Originally Posted by
cyccommute
Mstateglfr- I dont consider my '88 Schwinn Premis that was made in Mississippi to be better than my '89 Novara Trionfo that was made in Japan just because it was made in the USA.
And for what its worth, though they are comparable in tier/level, the Japan frame is significantly better fabricated.
Cycco- That applies more to 80s bikes than more modern bicycles, although there are outliers. Manufacturing has gotten better for US made bikes and worse for many off-shore bikes...depending on the level of bike, of course.
Well sure my example applies to the 80s...both frames I mention are from the 80s. And since the OP cites examples from the 80s and early 90s, it's applicable for me to mention frames from the 80s.
How has US manufacturing for bikes gotten better? Trek is gone. Cannondale is gone. You basically have some boutique low production(relative to the overall market) and that low end big box bike company producing stuff in South Carolina.
Not sure how some small production boutiques and a low end company = manufacturing has gotten better.
Originally Posted by
cyccommute
Mstateglfr- My '92 Cannondale touring frame isnt better than my Japan made Fuji touring frame from '90 just because it was made in the USA.
Cycco- I would have to disagree. My Cannondale touring bike is a far better bike than my Miyata or my daughter’s Fuji touring bike. The design is far better and the ride quality (at least compared to the Miyata) is vastly better. The same is true for my Moots YBB, my Dean mountain bike and my Dean road bike. Each one shines when it comes to performance and ride quality.
Of course you disagree that a steel frame is just as good as a Cannondale frame- you are the joker who can't disagree with Cannondale claiming comparable steel road frames weigh 8 pounds. Sorry, but your opinion on this is worthless.
My point in the earlier post was to show that the touring frame from Japan has excellent finish and is well thought out. Same goes for the Cannondale touring frame.
I'm sure your will complain of shimmy or whatever for the steel touring bikes you mentioned. And ok fine. Comparing a US made Trek 520 steel touring bike from that time period with your Miyata or my Fuji would be apples to apples then. And again, the fit and finish on all of them would be excellent. Ive ridden late 80s and early 90s 520- they are perfectly fine and not inherently better than the Japanese brands mentioned just because 520s were made in the US.
Ha, I had forgotten your absurd argument about steel competition road bikes from the early 90s having frames that weigh 8 pounds. Too funny.
The OP is discussing regular/typical level bikes and not high end boutique Moots or similar US brands.
Comparing boutique custom frames with mass production frames is clearly not apples to apples.
8# steel competition road frame- ha ha.