A lot of bike makers moved production overseas during that time. Probably one of the big bike makers like Giant or Specialized alone sells as many bikes as all the custom and small builders in the US, so while more bikes are being sold, less are being made here.
Bike production from America (NOT POLITICAL)
I was looking through some mags and came across the Dirt Rag Index, Dirt Rag 107, page 22, and it got me thinking (no simple task).
It shows lots of neat information, but what I am curious about was totals for bikes made in America. It shows the following numbers:
Bikes made in America in 1999: 1,700,000
Bikes made in America in 2001: 900,000
Bikes made in America in 2003: 353,000
I find these numbers interesting. That is a huge drop in a short time and it seems like the bike industry is doing better than that. Many here are more knowledgeable than I, so help me out. Doesn't Trek and Gary Fisher make the upper end of their lines in the U.S.? Cannondale is also made in the U.S, isn't it? I would think that companies that size would account for some pretty good numbers by themselves.
There are many custom makers out there that are building in America. While not producing huge numbers of bikes, collectively they should add up to some pretty good numbers too.
It would be interesting to compile a list of U.S bike makers. As far as I know, Ventana makes their whole line here (U.S.A.). Turner makes their bikes here don't they? Santa Cruz makes all but a couple of models here. I am told that Yeti makes most of their stuff here. Who else?
I should probably write the magazine and ask Ben Delany these questions, but I am interested in seeing if I am crazy first.
On a second note, are there any American component companies? Does anyone make suspension components here? What about drivetrain parts, wheels, brakes, stuff like that.
I am not saying anything against import bikes, or quality issues or anything like that. I am just curious how healthy the bike industry in America is at the craftsman level. I think it is pretty healthy at the business level. And like the title line says; please don't make this a politics thread.
It shows lots of neat information, but what I am curious about was totals for bikes made in America. It shows the following numbers:
Bikes made in America in 1999: 1,700,000
Bikes made in America in 2001: 900,000
Bikes made in America in 2003: 353,000
I find these numbers interesting. That is a huge drop in a short time and it seems like the bike industry is doing better than that. Many here are more knowledgeable than I, so help me out. Doesn't Trek and Gary Fisher make the upper end of their lines in the U.S.? Cannondale is also made in the U.S, isn't it? I would think that companies that size would account for some pretty good numbers by themselves.
There are many custom makers out there that are building in America. While not producing huge numbers of bikes, collectively they should add up to some pretty good numbers too.
It would be interesting to compile a list of U.S bike makers. As far as I know, Ventana makes their whole line here (U.S.A.). Turner makes their bikes here don't they? Santa Cruz makes all but a couple of models here. I am told that Yeti makes most of their stuff here. Who else?
I should probably write the magazine and ask Ben Delany these questions, but I am interested in seeing if I am crazy first.
On a second note, are there any American component companies? Does anyone make suspension components here? What about drivetrain parts, wheels, brakes, stuff like that.
I am not saying anything against import bikes, or quality issues or anything like that. I am just curious how healthy the bike industry in America is at the craftsman level. I think it is pretty healthy at the business level. And like the title line says; please don't make this a politics thread.
1 - 8 of 8 Posts
Those numbers mainly reflect Huffy and other mass market companies shutting down their US production. These are for the bikes that sell for less than $150.11 Bravo said:I was looking through some mags and came across the Dirt Rag Index, Dirt Rag 107, page 22, and it got me thinking (no simple task).
It shows lots of neat information, but what I am curious about was totals for bikes made in America. It shows the following numbers:
Bikes made in America in 1999: 1,700,000
Bikes made in America in 2001: 900,000
Bikes made in America in 2003: 353,000
I find these numbers interesting. That is a huge drop in a short time and it seems like the bike industry is doing better than that. Many here are more knowledgeable than I, so help me out. Doesn't Trek and Gary Fisher make the upper end of their lines in the U.S.? Cannondale is also made in the U.S, isn't it? I would think that companies that size would account for some pretty good numbers by themselves.
There are many custom makers out there that are building in America. While not producing huge numbers of bikes, collectively they should add up to some pretty good numbers too.
It would be interesting to compile a list of U.S bike makers. As far as I know, Ventana makes their whole line here (U.S.A.). Turner makes their bikes here don't they? Santa Cruz makes all but a couple of models here. I am told that Yeti makes most of their stuff here. Who else?
I should probably write the magazine and ask Ben Delany these questions, but I am interested in seeing if I am crazy first.
On a second note, are there any American component companies? Does anyone make suspension components here? What about drivetrain parts, wheels, brakes, stuff like that.
I am not saying anything against import bikes, or quality issues or anything like that. I am just curious how healthy the bike industry in America is at the craftsman level. I think it is pretty healthy at the business level. And like the title line says; please don't make this a politics thread.
1 - 8 of 8 Posts
