Look, I don't have anything against bikesdirect. In fact, if my bike were crashed or stolen, I'd probably buy another one from them. However, what you are saying is simply not true.

Take this Bicycling Magazine review of the Motobecane Le Champion SL Ti:

http://www.bicycling.com/gear/detail...2733-0,00.html

No where does it mention bikesdirect. It says Motobecane with a MSRP of $4495. Go to the "Motobecane USA" website:

http://www.motobecane.com/rdti/slti.html

Sure enough, "Motobecane USA" lists the MSRP of $4495, but bikesdirect.com offers the same bike at $1999.99:

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...mp_slti_xi.htm

What a great deal!! However, there is no "Motobecane USA" manufacturer, and there is no place to buy one except bikesdirect.com or perhaps Cycle Spectrum stores that are also owned by the same people.

A little detective work: The IP address of motobecane.com is 198.171.203.128. The IP address of bikesdirect.com is 198.173.103.8. Both appear to be running on a web server located outside of Denver Colorado:

http://www.websitetrafficspy.com/bikesdirect.com

http://www.websitetrafficspy.com/motobecane.com

It is very likely the same web server, owned by the same people. However, bikesdirect.com doesn't state that clearly. They do, in fact, mislead people. They mislead Bicycling Magazine and customers by making it appear as though there is a "Motobecane USA" manufacturer, and that bikesdirect is offering bikes at a steep discount from a MSRP that doesn't exist. The real MSRP is $1999.99 because bikesdirect is the manufacturer of the Le Champion SL Ti.