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Oltre XR4 made in taiwan???

by ccasavantes
Sat, Dec 24, 2016 23:08
13

Hi there, I am writing because I recently bought online a new bianchi oltre xr4 frame, and when I got it, I  realized that this was made in Taiwan. My question is basically if you guys know that this is a genuine Bianchi frame, or could be a chance that is a counterfeit piece.

 

Thanks

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13 comments

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7rgv | 7 years ago
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I've spoken to the guys at SlaneCycles before about a Colnago CX bike, they are  legitimate traders.

I've looked at videos, on youtube, of the Bianchi factory in Milan. They were building the frames themselves and putting them through quality tests. Perhaps the frames for lower end Bianchi models are built in Taiwan, but the high-end models are still built by themselves. 

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BeatPoet replied to 7rgv | 7 years ago
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7rgv wrote:

I've spoken to the guys at SlaneCycles before about a Colnago CX bike, they are  legitimate traders.

I've looked at videos, on youtube, of the Bianchi factory in Milan. They were building the frames themselves and putting them through quality tests. Perhaps the frames for lower end Bianchi models are built in Taiwan, but the high-end models are still built by themselves. 

I think you'll find that they design and build the prototypes in Italy. The frames then get built in Taiwan before being sent to Italy where the bikes are assembled.

http://www.cyclist.co.uk/bianchi/493/bianchi-factory-visit

 

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monty dog | 7 years ago
2 likes

You'll be glad it's made in Taiwan - the last frames made by Bianchi in Italy were awful and nearly broke the company because they failed so frequently. A significant amount of the world's aerospace composite manufacturing is now in Taiwan and now transferred to Xiamen in mainland China. 

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kev-s | 7 years ago
2 likes

Just to help put you at ease

On Bianchi's UK website they list Slanecycles as a offical dealer

http://www.bianchi.com/uk/dealers/dealerlocator.aspx

 

So you frame is genuine and is made in Taiwan like all Bianchi's are

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ccasavantes replied to kev-s | 7 years ago
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kev-s wrote:

Just to help put you at ease

On Bianchi's UK website they list Slanecycles as a offical dealer

http://www.bianchi.com/uk/dealers/dealerlocator.aspx

 

So you frame is genuine and is made in Taiwan like all Bianchi's are

 

reat news thanks

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ccasavantes | 7 years ago
1 like

I got it from Slanecycles.com, I already emailed them to have an explanation, but they haven't replied yet. As soon as I get one answer from them , I will post it here. Thanks y'al for all your comments 

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Dropped | 7 years ago
2 likes

I think you should be pleased it is made in Taiwan as it is a far more advanced country in terms of technology, engineering and standard of living than the UK.

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7rgv | 7 years ago
2 likes

I think that if the frame was counterfeit and made in Taiwan, they would not state it. My understanding is that all carbon is manufactured and sourced from either Taiwan or China and that the frame is then built in the bike manufacturers own country. I could be mistaken, but I'm quite sure this is the case, even with Bianchi. If you have bought it from a reputable dealer then there should be no problem. By the way, I think the XR4 is the most beautiful bike out there - hoping for a Specialissima myself. 

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kev-s replied to 7rgv | 7 years ago
1 like

7rgv wrote:

I think that if the frame was counterfeit and made in Taiwan, they would not state it. My understanding is that all carbon is manufactured and sourced from either Taiwan or China and that the frame is then built in the bike manufacturers own country. I could be mistaken, but I'm quite sure this is the case, even with Bianchi. If you have bought it from a reputable dealer then there should be no problem. By the way, I think the XR4 is the most beautiful bike out there - hoping for a Specialissima myself. 

 

Sorry thats wrong

 

Most manufactuers carbon bikes are made in Taiwan, quite a few are made in Giant's or Merida's factory, its much cheaper for them to go to a company who are all geared up to produce high volumes of carbon frames than set up your own in house facitlity in your own country

 

More info here

https://cyclingtips.com/2011/08/are-all-carbon-bikes-created-equal/

 

As far as im aware Colnago still source the carbon for their high end Italian made frames from a Japanese company called Toray

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kev-s | 7 years ago
1 like

All Bianchi frames are made in Taiwan

 

Most well known Italian brands like Pinarello, Wilier and some of the mid to lower end Colnago's are made in Taiwan  (Colnago produce their top end frames the C59, C60, Master, Arabesque etc... in Italy)

 

Do a Google search and there's loads of info on this telling you why they moved to Taiwan and how they control the quality, here is a good starting point

 

https://cyclingtips.com/2016/08/what-does-the-future-hold-for-italian-bi...

 

The only way to tell if its a fake is to compare it to a genuine one or show it to someone who knows Bianchi's very well as they will spot any small differences/mistakes the fakers have made

 

Where online did you buy it from a UK shop, a EU shop, direct from Taiwan or from a normal seller through ebay etc....?

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chief-o | 7 years ago
1 like

Unfortunately it is difficult to know if it is counterfeit or not. You even have counterfeits in reputable bike shops these days.

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StraelGuy | 7 years ago
0 likes

Who or where did you buy it from?

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ccasavantes replied to StraelGuy | 7 years ago
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guyrwood wrote:

Who or where did you buy it from?

slanecycles.com

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