feeding the fox
- Thread starter jstuhlman
- Start date
kashima coated bars
My raceface bars from last month are collectible
I have no idea how this will change my life, but I just hope fox adds an enduro setting to their ctd shocks and forks.
I'm happy they're going to leave everyone where they are geographically for now.
Those expected revenue numbers give me the shivers. Not now, but after another fiscal year, some heads will be rolling both at Easton and RF...
Greedy, greedy FOX...
Greedy, greedy FOX...
Or skid on a dead whale being eaten by sharks
Oh good, Kashima Turbine cranks for $500.I think, we can rather expect RF and Easton carbon fiber technology implemented into Fox products
UsD carbon fork?!
I'm happy because all of the major 35mm stem/bar producers are now one company. everybody else can continue with the same stuff that works just fine and is compatible with everybody else.
This move reminds me somewhat of the Hayes/Sun Ringle/Manitou merge, which I think probably helped all parties in the end. Hopefully the same will happen with this, although the Easton/Race Face combo seems a little odd to me given they offer many of the same types of components. I guess the same could be said of Race Face and Fox's soft goods as well.
Different Fox.
Ahh, my bad.
Wasn't Easton just sold about a year ago, and RF sold/resuscitated a year before that?
I am sure both of them are in need of a capital boost to keep up with the competition. Both have good product and good brand names but being small is difficult I am sure.
Can't wait!
So now you have 3 suspension companies merged in with other component companies: RS with Avid/Sram/Truvativ, Manitou with Hayes/Sun, and Fox with RF/Easton. So who's next? Maybe Tenneco adds FSA and Formula to the fold? Or maybe they start making Shivers & Monster again, then pick up Chromag and Atomlab to corner the Bro-tish Columbia market.
I love my 35mm RF cockpit. 
In all seriousness, I have been extremely impressed with every race face part I have put on my bike in the last year.
Bars, stem, cranks, rings, pedals, the whole lineup is dialed. If Fox could get them cheap, that would be a no brainer for them.
Bars, stem, cranks, rings, pedals, the whole lineup is dialed. If Fox could get them cheap, that would be a no brainer for them.
^^
This. I just installed a set of Next SL pedal rods, and everything about the whole package (cranks, BB, & spiderless chainring) suggests high quality. Same goes for my 35 mm Atlas stem and my former (31.8 mm) SixC bars. Heck, even the older Atlas FR cranks I just replaced never gave me moments problem - which to be fair, cranks probably shouldn't. Still, they'll likely be recycled onto a yet to be procured shit bike.
As for no one wanting Atomlab, I think Hukk Bikes might be interested
http://www.hukkbikes.com/
This. I just installed a set of Next SL pedal rods, and everything about the whole package (cranks, BB, & spiderless chainring) suggests high quality. Same goes for my 35 mm Atlas stem and my former (31.8 mm) SixC bars. Heck, even the older Atlas FR cranks I just replaced never gave me moments problem - which to be fair, cranks probably shouldn't. Still, they'll likely be recycled onto a yet to be procured shit bike.
As for no one wanting Atomlab, I think Hukk Bikes might be interested
http://www.hukkbikes.com/
^^ Digger called, he wanted those pieces of the 90s back...
So the fox tail on a buying spree, and Foxhead just got bought by altamont capital group.
Didn't realize they were still in business.
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Just for sake of conversation, what instances can you guys think of in the bike industry where conglomeration was good for R&D and progression?
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!HUKK is SIKK! #hukknology
mmm after like 8 years of dismal bikes, GT is finally producing really nice DH sleds and some decent broduro bikes. Meanwhile schwinn has benefited from the same partnership with some really mediocre commuter bikes.
The RS/SRAM merger/conglomerate helped put hanebrink out of business, so that was nice.
To be real for a sec, I don't think any merger in this industry has ever really benefited progress, just the bottom line for the company who bought. They'll smash all the production into one facility immediately, start closing offices slowly, then dry up different brands little by little. Easton might become synonymous with XC, and Raceface the gnarcore little brother. Everything will get "just a little" worse, but you'll probably start finding super deals on these parts at steep and cheap or whatever.
This is pretty hard to know without talking to people who were involved in product development at the same company pre and post merger.
Some companies that have put out better products since they became a part of a "conglomerate":
- Rockshox - Charger damper seems much better then anything that proceeded it.
- Fox Racing Shox - while CTD kinda sucks at least it's better then Terralogic was. I think most people will agree the damping is better in the 36/40 range then it was before they sold.
- Manitou - the Dorado is better then anything they'd put out in their last few years before the acquisitions.
How many of these companies would have done the same things if they'd stayed independent? I have no idea, but I'd be willing to bet Rockshox has had a much higher R&D budget and access to athletes with SRAM then they would have on their own. Really it comes down to how well can the managing entity run multiple organizations, all of which is made easier by sharing the same customers and general product philosophy. In the case of Fox, Race Face and Easton cycling - all are high end cycling brands with a strong focus on both OEM and aftermarket sales. I think this has a pretty good possibility of turning out well for their future products if the management team understands how to merge the culture and processes.
i've had good experiences with products from all three, including responsive and helpful communication with RF customer service to replace a defective spindle in a atlas pedal. i honestly wish 'em luck. they are gonna have to sort a number of points of overlap between RF/Easton in the cockpit area.
It is expected that there will be a price increase on fox fork and shox once production is transferred overseas (taiwan) as parts moves back and forth across the pacific.
better buy now.
possible change in quality? Fox cannot bring all of their engineering, QA and production employees to taiwan, it's cheaper to hire locally.
better buy now.
possible change in quality? Fox cannot bring all of their engineering, QA and production employees to taiwan, it's cheaper to hire locally.
wow, two fox threads in a row.
bravo.
bravo.
That's not how it works.
Actually its the other way round. Taiwanese companies cast the lower legs and manufacture the CSUs (as well as other bits) and they were shipped to the US where Fox assembled everything. Then most were shipped back to Taiwan to assemble as OEM.
Now Fox will manufacture and assemble everything in Taiwan and only ship the aftermarket products.
and OE product to their customers that still assemble all bikes in California...