How to tell if an A-Bike is real or fake
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 2:07 pm
[ GARRY SAYS: Please read through this thread for advice on how to ensure you are buying a genuine A-Bike.
Also visit the WHERE TO BUY A-BIKE page at http://www.abikecentral.com/wheretobuy.html for the official guide and helpline on how to choose a real A-Bike. ]
Hi,
I bought a fake A-bike from ebay a couple of weeks ago.
It was clear that 85 Euros were only going to buy me a low quality chinese product, but, alas, the A-bike gets NO press here in Italy and I hadn't seen anything about it online. So I didn't know that a GOOD product in this category existed :)
I found this forum because my bike has some SERIOUS problems which I was looking to fix. (I think I am sending it back if the seller honours the ebay terms). Still I thought I might share the experience.
The bike looked good. It's called Mini-bike and it seems a perfect replica. Even the manual is the same except for the logo and name. The bag has even the original a-bike logo. This is the original ebay ad:
http://cgi.ebay.it/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... 0148419019
Unfortunately assembly was terrible. It is missing a metal part in the left handle so it has problems to close correctly.
Worse, the left and right chain regulators are on different settings and the chain "jumps" when I try to pedal (fixing this doesn't seem trivial, I want to experiment but have NO experience with bikes. Any clear instructions here would be appreaciated).
The back wheel is not completely free (maybe for the same reason).
I "enjoyed" for no more tha 10m ...
If I manage to fix the rear wheel I would like to drive this 'til it dies and then decide to buy the original one. Any idea or previous experience ?
I have found no professional willing to work on this bike. This is making me wary of buying the original one. If I have a problem I won't be able to solve it on my own ...
Alberto
Also visit the WHERE TO BUY A-BIKE page at http://www.abikecentral.com/wheretobuy.html for the official guide and helpline on how to choose a real A-Bike. ]
Hi,
I bought a fake A-bike from ebay a couple of weeks ago.
It was clear that 85 Euros were only going to buy me a low quality chinese product, but, alas, the A-bike gets NO press here in Italy and I hadn't seen anything about it online. So I didn't know that a GOOD product in this category existed :)
I found this forum because my bike has some SERIOUS problems which I was looking to fix. (I think I am sending it back if the seller honours the ebay terms). Still I thought I might share the experience.
The bike looked good. It's called Mini-bike and it seems a perfect replica. Even the manual is the same except for the logo and name. The bag has even the original a-bike logo. This is the original ebay ad:
http://cgi.ebay.it/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... 0148419019
Unfortunately assembly was terrible. It is missing a metal part in the left handle so it has problems to close correctly.
Worse, the left and right chain regulators are on different settings and the chain "jumps" when I try to pedal (fixing this doesn't seem trivial, I want to experiment but have NO experience with bikes. Any clear instructions here would be appreaciated).
The back wheel is not completely free (maybe for the same reason).
I "enjoyed" for no more tha 10m ...
If I manage to fix the rear wheel I would like to drive this 'til it dies and then decide to buy the original one. Any idea or previous experience ?
I have found no professional willing to work on this bike. This is making me wary of buying the original one. If I have a problem I won't be able to solve it on my own ...
Alberto