Airwolf: What is this model inspired from? [Trek Madone]

[neobiker]

What do you guys think of this?

Did they get the mold? Or is it not the real website?

https://airwolfcarbonbike.com/product/2023-new-arrival-slr-gen7-carbon-disc-bike-frame-50-52-54-56-58cm-t47-carbon-road-bike-frame-road-carbon-bike-frame-with-handlebar/

I just bought the TT-x38, but if this is an official product from Airwolf, I am tempted haha.

[BalticSea]

I did see it on their website. Considering that there have been replica frames on Aliexpress for a while now, it's entirely possible that they either bought the mold or are just reselling the same frameset

[kbernstein]

I would say that's a little more than just "inspired" and there is no way they will be allowed to sell this... It's more than a blatant copy that definitely violates IP laws of a brand I wouldn't want to legally fight

[diP]

Well, they even copy/pasted the complete geometry section from the Trek website 1:1

[neobiker]

I would say that's a little more than just "inspired" and there is no way they will be allowed to sell this... It's more than a blatant copy that definitely violates IP laws of a brand I wouldn't want to legally fight

My issue is the following: I usually thought official website from OEM would not sell counterfeit [at least there is no brand on the pictures].

This is why I am thinking it might not be the official website?

[BalticSea]

They don't advertise the frame with Trek logo, so it is no different from Velobuild/TanTan, etc.

[kbernstein]

But this is still blatantly the same bike with all the IP violations. Pretending to not be affiliated with Trek is not enough

[tgarne]

I wrote with the company regarding this frame. He claims it is the Trek Madone:


Me: "Hello.
The 2023 New Arrival SLR Gen7 Carbon Disc Bike Frame looks like the Trek Madone - Does it perfom and wheigh the same?"

Airwolf: "It is the Trek Madone,if perform the same, and the weight is a little heavy"

Me: "What do you mean “it is the Trek Madone?”

Is it made from the same carbon etc?

Airwolf: "Hello Dear,yes,it is made from the same carbon and same factory.Just that we can't put the logo"

[jonathanf2]

This podcast with Joe from China Cycling pretty much details what goes on at the carbon factories in China. It could very well be the same official mold they used to build the Madone.

[patliean1]

As a buddy told me:

"Why would they risk a huge contract (from Trek) for knocking out a few frames with $200 profit per frame?"

[raisinberry777]

As a buddy told me:

"Why would they risk a huge contract (from Trek) for knocking out a few frames with $200 profit per frame?"

Fully agree - there's a pretty simple commercial incentive here for legitimate factories to avoid there being additional frames coming out of genuine moulds. If you were the big bike brand on the other end (like a Trek) you would expect that any contract is very strict about termination/penalties for IP infringement, and if you're the factory, you sure as hell won't want to lose a massive contract to sell a few frames for (relatively) tiny profit.

[Sergey Fly]

Hi all.
I have heard many times from people in the know that Chinese communication is not about saying NO. They avoid the word NO in every possible way! It is easier for them to say YES or evasively go into uncertainty.
On the other side. I do not understand obstinacy in everything in a kind of intellectual property. Sometimes it comes to the point of absurdity. I am not against intellectual property, but there is a limit to everything. After all, you can shift a millimeter or half a millimeter in size, you can lay the fabric a little differently by a fraction of a millimeter or a degree.
Personally, I am not a supporter of total patents or intellectual property!

Best regards

[jonathanf2]

The more hate this bike receives, the more I seem to like it! It's kind of ugly and the seat post tube is just down right controversial. Maybe when the sales of this frame are non-existent and they sell it on clearance, I'll pick one up!

[OralMaster]

Factor and Trek are the only 2 bikes you can order the higher end version which even ships in the same boxes as the original.

[Sergey Fly]

I am currently considering buying one of these bikes. So far I'm more inclined towards Trek Madone. I'm not a super cyclist and I want a bit of charisma on the bike.
Service with a box from Airwolf?