There is a Seka Spear for sale locally at a nice price…almost too nice. I went and looked at it today and did not buy because the seller divulged that he bought the frameset from Ali Express. I did get this photo of the serial number, so I am hoping that someone on here who bought one direct from Seka can confirm if this photo is similar to the serial format and presentation on their frame.
A broader question: is everything on AliExpress fake? Nothing about this frame screamed FAKE, but I do associate AliExpress with counterfeit, hence the wild prices.
Thanks!
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I would e-mail Seka directly and ask them to confirm the serial #.
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Serial numbers can be faked too. I’ve seen it on 1st gen Venge frames many years ago, and I’m sure they haven’t forgotten how to do it. It’s often the smaller details that give it away, such as the font used, or the dimensions of the white strip they’re printed on. Does it use the identical derailleur hanger of the proper frame? What does the frame look like inside?
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I can’t see any good reason for Seka to sell on AliExpress, given the platform’s reputation. Given they’re not exactly a well-known brand, I would be surprised if anyone was making fake Sekas… Not to rule it out entirely.
One thing that springs to mind is potentially someone has got hold of some Seka frames which did not pass QC, and were not properly disposed of. I know there have been instances in the past where a frame didn’t pass the standards check for the brand it was manufactured for, but was still safe to ride, so got flogged as a different product (early Ribble carbon frames were just De Rosa rejects IIRC). Perhaps the person who was supposed to take Seka’s reject frames for disposal decided to be a little more enterprising.
As said above, check the small details such as derailleur hanger and seat clamp design, and also things like the BB standard - knock-off Pinarellos often had BSA rather than ITA BB threads. I would stick to the golden rule of “if in doubt, don’t”.
Just did a quick check, and yes there are Seka Spear frames on Ali Express. Given the price difference compared to Seka website, and the unofficial looking store name, I would be very suspicious.
It’s not a given that a recognised brand being sold on Ali Express is counterfeit - e.g Elite Wheels sell their lower end product on Ali Express, and keep their higher end product for their own online store.
Go direct to Seka and ask some questions.
Thanks for all the replies folks.
Through some sleuthing, I gained confidence that the frame was legit, but lost confidence in the product, so I still didn’t buy it.
Through my research, I learned that Seka seems to lack two things that, while not relevant to ride experience, are kinda important: prompt support from the mfg, and resale value.
Seka never confirmed the serial number despite several contacts through multiple online channels.
As a hedge, I submitted the bike to several online resellers including TPC and they all outright passed or offered so little that it was effectively a pass.
