armstrong101

Hi folks

I've had the thought of putting together a counterfeit Bianchi. The reason is - I like the late 1980s mint celeste paint scheme and decals (the one with the line going through "Bianchi"). But I also want it to have a chrome fork and chrome rear triangle. Late 80s Bianchis weren't made this way (one chromed stay on the Mondiale, two chromed stays on the X4, neither came stock with a chromed fork).

So the thought has occurred for me to procure another bike (preferably from a lesser-known manufacturer, as I wouldn't want to do this with a De Rosa, Cinelli, Pinarello etc.) with chromed fork/triangle, repaint the middle, and apply the appropriate decals. And then make it my badazz rider.

Has anyone done anything like this?

rickrob 

I don't know if this would count as a counterfeit, but I intentionally put decals for a later model on a 1972 Supercourse. It was green over the original coffee color and needed a repaint. I repainted the bike and put the white panels and decals from the 1974 -75 SuperCourse MkII on it because I liked the way those bikes looked.

Technically I guess it is...

squirtdad

Huffy on a De Rosa is ok. DeRosa on a Huffy is not.

Really if it is your bike do what you want as long as you don't sell it as what the decal says if it isn't.

but why bother with the decal? just do the paint job an no decal

.... or be creative and get a fake decal..... like "strongone" in the Bianchi style you get the look and insider joke.

Bikerider007

Odd but I tend to see Pinarello knock offs and they are for sale as so. Three in the last couple months, one was a 2000 Univega. I think there is a replica model of Pin, maybe that's it?

Not sure what this one is.

https://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/bik/5747120953.html

D1andonlyDman

I was thinking about putting Huffy decals on my Tommasini as a theft deterrent, but I decided not to.

KonAaron Snake 

I have this one:



As to your idea, it's not appealing to me; it's not a bianchi if it isn't a bianchi. I don't get it and I can't imagine ruining a nice bike for this "project". I like squirt's ideas far more than yours.

I will, eventually, put Windsor stickers on my rattle can Cinelli SC.

bulldog1935

I never liked the decals on my '77 Raleigh GP (even Grant Petersen in a blog post dissed them)



so at one point along the way, decided to strip the old decals, rub the paint, tip the lugs, and order different decals that I liked from Cyclomondo

rickrob 

^^^ Kind of the opposite of what I did. I think the older script Raleigh looks better on your bike. I went with the newer style instead of script.

Velognome 

Either way is funny, if you can't tell the difference you wouldn't appreciate the humor anyway.

bulldog1935

yep, I believe yours was originally this script - it would have disappeared on my bike
the cream panels look great on your bike.

I also had added the SBDU Union Jack on the seat tube, which looks kind of funny next to the original TI-20-30 tubing decal

ThermionicScott 

You could get a chromed fork and use it with one of those Bianchis with chromed socks. I don't like the idea of trying to pass off one brand as another, unless it's an obvious joke.

Vintage_Cyclist

You could always have some 'Bianchy' decals made up.

Rollfast

Your guess is as good as mine, what I perceived as a Ross ladies cruiser once could have been a Columbia ar others based on the chain guard alone and I settled on Ross because it was close enough and made a headbadge decal and Deluxe logo for the chainguard based on that.


And I gave it to a friend to finish and give to his girlfriend.

Fivethumbs

I seem to remember that someone on this forum repainted a Centurion Ironman as a 7-11 Huffy/Serotta.

Fahrenheit531 

I've put incorrect decals on an 84 Schwinn Tempo, but that was because the originals were just horrible to look at. Applied some late 70s block-letter instead. So I guess not "counterfeit" style... just an aesthetic improvement that's not true to the year.

Personally I think it's tacky slapping a false brand on a bike. But whatever floats your boat, so long as it isn't used to misrepresent the bike during a sale. Then it moves from tacky to full-on scumbag.

Lascauxcaveman 

I confess: My prestigious 2015 Velo Cheapo is actually just a cheap 1980 Apollo Prestige.

KonAaron Snake 

Presented without comment:

An Apollo with decals that spell de rosa.

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...a-replica.html

Mobile 155

Does Aero-wheels on a 71-74 Peugeot count?

Pawlus

Every time you'll take this bike out on a ride you'll feel like lying in peoples faces.

randyjawa 

Have I done it - no.

Would I do it..? Not a chance!

Consider a buyer's position regarding the question. I almost got caught and a friend did get caught by a clever fake Cyclops! The seller had no idea that the bicycle was a fake and I can vouch for that, as I know the seller. Anyway, isn't it bad enough to not know, for sure, what a bike is, thanks to its repaint? Let alone have to deal with an on purpose fake? That said...

The Apollo Prestige in post #16 (a pretty nice bicycle, in its own right), fooled me when I first saw it. However, once the facts were pointed out and clearly documented with the one-off decal set, I did like the clever presentation and overall appearance of the bicycle. I ramble - the point is think about how many other, less informed buyers, will be easily fooled into buying, then possibly selling, something that is not?

My opinion does not focus on the person who builds the fake. Providing, of course, that he or she fully discloses the information associated with the bicycle in question(decal the bike accordingly). However, can her or she vouch for the integrity of the person who bought the fake? Or the buyer/seller after that?

Probably should not have posted this:-(

No offense intended in my comments, in case I came across too strongly. But I do feel strongly about this. Long have I argued against repainting and long have I known that this sort of thing has been looming on the horizon.

bulldog1935

I've never owned enough bikes that I could spare one, couldn't sell any for what I have into them, nor could I replace one for what I have into it. So selling has never entered the picture.
I've thought many times about upgrading the frame around these components, but every time I ride the bike (1500 mi/yr and 32 mi yesterday), it makes me grin, and everyone who sees it, it makes them grin.

mstateglfr 

I bought a frameset here that was advertised as a Fuji, but was really a private use bike made by Fuji.
Since decals arent available for the private company, I slapped a Fuji headbadge on it. Its identical to a bike Fuji made for the market, save downtube cable stops vs bosses.


I cant imagine taking one brand bike and trying to turn it into a totally different brand. As suggested, I would rather just leave it brandless. repaint it celeste, get a chrome fork, and ride.

jefnvk

I'd just paint it how I wanted it and be done with it. I still haven't replaced the headbadge on one of my bikes after rattle canning it, and all I have to do that is glue it back on. Seems like a lot of effort to have a fake, I think I'd just find a chromed fork it that is your only holdup on the actual Bianchis.

Then again, there are enough fake Ferrari Ferraros running around for me to understand the process is desirable to many.

bulldog1935

Rivendell sells a cool decal for custom rebuilds on vintage frames

CosmicF

I hate nomenclature on anything, Polo to Porsche. If I were to rebuild, from paint to tires, I would just get decals that had nothing to do with bikes at all. Maybe my own name, or something quirky. Nomenclature, whether it is for a fun counterfeit or even the real thing is still just ego juice. You might as well focus the ego on yourself or something else, like a favorite band or football team.
My $0.02