By Larry Lagarde

Just today, I was notified of yet another fly by night operator attempting to sell fake Strida folding bikes to gullible consumers in the USA. For bait, they're offering the knock off Strida bikes for as little as $299.

While the price may be tempting given the current economy, these knock offs are made in mainland China (not Taiwan) from lower quality materials and components. As a result, the safety and durability of these fake, knock off Strida folding bikes are questionable at best.

For the record, authentic Strida folding bikes are made in Taiwan. The company that manufactures the Strida is Ming Cycle and they are very proud of the brand. As a result, real Strida folding bikes are top quality machines and the Strida logo will be visible in a variety of locations on both the bike and packaging (see photos for knock off warning signs; click to enlarge).

The worst part of a fake Strida is that the real differences are in parts that are mostly unseen - the critical joints and pins that hold the bike together. Exceed he knock off Strida's carry capacity or hit a nasty pothole and the fake bike can literally implode below you.

Can't Afford An $800+ Strida?
If paying $799 for a real Strida is too much, I have good news. You'll soon be able to get a real Strida for $300 LESS!!! More details tomorrow.

Labels: fake-Strida-knock-off-bike

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