Originally Posted by rothenfield1

A nyetshell indeed! I believe this answers the PM's question as succinctly as any here. The Japanese caught a tsunami wave called the exchange rate and rode it for about a decade and a half. But IMHO, there's a little more to it then just what country could make bikes the cheapest. It seems to me that the Japanese in the 70's brought a pride in workmanship and innovations in manufacturing processes that resulted in a high quality mass produced bike that the average teenager could afford, (or should I say, the average teenagers parents). I don't think you will be saying that about the Chi/Tai bikes 20 years from now. It was an era of bike making we may never see again I'm afraid.