Which bike brands are owned by corporations that love money more than bikes?

[g32ecs]

Just a by stander here

So whats the consensus on companies who have good to excellent manufacturing practices?

I've had to warranty 2 frames ever - both BMCs. One for paint, one for headset problems which was more serious than the former.

[Lewn777]

Just a by stander here

So whats the consensus on companies who have good to excellent manufacturing practices?

I've had to warranty 2 frames ever - both BMCs. One for paint, one for headset problems which was more serious than the former.

That's actually a very hard question to answer, because the whole manufacturing sector is shrouded in secrecy and things change very quickly, different models, carbon layups and parts are made in different places. However there are factories where some very expensive and much more modest bikes are made that have no speakable QC oversight than inhouse and god only who knows who is doing it.

For me the best bikes come down to the best QC and management. Some say that's Topkey, Quest composites or Giant. The problem is very few or no people get an objective tour of one factory, let alone be able to compare factories, then maybe you'd have no clue at what you are looking at unless you were an expert on carbon fibre.

I would steer towards the comapanies that are somewhat in control of their own manufacturing and whose frames can be traced back to a place of manufacture. I would suggest the best players are Giant, Canyon, Trek and Look. There may well be far more or brands with isolated stellar models or supposed good manufacurers where bad bikes slip through the net.

[C36]

Just a by stander here

So whats the consensus on companies who have good to excellent manufacturing practices?

I've had to warranty 2 frames ever - both BMCs. One for paint, one for headset problems which was more serious than the former.

From the “big” ones... none is consistently above others and virtually impossible to assess (the cannondale example is symptomatic, among the very best internal construction but with BB tolerance problems) then my only answer is around artisans who make custom bikes under their own name.


Envoyé de mon iPhone en utilisant Tapatalk

[iheartbianchi]

Lewn777 all good, but that is what steps could be taken. I am asking what additional steps you take as an individual.

Ahh OK.
Replace frame every 100,000kms, replace fork and bars every 40,000kms or scan instead if possible. Do visual checks every 10,000kms. Buy bikes from bigger more reputable companies like Canyon, Trek and Giant, or those made by smaller companies based in or near their country of origin. Research brands and avoid those that have questionable ownership and are made in questionable Chinese factories. Use an alloy/titanium/steel bike for winter/turbo etc training and keep a fully carbon fiber frame for racing or summer duties.

Or, requirement to make forks heavier and thicker.

I know a guy who's fork on a brand new $15K bike snapped in half at speed and he is still in the hospital. Scary stuff.

[openwheelracing]

All these bikes are good. Being made in USA or Europe certainly does not guarantee better quality. Quite the opposite at any given price point.

[froze]

Any bike company that is stocked owned publicly traded will be interested in nothing but profits to keep shareholders happy.