One constant, regardless of the country, is that
collectible bicycles remain relatively affordable
compared to other luxuries. Heck, there are a lot of
rare and interesting bikes that can be had for less
than the price of many 17-year-old's car stereo's!
Compared to vintage cars or private aircraft even a
mint Herse or Confente sells for pocket change.
David Feldman
Vancouver, WA
> French wines and desinger goods such as LV bags,
> Channelle, etc. are extremely big in Japan. So too
> are
> French bikes, especially Rene Herse. They were all
> coveted in the 1960s, but always out of reach of the
> average Japanese consumer.
>
> RH showed his bikes at a Tokyo show in the early 60s
> and the Japanese became bike Francophiles, ever
> since.
> At that time, Japan was still a poor country
> rebuilding from the war.
>
> They had serious import duties and a weak currency.
> The yen was pegged at about 370 per 1 US dollar
> then.
> During the rebuilding years, most people couldn't
> afford any imported item, especially a European
> bike,
> but the desire was there.
>
> Still the country was infatuated with exotic
> imports,
> that they couldn't afford. To satisfy the bikers
> demand for French style, the Japanese frame builders
> patterned their custom bikes after the French and
> outfitted them with Japanese parts.
>
> In the 80s and 90s, when Japan became an economic
> powerhouse, the yen muscled its way as high as 79
> per
> dollar, trade duties were eased, the economic bubble
> inflated and Japanese bike collectors bought bikes,
> art collectors bought paintings and real estate
> speculators bought the Rockefellar Ctr and much of
> Hawaii.
>
> Currently the yen is about 125 (3 times the value of
> the 1960s)and imported bikes and parts are
> "affordable."
>
> So even on ebay standards, the collectible items
> are,
> if not reasonable, at least attainable, to the
> average
> Japanese collector. But 10 years after the economic
> bubble blew, how long can it last????
> --Just my 2 yens worth. Scott in St. Paul, MN
> --- ben kamen <ko_te_jebe@mac.com> wrote:
> > hello all,
> >
> > in a conversation with another list member i asked
> > this and he mentioned
> > asking the list.....so ken and others who have
> more
> > of an insight please
> > feel welcome to share your opinions.
> >
> > after selling a few items on ebay that went to
> > bidders from Japan i asked a
> > little about what the parts were going on and what
> > they ride and collect. i
> > must say i was stuck for words when seeing a few
> of
> > their bikes - both how
> > many different styles and how perfect in every
> > detail they were too. many
> > rare features and most were ridden too. my opinion
> > would be that the 3 or 4
> > that emailed pics would have category winners had
> > they brought them to Le
> > Cirque.
> >
> > mostly french bikes and not all race orientated
> > either. had me wondering
> > what fashioned their tastes and the style of bikes
> > they sought and bought as
> > its discernably different to the majority of
> styles
> > that are predominant
> > here. were herse's and singer's sold in Japan? why
> > are some italian bikes
> > valued by cyclists from Japan yet other big names
> > (to us from the US anyway)
> > not really valued?
> >
> > i will mention in future emails with the few
> ebayers
> > from Japan i have met
> > that perhaps they might have a look into the CR
> list
> > - a swapping of minds
> > and passions would be great - i can imagine a few
> > may be a little hesitant
> > but will assure them their english is fine (and
> > defiantely a lot better than
> > my japanese).
> >
> > they really have some drop dead gorgeous bikes
> with
> > immaculate and exact
> > details of many styles and if shared here would be
> > something very cool. im
> > sure if we drew up "the perfect bike" by those
> form
> > the US, those from the
> > British and those from Japan we would end up with
> 3
> > very different bikes
> > which is cool and common with most regional
> > generalisations - but whats
> > makes this so with bikes? culturally as a bike
> > junkie i find it very
> > interesting.
> >
> > views please...
> >
> > ciao,
> >
> > ben kamen, NYC
> >
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> >
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