Jan Heine/Compass Purchases the René Herse Name
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 649
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 81 Post(s)
Liked 221 Times
in
65 Posts
Jan Heine/Compass Purchases the René Herse Name
I'm not sure this belongs in C & V, but I know people here will have an opinion about it. Jan Heine posted on his blog that he has purchased the René Herse name.
Jan is probably one of the most knowledgable people alive when it comes to René Herse and other classic French constructeurs so I suppose it makes a lot of sense that he would want to be the steward of the name.
Jan is probably one of the most knowledgable people alive when it comes to René Herse and other classic French constructeurs so I suppose it makes a lot of sense that he would want to be the steward of the name.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Liberty, Missouri
Posts: 3,120
Bikes: 1966 Paramount | 1971 Raleigh International | ca. 1970 Bernard Carre | 1989 Waterford Paramount | 2012 Boulder Brevet | 2019 Specialized Diverge
Mentioned: 23 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 129 Post(s)
Liked 77 Times
in
40 Posts
This just blows my mind! But Jan will be a good caretaker of the RH name.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Lancaster County, PA
Posts: 5,045
Bikes: '39 Hobbs, '58 Marastoni, '73 Italian custom, '75 Wizard, '76 Wilier, '78 Tom Kellogg, '79 Colnago Super, '79 Sachs, '81 Masi Prestige, '82 Cuevas, '83 Picchio Special, '84 Murray-Serotta, '85 Trek 170, '89 Bianchi, '90 Bill Holland, '94 Grandis
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
10 Posts
So he's going to be "Jan Herse?"
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Berwyn PA
Posts: 6,408
Bikes: I hate bikes!
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 431 Post(s)
Liked 710 Times
in
233 Posts
Good for him. Hope it works out. We always need small companies run by other bike nerds, whether you like his stuff or not.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Lancaster County, PA
Posts: 5,045
Bikes: '39 Hobbs, '58 Marastoni, '73 Italian custom, '75 Wizard, '76 Wilier, '78 Tom Kellogg, '79 Colnago Super, '79 Sachs, '81 Masi Prestige, '82 Cuevas, '83 Picchio Special, '84 Murray-Serotta, '85 Trek 170, '89 Bianchi, '90 Bill Holland, '94 Grandis
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
10 Posts
Wonder how the bidding went between Jan and Grant. Must have been like Barrett-Jackson for bikes.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Wherever
Posts: 16,748
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 556 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 132 Times
in
78 Posts
So, does this mean Mike Kone in Boulder can no longer use the name ? I had wondered what the arrangement was.
Oops. Answer in the blog.
Oops. Answer in the blog.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Lancaster County, PA
Posts: 5,045
Bikes: '39 Hobbs, '58 Marastoni, '73 Italian custom, '75 Wizard, '76 Wilier, '78 Tom Kellogg, '79 Colnago Super, '79 Sachs, '81 Masi Prestige, '82 Cuevas, '83 Picchio Special, '84 Murray-Serotta, '85 Trek 170, '89 Bianchi, '90 Bill Holland, '94 Grandis
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
10 Posts
So can Mark Nobilette still call himself "Mark Nobilette?" (he being the real talent and all ... )
#11
Randomhead
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
Posts: 24,398
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 3,697 Times
in
2,518 Posts
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Moorhead, MN
Posts: 997
Bikes: A few ;)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
I think Jan will be a good "keeper of the flame", especially since many new riders wouldnt even know about Rene Herse were it not for his preaching (for lack of a better term). But it's still an outsourced frame. I'd feel better if I were dropping RH money if my frame came out of a RH shop. Its petty I know.
I highly doubt Grant had any interest in RH. He does his own thing. Jan will just copy old designs (ala Velo Orange). Thats not a bad thing at all, especially if some of these great old designs will now be affordable and in the reach of us, like VO has done.
I highly doubt Grant had any interest in RH. He does his own thing. Jan will just copy old designs (ala Velo Orange). Thats not a bad thing at all, especially if some of these great old designs will now be affordable and in the reach of us, like VO has done.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Lancaster County, PA
Posts: 5,045
Bikes: '39 Hobbs, '58 Marastoni, '73 Italian custom, '75 Wizard, '76 Wilier, '78 Tom Kellogg, '79 Colnago Super, '79 Sachs, '81 Masi Prestige, '82 Cuevas, '83 Picchio Special, '84 Murray-Serotta, '85 Trek 170, '89 Bianchi, '90 Bill Holland, '94 Grandis
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
10 Posts
I was being facetious.
#15
Senior Member
I agree that Grant would not be interested in this niche.
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,768
Bikes: Cinelli, Paramount, Raleigh, Carlton, Zeus, Gemniani, Frejus, Legnano, Pinarello, Falcon
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
8 Posts
It seems Boulder has the rights to build frames and Compass the rights to components.
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Paris France
Posts: 1,338
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
2 Posts
I think they should make their own bikes under their own name.
If i could ever afford to buy a Rene Herse i would buy an original one and not a modern made reproduction one.
If i could ever afford to buy a Rene Herse i would buy an original one and not a modern made reproduction one.
#19
Hopelessly addicted...
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Central Maryland
Posts: 4,955
Bikes: 1949 Hercules Kestrel, 1950 Norman Rapide, 1970 Schwinn Collegiate, 1972 Peugeot UE-8, 1976 Raleigh Sports, 1977 Raleigh Sports, 1977 Jack Taylor Tandem, 1984 Davidson Tandem, 2010 Bilenky "BQ" 650B Constructeur Tandem, 2011 Linus Mixte
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
9 Posts
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Wherever
Posts: 16,748
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 556 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 132 Times
in
78 Posts
I know I'll probably get flamed for this. So it goes.
#22
Senior Member
i've been reading Heine's blog a lot recently, and given his past history and business endeavors, it seems like he's certainly the best person to carry on the Herse legacy.
__________________
Check out www.djcatnap.com for articles on vintage Japanese & French bicycle restorations, components and history.
Check out www.djcatnap.com for articles on vintage Japanese & French bicycle restorations, components and history.
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Paris France
Posts: 1,338
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
2 Posts
Also looking at their website and prices there is a huge difference between Rene Herse and Boulder frames.
If they build both frames and have the same quality control then why such a huge price difference?
If you can get a boulder 650b randonneur frame and fork with user defined geometry etc etc for $2000 , then why is a frame made by the same people but with Rene Herse on the frame costing up to $6000+?
If they build both frames and have the same quality control then why such a huge price difference?
If you can get a boulder 650b randonneur frame and fork with user defined geometry etc etc for $2000 , then why is a frame made by the same people but with Rene Herse on the frame costing up to $6000+?
#25
Friendship is Magic
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 22,984
Bikes: old ones
Mentioned: 304 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26419 Post(s)
Liked 10,380 Times
in
7,208 Posts
So what's the basis for the Specialized lawsuit in this situation?........
"We have been serving French fries in the company cafeteria for years".
.....................
"We have been serving French fries in the company cafeteria for years".
.....................
__________________