i just orderd one of these!

The problem is the
The problem is the enforcement of copyright and intellectual property is woeful in China. The Chinese will only crack down on companies commiting IP theft if they’re not associated with the ruling Communist party otherwise they seem to be able to get away with what they want. Even stuff like iPad’s have been copied and the Chinese government bought some of the copies for their diplomats!

I get the point that quality isn’t guaranteed but neither is it on the real thing, yes you’re less likely to get a dud with a real rather than a copy but if you’re producing Carbon frames then you’ve got the kit. As I’ve said Quality Assurance is where some of these companies cut costs, same with paying their workforce a tuppence, but for all intents and purposes the materials won’t be too far off.

I’m not agreeing with the purchasing of fakes per se but it’s not the end of the world. I think that most cyclists, if they were able to buy the real thing, would do so. It’s not like throwaway electrical gadgets, bikes are not cheap and generally the expensive end of products are used by those with a knowledge and love of their bikes which means that they’re well aware that they’ve got a fake and are not being conned in any way.

Also… just because it comes from China doesn’t mean it’s a piece of crap.

Hmmmmm. I think this is a
Hmmmmm. I think this is a seriously bad idea.

When you’re flying down a hill at 80kmh and the frame splits in two because the manufacturer has taken more care over making it look like a Pinarello Dogma rather than the safety aspect, will you still think it was a good idea to buy one?

Speaking as someone who has had a bad fall from a bike due to equipment failure (I won’t name the make but you will all have heard of it – and supposedly they are known for their toughness), it is simply not worth the risk. When you ride a bike, you are trusting it with your life. Buy quality, not fake brands.

I think the point is that
I think the point is that you’re paying a lot more than ‘a little more’ for the frame in the first place. If you want a cheap-ish Carbon frame what’s the difference between buying one from a cheap brand and buying one from probably the same chinese factory made to look more expensive?

I once bought a cricket bat from my local shop, it had all the shop owners own stickers on but the toe-guard said Kookaburra, he told me that all the bats he sold (whether branded or unbranded) were made in the same factory in India, they just had different stickers on.

Likewise I bought some chinese flash guns for my camera, they’re the spitting image of Canon ones with mostly the same electronics, they’re straight rip offs really, but they work just fine and cost 1/10th of the price.

I see the same thing with bikes made in china, it doesn’t matter what brand you buy, it’s likely to have been made by the same people, the main issue with Chinese made products is quality control, but if you get a good one what harm is there? Anyway, if someone is looking at buying a Pinarello or similar brand they’re going to know what they’re looking at and will pay for the real thing, I think it unlikely that Wheelz’ bike will suddenly mean that everyone with a real Pinarello will not be able to sell theirs on.

Without wishing to sound too
Without wishing to sound too puritanical or a killjoy, but it’s surprising that there’s not one comment above questionning whether it’s actually ethical to buy one of these rip-off frames?

Even if you ignore the fact that the safety of these frames might be unproven or the commercial damage this does to a genuine OEM, there’s also real impact on owners of legitimate high-end frames who struggle to sell their bikes because of the fears of counterfeits.

It’s also worth thinking about the lifetime cost of buying a fake frame – assuming you’re honest when/if you sell it you’ll get very, very little for it secondhand. Paying a little more for a real brand will at least give you some secondhand value.

I think what’s interesting
I think what’s interesting for me is that it underlines just how much discount bike manufacturers can swing from component manufacturers, and how much value you get from a factory-built bike. Whatever the frame, it’s hard to make the case that building your own bike is financially the better option.

You’ve spent £900 on the finishing kit if my maths is right; We’ve got a Carbon Carrera sitting in the office that’s £999 with a 105 groupset…

If you’d gone to planet x with your £1,300 you could get a Pro Carbon with SRAM Red. In terms of actual frame quality, it’s probably comparable to the chinarello. not saying that’s a better option for you, it’s just interesting to compare and contrast.

Wheelz,
I am really glad you
Wheelz,
I am really glad you are happy with your build. I think you have hit it right on the button – enjoyment of the buying, building, riding and reporting, an excellent read whatever it says on the frame. I really wonder what the difference it would make to you if it was an ‘original’,,,,,,? Nowt I bet other than the ‘bar talk’.
You have gone ahead and had a go in public which should be congratulated. I did my ‘few now’ in some sort of secrecy, not because I was ashamed, trying to con anyone or anything other than just private experimenting that I enjoy – I do of course ensure any frame is, as best I can ‘safe’ before build and not had a problem yet.

However, I did have an S-Works Tarmac split a chainstay on a hill a while ago that suprised me, being a top name an’all. I did have a replacement frame though.

Of the three now built (not decalled up, but from the same stable) I and my family members who ride them are over the moon with them…. You certainly have not built your bike to ‘fool’ anyone, you have done it for your riding fun.
Good on you mate – enjoy it.
Regards

Trikeman. 😉

You can get a well developed,
You can get a well developed, world renowned bike brand carbon build for circa £1250. Yes it doesn’t claim to be a pinarello dogma but this build is just claiming to be one.
What am I missing that has made building an untested, unseen chinese frame more appealing than getting a bike you can try, test, fit and has after sales service?