Has anyone ever come across or know about counterfeit bikes? I know its kind of a ridiculous concept, but seems entirely possible, and they counterfeit everything else anyway. For instance if someone bought a cheap no-name frame, re-painted and slapped bianchi decals on it. Think they could get away with selling it as a bianchi?

See this thread.

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...igh-ID-request

someone from a local board was trying to pull this. heres his post.

I found this bike in my dad's garage. It was just the frame and it was wrapped up in bubble wrap. My dad said it was from 86 but he wasn't sure. He said he thought it was a prototype. I put all of my own parts on it so I am selling the complete bike.

Asking $1,000 OBOBOBOBOBOBO!!!

I don't really know the value but I know it's worth quite a bit.



IF ANYONE HAS ANY INFO ON THIS BIKE PLEASE LET ME KNOW

bianchi track bike with fender bosses? and a threadless headset? i hate people.

it's done all the time, often unwittingly. It usually takes an unsophisticated buyer.

Frankenbike!

I hate that statement. I've been trying for 3 years to come up with a biting, one-liner reply.

-Kurt

how about "no, no it's not"

Too contestable. I want something that leaves them stammering.

-Kurt

How about, "Dude, haven't you ever seen an episode of Pawn Stars?"
Or maybe, "Only to you."
What about, "you mean in dollars, or...?"

People who do restoration work make reproductions of parts and assemblies all the time. It is an advanced form of repair work. People who buy top shelf restored items can expect as little as 10% original. In addition racers have used TONS of custom items in racing and brands buy "specials" they are unable to produce in-house all the time. I am really surprised more of it does not turn up. I don't know at what point it becomes fraud however. I think both those mentioned would be fraud as they are trying to go up-market it seems.

I guess if someone thought they were buying a $50.00 vintage raleigh MTB and found it to be a $3,000 Ti prototype full of works parts it would not be too bad.

Counterfiet and misrepresentation are different to me.

Misrepresentation is slapping declas on something and trying to sell it as that.
Counterfieting ot me is intentionaly manufacturing a copy.

There are a number of counterfeit Confentes because they're big-dollar bikes. There are also lots of faked "Colnagos" because of the power of the brand name and availability of decals - in some cases not to defraud buyers but simply to make the owner feel better about his ride. Happens with Schwinn Paramounts, too, for the same reasons. Another high-end bike that has had its counterfeiters is Hetchins - usually the crudity or inaccuracy of the lug shapes gives them away, though a few are very nicely done.

I bought a fake bike once. I stopped riding because people tell me i look really stupid riding a walrus.

this is pretty cool a FG with rack mounts



it might be a '96 protoype. if in fact it is a Bianchi but I doubt it is, but nothing about the frame seems right for the '86 period

as for counterfiet bikes bikes YES I beleive they are sold everyday both intentionally and unintentionally.

Youre not sure what constitutes fraud? Seriously?

fraud, [frawd] –noun

1. deceit, trickery, sharp practice, or breach of confidence, perpetrated for profit or to gain some unfair or dishonest advantage.
2. a particular instance of such deceit or trickery: mail fraud; election frauds.
3. any deception, trickery, or humbug: That diet book is a fraud and a waste of time.
4. a person who makes deceitful pretenses; sham; poseur.

Fraud is a matter of intent....

If I re-manufacture a bike, apply new decals I found on ebay and then disclose that to people - no foul. If I do the same and then hide the facts, with the intent to make money on my actions, that is fraud. Calling something what it is not in order to profit is fraudulent.

This should give you some direction for your moral compass, hereafter...

that bianchi i posted above is a repainted windsor the hour that you can get complete for around $300 from bikesdirect.com. its a trashheap on wheels.

Except for the spoke card. I think that saves it.

Subtle distinctions, to be sure.

In both instances, however, fraud is at the core.

I have a friend who has an extensive collection. One of his bikes is a Team Raliegh that was an actual team racing bike. It's not a Raleigh, it's a Windsor. To me that's not a counterfeit, any more than a Pegoretti labeled as a ________ is.

He also has a Confente that is a counterfeit. It has the proper tubing, lugs and fork, and was most likely built in house when Mario had gone to bed. It is virtually indistinguishable from the real deal, which leads to a whole different discussion. He's been thinking of decaling it 'Conconfente'

Members here have bought bikes decaled as ______ that clearly aren't, so yes, some people think that slapping a decal on a bike might trick someone into thinking they are buying something that they aren't.

There are crooks everywhere, and probably more so these days.

Plus the cost of that powdercoat and decals. And the hospital bills accrued after the buyer figures out he got rooked.

How about:

Wenn Sie erreichen, kann der höchste Berg Ihr unteres Haltewinkelkratzen die Därme der Hölle.

When you reach the highest mountain may your bottom bracket scrape the bowels of hell.

-Kurt

Don't tell me I needed to add Clint Eastwood?

It sounds superbad in German.

There's nothing new here. Before I was into bikes I was into toy trains. The number of forgery Fairbanks Morse Trainmasters was astounding. SOme of the best experts were fooled by the counterfeits. I never had that problem because I never bought a "mint" trainmaster. The two I owned were well used along with all my F-3s and Berkshire. Same for bikes. Anything that's steel and somewhat expensive better have some rust on it or I'm walking. Because bikes are used outdoors, those tell-tail rust spots should be no trouble to find. Also, I don't mess with "custom built" unless it's a garage sale find.
I understand how this problem can happen with a toy train, but not bikes. There's just too many ways to tell.

There is a fellow in Boston that sold a purported late 50's De Rosa that is less than 5 years old. He has also sold a number of Gloria bikes claiming that they were racing bikes, but are actually city bikes...