Re: Typical decent Al Bicycle diamond frame costs $8 to make in Taiwan
SMS <scharf.ste...@geemail.com>
Luke wrote:
> This from Sheldon Brown's Bentride Podcast (@ 8:50). No wonder
> manufacturing is a declining sector in North America! This can't be the
> total cost of production (stock and labor); does the figure apply to
> labor cost only?
It's quite possible that $8 is the cost of an aluminum frame. Aluminum
is extremely inexpensive (why do you think the bicycle manufacturers are
using it?!). Look how cosmetically poor the welds are--no effort is put
into filing them. Welding seven or eight pieces of aluminum tubing
together is not a long or expensive process.
I think the real question is what is the ROI, including the cost of the
equipment and factory.
