roadwarrior

https://inrng.com/2012/02/who-made-your-bike/

There have been threads on this before, but it was a topic of discussion amongst a few of us this morning on a forum for people in the business.

It's interesting information.

What's always cracked me up is how much some manufacturers charge for a frame made in the same factory as another charging much less.

So the lesson here is, if you want a source bike, buy a Giant.

MegaTom

In fact, this exact link has been shared more than once.

On the surface, maybe. But the real substance of the matter is not. There are manufacturing companies and there are 'brand' companies. It's common for manufacturers to service more than one brand. Very few brands are their own manufacturer. This isn't an some sort of anomaly that is exclusive to the bike biz.

One thing has nothing to do with the other.



The only reason to buy a Giant is that they make some nice bikes.

etw

I suppose that it is the same as some brewing facilities contract brewing for a number of makers. All different recipes and the beer doesn't taste the same.

MegaTom

Correctamundo.

Seattle Forrest

All racers use the same dope, too.

merlinextraligh

I find it funny that many people look down their nose a bit at Giants.

Mike F

So my Scott is a Giant and could be a Colnago... How cool is that

Menel

My Lynskey is made by Lynskey in the one and only Lynskey factory.

I saw the unfinished frame, still with the discoloration of recent welding, when we were choosing the sizing to best match me.

That was easy. Didn't even have to look at your website.

roadwarrior

When I got my original Cannondale Super Six, I met the guy that did the carbon layup in Bedford. That was right after they added to the factory for their carbon-only production.

The good old days...

Jed19

I really don't look down on any bike, but I think Giant can really use some nice designers with a stylist flair. Some bike brands, while functionally brilliant, can be kinda blah stylishly. The human animal is really an extremely visual (and tactile) being, and manufacturers and designers of a lot of things better take this to heart.

If you don't believe me, just look at the money spent by women in getting bigger cups surgically. And of course, that money (not to talk of the pain involved) won't be spent if the opposite gender are not suckers for big cups visually. I have used cups, but you get my drift.

So, Giant could hire some really cool stylists to give their bikes more flair, like Specialized, for example.

save10

canam73

I'm fairly certain that for every person that likes the looks of Specialized there is at least one (if not 3) who think they look like barf and poopy.

Adrianinkc

+1 giants paint and decals suck. Before this year their marketing has sucked also.

Jed19

Sure, one man's cup of tea, is another's poison. I do not own a Specialized, but there is no doubt in my mind that they take "styling" very seriously. Also, look at Trek, they make nice bikes, but I won't put them in the same class stylishly with some of the european brands. My point is this: your brand won't be firing on all cylinders until it catches someone's eye. And if the choice comes down to two bikes that are equally great function-wise, then the smart money is on the more stylish bike.

I am almost sure that a modern carbon Colnago probably does not edge out an equivalent Trek performance-wise, but the design pedigree and flair of the Colnago probably wins the day in a close evaluation.

Seattle Forrest

Cervelo makes a lot of ugly bikes.

Jed19

I don't think so!

OldTryGuy

Many, many years ago when wife and I had a Schwinn shop, Schwinn went overseas to have bikes built for them. Any guess as to the manufacturers??

I purchased my Giant Propel because the frame worked for me within the first 100 feet of a test ride. I really don't care how anyone feels how it looks, all I know is that the guys/gals I ride with follow me a whole lot more. It's fun leading them out for a sprint after I get them to 30mph.

TassR700

Ever hear of Luxottica? They happen to own Ray Ban, Oakley, Persol and Vogue brands along with Sunglass Hut. The bike industry is not at all unique in the supply chain for their products.

Jed19

Talk about the anti-trust clowns at the US Justice Department being asleep at the switch!

merlinextraligh

I'd agree that Giant's graphics suck. 2006, and before they were just an overstated mish mash of crap.

I really liked my 2007 TCR, which had understated graphics with a cool effect embedded in the clear coat. But it seemed they couldn't help themselves, and headed right back to garish crap.

gsa103

Carbon fiber is an interesting material to work with. Much of the difference is in the preparation, materials, and layering. Something as simple as weave orientation can have a dramatic effect. Even two bikes coming from the same mold can have vastly different characteristics depending on the preparation. If you believe the marketing the bike labels are probably doing slightly different things with each bike model.

I would imagine this process is similar to the automotive industry. The same plant can turn out multiple different car models, frequently even sharing an engine. Yet no one is seriously going to argue that a passenger sedan and CUV are the same because they share an engine and factory.

calyth

Or the very computer that you're using. Whether you're talking Dell / HP, or actual parts manufacturer, it could've come from Foxconn.

Or Graphics cards, TSMC makes the chips for nVidia and AMD, and a whole host of others.

Problem about the grey market stuff isn't about the place of origin, but lack of QC if it was created from factories "borrowing" molds, or failing QC in cases where people are selling them.

People rarely complain about where Apple's stuff are made, because in general, they have enough QC to make sure their stuff won't fall apart.

zonatandem

Since 1977 have never bought a tandem bicycle from a 'manufacturer.'
We design our own tandem(s) and give a custom builder our specs. He then builds it.
Have had tandem built by Matt Assenmacher (Michigan); Colin Laing (a Brtish ex-pat living in Phoenix area); Co-Motion ( Dwan Shepherd/Oregon) and now a Zona full carbon fiber 2-seater by Bob Davis in Peoria, Arizona.
Due to spouse/stoker sizing requirements (she's a petite 4' 10 3/4" "tall") there is no production tandem that will fit her perfectly.

Photos of our Zona twicer.
Pedal on!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

clausen

It's common practice look at all the brands GMC has made over the years.

WhyFi

And you think of yourself as a knowledgeable industry insider? Heh.