I see a lot of bikes at LBSs with FSA components, particularly cranks and stems. Are their components any good? I have to admit I'm a bit suspicious because I'm wondering if OEMs aren't cheaping out by using the FSA stuff instead of the genuine article (SRAM, Shimano, etc.) I also read that Sheldon had a number of bad experiences with their bottom brackets such that his shop stopped selling them. That said, I have a fitter-recommended FSA Omega short reach bar on my new ride along with an OS-190 stem.

Any thoughts from knowledgeable grease monkeys would be greatly appreciated.

Shimano has a lot of non series parts specifically for the OEM market, so do many other companies, FSA just being one, nothing wrong with any of their products, either retail or OEM.

If Shimano is the 'genuine article' what were the long since gone companies who made parts before them?

For the late great Sheldon Brown, the ISIS bottom bracket failure you are referencing isn't really relevant in 2013, that article is getting on for 8 years old, about a component which is no longer made, and for a BB type which is all but obsolete.

They are generally considered good, but certain items have had problems. I have an older SL-K crank where the bolt wouldn't stay tight, but the later models have a mod to keep them tight plus they reversed the thread on the cap so it would lock against the bolt. They are not blind to the issue.

The OEMs are not cheaping out as the stuff is not cheap and are sometimes considered an improvement.

Satisfied with the Gossamer Megaexo crankset on our tandem.

Well I hope they're at least decent, because I have exactly those bars & stem on order from nashbar right now! The price was right. I have the impression that you can't really mess up too badly with a stem, but I"m not sure what to expect from a "compact" bar... (see here)

It is supposed to be the cheaper stuff bike company slap on the bikes to save cost. But I imagine FSA work better than most things from the 80s/90s.

A lot of people also swear by SL-K.

FSA make some affordable threadless headsets that are good value and easy to install. I like the look of their cranks more than some of the Shimanos. Other than that I don't have bad opinions of them.

FSA make a wide range of products at different quality levels and different prices. It would be too much of a generalization to say its all great or all mediocre. Like Shimano stuff - some models are better than others. But some FSA products come standard on $6,000 bikes so many FSA products obviously have an excellent reputation.

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2 Chinas you know.. Taiwan the Island,and the mainland.

Components are picked for functionality and price contribution to total cost.