The counterfeiters didn't do things by halves, but instead went for premium products: Tarmac SL8 racing bike frames, Roval handlebars and wheels, Specialized seat posts, forks and the sticker sets required for the branding. There were also knock-offs from Trek, Cannondale, Pinarello and Cérvelo. The Specialized parts had a retail value of 1.1 million US dollars, while the remaining fake branded goods would have earned the counterfeiters another half a million US dollars.

However, this time things went wrong. The raids in China took place in March 2025. To avoid jeopardizing the investigation, Aliexpress only reported on the operation in a media release in December. Seven people have been arrested.

Aliexpress is better known in our part of the world for its prices below any threshold of shame. However, despite its name, the Alibaba Group apparently does not want to be perceived as a den of thieves for counterfeiters. The company's Vice President, Matthew Bassiur, explains: "Consumer protection and brand trust are central to the integrity of our platform. We remove illegal offers quickly - but we only achieve a lasting effect when the physical production facilities are also dismantled together with brands and authorities."

Counterfeits fail safety tests "catastrophically"

While Aliexpress's reputation is at stake, buyers of counterfeit bikes risk their health, not to mention their lives. The product pirates apparently don't bother with safety tests. Specialized has subjected some of the confiscated parts to their test procedures. They failed them, "in some cases catastrophically", writes Aliexpress in its media release. Anyone considering buying a brand new branded bike at a price that is simply not possible should bear this in mind. You don't want to ride down a mountain pass on it.

For Specialized, this in turn calls into question the trust in their brand. Andrew Lowe, Global Brand Protection Manager, explains: "Specialized has a zero-tolerance policy towards dangerous counterfeit products. These illegal structures not only harm consumers, but also undermine trust in genuine products. We do everything we can to protect our customers and fight organized crime worldwide."According to Love, the current success shows "the impact that close collaboration between brands like Specialized and technology-driven platforms like Aliexpress can have". He also thanked the Chinese authorities and Alibaba for their central role in the investigation.

According to Alibaba, the cooperation is not new. The e-commerce giant has been working with Specialized for years on investigations into the protection of intellectual property. Back in 2017, a two-year joint investigation led to the dismantling of a counterfeiting network, while further actions were directed against the online sale of counterfeit Specialized helmets, among other things. According to Aliexpress, it worked with over 20 international brands and law enforcement agencies worldwide to confiscate counterfeits worth more than 30 million US dollars last year alone.

The only disturbing thing is that Aliexpress continues to offer "2025 SL8 carbon road frames" for 661.89 (as of 16 December). The Specialized brand name is missing, but the frame looks extremely similar to the original. The Specialized and S-Works stickers are available for a good 5 francs.