Originally Posted by
Trakhak
I think the question pertained to whether the U.S. dealer was still in business, not Koga.
By the way, I'm a little puzzled at cyccommute's speculation that Koga probably doesn't sell many touring bikes. Their touring offerings include bikes with CUES, Deore XT, or Rohloff drivetrains, e-assist, and front suspension. They even have a configure-your-own-version option, the Koga Signature. If they weren't selling many touring bikes, they would hardly maintain such an extensive array of choices.
You misunderstood or, perhaps, I wasn’t clear. I’m sure they sell a substantial number of bikes. But I’m fairly certain that they aren’t selling tens of thousands of units per year. In a bike market with 143 million units worldwide, even 100,000 units per year would be a blip.
To be clear, I’ve maintained for ages that a touring bike would be a better all around bike for people who aren’t racing than just about any bike on the market.
- Want a gravel bike? A touring bike can do that and carry a load while doing it. I’ve done many hundreds of miles on gravel roads while touring.
- Want a utility bike? A touring bike is made to carry stuff.
- Want a bike to go for a ride in Colorado’s mountains with their volatile weather where it is likely to be freezing, broiling, snowing, raining, and have hail all in the same ride? Take a touring bike because it can carry the 4 changes of clothing you need. Jersey pockets only go so far in carrying stuff.
- What a bike that is good enough for fast rides? Touring bikes really aren’t that bad at going fast.
- What a bike for “bikepacking”? Well that’s what touring bikes were built for.