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

[bikinchris]

Originally Posted by 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

You skipped Schwinn outsourcing production to Japan in 1972

[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.

[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).

[Mark McM]

Originally Posted by dmitrik4

^^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).

I wonder if people have actually read the article. The article has no issue with the quality of products made in China (including bicycles). Instead, the issues with products made far from their end customers include:

• Long production lead times,
• Prone to supply chain disruptions
• Issues related to shipping (costs, environmental impact, additional supply chain issues).
• Tariffs
• Etc.

[nmrt]

True. But the article does not address the elephant in the room. Can bike production come back in any meaningful way to the US if it is only making bikes like Allied, Argonaut, Pursuit, etc.

Originally Posted by Mark McM

I wonder if people have actually read the article. The article has no issue with the quality of products made in China (including bicycles). Instead, the issues with products made far from their end customers include:

• Long production lead times,
• Prone to supply chain disruptions
• Issues related to shipping (costs, environmental impact, additional supply chain issues).
• Tariffs
• Etc.