by Larry Lagarde

If you're thinking about buying a fake Strida, think twice. This video is proof that the maker of real Strida folding bikes is fed up with fakes. They're going after importers and distributors, prosecuting them in court and destroying copy cat bikes.


Why Should You Care
1. Fake products are prone to fail.
Strida's are custom made with highly specialized parts. The bike's triangular frame makes a bike that folds quite compactly; however, the frame design reduces redundancies inherent in standard bike frames. To Strida (Ming Bicycles), reputation is everything so they are NOT going to scrimp on quality or components. On the other hand, the fly by night companies producing fake Strida's are only in for the quick buck. By the time someone is hurt on a fake Strida, the fly by night fake Strida maker has changed names and moved on.

2. Warranties On Fakes Are Worthless
Plain and simple, if a fake comes with a warranty, that warranty is not worth the paper that it's printed on. Think about it. If the company is trying to fly under the radar and make a quick buck, do you really think they're going to provide support. If there's a customer service telephone number, chances are that no one will answer or the phones are disconnected within a month or so.

3. Real Strida Parts May Not Work On Fakes
If you buy a fake and a part breaks, good luck finding replacement parts. Don't get me wrong, Strida will be happy to sell you parts but there's no guarantee the part will fit on a fake bike.

Last year, I asked Mark Sanders about this problem with copycat Strida's. He told me that Strida would be clamping down worldwide on this issue. Now we have proof.

Labels: fake-Strida-knock-off-bike