Drillium Dude 

It's undoubtedly better built than the original - same would be true of his other tributes, too. Stands to reason: he can spend much longer on each frame whereas the semi-mass producing houses of Colnago, Masi et al couldn't afford to put in the same kind of hand finish and keep up with the numbers.

If others would buy it if they had the money, cool. I'm just saying I wouldn't be one of them - for that kind of money, I could buy an original with racing providence.

DD

rootboy 

I have to agree. It's a neat bike, but …..

Whenever I see a replica of an AC Shelby Cobra, I'm amused. But not nearly as jazzed as being in the presence of an original.
No comparison. Perhaps not a great analogy. Original Cobras go for huge bucks these days. But replicas don't do much for me.
I'd rather spend the dough on an original Super. A green one.

smontanaro 

This "reproduction" isn't by some anonymous framebuilder. Brian Baylis is one of the most well-respected framebuilders of the last few decades. As I understand it, the few of these sorts of frames he's built were built for himself, not for sale. So, not only is this a Baylis-built frame (which happens to be painted and decaled like a Molteni Colnago), but it is one he built for himself. Think of it more as a Baylis with a special paint job.

On a similar thread in Classic Rendezvous, I think the word "tribute" was used. I don't know if that's really the case either. I read an interview with Baylis on this topic, and it sounded more like he's trying to put himself in the shoes of the original builder when creating these sorts of frames.

The Golden Boy 

I guess it's kind of like musicians who are accomplished in their own rights doing "tribute" bands. My first thought was Brad Delp of Boston had his Beatles tribute band.

It's doing the stuff that got you going in the first place.

Oldairhead 

Although it is a beautiful bike it should not bear the Colnago brand logo. That is just plain false! 20 years from now when it shows up at an estate sale some new buyer who really wants a Colnago may get duped. A brand logo is a buyers protection, assurance that he is getting the real deal. People may want to think of it as a tribute but I see it as a counterfeit! A proper tribute could replicate the style and look but never use the original brand logo!

Maybe he could re-label it a Colnogo.

rootboy 

This, I agree with. Strongly. Not to open that old can-O-worms but I feel the same way about other bikes bearing the name of a builder,
who didn't build them. You won't see the name "Shelby" on any replicar. Maybe some day…if his heirs decide to capitalize on the name.

Drillium Dude 

Just wondering if Cadillac would produce a Ferrari tribute car - that's the only comparison I can think of that comes close to a direct comparison of this situation. Somehow I doubt it.

Baylis is a fantastic American builder who puts out fewer numbers than the tribute subjects. He can afford to put out extra attention to detail in order to produce an outstanding frame that would hold up to anybody's scrutiny. I'd personally love to own a Baylis one day - but a Colnago as interpreted by Baylis? Again, for a guy of his talent, I just don't understand him feeling the need to produce any tribute frames. As pointed out already a couple times in this thread, his work outshines the quality of the builders he's making a tribute to.

I'm not trying to start an argument here, btw. Just saying this is truly perplexing to me, and I still think an original has more intrinsic worth (much like Rootboy's comparison above) and Baylis's signed frames are worth more than a signed replica from another house, too.

DD

seypat

It's a replica. So the first sentence out of your mouth in conversation will always be, "No it's not the real thing. It's a Baylis tribute bike."

Followed by, "Ohh, it's a Baylis bike. He does fantastic work. Why would he do a tribute bike instead of putting his own name on it?" Do you have the real one that this is a tribute of?"

"No I don't."

"Oh."

Fred Smedley

Duped into a Bayless, where do I sign up?

Oldairhead 

I am not knocking the quality of a Baylis, but if I wanted a Colnago and I thought I bought a Colnago and then found out it was a "Smedley" I would have been defrauded by the person who put the decal on the bike. Did he also use a "Columbus Tubing" sticker or a "Made in Italy" decal as part of his "tribute" because they would also be correct? If he did, those would also be false.

jeirvine 

It says it's a Baylis replica right on the stay. Only way a future buyer would be duped is if somebody removed/repainted it.

repechage

The Colnagos I have do not have a Made in Italy transfer.

As to Columbus tubing, it probably is. Brian made reference that one of his factors not to accept any new orders was the inability to locate additional old tube sets.
Yes, they do come up on ebay but as the Columbus sets had many gauges and lengths, and seatstay, chainstay styles, locating the set you require can get problematic.
Not too many double taper seat stays around for example, which this tribute bike uses and I have only seen in Columbus.
Columbus did reissue SL, but not with 25.4 mm top tubes, and stay limited options.
A special run could be ordered, but the minimum qty I suspect is of a decent size.

SJX426 

I am with many of you, I don't get the point, except his desire to do it for self entertainment and satisfaction. I don't see it having much, if any, marketing value. It is an intersting dynamic that Colnago and Campagnolo are in such demand and bring good money but they appear to be readily available. And how many threads have we read trying to help someone identify if a bike is really a Colnago or not? More than any other brand.

Maxturbo

I think if it were THAT close to the original then he'd be slammed for pattern, propitiatory holdings or copyright issues.

Can you say LAWSUIT!

Drillium Dude 

He's using Colnago decals and the clover on the head tube

I think he added the "replica" notation on the stay to avoid any copywrite issues.

DD

seypat

I forgot to add to the conservation:

"So what is that other bike there?"

"It's a 1978 Raleigh Team Pro Cylcocross bike."

Is it a replica too?"

"No it's Gen-U-Whine! It belonged to the Pro rider Gerrie Knetemann. You know he was World Champion in 78?"

"Get outtta here! Wow! A real Team bike, Sweeeeetttt! Can I take a look at it?"

thunderworks

I can't speak for Baylis, but I'm a furniture maker who has been greatly influenced by some fabulous builders. I occasionally make pieces that are "in the style of" one of my significant influences. When either selling, or showing that piece, I give credit to the inspiration. So, while not putting words in Baylis' mouth, I suspect like many craftsman, he builds tribute bikes because those reflect his influences and inspirations. It acknowledges the continuity of tradition in the crafts and is a form of respect.

rootboy 

And yet…you wouldn't put "Greene & Greene" , for instance, on your pieces, would you?

BTW, what would an original one of these in minty condition, go for?

rootboy 

And many which say Colnago on them which obviously are not. Perhaps mis-labled more than any other marque as well.

The Golden Boy 

"Got anything newer than 78? That was an awful long time ago and those shifters don't even click."

"No I don't"

"Oh."

gaucho777 

Yes, just a friendly discussion. Personally, I'm just not put off by his practice of building replica/tribute frames, but I do appreciate your point of view and can see validity on both side of the argument. I'm not sure the Cadillac/Ferrari is apt. Each of those are large companies with a defined "brand" and style. Maybe Bayliss has a "brand" as well, but it's not as refined or tied to corporate identity. I prefer to think of it as musician doing a cover song.

KonAaron Snake 

I like your analogy. A cover isn't worth doing unless the cover adds something, or gives the song something fresh and different. Otherwise, it's just cashing in on the original. Think Aretha Franklin doing Respect vs. a bar cover. Baylis is a strong talent, so unless he's adding something here, I'd rather see him doing his own work rather than paying tribute to another artist without adding anything. What is he adding to this? How is it any better? I'm sure the details are neater, but it's not a better Colnago. No one really remembers The Beatles covering Chuck Berry - and that's what this is to me. Why listen to the Beatles do a lesser version of Chuck Berry when you can hear them do their own strong material?

It's not a fake or fraud, it doesn't offend me in any way - but I have no interests in it. If I want a Baylis, I'll buy a Baylis. If I want a Colnago, I'll buy a Colnago. Baylis replicating a Colnago doesn't do anything for me.

Drillium Dude 

Same here - not offended, just wondering what was/is Baylis' point?

I guess I tried too hard to make a comparison using an American/Italian reference. I suppose a better comparison would be Lamborghini duplicating a Ferrari in tribute. There wouldn't be any point to that, right?

Although I get the analogy of cover songs, I think the main difference is with music, it's an intellectual property kind of thing - one can't hold it in one's hand; it's not a physical thing. Cars, bikes, furniture - these are physical things, therefore seemingly embody a more true analogy.

My opinion, FWIW.

DD

iab

People climb mountains because they are there. Why does Bayliss make a tribute, because he can.

As for "better", the way you are defining it is subjective. DD pointed out, the clover cutouts are different and while you don't consider the form "better", I'd guess others may have a different opinion. There is no doubt that the filing, brazing and paint is better (objectively) than the original.

And while I share your no interest in this bike, I think asking why serves little purpose. I prefer the Lemonheads version of Mrs. Robinson, but I don't think it makes it better than Simon and Garfunkel.

rootboy 

It's an interesting novelty. And probably rides like the wind.

I'd rather have the Ferrari.