I would think there might be more in the idea of taking a VERY NICE bike - one that you wish to ride more than look at - and plastering it with Mongoose or Free Spirit decals as a theft deterrent.

Recently spotted a Gios for sale. Mild curiosity led me to the Sheldon Brown site and commentary. Had no idea the fakes were so popular...lol.

[h=2]Gios Torino[/h] While many of these blue classics with the coin-like plugs in the forkcrown all look the same, beware. Some are exquisite, some are only fairly nice. What complicates the story is that at least with later examples there were issues as to what were legitimate examples. The tale going around is that a U.S importer started labeling frames procured from another Italian builder with the Gios label (they felt they had legal right to the name in the U.S). Some argue that some of the "fake" frames were actually superior to the real ones. No idea how to tell what is what. I think, though, that most of the early models with the coin fork plug were the legitimate ones. Then again, there supposedly were some Mexican built counterfeits of the early model that possibly can be distinguished by the lack of certain bottom bracket features.

I have seen enough threads on this site with questions of authenticity of frames/bikes people are considering buying. Even if you sell a replica and are completely honest about it the next guy may not be as honest when they sell it. I don't like the potential of people getting ripped off. Forum members are pretty knowledgeable when it comes to bikes unlike much of the general public.

That's crazy talk.

There is one replica car that I would love to have. That would be a 550 spider based on a vw. What a blast that would be!!

Raleigh made a whole series of Team Pro repilcas for years.

Raleigh painted actual raleigh frames in the scheme of their higher end bikes. Not exactly the same thing as a third party sticking replica decals on a different frame.

Pegoretti has some trashy (by design) paont jobs

Both French made in the 70's, one on the left is considered nearly highest in the Motobecane product range but the orange tribute racer is lower end. Done for a few reasons, the BiC / Ocana is fast growing on me. And no, its not expensive to do and I'm thinking of building another.

A regular mustang was turned into a shelby....

Only a tent? I'd put up a damn site more than that for a 58 Scarab.

Once upon time, in a place far, far away, there was this funny old guy had this greasy bike. The whole thing was wrapped in friction tape and goo. I think there was always a Raleigh spanner under the seat. The rumor was it was under all that guck was a Rene Hearse (sp?).

That is done all the time in the bike world. And, just like the car world, it depends on how much care the builder puts into it, or what they choose to do.

I wonder what percentage of Colner bikes ended up being badged as Colnago bikes? It doesn't take much hunting to find a fake Colango somewhere. Perhaps some people trying to run scams, others just having a bit of fun on a personal bike (that might leak onto the market 20 years later).

Even in modern production, I've heard that a number of manufactures are essentially using a common frame for a number of different product levels. So you might buy your new Wonder-Bike with either Tiagra, 105, Ultegra, Dura Ace, or some Campy line of components.

And, the price goes up with each jump. So, if the bike, say is more than $1000 more expensive with the Ultegra group, than the Tiagra group, then there are some individuals that will buy the Tiagra bike new, strip it to the frame, add the Ultegra components, sell off the Tiagra components as "new pulls", and end up with an Ultegra level bike for significantly less than market value.

Is it the same bike? Who knows. Some manufactures now match the color scheme with the component groups, but still.... does it really make a difference?

In many cases, it would not be hard to "restore" a bike to "better than original" condition.

Yes. But it wasn't a Falcon dressed up.

For years I've wanted a Schwinn bike with Columbus Tenax frame but could never afford it. My desire was so bad that I started contemplating the thought of building a FAKE, but my better angels always won out...I didn't want to be labeled as a fraud. But my lust was never satisfied,..always wanting, always refusing,...a constant struggle between good and evil. I eventually went to a therapist, spending thousands of dollars to be cured, spending months in the chair discussing my inner demons, and their unnatural desire for a Schwinn Tempo with Italian flag color scheme. Finally exhausted and uncured, I stopped going to therapy...I started trolling bike forums delving into Schwinn bike porn to satisfy my lust, night after night, hours upon hours, Super Sports, Circuits, Preludes, Pelotons, Tempos, I couldn't get enough...And then as if a heavenly epiphany befell me, I stumbled across this thread. All this time, and through all these struggles, I thought I was different...alone..no one understanding my insatiable appetite, but alas, I'm not alone..THERE ARE OTHERS LIKE ME. There's hope and I'm going to get better. I just know it...

Update: I'm feeling better. I just ordered a couple hundred bucks of red, white and green paint this morning.

Ah ha! But back in the day there was a 1965 white Ford Falcon cruising the streets of Eastern Massachusetts that had much of a '65 Shelby Mustang hiding under the sheet metal.

(Not to mention, of course, that the Mustang was nothing but a redressed Falcon.)

replicas make little sense to me: if you have one, then people will be asking: Is that a real " "? and you have to say... no...

I rather have the genuine lesser vehicle than a fake rarity. happened when I was thinking of buying a ducati 750S- some one had made it into a F1 replica (very similar bikes.. the frames are identical except for the direction on a cross brace.. etc) . But to me the bike was worth less than a stock 750s because who wants to ride a fake f1 and feel like a fraud?

The one thing I might consider for a "replica" is if somebody chose to build a pre 1950 "replica", especially an early 1900's replica.

Isn't that exactly what happens?

Many years ago a friend of a friend was selling some parts off a smashed guitar. Eventually I just bought the whole guitar and case from him. It turned out to be a early 1970s Les Paul Deluxe. Under all the stickers on the guitar case I found the stencil of a relatively famous old punk rock band... So I started thinking that I had a guitar used by that band-and they were all punk rock and smashed the guitar.

I spent a metric ton of money getting Gibson to do a new neck on that guitar, built it up with some cool parts- more or less to just have a guitar like I wanted it - but also that it had this cool punk rock pedigree.

And then I found out a local band (a relatively famous local band, but nonetheless) had made a stencil just for their own use- stenciled the other band's name on all their ****. I was friends with one of the guys- and sure enough- he still had pallets and drum heads and stuff stenciled with the band's name. I heard stories about the guitar and how it got broken, and gave him the broken neck and headstock.

And then I sold the guitar with the case.

A few years ago, someone tracked me down on a guitar forum and asked about the guitar- he'd bought it as a guitar from that band. The person I sold the guitar to knew it was not from the band that was stenciled on the case. He knowingly sold it as such. That's not cool.

I was once looking through an antique arms shop here in California. I noticed a knife in the counter that looked familiar and the label stated that it was an authentic 18th century longhunter knife from New York. Thing is, I made that knife some 15 years earlier for a re-enactor. I did not not have the cajones to point that out to the store owner.

I like this "replica" and other factory/builder replicas of team or race bikes.

Exactly right IMO! You want a replica, say a frame? Well, you'd better find the same tube-set, same lugs, produce the same angles for that specific frame size (they may vary), same brazing material and so on.

Another thing: a 'replica', as I understand it from say the re-creation of extinct, historic aircraft, is something that closely resembles the original as much as possible. On the other hand, what I would term a "copy" is a precision reproduction of the original using the same materials, parts and blueprints. In British Columbia a group of ultra enthusiasts built a Vincent motorcycle from scratch. It was a true copy — not a replica. Only the most stunning craftsmanship and dedicated cooperation among individuals could have achieved this. There is nothing wrong with replicas, but in my opinion they had better be very close to the original, or they are merely "mutton dressed as lamb". I just wanna vomit when I see some dumb-ass sled turned into a Ferrari or a Lotus with a lot of fibreglass.

Paint and decals are almost insignificant details compared to the real challenge of creating either a replica or copy. Nevertheless they represent and mean something important. I've debated as to whether I want a Romani decal on my Simplon 4 Star. I am convinced the frame was made by Romani — and besides the Simplon decals were pretty darned ugly, and I removed some of them. It's my bike, and I can tart it up as a like, but if I sell it, I'd be dishonest not to tell the buyer that there is a room for doubt about it really being a Romani frame. (In case you don't know about Romani — my research uncovered the fact they they built frames for some of the really hi-end, ultra-famed frame makers when so many orders would flood the capacity for building them. Were they copies, replicas or fakes? )

The only true replica that I can think of would be the Speedplay Masi Special, built by Rob Roberson and painted by Joe Bell.

Plenty of sleepers prowled the streets of Woodward Avenue in Detriot in the 60's.
There was a great GM story about Bill Mitchell, he lost a stoplight drag race on the way to work, challenged the winner to a rematch at lunch. Had the boys in the Engineering garage drop a ZL-1 in and make sure it was ready by lunchtime. Won the rematch.