HELP! 2007 Bottecchia???

[Popoki_Nui]

I was just browsing through Ebay listings and noticed a "new" brand of bike being sold in mass. The brand is BOTTECCHIA. Sounds exotic doesn't it? Just rolls off your tongue! From the look of the postings, I'm pretty sure it's yet another spinoff brand from the nice folks at BikesDirect/Sprtymama/etc.
Anyway, looks like we're going to have yet another brand of knockoff bikes to contend with.

Actually -FWIW- Bottecchia is a genuine Italian marque going back to at least the 1960's, probably earlier. Definitely not some spinoff/knockoff brand. I have no idea what their modern bikes are like, but they made a full range of very respectable bikes back then. And they are still in business: www.bottecchia.com

[SalsaMTB]

Actually -FWIW- Bottecchia is a genuine Italian marque going back to at least the 1960's, probably earlier. Definitely not some spinoff/knockoff brand. I have no idea what their modern bikes are like, but they made a full range of very respectable bikes back then. And they are still in business: www.bottecchia.com

You are absolutely correct that back in the day, Bottecchia was a genuine Italian company that made a full range of very respectable bikes. Now though, it is very well documented that Bikesdirect.com has licensed their name for the US market and is using it to sell cheap frames from Tiawan. I have provided a link to a post on bikeforums.net. Post #53 is by bikesdirect.com where they explain the bottecchia line they are selling, saying AT MOST, the frame costs $50. This is not the same quality frame from the earlier days. I do not know if it's the same frame sold overseas.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ght=Bottecchia

Motobecane used to be a well respected company also. Now, bikesdirect has licensed the name and is selling bikes made in Tiawan for very inexpensive.

In saying that, I'm not saying that these bikes are crappy. Many people have been satisfied with the bikes, it's just not the same bike behind the brand it used to be. It's definitely a spinoff/knockoff brand in the US now.

[mimitabby]

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=12441

here's a thread that i started "bikes that fit women under 5'4" "

I included inexpensive and expensive bikes, I hope it helps you.

I bought something on ebay, my bianchi veloce. we already knew Bianchi's reputation, so it seemed like a good deal. The seller said it was lightly used.
In fact; The wheels were out of true and the front wheel hub needed to be rebuilt (it had already been rebuilt by someone who mixed campy and shimano parts inside a campy hub!! It was NOT lightly used.
Since it IS a good bike, after all, it was worth putting the work into it.
But with a cheap knockoff, you are probably going to pay more than what it's worth. so what they say is true, buyer beware.