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Beware of fake carbon parts shredding your nuts :-(
NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.
Experts delivers safety warning over sub-standard forgeries from online websites
Piracy has hit the cycle industry big time..be aware of online purchases...if its cheap it may not be authentic!
Ten websites selling fake cycling kit such as counterfeit frames and jerseys have been shut down by US authorities...
http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/fake-bike-...
A fake Specialized Tarmac with the steerer tube sheared off.
Apparently there are a lot of Internet sale only carbon fibre frames which are not carbon fibre, they are thermoplastic wrapped in an outer layer of fake cosmetic carbon fibre.
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Holly shiet
cheap c arbon frame on e-bay brand new from China....looks legit!
Meh. I have a Dengfu FM098 (Venge clone) with 3000km under my 95kg weight completed. Of course Specialized will come out and say that the frames don't pass their tests, if they did, they certainly would not admit that. I would like to know exactly what frame they tested which broke above, there are MANY different types available, some are much better than others.
There seems to be 3 levels of frames:
1. Proper brands (Specialized etc)
2. Excellent quality clones, but are blank frames with no decals (from Dengfu, Hongfu, Flyxii, etc, the ones that the roadbikereview, mtbr and velobuild guys get)
3. Dodgy, dodgy clones made to look like a real bike that aren't, mainly found on Alibaba or ebay. I'm assuming that's the one they tested.
My FM098 certainly isn't aluminium bonded with carbon weave over the top. It's full carbon. I researched the hell out of it on the above forums before I bit the bullet, and am very happy with what i received.
There's certainly a lot of fear-mongering that goes on driven by the big manufacturers self-interest. Fakes are one thing and there should be protection of brandnames etc. If someone wants to manufacture a good quality unbranded CF frame and sell it a lot cheaper than the big boys then good on them. I bought a 1,100g chinese frame for my hardtail for $200 and smacked the absolute crap out of it for 2 years without a fault before upgrading to a dually so they're not all bad.
There's a big difference between a Chinese no name carbon sold at a good price (legit and good quality for the dough)
To a fake Specialized carbon sold at a ridiculously low price which is what the article is referring to (equivalent to an email scam)
Anyone who goes to Alibaba and the like and grabs a low priced Specialized etc is asking for trouble
As far as fake jerseys etc go, this has been going on with all well known brands for an eternity (since I was a lad)
Just Specialized having a whinge as all retailers do in the hard times
I buy all of my cycling gear from my local bike shop in mandurah. Now I won't bang on a about the advantages of supporting local business, even if i do believe it to be extremely important.
The main reasons however are simple. I like the idea of touching the item I am buying before I fork out the cash for it. I like the fact that my local bike shop owner knows me by name and knows my girlfriend by name. I know if I have any problems with any item my local bike shop will take care of it. I never have to worry about fake parts or credit card fraud.
9 times out of 10 the prices I get at my local are as good if not better then the Internet if you factor in postage and time wasting waiting for your item.
Buy local and don't be a tight arse lol.
I saw all of those Specialized frames a while back on Alibaba & wondered who'd chance it. Not that cheap if I remember correctly.
Btw, in Hong Kong recently I picked up a full Saxobank roadie team kit for $70. No qualms about loyalty etc as this stuff is ridiculously priced already & may even be manufactured there in the first place.
Maybe the gusset will give way catastrophically!!
Some of the chinese frames are OK. I played host to one of my brothers mates from queensland this weekend and he raced a $250 chinese hardtail in elite at the Convict. It doesn't look anything like a giant but the geometry is the very similar and the performance is pretty good.