Carbon frames all made in Taiwan?

[aea730]

I'm looking at a change of bike/frame. Currently riding a Ribble sportive racing but I fancy something a little more boutique. Having looked at the various options it seems that just about every frame out there comes out of a factory in Taiwan which is a little disappointing when looking at "Italian" makers like Casati which is the one I'm looking at

Admitted spending 1k more will get you a handmade Italian frame.

So what is the advice on this one, ride round on and Italian badged Taiwanese frame, spend the extra on a handmade frame or stick with the Ribble as it prob came out the same factory in Taiwan

[Celtic Dragon]

I was looking at chinese frames last weekend and spent a whoke day reading sites about them. In the end I went for a Ribble sportive racing that was on ebay. Now its in my hands I am certain its the same frame as 1 carbonzone were selling on ebay.

Quite a few frames out there seem to be "open moulds" which means the factory is free to sell them to anyone after the exclusive tie in has expired.

[edcs]

What's the disadvantage of having a frame built in the far east? How does assembling the frame in Italy make it any better?

[anonymous-user]

I'm pretty sure that assembling the Far East components in Italy or wherever else, adding a certain value by doing so, allows you to say 'Made In Italy' etc
But no doubt you get a better warranty and support , that's why you pay the premium

[andySC]

The vast majority of carbon frames are of far Eastern origin, Look, Time, Viner (are they still going?), Cipollini are produced in Europe. Condor's carbon range (the Legerro is a great looking thing) states that it is "finished" in Italy, a little ambiguous maybe?...could mean just about anything.

Most "boutique" manufacturers favour steel or titanium. I've just built up a handmade steel race bike & it's amazing tbh, not everyone's cup of tea tho.

[edcs]

Jimboka said:

I'm pretty sure that assembling the Far East components in Italy or wherever else, adding a certain value by doing so, allows you to say 'Made In Italy' etc
But no doubt you get a better warranty and support , that's why you pay the premium

Here's a picture of some boxed up Colnago's in a factory in Taiwan after they were 'Made In Italy':



http://www.canadiancyclist.com/races12/taiwan/part...
http://inrng.com/2012/02/who-made-your-bike/

[andySC]

edcs said:

Jimboka said:

I'm pretty sure that assembling the Far East components in Italy or wherever else, adding a certain value by doing so, allows you to say 'Made In Italy' etc
But no doubt you get a better warranty and support , that's why you pay the premium

Here's a picture of some boxed up Colnago's in a factory in Taiwan after they were 'Made In Italy':



http://www.canadiancyclist.com/races12/taiwan/part...
http://inrng.com/2012/02/who-made-your-bike/

I think the lugged Colnago frames (C-59, C-60) are still built in Italy although I'd guess the carbon tubes & lugs will be manufactured in the Far East.

[Rich_W]

Given that Giant are a Taiwanese brand anyway. I think I can guess where they're made

"Buy straight from the factory" could be their tagline

[shalmaneser]

edcs said:

What's the disadvantage of having a frame built in the far east? How does assembling the frame in Italy make it any better?

Quite. The Taiwanese make the best frames, get used to it. It's where the carbon expertise is nowadays!

Having said that I think some BMC stuff is made in Switzerland but it's big bucks!!

[Magic919]

That's a good call, buy a BMC. Evans have a sale of BMC on right now.

[yellowjack]

edcs said:

http://www.canadiancyclist.com/races12/taiwan/part...
http://inrng.com/2012/02/who-made-your-bike/

Those links make for some 'interesting' viewing/reading.

Especially the Giant Factory Tour one, where photographs of the 'Giant' production line clearly show the staff building 'Bontrager' wheels. That'll be the same Bontrager which is Trek's in-house component brand. Then it's a Scott bike getting boxed up, Colnago bikes ready for shipping, and there's no doubt many more 'brands' in the Giant 'Goods Out' warehouse waiting to be sent to Europe and sold in direct competition to Giant branded bikes. I was aware of the same situation with regard to Merida, following the research I did when I was procrastinating over buying one three years ago.

[anonymous-user]

I dont get the snobbery about buying a frame from the Far East, its like cyclists assume that all Taiwanese frames are back street factory jobs made from off cuts and wallpaper paste. Given the majority of frames are made in the far east, the investment in carbon manufacturing must far exceed that in Europe as this article says, soon "Made in Taiwan" will be an asset not something to hide.
http://cyclingtips.com.au/2011/08/are-all-carbon-b...

[anonymous-user]

The Taiwan build vs Western build is a false dichotomy. If you want a difference, go to someone like Parlee or Viner who will measure you and build you a properly bespoke frame.

[ro55a]

Real Colnagos are not made in the Far East, those boxes are full of the mass market product with a price commensurate with the type of carbon used, open mould manufacture, type of finish/paint, end weight of the frame.....they are not the real deal and they do have made in Taiwan written on them. Admittedly that label is hidden and on the underside.
Look at it this way, AstonMartin make their DB9, Aston Martin "produce" their Cygnet, it's a Toyota by the way, oh and a piece of st to boot. If you want a real Aston then pay Aston money want a real Colnago then pay C59 money, if you need me to tell you the difference then you are wasting your money anyway, so buy the CLX, if it starts rattling, don't worry, it's just one of the chopsticks they used to build it that's come loose

[Ennoch]

I'd almost always far rather ride/own a frame made in Taiwan or China (many high end carbon factories are now based there) than one made in the UK or USA. The quality is usually higher, the tolerances finer and the longevity better. Twenty years ago it was only cheap stuff made there and it showed, but if you ever get a chance to visit one of the factories now you would be amazed for they've really invested heavily and are now the best in the world at doing what they do.

[TKF]

Taiwan often gets lumped in with perceived poor quality, as if the "Far East" is one large homogenous pot of ste.

[Kermit power]

ro55a said:

Real Colnagos are not made in the Far East, those boxes are full of the mass market product with a price commensurate with the type of carbon used, open mould manufacture, type of finish/paint, end weight of the frame.....they are not the real deal and they do have made in Taiwan written on them. Admittedly that label is hidden and on the underside.
Look at it this way, AstonMartin make their DB9, Aston Martin "produce" their Cygnet, it's a Toyota by the way, oh and a piece of st to boot. If you want a real Aston then pay Aston money want a real Colnago then pay C59 money, if you need me to tell you the difference then you are wasting your money anyway, so buy the CLX, if it starts rattling, don't worry, it's just one of the chopsticks they used to build it that's come loose

That's a frankly daft comparison, unless you're suggesting Colnago make their cheaper frames to lower the average CO2 output of their bikes?

Aston registered 143 Cygnets in 2013; they were never really designed for anyone to actually buy them. The same can hardly be said of Conago's cheaper bikes.

[ro55a]