Do you think larger brands will go back to making steel bikes now that we see so many micro-brands making them? Or is it maybe the exclusive nature that makes people like them?

Haven't Orange, Kona and Marin always retained a decent steel hardtail in their range?

Orange, Kona and Marin aren't really big brands for the purposes of this discussion ;-)

I expect that once Trek make a steel HT, the "I want to be more individual than you are brigade" will swiftly decide that steel is just toooo corporate from them.

And they'll all be riding exotica full bouncers from really, like, cool and y'know, like niche brands....

;-)

Me? Happy to see good steel frames on the market, that's all!

Orange and Kona aren't really 'big' players though, when compared to Trek and Specialized, or are they?

There's a matter of economics aswell – only one Tai factory makes steel frames (I believe), the rest concentrate solely on aluminum whereas the handbuilt or low-production frame market has been predominantly steel for a long time. I believe that it's also easier to work with steel with regard to making a prototype (in that someone in the UK can weld/braze together a prototype and do a very good job with decent tubing for a decent price), making it easier for a smaller operation to get their details sorted.

In short, I don't know. I can't see Specialized and the like U-turning on a 6pence, mainly because of the time, logistics and work involved. Those that still make steel framed-bikes I would imagine are now reaping the benefits.

Must type faster!

*re-reads post*

Crikey I can spout crap when I want to...

*Debates having a cheap shot at PMJ.....*






;-)

So aside from Trek, Spesh and Giant, who is classed as a big brand? I though Kona and Marin were both a good size company but I don't claim to have any real knowledge of the subject.

Aside from Trek, Spesh and Giant? No-one :-)

Merida? Don't they in fact own Specialized?

Keith says...

"To the folks asking about the future Bontrager frames - they are not likely. I think steel frames have their place, and I respect the people that are still building them. There are a lot of good ones out there, and I don't think that offering another one would be of much use"

SO, there's so many little brands offering steel frames in a range of pricepoints maybe there would be little point in the bigboys going to all the trouble putting out just the one in their range. Let them concentrate on carbon and aluminium.

There's more than one factory in Taiwan doing steel too ;-)

I stand corrected! ;-)

Merida have only a 49% share of Specialized leaving Mr synard in total control of spesh,i believe.(check interview front page of BM as i haven't had time to read it.It may mention Merida situation edit it doesn't)

But Specialized do still make a steel bike,and very NICE it is too.

I was just making the point that Merida should be classed up there with the 'big boys'. 49% is actually quite a large stake in a company though wouldn't you say? Which bike was that link for as I got a model not known message on the Spesh website?

P1?

I was just making the point that Merida should be classed up there with the 'big boys'.

Not necessarily in this context. As a company and a contract manufacturer, yes, enormous. As a brand in its own right, not enormous.