Sick Bicycles' Manufacturer Selling Off Frames Claiming Lack of Payment

May 21, 2019
by James Smurthwaite  
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Marino Bikes, a manufacturer for Sick Bicycles, are selling off Sick branded frames as they claim they have have not been paid for their work.

Based in Peru, Marino is one of a number of manufacturers that Sick have used in the past alongside Frank the Welder and Downland Cycles. Sick have come under fire recently for delayed orders, leading to a wave of cancelled orders, refunds and social media backlash. Read their response to those problems here.

Marino have previously posted that they were unable to deliver frames to Sick due to a lack of payment but this post was later deleted and the issue seemed resolved. However, in a statement on social media this evening, Marino said: "We had communication with Jordan and Tim from Sick Bikes, the payment limit date was May 20th, we hadn't received any communication from them... because we have material to pay, CNC machine, welders, painters, we see ourselves in the obligation to sell these frames, if you are interested please communicate with me."


Sick Bicycles have already posted a response on their social media, saying: "Well that has thrown us a curveball today. Please rest assured that we are intending to reach a suitable resolution to this problem. Whether arranging delivery of frames, an alternative or a refund.

"I'm still a little surprised our every move is headline news and would have preferred to manage this privately, like most businesses do. The last few months have been really hard but we started to see a light at the end of the tunnel. I've not really had time to prepare a proper response. I'll need a few hours to do that."


In a further statement to Pinkbike, Jordan Childs of Sick Bicycles said: "If we don't resolve it with Marino, we will either refund or provide the customer with an alternative frame."

We'll update this story when we get any further info.

Posted In:
Industry News


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Member since Nov 14, 2018
1,770 articles

344 Comments
  • 291 5
 A deadline for payment passes, those who set the deadline act to resolve the problem. It’s very simple and to be expected. How exactly have Sick been thrown a curve ball?
  • 69 3
 their Instagram post gives you an idea of how aware they really are. They think customers are so dumb that we’ll just accept a standard corporate response that’s meant to look like they’re the ones taking the high road.

They’re so dumb that they would probably respond to us in this article comments section and engage argument, and expect that to be the correct move in this situation.
  • 129 1
 let me shed some light on things how business works. no manufacturing company would ever resort to just selling a product built for a company unless they have had to deal with late payment and false promises many times from the company.
  • 37 0
 @DH-Angel: We don't agree with much from our previous posts. That said, you are 100% on point with this one. Seems like a supplier has had enough AND was miffed with the dog and pony show article a few weeks ago with Sick Bikes blaming suppliers for their cash flow issues.
  • 17 2
 @bman33: yeah...i here you. worst thing for a company is just to be dishonest.
  • 11 1
 If you're a supplier and you do this without a very, very good reason, your business is going out of business. As they say, reputation is everything.
  • 46 0
 @cuban-b: I like the "haven't had time to form a proper response" which I read I'm slow and dumb and it's going to take a few hours for me to cook up a story.
So the fast talked Merino got them to take down the post set a date for payment didn't respond or make payment on that date and they wonder why this is happening? Da f*ck dude.

As far as every thing being blown up publicly that's what happens when you take people's money and don't deliver the product. Then get caught lying multiple times.

My message to Sick bikes is you aren't lying your way out of this shit. People are going to start pressing charges at some point. Also STOP f*ckING TALKING everytime you open your mouth you show how dumb and shitty you are.
  • 23 0
 @hamncheez: Marino doesn't usually build frames for other companies, they have enough with their own customer base, and work on a small profit margin. When these guys temped them with a bigger order they went in, even putting it before other orders they had committed to. It's pretty understandable if they are pissed off, and they surely need to recover some cash in order to stay in business.
  • 12 1
 @southoftheborder:

@southoftheborder:

I'm surprised there aren't more comments about these available frames, ripe for the plucking!

Sick already had pretty low prices (... provided you actually got the bike), so presumably there's going to be a discount on top of that because manufacturers are used to selling below MSRP (obviously).

Think about it: cheap frame, steel, made by a reputable manufacturer, plus you get an infamous, soon-to-be-bankrupt company's bike to show off! If I were in the market for a f*cked up hardtail (super long/low/slack hardtail) I think I'd probably order one form Marino.
  • 6 0
 @southoftheborder: i wanted to buy a marino frame last year and because of the sick order the frame was delayed and delayed, also they said the production started when it actually did not. I ended up canceling the frame. Seems that they realised sick is doing them no good- not having capacity to work on their own orders and not getting paid.
  • 4 1
 @rezrov: I'd rather not buy one for fear that they somehow survive and use it in there "sales" figures.
  • 23 1
 Cocain is one hell of a drug. Thats where the money went if you ask me.
  • 4 9
flag killerb09 (May 22, 2019 at 3:02) (Below Threshold)
 This is probably a company employing the "Walmart" tactics to business, "Perfect...Now that you have spent all your capital on our project and depleted all your resources and need money......Give us a 10% discount on the goods or we walk away and leave you to perish.....don't forget that non-compete clause we had you sign meaning you can't sell direct any of our products we had you build exclusively for us....."......

Another MTB company bites the dust, social Media kills countless companies daily
  • 7 0
 @cuban-b: this is not a corporate response - this is tow monkeys dancing along and thinking everybody around is stupid. I think Marino did the right thing and I really hope they will get their money.
  • 12 5
 @listeryu: this is a case of two people who are so stupid they they think they are smarter then everybody else.

Formally dunning Krueger but I move that from this point we call it the Trump effect.
  • 4 0
 @killerb09: social media isnt killing anything in this case. they did it to themselves by stealing people's money, plain and simple.
  • 2 1
 @ecologist: & I 3rd.... Motion is passed! (Like a Trump into the toilet bowl of life).
  • 294 12
 Jordan and Tim are hardcore mountain bikers. They go way way back with the sport, ever since they first tried trail running three years ago.
  • 39 0
 Oh I’m convinced. hold on while I grab my check book to give them more money.
  • 11 144
flag seraph (May 21, 2019 at 16:03) (Below Threshold)
 That means nothing. What if Trump was a hardcore mountain biker? Would you support him then?
  • 68 2
 @seraph: You missed the sarcasm font on that one
  • 5 1
 *This* is underrated! Big belly laugh!
  • 22 0
 I'm glad you mentioned that...I caught that on their last article on here and no one seemed to take notice these guys have zero background in bikes! Why would anyone want a bike from people that don't even ride??!!
I could start offering yoga classes even though I can't stand yoga, but enough catch phrases on IG and I could be a hit!(oh wait, I'm pretty sure this happens too)
  • 33 0
 New sick CEO announced-Elizabeth Holmes!
  • 3 0
 @Glendmcc: Surely she would have had to pass a few tests?
  • 11 0
 @bitjockey She did, but she had them independently verified by her own lab. She as well as the boys at Sick test positive for Dunning Kruger Syndrome. We should take pitty on the poor special needs company.
  • 24 0
 @Glendmcc: I had to google Dunning Kruger Syndrome as I had never heard of it.....

'The Dunning Kruger syndrome or effect is characterized by the inability of some people to be aware of their incompetence or ineptitude. Is a Cognitive distortion By which a person who actually has little ability to perform an activity, thinks that he has a lot. Even more than some experts.'


A spot on assessment!
  • 24 13
 @v7fmp: this also spot on for the Donald! Razz
  • 5 0
 @v7fmp: @v7fmp: Its like from the movie Holes, when Dr. Pendanski says about Zero, "He's so stupid, he doesn't even know he's stupid!"
  • 8 0
 @lccomz lol, this reminds me of a crazy story involving one of my LBS...

We had a shop that was owned by the same guy for probably 10-15yrs. One of his buddies or maybe rather more of an acquaintances came into the scene and wanted to buy the shop from him (with his daddy's money)... So the purchase happened, and now he's the new owner of the shop. A close friend of mine was his main mechanic, and would update me on the chaos that was unraveling. The new owner portrayed himself as a hardcore MTBr, but it became painfully obvious that he wasn't when he proceeded to force a left side pedal to crossthread by tapping it in with a hammer and then screwing it in the rest of the way. Not too long after that, my friend confides in me that the owner is shooting up meth in his back office multiple times a day, and snorting coke. The fiasco culminates when he decides to not pay his bills anymore, so he can't order anything from anyone. (My buddy left the shop at this point) In his last act, the owner posts on his Facebook that he is doing a huge sale, and that all bikes are half off, and he asks people to special order whatever bike they want, they just have to prepay the full amount. A good amount of people were gullible enough to go in, and order their dream bikes. They paid him in full, and then he skipped town. Arrest warrants were out for the guy, it made the news, etc. Complete disaster. A few months later it came out that he offed himself, found him dead with a pistol in his lap. Terrible outcome especially considering he had 2 kids. Moral of the story is don't get into a business you know nothing about!
  • 30 0
 @gooutsidetoday: or idunno dont do meth and coke at work or in general?
  • 1 0
 @gooutsidetoday: wow. sounds like my old shop owner, sans swallowing a bullet. dude would be in the basement popping pills, then come up tweaked start yelling at us to sell bikes. following people around the shop. it was nuts.
  • 2 0
 @cuban-b: at least not meth and coke only three nights per week
  • 1 0
 @GlassGuy: I read that and thought it was their attempt at some kind of sarcastic joke. No clue they were serious.
  • 3 0
 @gooutsidetoday: There are a few morals to that story.
  • 1 0
 @jeremiahwas: lolol that's very true. I knew this bike shop owner fairly well, and as soon as I heard this story it made me think of him.
  • 2 1
 @gooutsidetoday: Damn dude that is rough, what was the name of the shop?
  • 151 3
 Curveball? WTF? You’re given a deadline for payment, the deadline passes & you’ve not paid. Your supplier takes matters into their own hands & somehow that’s a fing curveball?!

As for the whining about it all being played out in public? Well, Sick were quite happy to milk social media for all it was worth when it was in their favour. Not so keen when the boot’s on the other foot.

Jesus fing wept....
  • 168 0
 "One hotdog please!"

"Here ya go, sir. That'll be $2.50."

"Shit. Well this is a curveball..."
  • 43 1
 @rezrov: what do you do with the hot dogs you don't sell?

We throw them away...

Well how about instead of throwing it away, you throw it into my mouth.
  • 17 0
 @tigerteeuwen: I wish I could upvote this more then once for the obscure Michael Scott reference.
  • 1 0
 @tigerteeuwen: would love to get @IamTheDogEzra take on this.
  • 11 0
 @krager: Eat all hot dogs. Always. But never be surprised that the ball has curved or that hot dogs cost money. Also never be surprised that if you leave a hot dog unattended it goes missing. Also - always deliver.
  • 1 0
 @IamTheDogEzra: as always, Ezra has the full scoop lol
  • 3 0
 @krager: The eerie thing is that my name is actually Ezra...
  • 136 2
 If Sick has the money to refund the customer, wouldn’t it be cheaper for them to just pay the supplier?
  • 23 2
 Exactly. Why spout this when it's so transparent Although bear in mind it didn't say when they would be refunded, or the value of the alternative frame...
  • 14 1
 They´re probably just struggling for air at this point, using pre payments from new customers to manufacture new frames, slowly closing the payment gap with profits from those new sales.
My guess is this sharade will keep going until they´re back on solid financial footing again, but a lot of uninformed new buyers will have to deal with massive delays until then.
Most likely won´t work, but that´s my best guess for the strategy they´re implementing right now.
  • 10 0
 @Loki87: Is anyone going to order from Sick without doing at least a tiny amount of internet research before ordering? I can't imagine 5 seconds of research would cause anyone to actually give them their money.

If Sick bikes is thinking about continuing business then they either need to change their name, or pay a shit-ton of money to scrub the internet.
  • 4 0
 @unrooted: they already seem to have scrubbed their Instagram
  • 6 0
 @unrooted:
Don´t underestimate how many newbies are out there.
Not that many people do actual research before buying and even then, there are still those who actually don´t care being potentially ripped off.
I don´t know why, but i´ve met a lot of people who are careless like that.
Give things three weeks to calm down and they´ll most likely start selling frames again.
  • 10 1
 @Loki87: you're too optimistic. They seem more like the 'let's go have some beers and maybe the issue
solves itself tomorrow' type.
  • 26 0
 Assuming Marino required 50% to start work and the remaining 50% prior to delivery, these bikes are now available to Sick at half the FACTORY'S price. If Sick can't afford to buy bikes at half the factory's price, they can't afford to have bikes made elsewhere and certainly can't afford refunds at full CONSUMER price.
  • 11 0
 @ismasan: Gnarcissists even?
  • 3 1
 @unrooted: read their instagram comments. Still a ton of people supporting them.
  • 6 0
 @unrooted: change the name to DICK BIKES. The workd will be their oyster...
  • 9 0
 @CapedBaldy and delivery the frames to waiting customers! It's smoke and mirrors.......a con game at best! No, it's a a ponzi scheme centered around bikes.
  • 5 0
 @unrooted: dunno.. depends if people only get as far as Pinkbikes last disappointing piece from James where it was all roses and lollipops I suppose
  • 3 0
 @hamncheez: i cant im blocked for saying without that us hub a bunch of gnarpoons will be lost
  • 20 1
 I heard sick is getting an investment from an African prince that is a long lost uncle twice removed. It will all be ok.
  • 4 0
 @unrooted: I could never figure out the appeal in the first place. As mentioned above they don't even have a background in bicycle riding much less design. Why would someone have been tempted to buy a bike from them in the first place ?
  • 4 0
 @Loki87: "My guess is this sharade will keep going until they´re back on solid financial footing again,"

How do you guess that's going to happen?
  • 3 0
 @wingguy:
Let me rephrase that part.
"I guess they plan to keep up this sharade until they´re back on solid financial footing again."
  • 5 1
 @Loki87: you could also rephrase that as

"I guess they plan to keep up this charade until they're on solid financial footing"

Not clear to me they were ever on solid footing.
  • 1 0
 @rivercitycycles: the same deal happened to Karpiel Bikes, Ponzi scheme to sell frames - doesn't pay shop bills - lots of undelivered frames and the few that are all have "character". End result, Jan isn't allowed back in the USA, and any buisness happenings henceforth aren't gonna workout well at best.
  • 7 0
 @preston67: I like how you subtly corrected the spelling of charade without drawing attention to it
  • 2 1
 @g-monster: Any corroborative info on this? as like with Sick, the media was happy to put out stories about the brand!
  • 72 2
 Those Sick dudes should forget this whole frame thing and consider purchasing Crank Bros.
  • 8 1
 Underrated comment.
  • 1 0
 Hey, Crank Bros M 10/17/19 are great multi tools!
  • 68 2
 I need someone to make a meme like this

Marino Bikes: "We need our money my May 20"
Sick Bicycles: *doesn't pay*
Marino Bikes: *Sells the frames themselves*
Sick Bicycles: *Surprised Pikachu face*
  • 25 0
 Making this tomorrow at work
  • 23 0
 @brycemtb: you're working as a meme maker? Damn. I need to reconsider some things.
  • 4 0
 @colincolin: Technically I am, I make memes while at work working in an office for a pipe yard. But still getting paid while making memes
  • 1 0
 @brycemtb: send me the pic when you're done lol
  • 2 0
 @matt-15: Done, just having technical difficulty's with PB. Maybe ill DM it to SICK on instagram haha
  • 62 1
 Just wanted to come here to also say "f*ck you" to Sick. Hope you guys are reading this; you need medical help.
  • 72 0
 Doesnt everyone need medical help when they're Sick?
  • 5 0
 @sherbert They are sick. Suffering from Dunning Kruger Syndrome...poor guys!
  • 62 5
 Sick bicycles is neg propping all comments. So everyone please +1 all these posts in order to balance them out
  • 40 10
 Who cares...
  • 47 1
 I have seen this before. Company uses customer's money not for order but to keeping from going under. Company delays and delays payment to manufacture because it doesn't have enough money to pay bill. company then takes out high interest loans to pay manufacture. Thus, their problem of lack of funding increases with total month costs. As a result, only new sales get shipped their orders to customers. old customers that have been waiting for a year or more are just out of luck and must take legal action to get any money back. In the end, company owners can't close business because of pending criminal investigation by government because they need money from orders to protect themselves. And government tries to force to close company. Business owners then save all their money to fight litigation against government. In the end, company goes out of business with many lawsuits and criminal investigation.
  • 38 10
 Yeah it’s called a Ponzi scheme and people spend the rest of their lives in prison for this sort of thing
  • 7 0
 @cuban-b: in my experience it happens because owners are not being honest with customers or anybody else they depend on to make their business work. And their business plan is just unrealistic because it lacks proper start up capital or the company was allowed to grow way to fast for it's own good.
  • 22 5
 @cuban-b: it's definitely not a Ponzi scheme just poor management and nativity from people who probably set out with very good intentions but have no experience in running a business
  • 8 1
 There was a kickstarter "Coolest Cooler" that was famous for this. Last I heard they had something like 10K coolers still to ship to "backers". Four years late. Meanwhile they've been on sale on Amazon for less than the backers paid for some time now.

Their explanation, and I have some sympathy for this, is that they need to raise more money by selling retail so they can ship to original backers. And there is probably some truth to that, but it reflects a fundamentally flawed business model and saving face through the process is impossible.
  • 13 0
 @enduroNZ: zero sympathy for being naive after them showing to be complete pissbags.
  • 2 0
 @igxqrrl:
That´s exactly what i suspect is happening here.
  • 8 35
flag hamncheez (May 21, 2019 at 17:14) (Below Threshold)
 I hate the internet mob. I hate it when people trash someone's business and livelihood because of what someone they don't know said on the internet. That being said....
  • 24 1
 @hamncheez: I hate it when people take money from people for a product they don't have. Some people call this business. I call it theft.
  • 9 0
 @enduroNZ: Good intentions generally means you might make a mistake then pull your head in and sort it out. This is just a never ending shit show.
  • 1 0
 @igxqrrl: Yeah, I'm dealing with a similar situation with a french press on Kickstarter. Fortunately it wasn't a ton of money, so I've pretty much just written it off at this point. If it shows up, I'll be pleasantly surprised.
  • 6 4
 @matttauszik: Thats why I ended my comment with "that being said....", implying that this is NOT one of those internet/pinkbike mobs. I guess subtlety is lost on the internet.
  • 7 2
 @hamncheez: it is..you needed to elaborate a little more.
  • 1 0
 @matttauszik: 100% with you. I own and run a sizable online retail company, I have literally considered putting together a book of the most outlandish e-mails we get, funny how everybody on the internet is a business professional without ever having founded or run a company themselves.
  • 2 0
 @reverend27: I'm saying that this is clearly NOT just the internet mob, there is clear evidence of....a less than optimally run business.
  • 1 1
 @ChristophColombo: Don't lose faith. I have had a motorbike engine at a builder for 18 months now. 10 unanswered emails, asking FB group dudes that live close to him if he's still alive or can they check on it for me a few times, 15 unanswered voicemails... picks up the phone today, tells me my motor is going to be done this week. I was almost speechless haha. Maybe you'll get a nice Xmas present.
  • 44 1
 They should paint a "Not" in front of Sick, to distinguish that these are direct from the manufacturer, and money going to them, and not towards any sort of scam.
  • 2 0
 Perfect time to do a big F you to Sick. They put in all the work on the geometry and specs, but get no money for their work, which instead goes to those who deserve it. Got 4 mates who want these frames, but don't want to give any money to Sick.
  • 5 0
 I plan to get a custom sticker made up for my from when it arrives from Marino which says Suck!
  • 37 0
 Feel really bad for Marino, it takes time to build a good reputation and now he's been dragged into this mess. I can't imagine cutting Sick out of the loop was a decision taken lightly, but the bills don't care how much the other guy says he'll pay tomorrow.
  • 40 2
 It’s simple...don’t f**k around with other people’s money.
  • 36 2
 Sick.
  • 10 0
 More like "sickening".
  • 5 0
 I just hope those bikes get better soon...
  • 26 0
 All this time I was thinking, these guys must be hard at work making frames. So, you don't make them and you don't have money to pay for them. Return the money, say you're sorry , close the business and reconsider your future.
  • 18 1
 How do you shame someone who has no shame? Jail.
  • 2 1
 I'm seriously going to be making bike frames soon. Trying to stay small, and very competitive pricing. I will be making them. Biggest fear is being over ordered. But I'm totally open with everyone, so I'm honest... Not bartenders with a dream...
  • 2 0
 @cuban-b: I'm more a fan of the pillory
  • 27 1
 PLEASE Support marino! Hes a very talented and young frame builder and deserves more recognition. go buy a frame!!! Also, I feel this is the end of sick bikes and it feels sooooo good!
  • 1 0
 Any idea what kind of $$ he is asking for the frames?
  • 2 0
 @chize: I reached out to purchase one. E-mailing him back and forth. Can send you an update.
  • 4 0
 @chize: $320 + postage for a Wulf
  • 3 0
 @mattvanders:

Yup, ended up picking one up. He has some large pre-painted red in stock and some raw unfinished.

$320 for frame
$20 for Marino oil slick headset
$110 for expedited shipping to USA.
$450 total.
  • 2 0
 @jeffakalucas: Which Wulf did you pick? Trying to decide on the regular or the AM geometry frame. Was wanting to run 29er wheels. I am going to pick up one of the raw unfinished ones so he can paint it and not have the sick sticker on it but Marino.
  • 1 0
 @gus6464: I order the ruby/og which has a HA OF 64, am has a 62 HA. THEY CAN RUN 27.5+ or 29 wheel size as they are very similar. They don’t come with sick stickers on but will come with engraving on had tube
  • 1 0
 @gus6464: To be honest, I'm not sure. Marino sent me the two drawings/cutsheets and I told him to send me a Large Raw. He told me he didn't want to sell the raw cause it would rust so I picked a large red. I didn't realize what was what so I asked for clarification.

I plan to strip the bike and have it painted so I didn't care about the color.
He has red in stock, and a bunch of raw frames that he said will be about 2-3 weeks to coat but you can pick the color.

As Matt said below, you can run 27.5 or 29 wheels.

To be honest, I didn't know anything about these bikes until yesterday and there is so much action on them I jumped on the opportunity to purchase one.
  • 1 0
 @jeffakalucas: I knew I should have stayed out of this thread. I may be sending an email off later today. . .
  • 27 1
 What a stupid name for a bike company.
  • 5 1
 It's f'ing genius to the flat bill crowd.
  • 20 0
 Watching all this unfold is nasty but not unsurprising. I saw the Sick boys at the London Bike Show back in 2018 and I was pretty much instantly put off by their attitude and their display. For a small, new company that had very little product out there they had the biggest display out of nearly everyone. Massive pickup truck, fancy displays and loads of promo people yet only three frames. Compared to every other company they stood out like a sore thumb. Everything about them felt wrong, and that's coming from someone who was interested in buying a frame at the time. Had a chat with them and there was very little detail about what you got for your cash but loads of marketing bull and the like. Compared to Stanton and Cotic I also talked to at the same show it was obvious where my money wasn't going. I feel sorry for all the customers and suppliers who have been burnt by them but the signs were there pretty early on, hopefully it won't put off any other budding entrepreneurs having a go at making a new bike company.
  • 20 0
 They keep talking about refunding customers, but this shouldn't be a customer facing issue at all. What's this "alternative frame" crap? Did customers specifically order a frame from Marino? Doubtful. There is no curve ball. You didn't pay for what you ordered, so now someone else gets it. Sick should feel fortunate that Marino is just willing to sell the frames themselves, instead of suing for payment and\or damages (they couldn't make frames for paying customers while busy making sick's unpaid-for frames)
  • 58 0
 They're not planning on refunding anyone. They're stalling. If you can dispute the charges, do so IMMEDIATELY before you run out of time. They are waiting for the deadline to pass and to keep your money. Fuck this company.
  • 2 0
 @sherbert Did yoy just make every comment after this post italic?


Testing... bold?
  • 7 0
 Shouldn't have. If you put the forum prompt for italics in the word fuck, it no longer censors it.
  • 7 0
 It'd be much more expensive for Marino to sue them from Peru. They are better off trying to recoup some money by selling the frames themselves.
  • 6 0
 @sherbet: this comment needs to be repeated.

Dispute payment charges with whatever payment method one used.
  • 22 0
 These guys have no business running a business.
  • 22 3
 I'm pretty sure not even Gary Glitter would want to ride one of those bikes now. RIP Sick twats
  • 3 0
 Rocknroll
  • 5 0
 Factor in the cost of some Halfords car paint and re-brand it. Don't even need to do the whole frame, just band over the logos.
  • 4 0
 @Fix-the-Spade: Bah, AllMountainStyles and stickers and Bob's Your Uncle =)
  • 3 0
 @Svinyard: But I wanna play with my paints!
  • 19 0
 Seriously, fuck these guys.
  • 18 1
 Hopefully there is enough money left for them to pay for another Pinkbike article (ad) telling us everything is still great with the business.
  • 18 0
 So wait... does this mean that it's finally possible to actually pay for a Sick bikes frame... and actually receive it?!
  • 13 0
 As someone who works in tax & legal in the UK, and occasionaly encounters insolvency/winding up proceedings, this smells like a busines that is insolvent, or will shortly be insolvent. From the outside, they don't appear to be able (or willing?) to pay creditors and I would antiicpate that its liabilities are greater than its assets, though of course I don't know that this is the case and haven't seen any financial information.

That said, I wouldnt be surprised if there is a winding-up petition out there already, the shame is that my understanding is that your ordinary customers are "unsecured creditors", so fairly low down the pecking order when it comes to paying the range of creditors on winding up. There is always the possiblity that the liquidator could deem directors' conduct to have been "unfit" and take action to ban them from being directors for up to 15 years...though I'm not suggesting that this would apply here...
  • 3 0
 Pretty sure their tats and top-knots will bar them from most reasonable directorships for the forseeable
  • 14 1
 Business idea: a bike company (or a group of them) should get together and offer a pro deal for all the people scammed by this company. They provide the discounted bikes/frames in exchange for rad publicity and those who got ripped get some justice.
  • 5 0
 Plus all the good karma. That's a great idea
  • 10 0
 Crowd fund to buy the Marino frames, plus some of the Aliexpress ones. Make some cool t-shirts too. Get some tattoos. 2Sick2Furious.
  • 15 1
 Where did the hype start? Try here. The author of this article has been in it from the start.

dirtmountainbike.com/features/sick-cycles-mountain-bike-menagerie.html
  • 1 0
 That article would certainly sell to a certain demographic. I can see how people would want to buy into it.
  • 16 0
 D-bags will be d-bags... Seriously, wow though.
  • 12 0
 “Be a dickhead on the internet, and we will fight you!?” - Classic Sick circa 2017. On some of his latest posts on IG, you can almost hear him cry! Pride comes before a fall! Never understood why anyone would ever want anything from these guys in the past, let alone in the future!
  • 2 0
 Remember Brock Turner? Smacks of crocodile tears.
  • 12 0
 Honest question: if you paid for a frame from Sick and it never showed up, wouldn't you just call up your credit card company and file a claim? Not sure how any of the customers could be out any money, unless the UK laws are that bad regarding consumer protection?

My frame (included seat collar, rear axle and a Cane Creek headset) from RSD Bikes showed up under two weeks, shipped from another country and ordered while they were away at Sea Otter. The owner of the company emailed me from the show telling me what was going, when it was going to ship and gave me his cell number in case I needed anything. That's how you do small business!
  • 2 0
 Some people have been waiting for so long they are outside of the credit card and paypal chargeback limits - Paypal being 180 days I believe, not sure about credit cards.
  • 23 12
 Jesus wept, refunds from non-existent frames are what kicked all this off and you’re still publishing that they’ll refund or provide something (that doesn’t exist) else?

Pinkbike - you’re meant to be better than this.
  • 47 3
 Pinkbike is doing great here - there is news, and they're reporting it. The news is that one of the Sick suppliers made a statement that they're selling off the frames. Then, Pinkbike allowed Sick to make a statement to add depth to the situation. That's all they have to report. This isn't an opinion piece, it's news. Don't ask reporters to give their opinion on whether they trust Sick or not - that's for you to decide, based on the information presented.

Obviously we all can tell that Sick Bicycles is a total disaster run by shady (or maybe just naive) people. PB didn't need to say it outright.
  • 33 6
 @skylerd: The writer of this article has a history of fluff pieces on Sick (he did 3 or 4 at Dirt previously). He wrote that pointless interview (compared to Singletrack doing some actually investigation) and has tacked on the “everything will be fine” nonsense quote at the end of this piece.
It looks like he’s writing stuff to try and help out his mates and it’s being published unchecked. This is why I believe PB should be doing better here
  • 6 2
 I have to agree with skylerd on this.
I´ve given PB a lot of crap for recent articles that were questionable at best, but this one is just simple news.
And that´s a good thing.
No need to jump on the bandwagon, they´re a news outlet and should try to remain as neutral as possible, only presenting facts to their readers.
  • 5 1
 @Loki87: fair enough, but do you consider the comment about refunds to be a fact?
  • 4 1
 @scottishmark:
Nope.
As new, unknowing customers continue to pay, they most likely try to sit out those few transitional cases who don´t get a refund or frame. I mean, think of it.
Imagine you´re a moron with no business sense or knowledge and you´re stuck without product and refund claims you´re unable to pay back.
The logical response would be to declare bankruptcy and try to resolve the matter with as little additional damage caused as possible.
The idiots response is to try and sit things out, hoping to not get hit with a massive flood of lawsuits, try to get things off the ground and pay people back once you actually made money back.
They´re basically turning some of their early buyers into unwilling creditors is my best guess.

Their whole interview and explaination was a mess.
They basically admitted to not having any capital while still having open claims.
Now they tell us they´re going to pay everyone back (with literally no money in the bank and while obviously unable to pay for product) or give them another product, which again is non existant as their stock status on the site indicates and also the fact they themselves said they do still have open deliveries. Missing a whole shipment of frames isn´t gonna make that situation any better for them.

Or did you mean pinkbike reporting a false statement?
  • 2 0
 @scottishmark: hundred percent agree
  • 3 1
 @scottishmark: I would recommend an understanding of quotation marks.
  • 1 0
 @NWBasser: gutted, thought the “grammar police” might’ve had the night off ????
  • 1 0
 @scottishmark: Except that it wasn't a grammatical error. The PB author used quotation marks to outline what was stated by Sick Co. It was not his words, but those of Sick.
  • 1 0
 @NWBasser: Well yeah..... you made me come back a week later to read that?
  • 14 0
 At the very least these frames can be melted down into pitchforks and barricades
  • 13 0
 A company that has existed 95% on headlines complains about being dealt with via headline.
  • 9 0
 I remember when they'd be all over articles and shit defending their geo/,image/branding now when they need to defend themselves where are they? Sat in a micro brewery drinking small batch stroking their beards probably blaming someone else for their shitty business planning maybe..
  • 9 0
 “Sick have come under fire recently for delayed orders...”
Boo hoo, you poor wee sensitive things.

Some poor buggers have been waiting 18 months for frames THEY HAVE PAID FOR!!!
Good luck trying to make us (the vast majority of PB users) feel sorry for you you f*cking scam artist thieves!!!
  • 12 0
 I kind of want to buy one to help out Marino
  • 1 0
 Good point. I hope that they can sell off the stock of frames and cut their losses enough to keep going. I also hope that the association with Sick doesn't tarnish their good name.
  • 10 1
 I never would have guessed that self identified anarchists would be bad at business. They have attitude, who needs business acumen or a strategy. We have tattoos and say fuck, gimme your money.
  • 8 0
 They really don't have a clue. All of their responses have sounded incredibly insincere and entitled.
If you don't pay your suppliers, you don't get to make money off their work. And if you don't respect customer's rights, you don't get to be in business.
Sick bicycles was a pet project that got out of hand and this is what happens. The same thing happens to small manufacturers all the time (anyone remember Lahar?).
Sadly they have a huge social media presence that has inflated their problems (and their egos).
  • 10 0
 Now i don't know much about the British, but at some point i am predicting someone is going to let a fluffy white rabbit loose and it is going for the neck!!!
  • 6 0
 RUN AWAY!
  • 4 0
 @brunse: What an eccentric performance
  • 3 0
 @usedbikestuff: its only a model
  • 5 0
 @nordland071285: What sad times are these when passing ruffians can say ‘Ni’ at will to old ladies
  • 14 3
 Im paying for my new wulf as we speak. Sorry british hipsters
  • 2 0
 Every cloud has a silver lining!
  • 7 0
 If any vendors or consumers need a referral to a law firm with an interest in group or individual litigation and recovering from Sick, please let me know. These fellas likely won't have much cash to cough up, but they do need to have a nail put into their coffin
  • 5 0
 File YESTERDAY before they go fully bankrupt. Might all ready be too late.
  • 2 0
 It’s looking like it will come to this!
  • 8 1
 I’m sure they will honour all existing orders and will give a full and honest disclosure of what went wrong.
They are really good guys that are true riders and only want to do the right thing.
Said no one with any intelligence!!
Just glad I managed to get my money back from the pricks!!
  • 9 0
 If you're going to attempt to sell those frames I'd recommend removing the word sick from them.
  • 3 0
 Don't forget to clip that $3 coupon when you order your $1,250 frame.
  • 3 0
 there Is a disconcerting amount of blue in those titanium welds. I would pass on those frames.

m.imgur.com/gallery/Nxb4o1O
  • 3 0
 It’s not even that, Sick were just getting catalogue bikes like the one above. They maybe had the geo tweaked a little, although I may well be giving them too much credit.
  • 1 0
 @enki: This, +1, etc.
  • 1 0
 @EuanBisset145: chemicalbikes.co.uk/product/adrenal-enduro-trail-king back end is off a catalogue bike and the frame is a custom on to suit their needs
  • 1 0
 @mattvanders it’s normal to be able to specify certain things like reach and head angle on a catalogue bike. They didn’t design it’s structure nor the suspension kinematics.
Besides if you turn your attention to details such as the lower pivot mount, you’ll see it’s not exactly executed well and will most likely fail at that point if it doesn’t fail elsewhere first.
  • 9 0
 “I THINK… WE’RE JUST TOO STUPID TO KNOW WHEN TO STOP” Sickbikes 5th July 2017
  • 10 0
 "KARMA"
  • 10 1
 The pride of ownership quotient is low.
  • 7 0
 Rocket Surgery 101: Keep day job. Make a frame or two...sell. Use money to make more...sell. Use money to make more...sell. Or don't.
  • 3 0
 Easy to be seduced by the offset risk crowdfunding gives though. I can see how getting the numbers right to start with is hard, and how it would be easy to get into bother. What's annoying about Sick is it's never their fault. Always trying to blame others and make up excuses.
  • 8 0
 Do they still take preorders? Asking for... ehrm, not a friend.
  • 7 0
 Hope everyone is educated by these articles and comments to put these losers out of business.
  • 7 0
 Here are 75 pages (and counting) of the ongoing saga:

www.pinkbike.com/forum/listcomments/?threadid=211801
  • 3 0
 but are you really from canada bro? (people are so dumb!)
  • 2 0
 @cuban-b: i think he is honestly canadian
  • 1 0
 @Compositepro: I am a global citizen....
  • 3 0
 @cuban-b: No, I'm a bot. Pinkbike devs were trying to simulate the surliest user possible. Please send them your feedback and any bug reports.
  • 8 0
 Why am I not surprised
  • 3 0
 So is everyone getting an email on Wednesday? Even Marino?
Also how many bikes has Frank The Weldet actually made for them? And how many and how long ago did Downland make frames for Sick? And aren’t all the new frames coming from Taiwan?
  • 7 0
 Fuck these clowns. They need to get knocked out.
  • 3 0
 So, just looking at Marino's fbook page, those frames look awesome!
es-la.facebook.com/MarinoBikes
Apparently their site collapsed for lack of bandwith, that's ok, better spend their money on building good frames.
Idea: why not help these guys by buying directly to them?
  • 3 0
 I bought a bike in 2017, sick was on my radar, but after a short look in the forums it was clear that their frames were made from Marino. Then I decided to invest more and Guerrilla Gravity made me a customized frame. Three months later I received it. You get what you pay for, Sicks offer was just to much a dream to be real.
  • 4 0
 Guerrilla Gravity is also a very small company started by a couple of guys. However, they are considerably smarter and had a plan. They are growing their company at a sustainable rate and are doing quite well.

I also bought a GG bike in 2017 and the whole experience was great. The "problem" with the bike though is that it's so damn fun to ride that I don't want to do anything else. My yard looks like crap.
  • 7 0
 @NWBasser: There are many absolutely huuuuge differences between GG and Sick though, as you say.

GG - Smart people, won local business awards, have a premises, actually manufacture in-house, understand engineering principles, good customer services, nice attitude etc

The only thing they have in common is they are in the bike industry.
  • 3 0
 @justanotherusername: Yeah, the commonality is that they both started by a couple of guys with a vision. From that point, it's about 180 degrees. I really understated the massive differences between them.

It really shows how one company can go one direction and another completely differently.
  • 1 0
 Just beware, riding a GG bike can be extremely addicting. ;-)
  • 4 0
 Thing is....
So if you've been following this debacle, apparently sick never got copyright on the Sick name? So... Somebody with some £$€ could buy up ALL these Marino frames an set up as Sick Bikes 2
:'D
  • 4 0
 I'm starting to see what happened. Sick took payment for frames and commissioned their production. Somewhere in there all the money got snorted, shot, or huffed and customers had no bikes and manufacturers never got paid.
  • 4 2
 Of all the meaningless buzzwords abound in this sport, “sick” is by far my least favorite. That being said, the guile and ridiculous bravado shown by these posturing amateurs is both painful and angering. The interesting thing is, these guys have tried to make their brand represent their “hard as$ attitude.” In my experience with hard as$es, they aren’t easy, but they always stick to their word and don’t back down when things get difficult.
My advice to Sick: Steel is real, and a wonderful material at that, but don’t let it be “realer” than you are to your customers and suppliers.
  • 3 0
 So they had orders paid by customers, a supplier building the stuff and all they had left to do was picking up the frames and delivering them. And they managed to messed up everything. Wow.
  • 7 0
 What I think happened was they used far too much money on advertising and trying to develop more and more products. When it came down to pay the actual manufacturers they didn't have enough to go around. So they sold more frames that didn't exist to try and meet the bills of previous runs. And thus they have run flat out now and I genuinely think they don't know why. Technically what they did was illegal.
  • 5 0
 This isn't good ..... I hope the actual frame makers some further success after an ordeal like this.
  • 2 0
 Dear Sick if you are saying any bullsh1t cut the bullshi¥ . Fes up to everything, be honest. Open the Komono all the way. Many will hate but some will forgive. I think it’s the way only way to get through this and stil have a shot at running a business and feeling good about yourself. It is sad to see any bike company bite the dust.
  • 3 0
 Open the Komono all the way
  • 4 0
 Well, you can have some troubles with manufactor, that happens, but these guys seems to have a problem simply with everybody. Too sick to solve
  • 8 2
 Savage.
  • 28 0
 Salvage.
  • 1 0
 @bishopsmike: (Slow clap...) nice one
  • 3 0
 .....so when all the metal bands dry up and don't need merch made anymore they moved to the bike industry. aren't they basically a hype t-shirt company....
  • 2 0
 Berlin, May 1945 at this point. Let's say a new bike company wants to enter the market, with a solid product and business plan. Going to be a lot harder to earn manufacturer and consumer trust after this saga.
  • 3 0
 Just to stoke the pot a bit here are Sick's accounts at Companies house currently. beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/10621767/filing-history
  • 2 0
 Wow. That looks plenty messy to me.
  • 5 0
 not forgetting the backup company for when the first one goes to the wall...

beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/11453634
  • 1 0
 @tomhoward379: The thick plottens.
  • 2 0
 Honestly, at which point do they accept defeat? The only reputations they've ever had in the industry is a clothing company and a company that takes payments and doesn't deliver. Tough to comeback from that imo
  • 7 1
 the plot thickens...
  • 43 1
 or does the plot sicken....? hahaha
  • 3 0
 "we started to see a light at the end of the tunnel."yeah, it's called chapter 11. You know, where you leave your creditors with their dicks in their hands.
  • 6 1
 Hope these dickheads end up in Jail.
  • 2 0
 marinobike.com
"Bandwidth Limit Exceeded
The server is temporarily unable to service your request due to the site owner reaching his/her bandwidth limit. Please try again later. "
I wonder why.
  • 2 0
 I would hope that he's being flooded with orders.
  • 1 0
 Also getting an error on their frontpageon the left side:

"Warning: count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable in /home/marino/public_html/wp-includes/class-wp-comment-query.php on line 399"

At least they use Linux :-)
  • 4 0
 I ordered last September and sick still hasn’t refunded me.
  • 3 0
 Marino bikes site is down due to exceeding their bandwith limit, looks like this one might work out alright for them.
  • 5 1
 I think I missed something. Sick bikes not familiar to me
  • 14 0
 It's better that way.
  • 3 0
 so you didnt pay them and expected nobody to take notice in the social media age? really?
  • 2 0
 People keep clicking so the updates keep coming. A true car accident that nobody can turn away from.

For what it’s worth, shirts came no problem.
  • 3 0
 Maybe they ran out of money when they hedged all of their bets on interview coaching from R-KELLY. ????????
  • 3 0
 And email sent to Marino - If price is reasonable I would use one as a pub crawl bike
  • 1 1
 You're kidding right? They have great Geometry for trail riding.
  • 3 0
 These Sick guys must have went to the same business school as Billy McFarland.
  • 4 0
 a week ago, i'd never heard of suck bicycles. lucky me
  • 4 0
 SICK, the sort of name someone would give a cannon muffler in '96.
  • 3 1
 give them some credit. the board of directors had to vote on SICK, DOPE, WORD, GNAR, and SHRED. Be glad they ended up where they did.
  • 4 0
 Im so hapy what im went with nicolai instead of sicko
  • 2 0
 I don't care how much money people spend on entertainment, it's always stories like this that end up being the most rewarding.
  • 2 0
 Does anyone know these guys in real life or live near them? I'm interested in knowing if their living spaces, vehicles, etc suddenly got a lot nicer since taking preorders.
  • 2 2
 As much as I dislike these arrogant pricks from the very start of their appearance, I start to feel a bit “worried” about the outcome of this...surely we can only expect bad things...prison and suicide being some of those! Unlike their hype, this negative hate is not fabricated!
  • 3 0
 I was thinking that earlier. That's why they need to stop, be honest and speak to people.

Customers are (rightly) angry. Sick need to take a breath and stop this continued escalation as it's currently heading towards something worse
  • 3 0
 This just makes me Sick...
  • 3 1
 These guys are pure clowns. But the bigger clowns are anyone who’s actually given them their cold hard cash...
  • 1 3
 All companies start somewhere...it's taken a while for the issues to coalesce
  • 3 0
 The FYRE Fest of Bicycle brands.
  • 2 0
 I saw the Netflix special, I'll +1 you for this comment!
  • 3 0
 320 plus shipping. Might swoop one.
  • 3 0
 Oh my Eek These guys have really dropped the ball lol
  • 3 0
 Looks like Sick! is on the verge of Death.
  • 2 1
 Not terribly surprised FTW is involved here too. Have a horror story from a custom build from them that seems to meet or exceed this story.
  • 2 0
 Well, at last many riders in Peru will ride a new frame, great place to ride!
  • 4 1
 Y’all be dumb to buy a bike from a brand called sick to begin with
  • 3 0
 Sick of Sick Bikes and their childish attitudes
  • 1 0
 Gonna 'copy' all of Sick!'s designs. Use my own money to get the frames made in advance and call myself "Fully Sick M8!" cos it'll be fully sick m8.
  • 1 0
 Sick Cunt Bike Co.
  • 3 0
 At least people can actually buy their frames now.
  • 5 3
 Maybe they can get a loan from Jamie Oliver!
  • 8 1
 Jaime Oliver's done a lot of positive things. He's pretty far from a scammer.
  • 1 2
 @matttauszik: he is a mockney w*nker though. Beer
  • 2 0
 hahahhaahahahahahahhhhaahhahahahahahhahahahahahhahh
  • 2 0
 now that is just uuuuuuuunfortunate
  • 2 0
 I bet if you pay Marino you might actually get a bike!
  • 2 0
 Probably shouldn't have spent so .uch on that pinkbike article....
  • 1 0
 And another gripping episode of Bad days of our lives... (forehead palm) ...
  • 4 2
 Am I out of touch?

No.. it's the supplier who's wrong.
  • 1 0
 I'mma buy one from Marino and sand off the "S", making it an "ick!" bicycle.
  • 1 0
 I've never heard of sick bicycles until now. Dodged another bullet I guess..
  • 3 0
 I'm totally buying one!
  • 2 0
 Long story short if you want a "sick" steel hardtail. Marino is your guy!
  • 1 0
 OK for the alternative frame. Can it be a Yeti or a Pivot? Maybe both would be nice.
  • 2 0
 Sick be illin
  • 1 0
 At this point i'd love to know... did anyone order a Sleipnir?
  • 1 0
 The funding was achieved. Wonder what happened to that money?
  • 1 0
 Sick Bikes? More like Dead Bikes...
  • 1 0
 Reminds me of the AV123 saga.
  • 2 0
 These dudes are clowns.
  • 1 0
 So did anybody actually get an email from Sick yesterday?
  • 1 0
 Does anybody know what happened to sick bikes?
  • 2 0
 That's Business!
  • 1 0
 Brain on drugs, maybe should had paid more attention in school!
  • 2 0
 It gets better!!
  • 1 1
 Is alternative frame code for a Motebecane from bikes direct with a sick sticker over any Motebecane badging?
  • 2 0
 Jerry Jerry Jerry!
  • 2 2
 Sounds like these guys might've formed this company while "attending" Trump University.
  • 1 0
 I'll buy one if they change the decals to "Marino Bike Cartel"
  • 1 0
 $?
  • 1 0
 A sick joke.
  • 1 0
 Oops!
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