The marketing scheme was similar to how it now is.

You buy a Kona, you (a buyer with no concern or knowledge of the realities of manufacturing not of the elite-tier componentry made by the same companies making the OEM parts) expect that Kona to have Kona stem, Kona seatpost, and so on.

Same went for DeRosa as well as Schwinn.


The difference between silkscreened/painted components and panto’d components is the majority of people shopping on price instead of quality. Every company has to cut “I don’t need that fancy stuff” corners to hit price points and move units.