Specialized said that Chinese police and e-commerce giant Alibaba “deserve immense recognition” after a manufacturer of counterfeit bike parts was bust as part of the largest counterfeit case in the bike manufacturer’s history.
Seven people have been arrested after approximately $1.6 million (£1.13 million) worth of fake goods were seized as part of raids in the city of Hangzhou. Among the counterfeit items were knock-off Specialized Roval frames, handlebars, helmets and wheels with a total value of approximately $1.1 million. Illegal replicas of Pinarello, Cannondale, Cervelo and Trek products were also seized, as BicycleRetailer first reported.
Alibaba had initially included the sellers of the knock-off products on its AliExpress retail platform, but subsequently co-operated with Chinese law enforcement and Specialized to remove the counterfeits from distribution. In a statement announcing the successful bust, which took place in March, Alibaba described the dangers posed by the fake brands, besides the breach in intellectual property and copyright laws.
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“”Counterfeit products imitating Specialized’s high-performance goods not only infringe on (intellectual property rights) but also pose serious risks to consumer safety. These fake items often bypass stringent quality and safety standards, potentially endangering users and undermining consumer trust in legitimate products.
“Specialized has tested these counterfeit cycling helmets and frames, and they fail safety standards. Sometimes catastrophically.”
Specialized’s global brand protection manager, Andrew Love, added that the American bike manufacturer “is unwavering in its commitment to protecting its riders and upholding a zero-tolerance policy against dangerous counterfeit products.
“These illicit operations not only exploit consumers but also undermine trust in authentic goods. We are fully dedicated to safeguarding our customers and combating organised crime on a global scale.
“The success of this largest counterfeit bust in the cycling industry highlights the profound impact of collaboration between brands like ours and tech-driven platforms like AliExpress.”
The news is the latest bump on the marketing road for Specialized’s Roval range. Last week, we contacted the manufacturer bemused by an image on their website showing their Roval Rapide CLX III with a cassette on the front wheel. Amusingly, the image was accompanied by the tagline “Everything You Thought You Knew About Wheels Was Wrong”.
Amid speculation the bike was either built by an amateur, inexperienced photographer, or that the image was AI-generated, Specialized instead told road.cc the error was caused by a faulty GIF that didn’t load properly on their website. They also attributed their slogan to their front wheel design being deeper than the rear wheel for aerodynamic advantages.
4 thoughts on “Seven people arrested after counterfeit Specialized manufacturers busted in Chinese police raid”
Specialized customers don’t
Specialized customers don’t buy from online Chinese platforms. They go to a Specialized dealership and fork out the 8 to 12 grand to get themselves a top-of-the-range bicycle and a unique cycling experience. People who buy fake bikes aren’t Specialized customers, and very likely, will never be.
Why is the Soudal Quickstep
Why is the Soudal Quickstep team sourcing its equipment on Alibaba anyway?
Soudalibaba
Soudalibaba
The people buying them on the
The people buying them on the web know they’re fake. The problem arises if they then put them up for sale as used genuine items. The used buyer may be surprised that their quality used bike snapped in half and bad mouths specialized to all their buddies.