On Thu, 2009-08-20 at 13:09 -0700, MichaelH wrote: > I think it's a mistake to build an entire business strategy on the > assumption that exchange rates will always work in your favor. If > Riv. wants to continue to offer affordable, quality, lugged frames it > needs to begin to develop on shore manufacturing capability. It can > be done. Bilenkey offers his Delux Touring frameset for $1900, Co- > Motion offers a high end tig welded frameset for about $1500, and I > think Waterford is $2200, which is just petty darn close to a Toyo > price. Why promote MUSA clothing and then abandon MUSA frames?
A welded custom Tournesol is $2200. A welded custom Hampsten Strada Bianca is $200. A custom welded steel Independent Fabrications frame + fork (and of course, Indy Fab makes the welded Tournesols and Hampstens) runs between $1900 - 2600. A welded custom Waterford (14-series) can go for under $1800 for frame and fork. Yes, those are not lugged. And of course they're not Rivendells. OTOH, they are among the competition. Lugged is worth something, and custom is worth something too. The Ebisu is a production Japanese frame + fork. It's $1400. And it's lugged. And then there's the Taiwanese competion. Velo Orange is still hoping to bring its production VO Randonneur in at around $700 for frame and fork, and it'll be lugged (and standard diameter tubing, too). Even if they miss that target by quite a bit and it comes in at a thousand dollars, it'll still be one very attractive bike. Given all this, I'm inclined to think a $2300 Toyo-built production frame is just plain overpriced. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
