PSA Moots "Rigormootis" on EBAY Warning

[Matthew]

There is an 18in. titanium frame someone is trying to sell on EBAY, claiming it is a Moots Rigormootis. No way it's an authentic Moots. Maybe they bought it thinking it was the real deal but I doubt it. And they claimed Moots refurbished it back in 2010. I don't buy it. Dropouts, seatstays, chainstays, headtube, nothing about that frame is a Moots. Headtube badge welded on? Really? Maybe I should just mind my own business but I would hate to see someone buy this thinking they are getting a Moots. I sent the seller a few questions about it, see if he responds. Check it out and let me know what you think. It was the first listing when I typed in Moots in the search box. Maybe I am just being a dick, but this really bothers me. Matthew

[Hepmike]

This one right here:

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=321600797729

[Matthew]

That is the one. If I am out of line, Mods feel free to lock or delete this thread. But as someone who is looking for just this frame I would hate to get this when I am thinking I am getting the real deal. And again, maybe the seller truly believes thay are selling an actual Moots. But I have a hard time believing Moots would refurbish that thing as one of their own.

[Peter B]

Run from this one.:no:

[brownhound]

I think the ebay frame is this one: https://littlerock.craigslist.org/bik/4722005956.html

I wouldn't know if valid, but was also be offered here: http://stlbiking.com/forum/index.php/topic/39872-moots-rigormootis-size-medium/

[mktng]

Rigormootis Concept. :p

[happycampyer]

The only things authentic about that bike are the decals and the headbadge.

[oldpotatoe]

There is an 18in. titanium frame someone is trying to sell on EBAY, claiming it is a Moots Rigormootis. No way it's an authentic Moots. Maybe they bought it thinking it was the real deal but I doubt it. And they claimed Moots refurbished it back in 2010. I don't buy it. Dropouts, seatstays, chainstays, headtube, nothing about that frame is a Moots. Headtube badge welded on? Really? Maybe I should just mind my own business but I would hate to see someone buy this thinking they are getting a Moots. I sent the seller a few questions about it, see if he responds. Check it out and let me know what you think. It was the first listing when I typed in Moots in the search box. Maybe I am just being a dick, but this really bothers me. Matthew

Forwarded this to Moots...hope the owner wasn't scammed, but that's no Moots.

[ericssonboi]

Shouldn't this be flagged on ebay then?
How does the process usually work if something is mis-represented?

[bewheels]

Forwarded this to Moots...hope the owner wasn't scammed, but that's no Moots.

Part of the weird-ness is if they did in fact send it to Moots to be refinished (as claimed), then I would assume that Moots may have noticed :) ... and let this person know.

[oldpotatoe]

Part of the weird-ness is if they did in fact send it to Moots to be refinished (as claimed), then I would assume that Moots may have noticed :) ... and let this person know.

Moots doesn't refurb non Moots. Doubt they refurbed it. There is NO way Moots would weld the head badge back on. The gent ought to just sell as-is, not as a Moots..like the aluminum frame on ebay, with Merckx decals.

[Matthew]

The seller got back with me. Says the bike was a trade-in at his local shop and the "mechanic" told him it was a Moots. Claimed to no know the history of the bike and that is why he is selling "as is." He thought maybe it was an early model or one off. I told him his professional mechanic fed him a load of crap or even he got duped. Told him to look at the various other Moots available for comparison. I see he still has it listed for now. Now someone sell me a legit Rigor in a 17 or 18 darn it!!!

[Matthew]

He got back with me again and said he thinks it may be a model from '97/98 as the seatstays look similar. I don't think so but maybe I am wrong. Old potatoe? I know you have been around Moots for a long time. Look like an early model? I still belive he got hoodwinked, or is trying to do the same to someone else.

[gearguywb]

The welds on the drop outs are hideous.

[oldpotatoe]

He got back with me again and said he thinks it may be a model from '97/98 as the seatstays look similar. I don't think so but maybe I am wrong. Old potatoe? I know you have been around Moots for a long time. Look like an early model? I still believe he got hoodwinked, or is trying to do the same to someone else.

I'm talking to him as well. He says the welds predate the 'importation of the frames'(??)..Never seen a 3 piece wishbone rear end like that as well. I asked him for the serial number, call Moots and ask. Just so he sells what he has, but he's getting 'testy'. Not a moots.

Update, listing ended by him...good for him. He at least needs to find out more before selling it as a "Moots', IMHO.
"May' be a great ti hardtail frame.

[happycampyer]

This is what a Rigormootis from ca. 1997 looks like:

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=216797

The e-Bay seller's frame could possibly have been built on a bet that Butch couldn't weld a frame blindfolded.

Good on the seller for taking the listing down.

[pbarry]

Nothing to add except there doesn't seem to be any welding on the head badge. It looks like a kludge split pin in the top hole.

[Matthew]

It is now back up for sale as a ti frame "Badged" as a Moots. For 50 bucks cheaper.

[2wheelwill]

You guys are bad ass! Good work keeping someone from getting scammed.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[AngryScientist]

re-listed now:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Titanium-Frame-18in-Badged-as-Moots-Rigormootis/321601151468?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%2 6asc%3D27538%26meid%3D319b552eb693422f878d134c08de e2f3%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D11353%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3 D10%26sd%3D321600797729

[bshell]

for whomever gets taken on this deal is that this is a horrendously ugly polish or chinese ti frame. I seem to remember several companies offering super budget titanium frames in years past but even those looked better (if memory serves) than this visual disaster.

Seller is obviously a d!ck w, no integrity.

[pbarry]

The bogus frame will never sell at that price, and most Moots fans know better. Don't worry too much about this one.

[6mt]

So, with all of the speculation, no one can definitively reject the frame's authenticity. Where are we going with this?

[nighthawk]

So, with all of the speculation, no one can definitively reject the frame's authenticity. Where are we going with this?

Have you seen a Moots in person before? Did you see the pics of the frame being sold on eBay? It is definitive. The quality of the construction isn't even close.

[Matthew]

Not speculating. No way it's a Moots. Dropouts completely different. No machined headtube. Chainstays entirely different. Headtube badge "welded" on. Moots always screws them in and the screws always line up the same. This frame does not appear to even have the holes for the badge. The grey color is slightly different. The wishbone rear construction is entirely different. Take a look at the link to the Moots from 97 or 98 and compare it to this frame he has listed. It is obvious at first glance it is not the same. So where I was going with this thread is I did not want someone that may not be too familiar with the brand to get screwed out of $900+ bucks on something that is clearly not the real deal. Matthew

[Matthew]

Chainstays and downtube are also different than a Moots. Moots stays are round as is the downtube. This frame, both are shaped differently. Trust us.

[metrotuned]

This looks like a Dekerf with the seatstay segmented area.

[dhalbrook]

Looks like an Airborne frame perhaps?

http://fcdn.mtbr.com/attachments/airborne/253185d1176868350-airborne-titanium-frames-ls2_small.jpg

[Peter B]

This looks like a Dekerf with the seatstay segmented area.

And a segmented rear triangle is about the limit of any similarity to DeKerf's work.

[6mt]

Have you seen a Moots in person before? Did you see the pics of the frame being sold on eBay? It is definitive. The quality of the construction isn't even close.


I've actual owned a Moots at one point.

The point being that without hard evidence, I'm inclined to believe the seller that the bike could be a Moots. Unless Moots comes out and say otherwise.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[oldpotatoe]

So, with all of the speculation, no one can definitively reject the frame's authenticity. Where are we going with this?

I can and did, with the seller also. It is not a Moots, period, was never refurbed by Moots. If ya think it is, buy it, a good deal for a 'moots'.

The seller says, "Again... I cannot guarantee the authenticity of this bike, and will be up to the buyer to do so...!" Yikes.

[bcgav]

deleted

[Cicli]

It's still up.


Bcgav, you need to read the entire thread not just the first post.

[bcgav]

It's still up.


Bcgav, you need to read the entire thread not just the first post.


I did but clicked on original link to check auction status this am, not the current relisted... My mistake.

[Cicli]

I did but clicked on original link to check auction status this am, not the current relisted... My mistake.

It's cool. The eBay seller is a sheister. May be hard to follow.

[bcgav]

Looks like an Airborne frame perhaps?

http://fcdn.mtbr.com/attachments/airborne/253185d1176868350-airborne-titanium-frames-ls2_small.jpg

Ding ding ding! Looks like an Airborne Lucky Strike frame. Seatstay wishbone is identical.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1242/4721999456_c24dfd7fb5.jpg


http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/TAG_Balllistic/_12-1_zps437c95cf.jpg (http://s1140.photobucket.com/user/TAG_Balllistic/media/_12-1_zps437c95cf.jpg.html)

http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n576/TAG_Balllistic/_12_zpsbb9f499f.jpg (http://s1140.photobucket.com/user/TAG_Balllistic/media/_12_zpsbb9f499f.jpg.html)

[phcollard]

Also on PinkBike http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/1685714/

[nighthawk]

Here's an early Rigormootis, probably from a similar timeframe as the not-Moots listed on ebay:

http://www.tirides.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Moots-Rigor-Mootis-right.jpg

http://www.tirides.com/wp/fabricators/mr/moots/moots-rigor-mootis-hardtail-mountain-frame/

breezer dropouts, non-segmented wishbone seatstays, curved (not crimped) chainstays, forward facing keyhole cutout in seat tube, screwed head badge, nice looking welds...

[bcgav]

FD cable guide placement on top tube also same on Airborne.

[Cicli]

I sent the guy a message on eBay explaining it was fake. He replied really quick saying he didn't know and pulled down both the eBay sale and the other sale. We will see.

[Cicli]

I have been in touch with tbe seller. He seems to be straight up. I think he got taken in some sort of deal. Be claims to have stripped the decals. We will see if and when it pops back up.

[happycampyer]

Fwiw, really early Moots (including ti frames) had a decal for a headbadge, but that's about where the similarity ends with this frame. The welds alone are a dead giveaway. Here's an example of an older Rigormootis with a decal headbadge:

http://s72.photobucket.com/user/brianjamesitzaina/media/IMG_2115.jpg.html

Hopefully the seller has some recourse from the person he bought the frame from.

[foo_fighter]

Here's one on CL:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/bik/4783995317.html

[54ny77]

Don't mess with the Moots Posse! :banana:

[Matthew]

I have communicated with the seller of the frame as some others have. I truly feel he was screwed by the guy he bought it from. I do not think he was trying to deceive anyone with that frame, I simply think he was unaware it was not a Moots. As the original poster of this thread I felt I should communicate to those on the forum what I believe to be true now after having conversed with the seller. He has also become a registered member of the forum and I feel he should be welcomed as anyone else would be. Thanks, Matthew.

[oldpotatoe]

I have communicated with the seller of the frame as some others have. I truly feel he was screwed by the guy he bought it from. I do not think he was trying to deceive anyone with that frame, I simply think he was unaware it was not a Moots. As the original poster of this thread I felt I should communicate to those on the forum what I believe to be true now after having conversed with the seller. He has also become a registered member of the forum and I feel he should be welcomed as anyone else would be. Thanks, Matthew.

I agree and told him as much. I would hope he would contact the guy that traded the bike to him in the first place.

For a certain amount of $, it would be a fine, titanium, 26 inch MTB....