Interesting video about Panasonic

[oldpotatoe]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STmZdGNVil0

[martl]

that attention to detail and diligence is something else makes me want to buy a Panasonic...

[duff_duffy]

Looks nice! Love watching these videos.

My 3 Panasonic plasma TV’s still going strong after many years and thousands of hours of use same parent company?

[martl]

short story: yes
long story:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panaso...cle_Technology

[BdaGhisallo]

I wonder what those who build bikes think of their processes. I don't know either way but I'm curious to hear some feedback on the way they do it.

[Turkle]

You can get a Panasonic Cro-Mo steel frame in those cool team colors with a threadless Columbus Max fork, shipped to USA, for ~$1500.

https://alexscycle.com/collections/p...max-front-fork

Tempting!

[spoonrobot]

Great find, thanks for sharing. I didn't realize just how many bikes Panasonic actually makes in their POS and Custom bicycle divisions until I started following some Japanese bike shops on Facebook.

Here's a couple more; first the older PICS promotion VHS showing all they had to offer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfAbZlqQ68o

And a news segment showing a little more of the framebuilding and painting that wasn't shown in the OP video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VKpSHB4QP4

This is an interesting blurb from a business study done in the early 1990s. From the PICS video above, it looks like the process and machines in use are mostly the same. I wonder how the numbers look today?

[echelon_john]

I’ve looked at these a bunch over the years. Anybody here own one? The seat angles are crazy steep and the head angles pretty slack.

Originally Posted by Turkle

You can get a Panasonic Cro-Mo steel frame in those cool team colors with a threadless Columbus Max fork, shipped to USA, for ~$1500.

https://alexscycle.com/collections/p...max-front-fork

Tempting!

[wc1934]

I loved it - beautiful looking bike - thanks for sharing.
Automatic machine welding!

[Gman79]

I ALMOST bought one of these frames a few months ago. Had Dura-Ace 7700 all set aside but then a barely used SIX13 frameset popped up for $150 and I went that route instead.

[StruggleClimber]

This is a good look into how a some of the middle tier steel bikes are made. I wonder how many other companies use these kinds of processes. thanks for sharing

[mcteague]

Watching people build metal bikes gives me the warm and fuzzies that popping frames out of molds never does.

Tim

[EB]

Originally Posted by Turkle

You can get a Panasonic Cro-Mo steel frame in those cool team colors with a threadless Columbus Max fork, shipped to USA, for ~$1500.

https://alexscycle.com/collections/p...max-front-fork

Tempting!

With the Yen exchange rate at a historic low, the retail price is around $1266. Plus shipping and possibly duties which I assume is what gets you to $1500. If it wasn't for the stated max 26mm tire clearance I'd be extreeeeeemly tempted.

[spoonrobot]

Buying outside of Japan, the buyer pays shipping twice - once for the shipment from Panasonic factory to the exporter and again from the exporter to the resident country.

In 2022 shipping was $45 + $91.

I waited to buy my CX frameset thinking the improving exchange rate (for me, a US buyer) would be an advantage but in both ¥ and $ the price increased over the time period of about 3 months.

I would also caution to request the exporter re-pack your frameset for shipment internationally - even if it costs more. My frame came with a damaged headset, missing pamphlets, and with the rear dropouts poking out of the box. It was only luck there was no permanent damage. The frames are packed for the Japanese Postal Service handling and are at the mercy of the much rougher international carriers.

[jds108]

Letting the work do the talking. Nice.