Origami Bull
02-02-24, 02:17 AM
#101
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: The Ring of Fire
Posts: 932
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 463 Post(s)
Liked 567 Times
in
356 Posts
The trick is to adjust the chain length so that the lower pulley sits above the tire sidewall when on the largest, innermost cog. It requires finessing the length of the chain.
02-02-24, 04:08 AM
#102
Senior Member
The blog is quite good, though I saw it before discovering the folding subforum here, so no new technical info to you seasoned folding folks, but good other info. One thing of value I saw, he runs straps from the rack to under each rear pannier to take the majority of the vertical load, that greatly increases the life of the plastic rack attachments on modern panniers, and a horizontal strap from front of the rear rack, around pannier to back (like me, his rack is well aft, past the tire, for great heel clearance), around the other pannier and then to the front on the other side, he said that holds up better than the hooks or springs typically holding panniers inward.
02-02-24, 08:35 AM
#103
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Henrico, VA
Posts: 1,480
Bikes: Origami Gazelle, Origami Crane 8, Origami Cricket 7
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 452 Post(s)
Liked 405 Times
in
241 Posts
I think you're missing my point.
First, what I'm saying is that the bike is an excellent palette, on which to make a superior bike. Think of it as a masterpiece painting that is 95% complete. Filling in the other 5% makes more difference on the whole than just 5%.
Second, many product makers used to make products that were simply adequate for the market. And most people are not up to major modifications. But that left the market open for other product makers who were more obsessed with perfection, to come in and snatch the market. Look at the US automakers, selling cars of poor design and quality, then japanese started to sell cars is the US of good quality, germany sold cars of good quality and superior design, started to take market share. Then japan rolled out cars of excellent quality AND design; A guy I used to work with, worked at Mercedes-Benz USA, their management said of Lexus, "They have no tradition!" Then they brought in an LS400 to their garage, and were able to balance a nickel on the engine while the throttle was slowly advanced, just like the TV commercial, and they were like "HOLY SH_T!" That woke them up, and they started trying harder. I used to be a car modifier to a high degree, but cars are so good and competitive now, I would need to do nothing. My point being...
The Bull looks to be competitive for the market with the gearing range offered. But it would blow away the competition with 2X gearing, for cost to the manufacturer, I am guessing, under $50 in parts (wholesale prices), and only additional labor of installing a front derailleur and shifter. What would the value to the market be? I am guessing, more than $50, and that's increased profit. Remember, the average biker won't do the conversion, and the parts would cost retail about $150, so the bike being equipped that way from the factory, can sell for $150 more, and still yield plenty more profit to the maker. And if Origami doesn't offer it, someone else will. Like Zizzo. I still can't believe Dahon doesn't offer a 20" folder with 2X and discs at a reasonable price. But they did offer the Formula 18 with that around 2014, but a) road 2X 130 BCD crank, didn't offer that much lower a gear, and b) was very premium priced at $1200-$1500, if I recall correctly, about 3X the price of the 1X bike on which it was based, they got greedy. Which brings me to...
The Sin of Premium Pricing, one of the Seven Deadly Business Sins; It creates a perfect opportunity for competitors to enter the market and undercut you for the same product.
So, swing for the fences in product design, offer the BEST product you can ("Insanely Great" has worked for Apple), and price reasonably to discourage competition.
But hey, it's your business or who you are buying from. (From posts I have seen here, I gather that you are a dealer?)
You should read Drucker's "Five Deadly Sins in Business", been around for decades, and all the lessons still apply. (Others have copied Drucker's work and republished under Seven Sins..., etc.) Summary:
https://www.apqc.org/blog/druckers-f...-sins-business
First, what I'm saying is that the bike is an excellent palette, on which to make a superior bike. Think of it as a masterpiece painting that is 95% complete. Filling in the other 5% makes more difference on the whole than just 5%.
Second, many product makers used to make products that were simply adequate for the market. And most people are not up to major modifications. But that left the market open for other product makers who were more obsessed with perfection, to come in and snatch the market. Look at the US automakers, selling cars of poor design and quality, then japanese started to sell cars is the US of good quality, germany sold cars of good quality and superior design, started to take market share. Then japan rolled out cars of excellent quality AND design; A guy I used to work with, worked at Mercedes-Benz USA, their management said of Lexus, "They have no tradition!" Then they brought in an LS400 to their garage, and were able to balance a nickel on the engine while the throttle was slowly advanced, just like the TV commercial, and they were like "HOLY SH_T!" That woke them up, and they started trying harder. I used to be a car modifier to a high degree, but cars are so good and competitive now, I would need to do nothing. My point being...
The Bull looks to be competitive for the market with the gearing range offered. But it would blow away the competition with 2X gearing, for cost to the manufacturer, I am guessing, under $50 in parts (wholesale prices), and only additional labor of installing a front derailleur and shifter. What would the value to the market be? I am guessing, more than $50, and that's increased profit. Remember, the average biker won't do the conversion, and the parts would cost retail about $150, so the bike being equipped that way from the factory, can sell for $150 more, and still yield plenty more profit to the maker. And if Origami doesn't offer it, someone else will. Like Zizzo. I still can't believe Dahon doesn't offer a 20" folder with 2X and discs at a reasonable price. But they did offer the Formula 18 with that around 2014, but a) road 2X 130 BCD crank, didn't offer that much lower a gear, and b) was very premium priced at $1200-$1500, if I recall correctly, about 3X the price of the 1X bike on which it was based, they got greedy. Which brings me to...
The Sin of Premium Pricing, one of the Seven Deadly Business Sins; It creates a perfect opportunity for competitors to enter the market and undercut you for the same product.
So, swing for the fences in product design, offer the BEST product you can ("Insanely Great" has worked for Apple), and price reasonably to discourage competition.
But hey, it's your business or who you are buying from. (From posts I have seen here, I gather that you are a dealer?)
You should read Drucker's "Five Deadly Sins in Business", been around for decades, and all the lessons still apply. (Others have copied Drucker's work and republished under Seven Sins..., etc.) Summary:
https://www.apqc.org/blog/druckers-f...-sins-business
__________________
Paul Pinigis
Owner of Origami Bicycle Company
Paul Pinigis
Owner of Origami Bicycle Company
Likes For Pinigis:
02-02-24, 12:41 PM
#104
55+ Club,...
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Somewhere in New York, NY
Posts: 4,326
Bikes: 9+,...
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1115 Post(s)
Liked 849 Times
in
593 Posts
Pinigis I got this for around $400, and it's a 16 speed. Granted, it's 2+ years out of manufacture, and an offloaded import, but I'm sure an 18 speed is possible for a decent price. Even using a hollowtech style bottom bracket shouldn't be too much of a price increase, considering it's performance benefit. I'm still waiting to be able to start my upgrades.
__________________
If it wasn't for you meddling kids,...
02-02-24, 09:23 PM
#105
Senior Member
02-02-24, 09:45 PM
#106
Senior Member
Pinigis I got this for around $400, and it's a 16 speed. Granted, it's 2+ years out of manufacture, and an offloaded import, but I'm sure an 18 speed is possible for a decent price. Even using a hollowtech style bottom bracket shouldn't be too much of a price increase, considering it's performance benefit. I'm still waiting to be able to start my upgrades.
Likes For Duragrouch:
