sharkwaffles

I believe the frame is a counterfeit. It was advertised as a canyon aeroad. And thats what is on the frame. I'll post a picture. I would love for canyon to do something about it but what can they really do? Who knows where that guy bought it from.

Eric F 

I missed the other thread. Thanks.

Eric F 

Canyon might not be able to do anything specific for you, but they may be very interested - and concerned - that someone is producing forfeit frames with their brand on them.

sharkwaffles

Well, if anyone from Canyon is on this forum, I bought it from a guy named Alexis Camacho in the Haines City, FL area.

sharkwaffles

Okay, I'll start from the beginning.

So, I've been road cycling for about a year now. Started on a used Allez. Over the last 12 months I had gotten a lot faster and made some good progress with my fitness. I really enjoyed all the group rides and could see myself doing this for a long time. So I decided I wanted to step up to a nicer bike. After much shopping around (new and used) I came across an ad on facebook market place for a 2018 canyon aeroad. The guy was asking $3,000 and claimed to have bought the frame from canyon and put the bike together himself. I really loved the look of the bike and figured that living in Florida with 98% flats, an aero type bike might be a good idea. I also liked that it had ultegra components and zipp wheels. So, not knowing much about canyons (had never even seen an aeroad in real life) I decided to meet up with the guy and see how the bike felt. I test road it and fell in love. It was my size, the bars felt super comfy, the handling was amazing. I sprinted across the parking lot a few times and the response felt amazing. Took it up to about 22mph and was blown away by the minimal effort needed to hold it at that speed. I believe some of this was because riding my old allez for 12 months and also the fact that I was too excited about the bike to really find anything negative. Anyhow, the wheels were true, the frame looked in-tacked, shifts were buttery smooth. I thought to myself, this is it, this is the one. (I didn't even think to check for a serial number, and honestly, being fairly new to cycling, I didn't even know there was such a thing as counterfeit bike frames). The guy claimed that he just didn't have time to ride it anymore and it just sat. We settled on a price of $2500 and I took her home as a proud (at the time) canyon owner. I got fitted on it and rode it about 200 miles. After about a 2 week period I got a slight creak noise from the headset. So I decided to take it apart and service it, maybe replace the bearings... This is when the realization began... The steerer tube diameter was 1.125" and had shims to fit the canyon 1.25" bars. Then I noticed a gap between the frame the the lower spacer. While researching online I noticed this color scheme had never been offered by canyon except for team Katusha's bike back in 2016 when they signed on Rein Taaramäe i guess. This is when I noticed the fake UCI logo and then desperately went searching all over the bike for a serial number. Hopefully anyone that may be new to cycling will read this and learn a few things. I really dont know what to do at this point.. Just keep using it for what it is until I can get a legit bike, shop for a frame set and try to salvage what I can off this bike..Idk.. Anyhow, below are some pics.













No SN...

sdmc530

I am no expert but that looks fake. If you go to the canyon website and check out the available colors you can see red bikes but not quite the same as this one pictured. Also the top tube logo and pattern isn't quite right. I can't find a set up comparable but I didn't search for a long time I guess.

Don't know what year it is to be for certain.

See this article for 2018
https://cyclingtips.com/2018/05/cany...g-term-review/

Here is canyon link for the current model. $2400 alone for frame, you got it complete for that?? Might have been a clue? IDK

https://www.canyon.com/en-th/road-bi...=RD&quantity=1

sharkwaffles

So what now..just use it. Trash it and start over.. I don't want to continue riding it if its unsafe

Tacoenthusiast

That blows, sorry that seller pawned that off on you

ckindt

If it were me in your shoes, I'd strip the parts of value and trash everything else.
Then, I'd go buy the real thing.

Edit: Maybe I'd try to sell it as-is, with full disclosure, to minimize my loss and put it towards the real thing.

justonwo

Canyon is pretty backlogged right now with emails, but I would ask them. It does look fake to me based on an examination of the photos. The wheels as well. The spoke nipples are red, which Zipp doesn’t do. And the 404 logo looks wrong.

sdmc530

Its not trash.

you actually have a couple options. Take it to a good shop and have them check it over. If they deem it safe ride it.

or like mentioned sell it as is and just disclose it. Or buy a new frame put all the parts on that second frame and just get rid of the fake frame and possibly wheels.

I would also contact canyon before i did anything else and talk to them. It may or may not be a real canyon but it may be a perfectly fine bike even if its not the real deal. Guys buy the ebay frames and wheels from china and some guys have really nice bikes.

get it looked at and call canyon.

sorry it happened but it does. If its a really good deal then there is usually a reason.

bahula03

Not to throw salt in the wound because this is a major bummer already, but I'd get in touch with Zipp as well. I'm not an encyclopedia of their stickers designs, but IIRC, the sticker on your wheelset near the valve should be two stickers- one on the left should be the firecrest bird thing, then the "Z" should be imprinted in the carbon, then a second sticker with the model (404). And as someone else mentioned, it's not unheard of for someone to rebuild Zipp rims with different hubs/spokes, but it is somewhat unusual...and your wheels definitely don't have Zipp hubs or nipples.

Seattle Forrest

They look dimpled in the photos above, seems like a long way to go to make a knock off.



That's from a used listing, probably a few years old. So maybe the right vintage.

bahula03

I mean, Zipp literally call out the imprinted/embossed "Z" as a way to spot authentic Firecrest wheels on their website, but who knows https://zipp.com/support/counterfeit

Bah Humbug

There are definitely faked dimples. The pattern has changed at various points, but I think the dimples on these are too regular; the genuine ones have more variation in their patterns. At least, I think the do. Also, the samples I was looking at have better-defined edges to the dimples. Check with Zipp.

Not to mention, a guy whos fine selling a counterfeit frame isn't likely to invest in real Zipps to go on it.

znomit

Things could be much much worse.

The next bike you find on facebook and hand over $2500 cash for in a parking lot without seeing proof of purchase will probably be stolen.

mgopack42 

if you itemize on your income taxes, you may be able to use this as a theft deduction. depending on your tax bracket, you can get a portion of the money back that way. At leas the Ultegra group is probably real!

topflightpro

I agree that the wheels are probably fake too. The strange stickers and Novatec hubs are two give aways.

There is a good chance that the bike will be fine. There is also a chance that it is absolute junk that will suddenly break under you. You really have no idea what quality control was like or how it was put together, and most shops do not have the expertise to tell you.

znomit

What would they charge to tell you "that unknown frame and wheels won't break your teeth one day JRA"?

sharkwaffles

Yeah, I think I'll start with Canyon and then head to a LBS to have it looked over. Weigh out my options and go from there... If i keep it, it could also be a dedicated trainer bike. At least if it suddenly fails me it will be in my living room and not in a group ride at 22 mph.

melikebikey35

Have you tried contacting the seller? I'd reach out and tell him that you know that he sold you a fake and demand a refund. If he refuses, threaten him with legal action. He stated that he bought the frame from Canyon (which he clearly did not), so unless he can provide documentation from Canyon proving that he did, he committed fraud.

Let him know that you filed a police report, and that you are reporting him to Canyon and Zipp (who can sue him for trademark infringement). Hopefully that scares him enough into giving you a refund.

sharkwaffles

So, I filed a police report and did exactly what you stated. He refused to refund and said he didn't care if I reported him to Canyon/Zipp as he is a private individual that big companies wouldn't waste their time/resources on. I was also contacted by the police last night. They basically explained that there wasn't anything they could do as it was a private sale and my only option was to take him to court over a civil dispute... Once the pandemic passes I'll take it to my LBS and hopefully they can help me weigh out my options.

On the bright side, I just got back from a lunch break ride and broke 3 PRs haha. Probably out of anger but none the less, I'm still getting faster.

sharkwaffles

My LBS is a trek distributor. Maybe Ill test ride a new emonda sl5 while I'm there getting my Fanyon(see what i did there) looked over.
I'm digging that new emerald iris color..

mprince

I'd ride it and learn from the experience...you even said you like how it rode. Put the buying experience behind you (since there is little recourse at this point) and enjoy the ride.

kissTheApex

small claims court may not be such a bad idea since he is brazenly refusing to work with you.