Faked Decals, Faked Frames

[Mohawk]

Mulling over a recent post, I wondered what the forum thoughts were on counterfeits? I recently bought a nice Italian frame but was gutted to find out it was actually Gara tubing rather than the SLX the quite professional8 applied decal said it was. I've also noticed a few top end ebay sellers passing off vintage Colnago Supers which had probably rusted to hell, repainted and decalled up as Eddy Merckx Colnago.

Faking it? Always bad, or 'just a nod?

 

[bikeworkshop]

I've had a few discussions on here about fakes from the amateur vintage bike to the high end aliexpress copies.

There are quite a few "private" sellers buying modern fakes then offering them as genuine used, especially Hope chainsets and King headsets.
There are slay quite a few vintage sellers offering items they must know are not genuine.

There are also some very strong feelings out there in defense of fakery!

Always bad imo.

I mean:
If you can't afford a rolex, why bang on about how they are overpriced and justify wearing a fake?

 

[Canuk]

This is the kind of thing that annoys me. The ubiquitous Colnago Molteni orange. This seller is trying to pass it off as original at around 5000 euro. It's obviously a repainted vintage Super.

There ARE people out there dumb enough to fall for it. Is it criminal behaviour? Dunno the ins and outs really. Clearly Colnago aren't clamping down on it as there many examples.

 

[bikeworkshop]

It's criminal in the UK if the seller knowingly presents it as something knowing its not in order to make money.

I dont think Colnago are interested in historic bike values much, but I was surprised hope dont take any action on their modern fakes.

I think hope thought the aliexpress copies would snap out on the trail and then you'd be sorry
- but the problem is if the user bought them second hand believing they are real, they'll go online and slag Hope off.

 

[Canuk]

The description for the Colnago above is - 1974 vintage Colnago Molteni Super, which is definitely a bit of a stretch. They're not based in the UK.

I'm against these tribute bikes for all sorts of reasons, but mainly because they are lazy and most often inaccurate renditions of the original.

 

[bikeworkshop]

If you want the real thing, that's what you should get.

I don't see the point of a fake - unless you're trying to impress, but can't afford the real deal.

Would youtrust a guy wearing a fake rolex?

 

[Canuk]

If you want the real thing, that's what you should get.

I don't see the point of a fake - unless you're trying to impress, but can't afford the real deal.

Would youtrust a guy wearing a fake rolex?

I suppose the trouble is the fakers just get better and better. And it's harder to spot the difference unless your an expert or well acquainted with the product. I was gutted to find out my Slx was indeed Gara, with a well fitted decal, but thems the breaks.

 

[Canuk]

Reynolds used to have quite a strong verification process to obtain a new decal, but now with Lloyd having what appears to be a monopoly on resale there's zero accountability and it's wide open to fakery.

 

[bikeworkshop]

Here's my rule of thumb:

If the decal is fitted perfectly square,
it's a fake!

 

[Canuk]

Here's my rule if thumb:

If the decal is fitted perfectly square,
it's a fake!

Haha Now there's a veteran professional!