I'm not surprised that some people might mistake the flat or satin black painted diecast and welded together hydro-formed, frame elements on bikes today as plastic panels covering a more "conventional" frame under it, as many riders had gotten so used to seeing either clear anodized or silver painted frames on bikes for so many years. I always preferred the clear anodized brushed aluminum frames on bikes anyway. Maybe the whole black painted frame thing might be a fad that will eventually go away in a few years??