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.




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