I can’t see a previous post on this issue so I just wanted to pass this on. The great people at ISM make a great product - so great, that the Chinese knock-off artists are apparently counterfeiting them. In the past month I have seen two fake ISM Adamo saddles which were purchased on line from two different sources other than legitimate bike dealers. Both were PROLOGUE models but they probably copy other models as well. One was hard to detect but it “just didn’t look right” and didn’t match the weight of a genuine ISM. The other had rails that were so bowed on the bottom that it rocked 1/2" when placed on a flat surface (also wrong weight as well as poor finish). When you see a new saddle that sells from $170 - $180 at known dealers, selling for $75-$90 on eBay (or other source) - it’s time for the old “If it looks too good to be true…” rule. If you want to buy an ISM Adamo saddle, buy from a LBS or a known legitimate source.
This is just an FYI post - I don’t have any answers or comments to make beyond what I’ve said.
I’m one of the unlucky people falling for this. The price seemed ok because I thought it was a used one. Mounted it back in May last year. I noticed that the rails were curved, but thought that was the model. The rails are also slightly thinner so that my Xlab wing at the back hangs a little loose. I never thought it would be fake.
Now during the winter there where cracks in the top of the cover. These where growing bigger and bigger. Look at the picture:
At this point I have been using it for about 4800km (160 hours) both indoors and outdoors. As you see the print is also wearing in a way it shouldn’t.
I can’t see a previous post on this issue so I just wanted to pass this on. The great people at ISM make a great product - so great, that the Chinese knock-off artists are apparently counterfeiting them. In the past month I have seen two fake ISM Adamo saddles which were purchased on line from two different sources other than legitimate bike dealers. Both were PROLOGUE models but they probably copy other models as well. One was hard to detect but it “just didn’t look right” and didn’t match the weight of a genuine ISM. The other had rails that were so bowed on the bottom that it rocked 1/2" when placed on a flat surface (also wrong weight as well as poor finish). When you see a new saddle that sells from $170 - $180 at known dealers, selling for $75-$90 on eBay (or other source) - it’s time for the old “If it looks too good to be true…” rule. If you want to buy an ISM Adamo saddle, buy from a LBS or a known legitimate source.
This is just an FYI post - I don’t have any answers or comments to make beyond what I’ve said.
I bought my 2nd breakaway saddle on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/usr/ismoverstock
The price was ~$156 and made me somewhat skeptical, but when I received it I compared it to my original that I had bought from the LBS. I couldn’t tell the difference and told my self if it was a counterfeit then it was a dang good one. I’m probably close to 6,000 miles on it and I haven’t had any issues so far. I think it might be the real deal but part of me is still skeptic.