What is it?
06-02-07 | 03:39 PM
#1
What is it?
If a bike is designed in one country, but built in another country, what "nationality" is the bike?
For example, Univega was a U.S. company, and the bikes were designed in the U.S., but built in Japan. Are they Japanese bikes? American bikes? International bikes?
Before Univega, there was Italvega, same deal: designed in the U.S., built in Italy. Lotus? Designed in the U.S., built in Japan.
And then there's that whole can of worms we get when an American company like Trek starts manufacturing in Taiwan, or an Italian company like Bianchi starts manufacturing in Japan.
Opinions?
For example, Univega was a U.S. company, and the bikes were designed in the U.S., but built in Japan. Are they Japanese bikes? American bikes? International bikes?
Before Univega, there was Italvega, same deal: designed in the U.S., built in Italy. Lotus? Designed in the U.S., built in Japan.
And then there's that whole can of worms we get when an American company like Trek starts manufacturing in Taiwan, or an Italian company like Bianchi starts manufacturing in Japan.
Opinions?
06-02-07 | 04:27 PM
#3
06-02-07 | 07:44 PM
#4
Super Course fan
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,720
Likes: 9
From: Lost on the windswept plains of the Great Black Swamp
Dude... I have a headache now 
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I have a white PX-10, a Green Dawes Galaxy and an Orange Falcon, now I'm done.
I have a white PX-10, a Green Dawes Galaxy and an Orange Falcon, now I'm done.
06-03-07 | 04:22 AM
#5
Lanky Lass
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 21,434
Likes: 7
From: Take a deep breath, and ask--What would Sheldon do?
Bikes: Nishiki Nut! International, Pro, Olympic 12, Sport mixte, and others too numerous to mention.
I'm elevating what Aaron says to 'I have a migraine now'!
Does this have anything to do with Fuji bicycles
?
East Hill
Does this have anything to do with Fuji bicycles
?East Hill
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TRY EMPATHY & HAVE LOVE IN YOUR HEART, PERHAPS I'LL SEE YOU ON THE ROAD...
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TRY EMPATHY & HAVE LOVE IN YOUR HEART, PERHAPS I'LL SEE YOU ON THE ROAD...
06-03-07 | 06:27 AM
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 18,771
Likes: 11,500
Was it the Ford Escort or some kind of Chrysler that tried as its selling point that it was "international": designed in the US, parts manufactured in various places, assembled in Lower Botslanastan. I don't think that worked out so well, and it was probably just a scheme to skirt the UAW, anyway.
Neal
Neal
06-03-07 | 07:18 AM
#8
Membership Not Required
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 16,853
Likes: 18
From: On the road-USA
Bikes: Giant Excursion, Raleigh Sports, Raleigh R.S.W. Compact, Motobecane? and about 20 more! OMG
Originally Posted by ridethecliche
I know the answer!
It's still a bike...
It's still a bike...
Reminds me of my mother's Mercury Tracer...American brand, built in Mexico at a Mazda plant
Aaron
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ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
06-03-07 | 08:43 PM
#9
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,418
Likes: 12
From: New Haven, CT area
Bikes: Trek 7.5 Hybrid, Trek 1.1 Road, Holdsworth touring,Raleigh International,Ritchey Commando,Italvega Speciallissimo,et.al.
Yes, this is definitely headache time. I recollect Raleigh USA in the early 80's importing Taiwanese manufactured front triangles and rear triangles, welding them together in their Washington state factory, painint them there, and slapping a large USA flag and USA manufactured stickers on them. Perhaps that was the harbringer of things to come. In the early 70's when I was selling Raleigh of Nottingham, England bikes, we would receive the same model bike made in UK, Holland, South Africa and sometimes India. However, they were properly decaled with the country of manufacture. Welcome to the global manufacturing economy.
