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What if I don't want a bike made in Taiwan?

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5.9K views 78 replies 48 participants last post by  scrublover  
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#1 ·
I'm having a hard time finding anything that isn't made in Taiwan anymore. And, as far as I've found, I can't get a bike or a frame that is decently priced that is made in the US.

Whoa, I think I just answered my question right there.

It's not that I have anything against products made overseas, as I ride a Giant, and a Specialized Demo, both of which have been fantastic bikes for me. I just want to find something a little more personal, a company I'd be proud to support cause they haven't sold out.

Ok, now be nice to me.

Edit: Hey my 1000th post! Go me!
 
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#7 ·
Turner, Ventana, and the dozens of small builders who build some fantastic bikes. Moots, Wolfhound, Badger, Black Sheep, Coconino, Thylacine, Steve Potts, Curtlo, and the list goes on and on......

As far as well-known boutique bikes go, I always look at Turner and Ventana though there couple of others as well.

I see no harm in buying or looking to buy an American-made bike. It is also my preference though Canada and Germany run close behind if I feel like expanding my horizons.
 
#11 ·
twouareks said:
I'm having a hard time finding anything that isn't made in Taiwan anymore. And, as far as I've found, I can't get a bike or a frame that is decently priced that is made in the US.
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It all depends on what your definition of "made" is.:D

Seriously, you're not looking hard enough... Qball and Gunnar are reasonably priced. Some Cannondales are built here. OCLV Treks are built here. Rocky Mountain builds some of their bikes in Canada last I knew, eh? Or get crazy and order from a custom builder.

But, you're going to put some Taiwanese parts on that American frame anyway, so what does it matter?
 
#14 ·
Jayem said:
You could get a bike made in China.
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I would say that if you buy Taiwanese... atleast you aren't getting one made in China:thumbsup:

one of these days I'll build my own frame... until that day comes (or I win the lottery) my chums Billy, Larry, and John down there at "XXXX" factory in Taiwan are gonna make sure my welds are spot-on:thumbsup:
 
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#19 · (Edited)
Selling out is not necessarily the term I meant to use. If I could I'd buy an Intense, Turner, or Ventana in an instant, but they are some o f the most expensive brands out there. Well no, I take that back. All the other companies you guys mentioned are.
I guess a lot of it is personal preference, I used to work at a shop that sold Trek and Cannondale, and I really refuse to buy either. So I'm hard to please, but I can't turn to you guys and ask you to make suggestions based on what I personally want or not.

I guess the main thing for me is the price. I was looking at Transition because their frames are reasonably priced, and it's not a bad thing that they're made overseas, that just kind of gets me. But whatever, I guess I just have to suck it up. The idea of riding sooner on a Taiwanese bike instead of saving up for a locally (or almost local) built frame is much more appealing. I'd rather ride then sit here and lament.

It's the damn cost of living, if they didn't have to pay American's so much to do the same thing they do over there......lol.

I should have known better than to have started a thread like this. :)
 
#22 ·
Most of the high grade bicycle frame tubing is made in Taiwan. Titanium, carbon, aluminium, Hyrdorofmed, butted, shaped, oval, square, you name it. Even Easton.

In a weird sense, the least "sold out" frame and bicycle manufacturers are small, branded manufacturers in Taiwan. I know of two. Tank Cycles (I have one of their frames) and Xtension. They make their bikes in Taiwan under their own brands, not for a catalogue or to sell to other, bigger brands. They use Taiwanese tubes and metal that is made by tube shaping and metal forming companies next door to them. They are passionate about their products and proud of their workmanship.....this is about as "pure" as you will get at the moment :)

V.
 
#24 ·
perttime said:
Tyres made in Indonesia should be easy.
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....by an OEM owned by a Korean tire company....

I think the dead horse and the summary is, do not be too concerned about the actual origin of the product. Globalisation made that largely irrelevant.

Focus instead on the design, customer service and the finished quality and functionality of the product. This indeed can still be vastly different between companies and products depending on their price bracket....even if they do come from the same factory. You still often get what you pay for. If you do not, the company that overcharges and under delivers will not be in business for much longer.

V.
 
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#26 ·
vmajor said:
I think the dead horse and the summary is, do not be too concerned about the actual origin of the product. Globalisation made that largely irrelevant.

Focus instead on the design, customer service and the finished quality and functionality of the product. This indeed can still be vastly different between companies and products depending on their price bracket....even if they do come from the same factory. You still often get what you pay for. If you do not, the company that overcharges and under delivers will not be in business for much longer.

V.
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I like your response. I suppose that at this point there is no way to avoid it. For a company, take a smaller company like Transition, there really is no way to achieve the amount of production they do with only the few guys there. Seeing that there are so many other large companies in the is industry that almost take over the market, you have to compete no matter if you are a small company or not. They have the production capabilities overseas much more readily available than they are here, or at least I would assume.
I would think it would be more expensive to go through an outside company for the labor and then shipping it across the Pacific. But that's obviously not the case. Like I said, my bikes that do come from the larger companies have worked great (obviously, they have to) I like the idea of supporting a small rider owned and operated company (as opposed to a corporation), but it seems that frankly, those companies wouldn't even be here if it weren't for the options they have of mass producing the frames. I'm ramblin.
 
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