mstateglfr 

https://janheine.wordpress.com/2018/...se-cycles/amp/

seems like a lot of equity had been built up with the Compass brand name. And between the two brand names, I much prefer Compass. The name exudes getting put and riding to new places.

seems odd to me to choose a frenchman's name for all products after all the work went into the compass name, but hey what do i know- I am not the one with a bike components company.


apologies if this was already discussed. I dont remember seeing it and a Google search didnt pull up anything. I didn't even try the site's search feature because...well you know.

merziac

Modern day corporate rebranding at its finest even in BQ and Jan's little corner of the world.

Andy_K 

merziac

+1

Especially when the brand was doing just fine as it was.

rootboy 

I wonder if Jan will re-brand the tire savers I make for him as Rene Herse Tire Wipers?
He's bought so many from me in the last few years that I suppose he can call them whatever he likes.

I did think it was unfortunate that Mike Kone, or whoever it was, branded newly made frames with the Herse name,
complete with the original style graphics.

top506

Top

nlerner

I find it hard to read the labels while I'm riding.

CV-6 

Why is that? He was authorized to do so.

gugie 

Branding is about the last thing I care about when making a purchase.

Unless it's Gugificazione, that is.

LouB 

My opinion only: Jan has put a great deal of time, money and personal effort into the relationship w Herse. His writings have informed all of us in "this little corner" of the world. He's passionate about what he does and it will be interesting to see what he how he develops the marque. If he draws inspiration from Herse and brings to life new products (or existing ones) that capture that spirit, we all benefit. Plus, let's face it guys Heine Bike Parts really isnt a good moniker for a briand... imho.
Lou Boffa
San Antonio, TX
USA

randyjawa 

???

I just picked up a set, actually two sets (700c x 23 and 700c x 38), here in Jamaica. Cost - $28.00 US per set. The 23s did not fit the Ambrosia rims but the 38s slipped on with ease. As for performance - they are harder to push but very smooth, compared to the original 32s that self destructed...

The Golden Boy 

JohnDThompson 

Except Jan Heine got the rights to the René Herse name directly from Herse's daughter rather than a faceless corporate sale.

Fahrenheit531 

A rose, by any other name...

Having experienced my first set of Compass tires in the last couple of weeks, they can call 'em whatever they like and I'll ride them. Goat Head Magnets? Fred Specials? Whatever. Ring 'em up.

TenGrainBread 

That's a different Compass brand of tires than Jan Heine's.

randyjawa 

Of that, I am certain but the sad fact is I bought Compass tires. Simply put, I have no idea about compass tires, good or bad. I just needed a set of 700c tires and those are what I got(not a great tire selection where i live in Jamaica. In truth, they seem very sturdy and the ride quality is OK, but not sew-up or top of the line OK.

SamSpade1941 

Andy_K 

Sure, and he's not shy about saying so. That's a small step in my mind.

I probably have a stronger reaction because René Herse is the name in question. If Fausto Pinarello wanted to hand the Pinarello brand over to someone else, I wouldn't have a big problem with that because I recognize Pinarello as a bicycle brand and don't really identify it with the founder, the story about Giovanni Pinarello and the Maglia Nera not withstanding. René Herse, on the other hand, is known primarily as a constructeur, and of course Jan has played no small role in promoting this image of him. He made his name by customizing and fine tuning bikes for a specific purpose. The whole point of this, in my mind, rests on him as an individual. So what's the point of someone else using his name as a brand?

Sure, Jan probably sees himself as continuing in this tradition. He does fine tune the designs of things and pays great attention to the details. But that makes the things he sells Jan Heine parts, not René Herse parts, right?

Obviously he has the right to use this name. I'm not disputing that. He can do so if he thinks it's a good idea. I'm just trying to offer some explanation as to why I don't think it's a good choice. On the other hand, Jan has more insight into his business than I do. He's probably right.

rhm

In my opinion using the Herse name on products that Herse himself designed, like the cranks and brakes, is appropriate. I don't see the point of putting his name on stuff he had no hand in. But I'm sure Jan does.

nlerner

ksryder

Well at least he's not crowdsourcing for revenue shortfalls. *ducking as I run out of the room*

Andy_K 

Gugificazione is a brand? I thought it was a lifestyle.

merziac

Therein potentially lies the rub, if somebody else has a claim to the Compass brand then Jan may be trying to avoid a Specialized style beatdown as he moves forward.

No doubt about it that Jan has cultivated the continuance of the Herse legacy in the best possible way with full blessing of the family and rightfully so as he seemed to do it with genuine compassion and respect.

The Golden Boy 

I'm not sure I follow this at all. *Throughout history, people have used people's names to honor a person or to associate their product with the image of that person. *What's with Washington state bearing the name of a man who not only never set foot in Washington state, but never even conceived there was even land out there? *In this instance, the family has given their permission to license the family name as a brand. *To be fine with using the Pinarello name because it's recognized as a brand is like punishing Herse for not becoming a large bicycle brand, or for not diversifying and licensing his name and products. *Additionally, the Herses that were built until the early 80s are still considered "original" despite Herse dying in the mid 70s. *You're also kind of contradicting yourself- you say that Jan promoted the image of Herse as a constructeur, and then in the next sentence you state that Herse made his name by customizing and fine tuning bikes... *

As far as Rene Herse having his name stamped on an Asian made part- If Herse were around, the realities of the global economy would make financial sense to do so, even in smaller quantities. *
*

Lascauxcaveman 

I don't find the name change offensive (I'm not easily offended) but I do find it a head scratcher; as some of you have pointed out, the Compass Tire brand had a lot deservedly good cred built into it.

I would think more people who actually buy bike tires know what Compass Tires are then they know who Rene Herse was, since a lot of bike nerds aren't vintage nerds.