Why so many Trek Bikes out there?
02-07-19, 03:49 PM
#126
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02-07-19, 07:41 PM
#127
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It was a hypothetical. Too bad that all American bikes are so rare as to be unique.
02-07-19, 07:46 PM
#128
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Do all you want with tariffs and regulations, complete USA built bikes still won't ever happen due to labor costs. Few to none will buy a complete bike that cost many times more than a comparable Asian built machine. Americans want low cost products, but expect high wages, and this extends beyond bikes. Do the math. Exactly how can this ever work out?
02-07-19, 08:37 PM
#129
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Because the Asian plants do it well for a lot less.
And I just watched a few videos. Still plenty of humans working in those huge plants.
02-07-19, 08:45 PM
#130
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Avoid this old timer if your a loaded tourist. The flexibility of this bike is downright dangerous. It's OK for credit card touring and very comfortable for light or supported tours. Sorry. I had to get that off my chest. I bought a used one, modified the shifting and gearing and had a miserable time from Oregon to Mexico keeping the thing in a straight line.
02-07-19, 09:19 PM
#131
Senior Member
I don't know exactly. Somehow in the last 35 years we let the whole industry slip away. We weren't serious about protecting our industries and our workers, thats for sure. As to the exact steps that should've been taken, I'm not enough of an expert to know. Look at the link that cyccomute posted, there are lots of companies making bicycle parts in America. And we are capable of making other industrial products, cars or airplanes, in high tech automated factories. We should be able to connect the dots and produce high quality, innovative, bicycles used the latest materials and technologies, right here on American soil. Trek is one of the villains as they shifted their factories to Asia under the guyise of being the Made in America company. With the right incentives Trek should be able to reverse those moves and bring bikes back.
02-07-19, 09:37 PM
#132
Full Member
Doped
Bought a new Trek in Colorado, got a 1 months supply of Muscle Milk and a pan of brownies infused with cannibus. It's a nice ride maaann. Lol
02-07-19, 09:50 PM
#133
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But corporate leadership consistently whine about govt tax and how they're at a disadvantage. They sell out jobs to other countries anyways.
>>Trek consumed competitor bike companies and then shuttered them too! More jobs loss due their greed. Without getting all political, read up on some family members.<<
>>Trek consumed competitor bike companies and then shuttered them too! More jobs loss due their greed. Without getting all political, read up on some family members.<<
https://fox6now.com/2014/05/05/after...cord-on-taxes/
https://www.bikebiz.com/landscape/pr...resident-trump
Buying out competitors is kind of how a lot of businesses grow.
02-08-19, 07:40 AM
#134
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I don't know exactly. Somehow in the last 35 years we let the whole industry slip away. We weren't serious about protecting our industries and our workers, thats for sure. As to the exact steps that should've been taken, I'm not enough of an expert to know. Look at the link that cyccomute posted, there are lots of companies making bicycle parts in America. And we are capable of making other industrial products, cars or airplanes, in high tech automated factories. We should be able to connect the dots and produce high quality, innovative, bicycles used the latest materials and technologies, right here on American soil. Trek is one of the villains as they shifted their factories to Asia under the guyise of being the Made in America company. With the right incentives Trek should be able to reverse those moves and bring bikes back.
Hmmm, I believe “protecting” industries and offering incentives is not likely a solution to what you see as a problem. Especially long term. Americans have access to high quality bikes at low cost thanks to the Giant Asian Factories. We obviously like that because we buy plenty. Unemployment is low here, so it’s not like we are wanting for jobs. This doesn’t seem like a problem that needs any addressing to me.
I don’t understand the yearning by some for bikes made in America. Why? It can’t be because they are better, or a better value. Maybe it’s a pride thing? Or the desire to patronize fellow Americans? I like supporting people who work hard in other countries too. Like it or not, everyone has to compete with the world market in many segments of the economy today. This is not likely to go away. I’d suggest it’s not a bad thing.
02-08-19, 08:19 AM
#135
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Most production bikes are made in big factories with automated processes and robots. No reason we couldn't do that here. Americans can make the best cars and planes and helicopters and ships and many other manufactured goods. No reason it couldn't be the same with bicycles.
When I get on the elliptical, I turn on youtube and watch videos of things like that.
02-08-19, 08:24 AM
#136
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Avoid this old timer if your a loaded tourist. The flexibility of this bike is downright dangerous. It's OK for credit card touring and very comfortable for light or supported tours. Sorry. I had to get that off my chest. I bought a used one, modified the shifting and gearing and had a miserable time from Oregon to Mexico keeping the thing in a straight line.
02-08-19, 08:31 AM
#137
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https://www.velonews.com/2012/03/bik...-origin_211105
02-08-19, 09:10 AM
#138
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Avoid this old timer if your a loaded tourist. The flexibility of this bike is downright dangerous. It's OK for credit card touring and very comfortable for light or supported tours. Sorry. I had to get that off my chest. I bought a used one, modified the shifting and gearing and had a miserable time from Oregon to Mexico keeping the thing in a straight line.
Mighty strange!
02-08-19, 11:50 AM
#139
Senior Member
I didn't know trek didn't make their own bikes. CAn you provide a link please?
02-08-19, 02:44 PM
#140
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02-08-19, 02:46 PM
#141
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Uh...No. Sort of a running joke. It's from an independent, custom ti frame builder in Philadelphia. That image is reversed. The brand is Engin. See page 5 of this thread for the actual photo.
02-08-19, 02:49 PM
#142
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02-08-19, 03:03 PM
#143
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trek_Bicycle_Corporation
"With its headquarters in Waterloo, Wisconsin, Trek bicycles are marketed through 1,700 dealers across North America, subsidiaries in Europe and Asia as well as distributors in 90 countries worldwide. 99% of Trek bicycles are manufactured outside the United States, in countries including the Netherlands, Germany, and China.[2]"
02-08-19, 03:35 PM
#144
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02-08-19, 07:58 PM
#145
Senior Member
Thanks for the reply, willibrord.
Hmmm, I believe “protecting” industries and offering incentives is not likely a solution to what you see as a problem. Especially long term. Americans have access to high quality bikes at low cost thanks to the Giant Asian Factories. We obviously like that because we buy plenty. Unemployment is low here, so it’s not like we are wanting for jobs. This doesn’t seem like a problem that needs any addressing to me.
I don’t understand the yearning by some for bikes made in America. Why? It can’t be because they are better, or a better value. Maybe it’s a pride thing? Or the desire to patronize fellow Americans? I like supporting people who work hard in other countries too. Like it or not, everyone has to compete with the world market in many segments of the economy today. This is not likely to go away. I’d suggest it’s not a bad thing.
Hmmm, I believe “protecting” industries and offering incentives is not likely a solution to what you see as a problem. Especially long term. Americans have access to high quality bikes at low cost thanks to the Giant Asian Factories. We obviously like that because we buy plenty. Unemployment is low here, so it’s not like we are wanting for jobs. This doesn’t seem like a problem that needs any addressing to me.
I don’t understand the yearning by some for bikes made in America. Why? It can’t be because they are better, or a better value. Maybe it’s a pride thing? Or the desire to patronize fellow Americans? I like supporting people who work hard in other countries too. Like it or not, everyone has to compete with the world market in many segments of the economy today. This is not likely to go away. I’d suggest it’s not a bad thing.
02-08-19, 08:34 PM
#146
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The issue of whether Americans have access to reasonably priced bicycles is separate from the issue of manufacturing leaving America for Asia. It is a symptom. Everry dollar that goes to Asia is a dollar they will use to undermine us. I suppose it is better to support an American company like Trek than an Asian company like Giant. Just keep buying American when you can.
02-09-19, 09:02 AM
#147
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Dude, c'mon. Almost all "Italian" bikes are made in Asia. This includes all Pinarellos, every Colnago except the C64 (which is glued together and painted in Italy from tubes and lugs made in... Asia), the vast majority (all?) of Bottecchias (lol) etc. They're made in Asia not just for cost reasons, but also because that's where the manufacturing expertise and supply chain is the best. This "origin" stuff has been bull**** for several decades and didn't really matter in the first place:
https://www.velonews.com/2012/03/bik...-origin_211105
https://www.velonews.com/2012/03/bik...-origin_211105
Carry on.
02-09-19, 12:13 PM
#148
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maybe because Trek screwed people over when the took over the Bike Line stores in Philly area. I was a huge Trek fan and would periodically go into he BL stores to see the latest rides, etc. and would get gift cards in $50 or $100 increments as a way to save up for my future dream ride. Little did I know Trek would come in and only accept cards purchased a few months prior to the takeover. I’m out a ton of money... it on the bright side, it ticked me off enough to go check out a Giant Roam 1 and I bought it instead. Heck to Trek and their DS models. Never again!
02-09-19, 03:45 PM
#150
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