So, 'made in Taiwan' - is it important?

[red_riviera]

I'd love to see you all in a blind test :roll:

A blindfolded bike test? After you, mate!

 

[utahdog2003]

Most asian built frames will kick butt over a hand made US/UK/where ever frame because they're made by multi million dollar robots. Once set up "correctly" you'll get a perfect frame time after time after time.

Every high end USA built frame I've owned - Intense, Foes', Team GTs, Manitou FS, Have had quirks. Whether it be straightness, sizes, angles etc
Oh and most of them failed at the weld

To be honest my Orange Patriot is damn near perfect. But sometimes you do get a good one.

Asian production IS cheap, Its reliable, but the QC does suffer a bit.

So which is it, riddled with QC issues or perfect because of volume and robots? Your whole post seems to be a contradiction.

Take a casual look around you.
Would you have as much stuff and be living in the lifestyle you lead if the asians wern't making it.

Stop being elitist and nationalistic racists :!:

Pretty close. I work very hard to try to not support exploited manufacturing labor whnever I can. There are things I can't control, like the guts of the computer I'm using right now, but if I can, I'll support the living wage every time.

As a yank, f I was being Nationalistic, I'd be driving a Chevrolet and not the Land Rover that I do.

 

[Scrat]

^ Well done Utahdog

Thats the point, Its a moot argument

 

[DM]

I completely agree with the previous post, about offshore-ing production and then continuing to charge "Made in U.S." prices.

Asian frames are produced (relatively) cheaply - That's presumably the whole reason for making them there??

So why rip off the consumer by keeping the same 4-figure retail price as previous years, when the overheads included paying EU/US salaries?
[cough! CANNONDALE!!]
Answer: FAT PROFITS > domestic jobs and consumer value.

In terms of quality, the US/Asian comparison is very mixed & price is no guide to quality:

My cheap alu Chinese 29er is fantastic;

My Asian steel Konas had better tyre clearance than the Sandvik Ti one;
(Not so much bad design, as a limitation of Ti manufacturing at the time, but the Ti version still cost X times more than the other one).

My US Cannondale had mis-aligned canti bosses, wouldn't corner and stripped its rack eyelets carrying a few boxes home from work. Fragile, wonky junk, fit only for Coke cans;

My US Santa Cruz rode beautifully, was tough as nails and was welded/aligned/ painted/ faced to perfection.

Overall, I think Asian frames offer great value for money.
But don't pretend they're something boutique, made by elves:

* They shouldn't cost the same as a US-built or custom frame.
* The "Designed / Assembled in U.S." thing is questionable.
* As is appropriating the aura of names such as "Fat Chance[er]".

 

[graham1975]

Its nothing to do with were its made its the design of the frame which determins how it rides and handles IMHO

 

[ptr138]

Just a thought..

What if we, instead of using our energy trying to improve chinese/indian/taiwanese working conditions, put some effort in our own community..