jshct

Merckx Majestic Ti frame. Merckx design, USA built by Litespeed. At least that's what the label says.

BlastRadius

That's interesting... kinda like how Toyota has a plant in Fremont, CA.
I wonder what is better for the U.S. economy? An American company, designing bikes in the U.S., and using cheap labor overseas or a foreign company, designing bikes overseas, and having them built here?

In the former, the money for the sale of the bike goes to an American company and vice-versa in the latter. Of course that's an oversimplification but it's just something to noodle over.

shokhead

Does having it made here or there make anyone a better rider?

BigFloppyLlama

Last I knew, the 1000 was the only one outsourced (in their road category that is).

Not at all.

jshct

No, but its great to know that we can still support US manufacturing. We are continuing to lose our manufacturing base and labor skills daily. It certainly concerns me. How many products have you bought lately that doesn't say made in China, Singapore, Malaysia........... Nothing against these countries and I believe they produce very good products, but where does that leave the US? We used to be the Industrial power of the world. I'm not so sure anymore.

BlastRadius

As skills convert from industrial type work to more service oriented jobs, the air will be better for we cyclists to breathe. Then we just need better/more environment friendly electricity production facilities.

bikenutr2000

Which is even more shocking that Lemond is bashing Armstrong and hinting that he is getting away with doping.

jshct

Somewhat true. How long do you think it will take before environmental abuses abroad impact everyone else. Corporations are moving out because of 1) lower wages, 2) Little or no environmental controls, 3)little or no government controls, 4) reduced energy costs. I'm sure we can find positive effects of overseas production such as cheap prices and quality goods, but perhaps we need to consider the long term effects as well. We 1st created a dependacy on foreign energy sources in the 1970's and now we are creating dependency on foreign manufacturing. In a perfect world, a global economy benefits all. I don't think we achieved perfection yet.
Sorry, I'll get off the soap box now.

BlastRadius

True, true, that's why I buy Italian

halfspeed

My wife's 1200c has a sticker integrated with the chainstay protector: "Made in the USA with domestic and foreign parts." There is an American flag on the sticker. Looking at the pictures on their web site, I can see the sticker on most of the road bikes, but not the 1000. That's not conclusive, but you could check it out at your local Trek dealer.

catatonic

To me where it's made doesnt matter as much as the maker being honest about it. I'm fed up and sick of marketing bullsh. I don't care what you call something...just tell us how it is. I don't care if the name for your aluminum 7005 frame is "spoogealistic"....Just say it's a 7005 aluminum frame somewhere, and not in small print. Same goes for lights...what technology and wattage and battery life please.

Really this is all a matter of marketing getting out of hand...I do see this as becoming as annoying as the computer speaker market...such as "1000 watt" computer speakers that only have 15w max drivers and can only draw about 12 watts from the wall without melting down. No offense to the good marketing folks out there...it's just there is a line between making something look good, and outright lying to the customer.

RandyMcD

Amen! Hence my question - if I buy a new bike, it's goinog to have an American-made frame on it.

DieselDan

Frames are about the only bike part made in the USA. Most, if not all components, are made in Japan, China, Tiawan, Mexico, Itlay, or France.

shokhead

I dont check to see where its made,i buy what looks like the best value for MY money. Being made here doesnt make it better,just more money.

RandyMcD

It's not about the value, it's about supporting American workers. I'll spend a few extra bucks to shop locally rather than online and I'll spend a few extra bucks to buy American products, because I don't want either of them to vanish.

jshct

I don't think anyone said a bike made in the US is better(performance wise). What I and perhaps a few others are saying, is that its important to consider supporting US companies who produce quality products vs. products produced abroad. I realize that many cannot afford high end US frames, & that's ok. But if comes down to equal price(its worth it to me to spend a few more dollars) and equal quality I will choose a US product any day. Perhaps you ascribe to the tenet that "the business of business is business"' that is, just let market forces sort things out. I have a problem with that for ethical reasons. But everyone is certainly entitled to their opinion and I respect that.

shokhead

Your supporting the owner,not the worker,sorry. Its just a matter of time before most is produced outside the US so MORE profits can get into the owners hand which by being the owner is his right. Lowest income jobs and out of sight income will only be left here.When a frame made here cost 750 bucks and outside the US it might be 150 bucks,the owner is seeing to many $ signs to keep it in the good old US of A. Thats to bad but,imo,thats what is going to happen,or is it already?Of course if 2 things cost the same or almost the same i will get the USA made because i know in most cases its better. Now is CD that much better then others,i dont think so.

Dcat

Correct, but the worker does benefit. He/she has a job, however low paying it might be. If manufacturing was still done on a large scale in the U.S., salaries would rise. Foreign cheap labor has not proven to benefit the worker or the consumer, but only the importer and owner. Savings have not really been passed along to the U.S. consumer for most high end products. Look hard enough and you can find bargains made in USA (my custom bike was cheaper than any that I came across in my research)

roadbuzz

The Ti frames are. I think the Al frames are sourced, most likely Taiwan.

bac

Hmmmm, this attitude didn't work with foreign autos, and it isn't going to work with bikes either. The only way to better bikes, and to HELP the domestic industry is through good COMPETITION! If you want a better product, and better (and MORE!) jobs for Americans, buy the best product, be it foreign or domestic. The market will catch up - just like it did when Honda, Subaru and the others joined the automobile market in the States. The result is that autos are soooooo much better now because of the competition. Without this competition, we'd still all be driving rolling rust buckets that last about 50k miles.

jshct

I don't think you can use this comparison today. The current world market includes many nations that have no environmental controls, very low wages & virtually no bennies for workers, and little government regulation. Compare that to the US, other western European nations, Japan, & Taiwan who have controls in place to protect workers and the environment. I suggest you visit Mexico City some day and try to enjoy the air quality there or look into lthe quality of life in main land China or Malaysia.
How can you possibly compete with countries that underpay workers and abuse the environment?

DGUT

Anybody know where Raleigh is made or put together at this time?

late

It's a global economy. There was a year or two recently where it was possbile to get every part made in America; but I think that is no longer true. Even if they did, it would make no sense to buy an American rear der, for example, for 4 or 5 times what the top Shimano costs.
For most it would mean buying a cheaper frame. Which usually means a non-American frame.

The reality is that we have economic interdependence. A lot of old guys want to hang onto the old ways. So their countries wind up subsidising various industries, Which usually kills them in the long run. It makes sense to protect a few key industries relating to defense. Beyond that, you are pretty much shooting yourself in the foot. You can point to losses created by this change. But there have also been gains. Americans by any historical standard are wealthy. We live longer, have more free time, more disposable income than quite a few kings in history. Capitalism is often called "creative destruction" for those reasons. . Sorry, but the basics are the same for us as they were when England was on top a century ago. And the basics include having a world class education system (our secondary education is a mess)..a healthy economy (our debt levels are a nightmare) and good relations with your neighbors (oops). Chasing after spilt milk is not a winning strategy.

catatonic

made in china, jsut like diamondback...but they all sport teh "designed in USA" tag.

shokhead

Whats wrong with education?
Debt,whats new?
Relations or jealousy? We are all friends when they are in $$$$ need. All money browered gicen back and we would not be in debt. Got a war,come on,its the right thing for YOU{U.S} to do. How many millions of lives have the us saved? And how many of the US haters saved. USA is not perfect and i cuss it as much as anyony but given a chance to move,i'll stay,thanks. Would changing every min and the rules are hard to keep up with but the one that wont change is the rich get richer and if that means losing workers here to make a product out of the USA, you know the answer.