Originally Posted by
embankmentlb
Interesting read about Masi ,Medici and all the cast of characters involved with that drama.
I am kind of sad. It made me loose all interest or respect in any of those brands and anything associated with them.
ok, but I would call the villain Bill Recht.
Mario wanted to go independent
he was expensive
the staff had almost a handle on things save the jig set ups.
The pro bike biz was deflating.
right when "something new" was needed.
there were new entries into the American Market.
New is often considered better.
having sold bikes at a Masi dealer, the staff rode them, but it was a harder to sell them as they were not the "latest thing"
so a drop ominous demand, scattering of talent- a bad harmonic.
there was a regroup but it did not take many to get the jobs done.
the Breaking Away movie helped demand.
there were updates to the bike incrementally.
1983 brought revised lug designs and geometry- actually I think they should have updated the model name.
Italy had the 3V - took a while to bring that model to the USA in numbers.
I think wanting to toss the whole lot overboard is a mistake.
there was a lack of strategic planning on both sides of the Atlantic.
some was reactionary- there was a pride in Masi America, then that was ditched. Later it was quite confused as to where constructed.
later came subordinate models.
quite an adventure.
would have been interesting if Mario had started building for Masi again in 1979. Would have been a different trajectory definitely.