There are several great bike manufacturers right here in Santa Cruz county, but I am not sure where their frames are made. I think most bikes either use Campy or Shimano components on their frames.
History for the Cyclist
- Thread starter sk8salomon
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I also raced a Miyata mt bike in the mid 80s, cool! I don't remember the brakes. That was among the more advanced mt bikes initially, there weren't many around. In a race today, I'd take the lowest model mt bike Wal-Mart sells over that old dino. Of course, I'd have to get used to not having my cushy Epic.
Yeah, that's what I thought about my Cannondale SuperV, historic and sentimental value. They won't sell me parts for the suspension, dealer won't touch it, it's hanging in my basement 'till I go on a cleaning binge.
Samantha has a Litespeed that is about 10 years old, still a pretty light titanium bike. I imagine she will always keep it, but she has been toying with getting a new one as she gets a huge discount on them.
Fisher is still around, owned by Trek, but Fisher is very active in the product design and management of the company. To stay competitive with their competitors, Trek/Fisher has had to move production of low end bikes to China, midrange to Taiwan, and high end frames are still made in Wisconsin.
To buy a US made bike (and all that means is a frame made in the US, as nearly all the components have been made in the Far east for 15+ years), you will have to spend a minimum of about $2000.
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Gary Fisher = Trek = Gary Klein = Greg Lemond = POS Just my opinion.
I once told our Trek rep to fire half their marketing staff and replace them with engineers. She actually agreed with me. Probably to get me to drop the subject of quality control.
I once told our Trek rep to fire half their marketing staff and replace them with engineers. She actually agreed with me. Probably to get me to drop the subject of quality control.
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I heard Klein's quality went in the s***ter when they were purchased by Trek. That's too bad, they're nice bikes.
not that my Litespeed Classic is worth all that much, but it aint the same situation as Super V.
(that having been said. theres only one one season on the bike, and if someone is looking for one, im thinking of parting with it. its a 63 i think, i bought the frame small to keep it quick. it turned out to be too aggressive for my lovely back. i never sold it b/c i love the classic lines. 109 crank, flight deck, brakes,etc.. ultegra hubs.)
Actually it went the other way. Klein was in deep financial trouble when purchased by Trek. They would have been gone in 6 months. Klein did a lot of unique proprietary designs (press in bottom brackets, MC control stems, etc), but also had quality control issues.
An impressive bike for sure, and I'd love to have one. But it's really the same basic bike design, done very well and made of titanium. It's better than other bikes in it's price range, but subtly, not a quantum leap forward. The SuperV, in it's early days when I raced it, was revolutionary in concept, design, and fabrication. My SuperV is now a relic, while the Litespeed is still relevant, because there's been such dramatic change in mt bikes, while road bikes are evolving relatively slowly. No, it ain't the same situation at all. Your bike still has strong value as a ride compared to new bikes, while mine has, as I said, purely historical and sentimental value.
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agreed. thats how i should have put that. the super v suffers from a technology gap that a ti roadbike doesnt. i didnt mean to offend the bike. i used to covet one.
No prob, I'm a little touchy about that bike. I'd get it back together if I could find parts. I've ridden and raced it from Iceland to Australia. I rode it with a pack of roadies in the mountains above Pisa-del-mar in Italy, stopped and drank from a spring that fed a giant aquaduct, and ate figs off the trees. Lots of sentimental value, if not much else.
Yeti's top of the line bikes are still made in Golden, CO. Right down the street from old office. If only they were affordable.
I was going to ask if Yeti was still in business. Good to hear that's the case. What about Ibis? Are they still around? I always wanted an Ibis Mountain Trials back in the day - 24" rear wheel.
And aren't the coolest bikes ever still made in North America: Moots? I've wanted a Moots YBB for years. Not sure when I'll ever be able to afford one.
And aren't the coolest bikes ever still made in North America: Moots? I've wanted a Moots YBB for years. Not sure when I'll ever be able to afford one.
LiteSpeeds are for old guys that have some $$$.
The Corvette of bicycles?
play nice.
I believe my Yeti, although not the top of the line is still made in the USA.