[Butterbean]

The only reason anyone would go to all the trouble to do that is because they are obsessed with what people think of them and their bike. I mean, it doesnt make the bike any faster / lighter so its only done to "impress". And that ladies and germs is pretty sad. Why pretend to be something you are not?

 

Same reason people put M badges on a 330d. Makes you feel cool.

[NotSoBigBen]

I'll keep my thoughts to myself this time, last time I said it was wrong I nearly got tarred and feathered

[rouxtjie]

Just on a sidenote...will the foo-man-choo imports be a threat to the big brands....I don't think so to be totally honest. They fullfill different needs. Also as explained in other threads, guys wanting to make a profit from this won't, and the other guys putting a sticker kit on them and selling them at the same pricepoint as the bigger brands are just as disgusting as the people trying to sell the counterfeits.

 

Sorry for hijack

[fabes]

Same reason people put M badges on a 330d. Makes you feel cool.

Lets be serious now, those badges do increase performance

[Mackie]

I am not sure why some guys are so defensive, get yourself a pair of big lady panties!

The contstant need for justification of your choices are quite sad really, purchasing blank Chinese equipment and riding them with no/own branding and branding a blank with a name brand, these 2 scenarios are not even close to being the same thing. Next thing we know some "oke" here is going to call you are moron for riding on your 60k frame, not knowing it is a 6k blank with some branding, then get his cheapo bib pant in a knot when he is challenged...

[Hennie VR]

Becasue the majority of the fakes are chinese made.

 

No need to pick a fight.

I think people like Azonic and yourself are so defensive about what they bought that they can't see the moon for the sun.

You will note that I have not gotten involved in ANY of the other chines threads.

If I wanted to pick a fight, I would have done it there.

 

As I said in my previous post I do think its wrong that people sell fake items as real. And yes, the majority of counterfeit products does come from China but its not limited to China and that is why I questioned the title. I have NEVER defended fake/counterfeit items.

[Tumbleweed]

I'll keep my thoughts to myself this time, last time I said it was wrong I nearly got tarred and feathered

 

How's that 808 you're having painted?

[NotSoBigBen]

How's that 808 you're having painted?

 

You reckon they won't know when I brand my 45mm cheapies with the 808 logos

[Matt]

Hi Hubbers,

 

I posted a note on Fakes and specifically our zero tolerance against fakes in the Classifieds recently.

 

I think it's a great idea to have a thread dedicated to Fakes, spotting fakes, etc. as this is clearly a growing issue.

 

As others have pointed out, let this not degenerate into a heated debate on 'chinese carbon' as that is not the topic of discussion As mentioned there are various threads dedicated to this topic.

 

Please keep this clean and on topic to maintain it as a useful resource.

 

Thanks,

Matt

[LOOK695]

I really think that this can be a very informative thread. How many newbies join the hub to learn and experience things pertaining to cycling and importantly about purchasing upgrades. If you are not well informed, you can easily be taking for a ride, especially with well known brands like zipp, pina, campag etc. Maybe a different title will make it easier to search for this topic as mentioned in a previous thread.

[Matt]

I've removed some comments that are steering this thread off track.

 

There is huge value in having Fake / Counterfeit related resources and discussion in a single place. Especially for newbies or those with less Google prowess.

 

HOWEVER, let's keep this about Fakes... identifying them, news, etc. It is a big issue and this resource could assist many newbies from falling victim to fraudsters pushing fakes as the real deal.

 

This is not a place to trash those buying blank carbon frames or a discussion about that. This is about fakes (counterfeits) i.e. ILLEGAL goods and is a very important issue.

[Matt]

@Wyatt Earp:

 

Can we please change the thread title to something more obvious and that will be more search friendly?

 

e.g. Fake / Counterfeit Bikes & Components: News and how to spot them

 

(It is wordy but more likely to be picked up via a search than the current title.

[Unknown MTBR]

@Wyatt Earp:

 

Can we please change the thread title to something more obvious and that will be more search friendly?

 

e.g. Fake / Counterfeit Bikes & Components: News and how to spot them

 

(It is wordy but more likely to be picked up via a search than the current title.

 

Give that man a bells!

[Bub Marley]

Ok and how is that different besides the value of the item?

 

Whether it be a fake bok jersey, oakleys, cycling shirt or bike it would still be fraudulant? right?

It is fraudulent, no question about that. I wasn't coming from a moral perspective though because morally it is definitely wrong whether its a bike or clothing. My point was more along the lines of safety. I wouldn't buy a chinese import because I wouldn't feel safe riding it. I do however feel that most large manufacturers are to blame for the increased interest in chinese imports because of their ridiculous prices. No one in their right mind can tell me that selling a Pinarello Dogma for like 100k is not overpriced. Same goes for clothing when you pay over 2k for a bib shorts and jersey. To me it's way overpriced as is most things cycling related. I mean some parts on my bike costs more than parts on my car.

[gummibear]

I was chatting to the owner at my lbs.

He says that he has had a fake 3T stem and fork that broke.

A faulty Chris King head set...turned out to be fake.

He says that rumours in the industry are that some of the guys selling branded fakes are not fakes but actually rejects or repaired return frames.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

I was chatting to the owner at my lbs.

He says that he has had a fake 3T stem and fork that broke.

A faulty Chris King head set...turned out to be fake.

He says that rumours in the industry are that some of the guys selling branded fakes are not fakes but actually rejects or repaired return frames.

 

I can believe that. And it's scary.

 

Rejects are kept by the manufacturer. Supposed to be scrapped at their cost as a non-standard / sub-par order. Evidently not.

 

But anyway - I'd like to know how to spot a fake, for sure.