Difference Between A Chinarello and a Pinarello

[southparkcycles]

For those that have wondered about the frames on Ebay, here is the difference:

We have become aware of several counterfeit Pinarello frames making their way into the United States. Some of these frames are branded and painted to look like a Pinarello, but have obviously not been subject to the strict quality control and testing that genuine Pinarello frames must go through. Examples we have uncovered are easily recognized as they do not have Italian threaded bottom brackets, do not use proprietary Pinarello headsets and with imitation Dogma frames, accept a traditional round seat post.

Typically these frames are being supplied without the small parts, such as the bb cable guides, the seat post clamps and, in some cases the rear derailleur hangers. Genuine Pinarello parts typically do not fit on these frames.

It is important to realize these are not Pinarello frames, are not made in the Pinarello factory, are not made from the proprietary materials that are only available to Pinarello and are not subject to Pinarello's stringent quality controls. Therefore, they will in no way perform like a Pinarello bike nor can their safety or suitability for use be determined.

Since the origin of these frames cannot be determined there is almost certainly no manufacturer's warranty or liability insurance in place to protect buyers in cases of catastrophic failure. There are several instances on the internet of failures of counterfeit frames. As always, to be certain that you have a genuine Pinarello, be sure to deal with an authorized Pinarello dealer.

[vontress]

Nice to have one place for all this info. I was 99% sure that they were quite different.

[foofighter]

that should be good for the would-be shopper looking to buy a "great deal"

you should post this up on your site with pictures side-by-side to show people what to look out for.

[rhauft]

Mods should sticky this.

[SteelSix]

i have seen a chinarello and real one in the 2011 CDE colours (I own a 537) - the chinarello is easily spotted. it was without the shiny stick on pinarello decal on the head tube - the red was not the "diamond finish" glitter paint - wrong BB - wrong headtube - the naked carbon fibre bits were not the pinarello weave - the seatpost was round and did not have the proprietry DOGMA post clamp nor did it have the other branded accessories. Frankly you can tell the real ones were painted by italians and the fake ones were painted by well...

[foofighter]

you have to think though, unless you're stopped and examining the bike up close you wouldnt know if you were just riding past

[spas]

Actually you would - when you ride past the Chinarello broken on the side of the road, you would easily be able to tell it is a fake

you have to think though, unless you're stopped and examining the bike up close you wouldnt know if you were just riding past

[foofighter]

lol ^^^

[PlatyPius]

Sticky this, I say. It's nice to have the actual differences listed for future reference.

So much for the "extra production going out the door" theory...

[robdamanii]

For those that have wondered about the frames on Ebay, here is the difference:

We have become aware of several counterfeit Pinarello frames making their way into the United States. Some of these frames are branded and painted to look like a Pinarello, but have obviously not been subject to the strict quality control and testing that genuine Pinarello frames must go through. Examples we have uncovered are easily recognized as they do not have Italian threaded bottom brackets, do not use proprietary Pinarello headsets and with imitation Dogma frames, accept a traditional round seat post.

Typically these frames are being supplied without the small parts, such as the bb cable guides, the seat post clamps and, in some cases the rear derailleur hangers. Genuine Pinarello parts typically do not fit on these frames.

It is important to realize these are not Pinarello frames, are not made in the Pinarello factory, are not made from the proprietary materials that are only available to Pinarello and are not subject to Pinarello's stringent quality controls. Therefore, they will in no way perform like a Pinarello bike nor can their safety or suitability for use be determined.

Since the origin of these frames cannot be determined there is almost certainly no manufacturer's warranty or liability insurance in place to protect buyers in cases of catastrophic failure. There are several instances on the internet of failures of counterfeit frames. As always, to be certain that you have a genuine Pinarello, be sure to deal with an authorized Pinarello dealer.

Christ, I've been trying to point this out to the "it's all the same frame" fools for months.

Glad to see an actual dealer who's seen and handled these things weigh in. Thank you sir, for proving the point that you get what you pay for.

[robdamanii]

Sticky this, I say. It's nice to have the actual differences listed for future reference.

So much for the "extra production going out the door" theory...

C'mon Platy. Don't you know that the chinarello people are just "fighting the man, who's artificially inflating the price of everything??" Remember, we're just the idiots who actually buy legitimate, quality products. They're the forward thinking global economic forces that will shape the future.

[SteelSix]

Actually you would - when you ride past the Chinarello broken on the side of the road, you would easily be able to tell it is a fake

apart from the above - the diamond finish is not present on chinarello's - and it is quite visible when out on the road - that is the eaiest way to tell

[vladvm]

For those that have wondered about the frames on Ebay, here is the difference:

Examples we have uncovered are easily recognized as they do not have Italian threaded bottom brackets,

Look! An ebay frame with italian threaded bottom bracket

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Full-Carbon-3K-We...d=244349023657

[PlatyPius]

Look! An ebay frame with italian threaded bottom bracket

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Full-Carbon-3K-We...d=244349023657

Look! A frame that STILL isn't a real Pinarello, no matter how much you want it to be!

Just be happy with your fake and stop trying to make it more than it is....

[robdamanii]

Look! An ebay frame with italian threaded bottom bracket

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Full-Carbon-3K-We...d=244349023657

Look! Another Chinese piece of sh*t!

Enjoy your junk, but leave the rest of us honest folks to our dealer purchased, warranty laden frames of glory.

[SteelSix]

Look! An ebay frame with italian threaded bottom bracket

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Full-Carbon-3K-We...d=244349023657

if you cant tell the difference between that frame and a real Pinarello you don't deserve the latter!

It doesnt have the most labelled bb, seat clamp, headset etc. The rear chain stays arent shaped correctly, the top tube is way off, the BoB Dogma has the labels done in carbon weave on the frame etc etc etc.

If anyone thinks that its a good idea to ride that frame i'm sorry but you deserve the catastrophic frame failure that comes your way. Also it wont ride the same as the carbon a) isnt the same proprietary Torayaca carbon b) isnt laid up the same way or in the same shape 3) isnt supported by a 3 year frame warranty.

Chinarello's are for the cycling equivalent of people who think its the same to drive a corolla with a 911 body kit as the real thing...

[Argentius]

Next you will tell me that the free Rolex I got from that e-mail that I was sent isn't real, I won that thing fair and square, just had to pay a $29.99 processing and shipping fee!

[vladvm]

if you cant tell the difference between that frame and a real Pinarello you don't deserve the latter!

I did not say it's pinarello. It's a chinarello princess

[vladvm]

Chinarello's are for the cycling equivalent of people who think its the same to drive a corolla with a 911 body kit as the real thing...

More like driving a porche with corolla engine

[RC28]

Actually you would - when you ride past the Chinarello broken on the side of the road, you would easily be able to tell it is a fake

Hmmm...interesting. Considering that I've seen at least 3 broken real Princes and Dogmas in my neck of the woods (from minor crashes where other, ahem, less expensive bikes survived intact).I've seen Cannondale SuperSixes and others too. Stories of broken Chinarellos , considering how many people appear to be purchasing them, seem to be consistent with stories of brand name frames . Broken Treks are not that rare (remember their issue with broken steerers several months ago on the 6 series Madone?). And don't get me started on broken Cervelos...

Even in the threads in this forum, most issues seem to center on QC issues such as misaligned cable guides, cable adjuster bosses and threads that weren't properly masked prior to paint.

There's one additional feature that the OP missed: the Chinarellos use a clamp on FD as opposed to a braze on. Some earlier examples had external rear brake cable routing too. Looking closely, the frames are more similar to the FP than the Dogma as FP frames do have a round seat tube just like the Chinarellos. Frame weight , from references in this and other forums, seems to be about equal to the Dogma.

Granted, some of the painted examples of these frames are not the greatest, but the most recent efforts have greatly improved. Several guys around here have bought a few and they look quite good. Not original issue good but very , very close.

SteelSix mentioned that you can tell that the real ones were painted by Italians...glad he didn't make that statement in the 80s or 90s , when Italian frame finishes were not that great. Colnagos particularly...sometimes you could get examples that looked like they were painted by a 12 year old.

Mind you, I do not have one of these frames but I have been following the threads here and in other forums and felt the need to bring some additional info to this thread.

BTW, when did a frame having an Italian BB become synonymous with a frame having a good BB???

[DiegoMontoya]

I'm not sure why the "extra inventory going out the back door" theory persists, other than helping Chinarello owners feel better about their purchase. Pinarellos are made by Carbotec in Taiwan. Chinarellos are made by Flybike (former Carbotec and Martec employees) in China. People buying these things from Hong Fu, Deng Fu, Kung Fu or whatever are just getting them from middlemen. The fake frames are made by Flybike.

Buying a Chinarello painted like a Dogma or a Prince is exceedingly lame. At some point, people have to think "how would I feel if my employees stole my intellectual property and set up a competing shop selling products with my brand on them"?

[DiegoMontoya]

More like driving a porche with corolla engine

That's exactly what you're driving. A "porche".

[RC28]

Buying a Chinarello painted like a Dogma or a Prince is exceedingly lame. At some point, people have to think "how would I feel if my employees stole my intellectual property and set up a competing shop selling products with my brand on them"?

Kind of like how Reynolds is upset at Edge/Enve???

[rhauft]

Kind of like how Reynolds is upset at Edge/Enve???

No, bad analogy. ENVE's have their own logos and are manufactured in Utah, not cheap knock-off Reynolds logos on cheap Chinese knock-off rims.
Which I'm sure if you look hard enough, are available on the Bay of Flea.

[rhauft]

Next you will tell me that the free Rolex I got from that e-mail that I was sent isn't real, I won that thing fair and square, just had to pay a $29.99 processing and shipping fee!

"Some say" Your $29.99 Folex is made in the same factory as the real Rolex.