I know right.
I'm probably going to buy it anyways, it's a Leader look like with uglier welds.

True, he said a fork will be $15 more but I already have one so I don't really need one.
But to be very truthful, I mostly want the 735 for looks and because it's light.

"Hey guys, what should I do? Oh, you say I shouldn't bother spending my money on one of those ugly counterfeit frames - especially considering the seller lied to me about it being authentic? Well I'm going to do it anyway because I think it's super cool."

Best of luck, kid.

Tell him you'll pay his price but only if he admits they aren't real.

Then move on and buy the real thing.

I know but there couldn't be that much difference, right?
And the welds are just welds, my frame right now has welds like that and I personally never really notice them, only when I deliberately look at them.

btw, I'm 5'8". Will 55cm fit me? I have pretty long legs

there could be a catastrophically large difference, in the form of this frame breaking under you. likely, it's not going to be that bad but generally a lightweight+cheap= higher chance of catastrophic part failure. i wouldn't do it. get a visp. the visps are heavy but they're very comfy and durable because of it.

in fact i'd be surprised if this knockoff isn't FAR heavier than a real 735, just because they probably use different top tube, stays, and maybe a different seat tube. the water bottle bosses trouble me.

i'd walk away, but if you like it go for it. dude sounds like a class A sleezeball though for misrepresenting his product. **** him. give us his contact info so we can firebomb his pets.

What's with the water bottle bosses?

Buy it. ****, buy two.

**** it, I don't want to ride a fake Leader with wrong dropouts and bottle holder holes that might possibly break on me.

it likely won't break on you. just don't think you're getting a leader, you're obviously not.

it's probably a heavier frame than the original 735 but otherwise the same as the old ones.

and the main reason i'm telling you not to buy it is that the guy sounds like a hustler and out to make money off of you, which is never right. at least leader copied frames but did it as an actual business...

I know, I really really want a frame like a 725, 735, or Unknown LV2 but I don't want a fake so I don't want to take it.
Plus I can't afford them even for Christmas -_-

why do you guys praise the leader bike like it's not a ****ty taiwanese frameset

Praise? Lol I just like it.
And 99% of all frames are made in Taiwan these days.

Get a bike you will ride. Just wait till everyone says I told you so.

and cinelli's, bianchi's, (even some) treks, cannondale are made where? some of these builders have bikes made in USA/Italy/... but they are the top of the line and way too much for non competitive cyclists.

oh man, you are in for a world of surprise if you think those are made in USA/Italy.

truth is, only a certain percentage of the production needs to be in those countries for it to get that sticker legally.
like the paint job or assembly of the bike.

erm...that's what I said?

No, you said that only a few bikes were made in the usa or italy, with the implicature being that some bikes actually are made in the usa or italy. AEO countered that even the bikes that you claim are made in the usa or italy, are actually made in asia and a small bit of labor is added in the usa or italy so that they can claim to be "made in italy" or "made in the usa". Minor distinction.

ahhhh I see, so something like a cinelli supercorsa isn't made in italy (entirely)? sheeet

I don't understand where your hate comes from, considering you've never ridden a Leader.

Even when top of the line bike frames were made in the USA or Europe, they weren't any better quality than the best stuff coming out of Taiwan these days. I recently bought a Soma Rush frame that was made in Taiwan, and it's quality is actually superior to my 1970s USA made Schwinn Paramount P14 track frame. There's all this "old world quality" myth that has been foisted on us that is total nonsense. Also, it's uninformed and ignorant to lump Taiwan in with China when discussing quality in products. Taiwan produces a lot of very high quality products, whereas China does not.

I don't think he can physically ride a Leader. *~*~*ThE RoOt oF hIs HaTrEd*~*~*

I'm having the same dillema. Just found this one on CL and it's a helluva deal. Not the best photo, but I'm hoping to get more sent to me tmw. Based on what you can see, what do you think? Thanks...

https://images.craigslist.org/5I75Fa5...79eae712fb.jpg

Legit; look at the track ends.

If this is being shipped from China it is 100% fake. There is a factory over there not respecting our trademark as well as some other famous brands. Please support the legit companies and stay away from the knock offs.

Leaderbike