Making Bikes in US?

[Latestart]

Like many physical objects in our lives, most of the bikes we ride are made in China. In 2021, 76 million bicycles were manufactured there. Even many Italian brands that project the aura of artisanal, handcrafted bikes are mostly made there.

American bike manufacturing took off, along with the popularity of the bicycle, in the late 1890s. Bicycles subsequently went through boom and bust cycles in the 1930s and the 1970s. Bike brands started to look for a cheaper manufacturing solution outside of the United States after that, and Asia is where they ended up.

Chinese manufacturing for export took off in the ’80s and ’90s as the country opened up to the idea of business. Given the massive size of the Chinese manufacturing ecosystem, it’s amazing that the first business license in that country was not issued until 1979. The speed of growth in every Chinese industry has been extraordinary. One can understand how bike building got exported there: bikes are fairly low tech products that require lots of labor to build. So a manufacturing system with millions of workers who are paid a fraction of Western workers sounds appealing.


Read full article here:

https://peterabraham.medium.com/the-...g-6ac0b112ba2e

[Mark McM]

For quite a time, automation has been blamed for eliminating jobs. Now it is seen to as way to add jobs (at least in local economies with high labor costs).

Although the bicycle industry started in the west, most manufacturing has moved to the east - even for bicycles sold in the west. The biggest exception is Campagnolo, which is mostly still made in the west - even though some of their biggest markets are in the east.

[nmrt]

Does anyone have any account the percent of revenue/profit for Campy based on the continent and/or country?

Originally Posted by Mark McM

For quite a time, automation has been blamed for eliminating jobs. Now it is seen to as way to add jobs (at least in local economies with high labor costs).

Although the bicycle industry started in the west, most manufacturing has moved to the east - even for bicycles sold in the west. The biggest exception is Campagnolo, which is mostly still made in the west - even though some of their biggest markets are in the east.

[jamesdak]

Funny, 38 bikes in my house and not a one made in China.

[vespasianus]

And what is wrong with made in China? The computer or phone you are using to view this web-site is made in China.

[buddybikes]

I would say most of bikes on this forum are either US or Taiwanese (high end carbon mfg) and of course Japan (higher end Shimano)

None of my (or my wife's bikes made in China. 5 bikes total, 4 made in US one Taiwan.

[zmalwo]

it's kind of appalling that this many people can't differentiate Taiwan and China. They are not the same country

[GonaSovereign]

Originally Posted by zmalwo

it's kind of appalling that this many people can't differentiate taiwan and china. They are not the same country

+1

[sg8357]

Originally Posted by zmalwo

it's kind of appalling that this many people can't differentiate Taiwan and China. They are not the same country

We don’t say China, we say Occupied West Taiwan,

[jkbrwn]

Originally Posted by zmalwo

it's kind of appalling that this many people can't differentiate Taiwan and China. They are not the same country

Came to say the same thing. I've owned 50+ bikes at this stage and not a single one of them were made in China.... But almost all of them were made in Taiwan. You know, the most technologically advanced bike manufacturing country on the planet.

[slowpoke]

Originally Posted by bikinchris

You skipped Schwinn outsourcing production to Japan in 1972

Originally Posted by zmalwo

it's kind of appalling that this many people can't differentiate Taiwan and China. They are not the same country

Peter Abraham. Founder, Abraham Content Marketing Studio

i.e. sponsored content

Who publishes to Medium in 2024, anyway? That's all you need to know.

[mstateglfr]

Originally Posted by slowpoke

Who publishes to Medium in 2024, anyway? That's all you need to know.

What is wrong with Medium and where should such an article be published?
I ask because I am not at all plugged in on content publishing, but am curious since you mentioned it.

[capt_velo]

Originally Posted by zmalwo

it's kind of appalling that this many people can't differentiate Taiwan and China. They are not the same country

I think it's inevitable that they will be the same country.

[EB]

Originally Posted by zmalwo

it's kind of appalling that this many people can't differentiate Taiwan and China. They are not the same country

That's actually a very controversial idea, even amongst Taiwanese. Taiwan has fascinating politics that will surely be demolished quickly if the PRC ever takes over. Wikipedia has a summary of some of the different ideas here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chines...ance_of_Taiwan

The two camps are broadly described as "Pan-Blue" and "Pan-Green." Even within these camps there are many different views, and debate in Taiwan can be extremely heated to say the least. The "Pan-Blue" view is complex, but views Taiwan and China as always being the same country - the disagreement is merely over who will govern it. The "Pan-Green" views are more nationalistic, but they are also quite diverse.

[dmitrik4]

Originally Posted by vespasianus

And what is wrong with made in China? The computer or phone you are using to view this web-site is made in China.

^^this. People use “made in China/made in Taiwan” as shorthand for “low quality,” but there are plenty of very high-quality products made there (including bikes).