PSA - Replica 1-1/8" Chris King headsets

[Canuk]

I say all of the above as a non consumer...! Outside of tyres and the odd set of inner tubes I haven't bought any new bike kit since 2015...

Woe is me

 

[d8mok]

I've seen an example of the C68 disc for real, I'd defy anyone to tell the difference between the fake and the original. The paint and finish is matched 100%. It wouldn't surprise me if it came out the same carbon mould (not unusual for a mould to go 'missing' or get stolen).

The difference in price is about 5000 euros. You can see the appeal to a Colnago lover who doesn't have the dollar to splash.... Apparently the demand on the home market, China, for quality European fakes is huge.

I haven’t seen a fake C68 but I’d definitely be interested to compare the differences if any.

I was offered a brand new C68 dura ace build for £7.5k late last year. I bet if you bought a fake one and built it with the same finishing kit you wouldn’t end up much cheaper and by the time resale is taken into account …

One reason I wouldn’t buy a second hand high end bike now is these fakes. I like to buy the outgoing model as the new one is released.

I purchased my C64 as the C68 was launched (I still prefer the C64) and a few months ago I added a V3 for winter duties as the V4 is current now. Both on heavy discounts which mean when they are sold I can justify the small loss.

 

[bikeworkshop]

Raleigh was once a super-premier brand.
Universal cycles (iirc) opened a factory in Rayleigh, Essex so they could market them as Rayleigh Cycles.
The odd one pops up in ebay and even retrobike from time to time

 

[Cloverleaf]

Are you against this sort of thing?

Not against per se it but equally not massively positive about a few people who seem to go around buying up all the parts they can find for cheap and either stashing them or reselling them for a massively marked up price, in turn over-inflating the price of the remaining stuff. Some of the ebay sellers are mental. Like I said, I've built up old bikes for memories, not willy-waving over how rare something is or what it might one day worth. Others have different motivations. It's why I can't see the point (for me) in spending extra on mint NOS stuff to build a bike with; none of my bikes looked new past the first ride 20-30 years ago so why would I care if what I've rebuilt has some scrapes and gouges etc now?

 

[Canuk]

Not against per se it but equally not massively positive about a few people who seem to go around buying up all the parts they can find for cheap and either stashing them or reselling them for a massively marked up price, in turn over-inflating the price of the remaining stuff. Some of the ebay sellers are mental. Like I said, I've built up old bikes for memories, not willy-waving over how rare something is or what it might one day worth. Others have different motivations. It's why I can't see the point (for me) in spending extra on mint NOS stuff to build a bike with; none of my bikes looked new past the first ride 20-30 years ago so why would I care if what I've rebuilt has some scrapes and gouges etc now?

I hear what you're saying. But now and then you get a special frame maybe in mint condition that just screams out for NOS parts. Horses for courses etc