[digitalayon]

I know they have Cannondale and GT under their belt. But I had no idea they also had Pacific as well. I was checking out some Schwinns and it looks like to me that Dorel has separated Schwinn from the Pacific. The bikes do not seem as watered down as they once were. For mountain they look as if they are trying to cool it on price. But the commuter, Hybrids, and fixies they are offering look like a great value to me. Especially the Sporterra Comp, Sporterra NX8, and the Cutter. The Cutter looks like a great value. These seem like great bikes viewing online. I'm wondering if they have indeed escaped Pacific. To me it looks like Schwinn is being used as the "Commuter" and "Urban" bikes under Dorel.

 

[trboxman]

Schwinn is still a mass market brand as far as I can tell.

 

[digitalayon]

Schwinn is still a mass market brand as far as I can tell.

Agreed! But they have definitely changed their "music". Now whether or not the musicians are the same....I don't know!...but it sure seems like it. Check these out!

http://www.schwinnbike.com/usa/eng/Products/Urban/Fixie/Details/1377-S10CUT-Cutter

http://www.schwinnbike.com/usa/eng/Products/Hybrid/Details/1398-S10SEACO-Searcher-Comp

http://www.schwinnbike.com/usa/eng/Products/Hybrid/Details/1409-S10SPONX8-Sporterra-NX8

 

[toosense]

as far as fixed gear bikes go,the cutter is definitely at the bottom of the list. hi-ten steel frame=no bueno. coming from someone who rides fixed regularly, i can say that the cutter definitely feels like a wally world bike. schwinns got a ways to go.

 

[BigSharks]

I'm not sure what it means to escape Pacific, but it is sad to see Dorel pimp once-desirable brands like Schwinn and Mongoose. Hopefully, they'll leave C'Dale and GT alone, but I doubt it. Sadder still (IMO) is that Schwinn and Mongoose still make high end stuff...why even bother?

 

[trboxman]

GT seems to be surviving for now. They had already been on a downhill trend for a number of years prior to the Pacific Cycle acquisition.

 

[digitalayon]

GT seems to be surviving for now. They had already been on a downhill trend for a number of years prior to the Pacific Cycle acquisition.

GT has some sweet bikes right now.....but very expensive

 

[digitalayon]

I'm not sure what it means to escape Pacific, but it is sad to see Dorel pimp once-desirable brands like Schwinn and Mongoose. Hopefully, they'll leave C'Dale and GT alone, but I doubt it. Sadder still (IMO) is that Schwinn and Mongoose still make high end stuff...why even bother?

but if you notice, their high end is all in hybrid and commuting. Their MTB's suck!!

 

[mikerod87]

Man I love my Force. I think the Fury is Hot.

It saddens me to see whats happening to GF.

 

[trboxman]

What's happening to GF? They've been owned by Trek for forever.

 

[mikerod87]

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=627412

They are now the Trek GF collection. They are cutting a majority of the bikes. And they look like CRAP!! But what can I say I am a GT guy!!

 

[MikeDee]

I'm not sure what it means to escape Pacific, but it is sad to see Dorel pimp once-desirable brands like Schwinn and Mongoose. Hopefully, they'll leave C'Dale and GT alone, but I doubt it. Sadder still (IMO) is that Schwinn and Mongoose still make high end stuff...why even bother?

Better than what Trek did to Bontrager, Klein, Lemond and now Gary Fisher.

 

[digitalayon]

What I don't get is why would you buy a company to toss it later? It's not like these guys could ever be a threat......but I have heard rumors of Trek purchasing Moots and Seven.

 

[digitalayon]

FYI....Jamis is also in some financial trouble.....TREK? Dorel? Stay away let them climb out.

 

[mikerod87]

What I don't get is why would you buy a company to toss it later? It's not like these guys could ever be a threat......but I have heard rumors of Trek purchasing Moots and Seven.

Trek finds a way to screw up brands...

Klein.
Now GF.
Who's next?

I thought GF was headed in the right direction. They have some hot bikes. Maybe GF wants out of the business completely. But that is an uneducated statement?

 

[trboxman]

They don't screw up brands, they eliminate competition.

I own a couple of older made in the USA mid level Treks from the early 90's and a new low to mid GT made in China. The differences are pretty large as far as bike for the dollar spent. I attribute most of it to low labor and manufacturing costs.

 

[mikerod87]

They don't screw up brands, they eliminate competition.

I own a couple of older made in the USA mid level Treks from the early 90's and a new low to mid GT made in China. The differences are pretty large as far as bike for the dollar spent. I attribute most of it to low labor and manufacturing costs.

The GF brand is going away(in 5 years will be non-existent unfortunately) and Klein is long gone.

Spending money to eliminate a brand leaves you with no sales for your investment. Loyalty to those brands evaporates and customers go elsewhere. I do not believe all the GF loyal customers are going to transition to Trek. In the end what did Trek gain by spending the money on Klein and GF? New technology- yes topline sales -no.

Did Mercedez eliminate Jeep/Chrystler when they purchased it? They added those brands to their portfolio to increase topline sales.

Dorel has kept their brands at different price points and segmented across multiple segments which is smart. They have made acquisitions of companies near bankrupcy.

For the record bikes made in China are inferior to those made in Taiwan. Non-Carbon.

 

[trboxman]

I've never understood brand loyalty in that manner. Lots of good companies that make good bikes seem to have a problem staying solvent. Those guys either go under or get bought, in either case they're failing. In some cases they go with reputations intact and in others, not so much. I hope that Dorel will leave the designers and product guys at their various bike companies alone but I know that they won't. It's too expensive to maintain that kind of separation. I fear that even GT will become a department store bike before all is said and done. At least Trek has maintained a very strong LBS connection.

 

[mikerod87]

I've never understood brand loyalty in that manner. Lots of good companies that make good bikes seem to have a problem staying solvent. Those guys either go under or get bought, in either case they're failing. In some cases they go with reputations intact and in others, not so much. I hope that Dorel will leave the designers and product guys at their various bike companies alone but I know that they won't. It's too expensive to maintain that kind of separation. I fear that even GT will become a department store bike before all is said and done. At least Trek has maintained a very strong LBS connection.

I have a hard time believing GT is going to go mass market with all of the investment in new design and carbon fiber. Based on what I see Mongoose and Schwinn will play in those segments.

When GT went mass market in the past they were grasping for straws b/c they were going down the tubes. It was a last ditch effort to save the company. Unfortunetly it ruined their reputation.

I think Trek would be better served to keep the GF brand separate.