Originally Posted by
Brvn
NJS frame: Kasei, Tange, or higher end columbus tubing
Alien: Double-butted Cro-Mo steel
aliens are also a quarter of the price of a brand new NJS frame, and TBH, i'd rather have a decent generic double-butted cro-mo on a street ride than something lightweight. it's not going to make that muchof a difference.
NJS frame: Hand built by skilled workers who enjoy building bikes.
Alien: ??? factory workers, most likely working to feed their children, not to make a bike you love.
um, either way, it takes a decnet amount of skill to braze a lugged frame, no matter which asian country you're from. and who says the guy brazing frames in the taiwanese factory enjoys his job any less than the guy in the japanese factory? very few frame concerns in japan are one-man shops, and in the case of bridgestone, i'm pretty sure they have just as many workers on the floor as maxway. these are still mass-produced frames in both cases.
NJS frame: Hatta headsets, sugino/hatta/shimano/ BBs
Alien: From what I gather either none or cheap ones can be installed.
moot point. you can just as easily get a NJS HS/BB combo for an alien if you want. hell, the fork crown on aliens is JIS anyway.
NJS frame: Much larger variance in fitting options, differnt seat stays, differnt fork crowns.
Alien frame: Seat tube size changes in increments of 2cms
not unless you go custom. most keirin builders won't even let you choose the type of tubing.
NJS frame: Can be resold for nearly the same price you paid for it if you dont thrash it.
Alien frame: Probably pretty worthless if you dont want it anymore.
i'm sure the resale value on an alien would be pretty decent, NJS frames are overpriced anyway.
NJS frames: Scrutinized by a panel of judges on quality, historical significance, years of experience already built up behind all of the brands.
Alien frame: Brand new start up, albeit made in a factory that makes lots of other frames that have been around for awhile if I recall.
IIRC, the factory that makes aliens (and kazane frames for that matter, and possibly the lugged somas) is owned by maxway, one of the largest producers of bikes in the world, period. if you think the quality control isn't just as strong as any other factory anywhere else, well that's just dumb.
I dont want to get into an arguement or anything...
not trying to argue, but each of your points was pretty well unfounded.
disclaimer: i own an alien, and i'm pretty f**king impressed and happy with it.