Could you guys tell if this bike is a counterfeit?

sungminyoo

Looks like a specialized Venge, but has no decals whatsoever.

Most parts seem like specialized oem as well

navrig

Got to ask why would anyone produce a Spesh with no decals?

Looks dodgey. If you are thinking of buying, don't. IMHO of course.

diy

Looks like a copy of the McLaren Version. Also available on Alibaba

declan1

It's not a Dengfu FM-098 and it looks remarkably like a Venge - perhaps it's a genuine Venge but the owner has had the paint/decals professionally removed?

diy

Top tube is a litter thicker at the head, but it might be the contrast of the white on the black paint. Apart from that its pretty close to the FM-98.

rolf_f

Yikes - looks fugly! Love the 1970s cage pedals though

mallorcajeff

Driveway looks very much like the way them make em in america? Looks well iffy to me

nicklouse

i would go further and say there is no bike for sale.

sungminyoo

I'm going to go check it out today. What can I look for to check if it is fake?

russyh

Are those wheels the cheap deep section wheels for sale on eBay? Usually come with a fixie hub? Looks like a load of cheapest parts to me matey.

declan1

diy wrote:

Top tube is a litter thicker at the head, but it might be the contrast of the white on the black paint. Apart from that its pretty close to the FM-98.

You can tell from the top of the headtube. The FM98 extends beyond the top tube where the Venge has the plastic cover thing that integrates with the top tube.

Strith

sungminyoo wrote:

I'm going to go check it out today. What can I look for to check if it is fake?

Fake what? Is it actually advertised as a Venge?

sungminyoo

Strith wrote:

sungminyoo wrote:

I'm going to go check it out today. What can I look for to check if it is fake?

Fake what? Is it actually advertised as a Venge?

Yep.

declan1

That is almost definitely a Venge. I cannot see a single difference, going down to the exact cable holes and bottle cage boss locations.

Strith

Well the fact it has no stickers is a bit worrying straight away, but that's not that unusual.

It looks very close to me, down tube and the top of the fork look a bit off, but its almost impossible to tell in that photo. Got any close ups? Cable guides/routing and things like that are often the biggest giveaway.

sungminyoo

All the photos he has.

Strith

I'll be honest, from those pics I still can't be sure. The lack of stickers, finish and the mix and match of kit are putting me right off.

That would be enough to stop me buying it, but if you go look at it ask for some proof of purchase from the seller, and a good reason as to why there are no decals.

If you can, try and check out a new one in a store before you go.

And if it's really cheap, then it's either fake or stolen.

rickeverett

It could be a perfectly reasonable, working roller.

I would stay away.

Looks Fugly for a kick off. I don't like specialized designs anyway, have always thought they look like mutants or too sloping like kids geometry bike looks.

Could be re-painted? - if so, why?

The wheels look strange too. the Chinese Carbons look more genuine than this !

dwanes

Not sure why you are asking? Genuine or not, I would pass on it and move on to the next one. It looks awful, and those wheels suck big time.

Terrible glossy paint finish, Fugly.

carrock

I bet it is made in the venge mould on the twilight shift in the same factory using leftover resin and bits of scrap carbon, then smuggled out the back gate

BillyMansell

It's a small thing I know but I would expect someone owning a genuine high-end bike to have such interest in their bike and fundamental knowledge about bikes to know which way round the front wheel should go.

cougie

Bound to be a fake. Why would someone take a premium bike and make it look like a Chinese copy ?

And he's not even cleaned it properly.

OTRveloClub

LOOKS NICE
As long as it rides well .... well that's all that counts.

dwanes

IT LOOKS AWFUL.

marcusjb

What the feck are those rims? They belong on some Shoreditch hipster's single speed.

Just not a good looking bike at all.

jordan_217

I blame Wiggle

Jehannum

Ask to see the original receipt? someone paying that much for a bike would surely have kept it, in case anything went wrong and he had a warranty claim. No original proof of purchase is dodgy for something this pricey, I reckon.

Can you ask for a pic of the frame number and check to see if it's registered as stolen?

dwanes

Jehannum wrote:

Ask to see the original receipt? someone paying that much for a bike would surely have kept it, in case anything went wrong and he had a warranty claim. No original proof of purchase is dodgy for something this pricey, I reckon.

Can you ask for a pic of the frame number and check to see if it's registered as stolen?

Why not just move on to the next bike for sale? Dont waste your time, there are plenty others around, new or used.

IrishMac

Easily copied, but check for a frame number and try and cross reference it with Specialized?

ddraver

Did Spesh do a Venge with SRAM RIval/Force?

In fairness the seller could have just put any old wheels on as he wanted to keep the ones he took off...

goonz

Surely there would be a serial number you could check on it?

Either way that monstrosity looks horrid.