Production Privee componentsSometimes at a show there is something that grabs your eye among the seemingly never-ending mass of booths. One stall you just can't walk past without stopping. Production Privee provided that here in Taipei. It wasn't the latest technical innovation that caught our attention, there was nothing complicated or revolutionary in display - it was nothing more (or less) than simple, well-thought out and good-looking kit.
Taking pride of place on the booth was this - the Shan Macaw limited edition hardtail frame. This one is co-owner George's personal bike - the scuffed cranks, wobbly saddle and dirt in the tyres tell you straight away that this is a bike that has been ridden hard too, which is always a good sign.
Limited Edition Shan Macaw Frame• Made from double-butted Cromoly 4130
• Weight 2.6kg
• Specific bladed rear tubing to increase the flexibility, to provide comfort and grip
• Available for pre-order through
their website until 31st March
• MSRP €599
A lot of time and effort went into making the components work together seamlessly. You can use the stripes and markings on the handlebar and headset to line everything up perfectly, every time. To keep it all looking pro they also make the stem-spacers and top cap.
Prototype 70mm R2R Stem• Made from T6 7075 alloy
• 3D CNC'd
• To work with a 31.8mm diameter bar
• 70mm length
• 204 grams
• MSRP to be confirmed
Cedric Gracia Pro Edition Cockpit• This is the colour combo that Cedric Gracia will be running this year (all Privee bars and stems are based on CG's feedback)
• The 548 direct mount stem is 3D CNC'd from 7050 T72 alloy, 50mm long and weighs 126 grams
• The LGH handlebar is 780mm wide and available in a range of rises
• MSRP stem: €139 bar: €89
The attention to detail doesn't stop at the products either, just look at the packaging...
Eccentric Shock Bushing Kit• Allows you to decrease the height of your BB from 8 to 15mm and open the head tube angle from 0.5º to 0.8º (depending on your frame)
• 1.5mm offset per bushing (3mm in total with the pair)
• Currently available in 22.2 x 8mm (availble for the Ibis Mojo soon)
• Made from 7075 T6 alloy
• MSRP €39.90
Co-owner of Production Privee, David George
www.production-privee.com
Nicer colors, but nope. I'll keep my 'Rag!
Now their cockpit components...
That's just baller. Period.
I agree with you. I'd probably still stick with the TransAm until the price goes down... I do like how the Stan has a bit shorter chainstay though
I love that frame
Pass.
Good graphics designs skills though
Yes, if I had two tubes, one Reynolds 853, one a Cro-Mo 4130 tube, then the Reynolds would obviously be the better tube. But who is to say that once you weld it into two triangles and stick some wheels on it that they are even comparable?
It's not always the material, but the way it is used. Personally I think $500 is a bargain for a frame this good looking, potentially good riding, I wouldn't worry about some stupid badge on the seat tube telling me that its made of more expensive steel, and just go by how it hits the trail.
If now we are talking Cro Mo 4130 which is almost the cheapest you an get (still good enough) you would end up at 100E for the whole material. Sure those HQ steel are a bit questionable as you will still end up with a frame weighing above 2kgs. Whatever, I am sure someone would weld this for you in UK, totaly custom for remianing 499quid. This cro-mo, m5 alu high modulus carbon is a bullshit anyways - what other steel would you build your frame from?! The question might be: is it butted?
Taiwan costs of materials and welding/cutting/heat processing/painting are ridiculously low, even for small numbers. Hence why the price of 599 Eur sounds high to me - just compare to Cotic, Ragley. The fact that you are from UK and say those things is pretty ironic and sad at the same time - I would be way over the moon if I had so much frame builders around and hq material providers, people you can actualy meet and talk to, t whom you give a job, who pay social security, good safety gear to their employees, pay taxes in your country, for social security, infrastructure, people who have higher obligatons to control how the waste is managed (you know if you dump some paint, anodising solution in Yorkshire it's gonna make more sound than in Yon Shao Peng, isn't it?!) - list can go on and on.
Cheers
Will worth every penny i think;It's not the average taiwan made cromo frame.
@kamba6:evil sovereign full price is 730€...
What I ultimately meant was: why to go to Taiwan?
OK sorry, I'm done now. All the best of luck to the designer
Same as the wheels, as the shan come with 135x10mm, 135x12 and singlespeed dropouts.
Why taiwan : Taiwan has the high volume production lines and some very good welders.
The same frame produced in europe will cost at least 150€ more.
Oh, and read all the spec, its Cromo DB 4130 Japan, so double butted tubing maybe from Sanko.
I'm done too.
Now as a businessman, you buy your frame for £200. You could sell it for £300 to undercut the competition, OR you sell it for £500 like the rest of the market and make more money? Look at most steel frame manufacturers (ignoring On-One as they are super cheap for everything), they all retail around the £400-£500, so for business, why would you ever sell it cheaper, there is no reason.
UK made frames are potentially cheap to make as there is a link taken out of the chain. It goes Steel -> Weld -> Sell. From Asia it is Steel -> Weld -> Sell -> Ship -> Sell. That extra step can add significant costs for small manufacturers (trust me, I work with Asia day in day out).
Prices are prices because we mugs will pay. The average rider wont give two shits about what steel is used, for 95% of us there are 3 frame materials: steel, alu, carbon. Not Reynolds/4130 Cro-Mo, or 2014/6061/7075, or 3K/12K/UD/Prepreg etc etc... its just steel or aluminium or carbon fibre, end of. So price for the market, make it ride well, make it look good, the sales will roll in.
People only do things for money, and this is the same.
Oh, and you have a very delusional view of this country, most of what you say only happens when you look over to our small island with a very strong pair of rose tinted glasses
Interestingly enough, I'm sure you saw on the "New SLX" post that bike prices are set to rise by up to 30% next year (by estimates) due to production costs in the Far East rising due to a lack of faith in Western Markets. Plus there's a lot of pressure certainly in the US for the up and coming presidential candidates to bring manufacturing of all kinds back home, in order to bring jobs back and boost local economies, so it will be interesting to see if these kind of changes will be implemented any time soon. On a side note, Nissan have also decided to have a new line cars built in the North East of England bringing back around 400 jobs; especially interesting given that Nissan is a Japanese company and is choosing to have their new car built over here.
Unfortunately, Eyon is right your vision of the UK is somewhat skewed, but certainly not beyond the realms of posibility, and certainly something many of us would like to see return for many reasons, be it environmental, or related to the quality or heritage of the product. I think many bike companies can learn something from outfitters like Brompton Bicycles - worth looking at.