Novara is the REI brand. Neither REI or Novara makes the bike.It's made probably by some major frame maker in the orient and that name is stuck on it. My reverence was to the tubing manufacturer. Like in Reynolds,Alcoa,Easton, Deddacciai,Columbus,whatever.Their lables are often on the bike. If you came up with an6 from some of REI's litterature on the bike,then you are out of luck.