Why do bike manufacturers have different names for their component brands?
06-26-09, 09:12 AM
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Why do bike manufacturers have different names for their component brands?
Just curious. Why do brands like Trek and Blue change the name of their components' brands (Bontrager and Aerus, respectively)?
Seems that brands like Specialized have had little problem getting consumers to use their components under the same name...
Any idea? Some sort of marketing reason?
Seems that brands like Specialized have had little problem getting consumers to use their components under the same name...
Any idea? Some sort of marketing reason?
06-26-09, 09:24 AM
#4
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So they can sell these components to people willing to use them on other brand frames.
You probably wouldn't put Trek components on a Cannondale...but you might put Bontrager components on.
You probably wouldn't put Trek components on a Cannondale...but you might put Bontrager components on.
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06-26-09, 09:28 AM
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The tangential question is whether, there's still value in the Bontrager brand name , given that most current Trek owners have no idea who Keith Bontrager is, or what his company was before Trek.
Obviously Trek must think the brand has value or they wouldn't use the name. But , "Bontrager" rightly or wrongly, in my mind, is now associateed with house brand crap.
Edit: To Rad's point, I guess a Trek seatpost would seeem like lower house brand crap than a Bontrager seatpost.
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06-26-09, 09:30 AM
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I guess there was a domestic pro team running around on Fuji bikes with Bontrager components for a while. Well, there are very few Bontrager components I'd want to put on my bike... but that's aside from the point, haha.
Anyways, I'm not just wondering about Bontrager. What about Pinarello/Onda? Similar situation?
I know that specialized bought Roval wheels, but we all saw how far that got 'em into the wheel market...
Anyways, I'm not just wondering about Bontrager. What about Pinarello/Onda? Similar situation?
I know that specialized bought Roval wheels, but we all saw how far that got 'em into the wheel market...
06-26-09, 09:31 AM
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Merlin... I'm a good example of someone who didn't know that Bontrager was a name. I don't know if it was once good stuff, but with a few exceptions Trek's really given it the house-brand image.
06-26-09, 09:33 AM
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Well in defense my Trek 1500 came with low end Bonty parts and now after buying my second bike that is loaded with high end components I have to say I'm impressed with Bonty stuff. The cheap Bonty bars that came on my 1500 absolutely own my Easton EA70 bars and were still stiffer and not much heavier than the carbon FSA bars that came on my new bike. Right now Bonty hasn't made my short list and I'd consider their product.
06-26-09, 09:40 AM
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I guess with a few things (shallow drop bars, anyone?) trek, errr, Bontrager seems to be doing real well. And I wouldn't think of any house brand components first if I was looking for something like a seatpost, bars, or stem. I'd probably check out Easton, FSA, Pro, and Thomson types first.
However, specialized stems at least have some cool appeal (shims for different angles)...
However, specialized stems at least have some cool appeal (shims for different angles)...
06-26-09, 10:13 AM
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I guess with a few things (shallow drop bars, anyone?) trek, errr, Bontrager seems to be doing real well. And I wouldn't think of any house brand components first if I was looking for something like a seatpost, bars, or stem. I'd probably check out Easton, FSA, Pro, and Thomson types first.
However, specialized stems at least have some cool appeal (shims) for different angles)...
However, specialized stems at least have some cool appeal (shims) for different angles)...
06-26-09, 11:54 AM
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Specialized components, while using the "house brand name" have managed to maintain the appearance of company pride in producing them.
I'm no marketing wizard, but if I was Trek, and I bought Bontrager, I would probably have rebranded everything to the Trek name on day 1. If you can't take some pride in what you produce, you can at least look like you do.
06-26-09, 12:17 PM
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fulcrum, subdivision of campagnolo. fulcrum actually makes shimano compatible wheels, where campagnolo does not.
sram, formerly sachs, bought out avid, rockshox and truvativ
trek also owns klein and gary-fisher, doesn't it?
many subdivisions of companies are acquisitions or made to differentiate the price point or market segment.
of course, when your subdivisions have so much overlap, you end up with the current state of GM
sram, formerly sachs, bought out avid, rockshox and truvativ
trek also owns klein and gary-fisher, doesn't it?
many subdivisions of companies are acquisitions or made to differentiate the price point or market segment.
of course, when your subdivisions have so much overlap, you end up with the current state of GM
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Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
06-26-09, 12:24 PM
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fulcrum, subdivision of campagnolo. fulcrum actually makes shimano compatible wheels, where campagnolo does not.
sram, formerly sachs, bought out avid, rockshox and truvativ
trek also owns klein and gary-fisher, doesn't it?
many subdivisions of companies are acquisitions or made to differentiate the price point or market segment.
of course, when your subdivisions have so much overlap, you end up with the current state of GM
sram, formerly sachs, bought out avid, rockshox and truvativ
trek also owns klein and gary-fisher, doesn't it?
many subdivisions of companies are acquisitions or made to differentiate the price point or market segment.
of course, when your subdivisions have so much overlap, you end up with the current state of GM
06-26-09, 12:27 PM
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The cheapener, to me, is the appearance that they don't want to use their own name on their own components, as if to distance themselves somehow from the cheapness.
Specialized components, while using the "house brand name" have managed to maintain the appearance of company pride in producing them.
I'm no marketing wizard, but if I was Trek, and I bought Bontrager, I would probably have rebranded everything to the Trek name on day 1. If you can't take some pride in what you produce, you can at least look like you do.
Specialized components, while using the "house brand name" have managed to maintain the appearance of company pride in producing them.
I'm no marketing wizard, but if I was Trek, and I bought Bontrager, I would probably have rebranded everything to the Trek name on day 1. If you can't take some pride in what you produce, you can at least look like you do.
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06-26-09, 12:27 PM
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well what do you know, you learn something new everyday 
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Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
06-26-09, 12:33 PM
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Just to confuse things, some of the Bontrager/whatever stuff is just rebranded OEM stuff. For example some of the Bontrager cranks are really Truvativ (SRAM) and I know that the Pinarello MOST cranks are rebranded FSA Team issue.
