> In general, Japanese are the best in copying and making improvement over
> the originals. See cameras, watches, automobiles, of course bicycle stuff.
I totally agree. I own several japanese cameras, including Pentax ME supers (bought 3 in my lifetime) and Nikon. Also Honda and Lexus. Japanese stuff is technically great.
When I was in high school i was able to purchase a SEKAI 2500 bicycle which sort of made me happy all throughout the latter half of the 1970's. I could not afford a bicycle of similar quality from Europe.
The one problem i have with japanese equipment is probably a cultural thing. Japanese equipment is often technically superior but "boring". Somehow some European and American products manage to produce a product that is "sexy or exotic". Campagnolo is a good example of sexy. Leica is a good example of exotic. The one thing that Japan could do better in America is to market their products better to americans.
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my motive in writing that original email is this. I'm in the process of trying to rebuild an "almost new" raleigh international, '72-'74 models, just like the one i wanted when i was really really young. i missed the fire sale on two such bikes yesterday for $280 and $290, rats.
I have almost enough parts for two such bikes, but the one was badly damaged by saltwater air in santa cruz. The chainwheels have deep oxidation bubbles and unsuitable now for my purposes. the other has a chainwheel that is beautiful but has 2 large scrapes and the inside of the crank arms look like they were crunched inside vice grip pliers sometime in the past.
I have been able to procure one NOS 43T chainwheel (thanks, BC) and one good condition 42T chainwheel. I am unable to find any 52T chainwheels.
Maybe i should have bought $800 used bicycles rather than $350 used bicycles, in order to get a bike in better condition. I don't know what i am doing wrong.
I am already riding one bike a lot and will ride them both a lot, but I take much better care of my equipment than the people who used to own these bikes.
Don Gillies - gillies@cs.ubc.ca - Sr. Staff Engineer, Qualcomm Inc.
http://www.ece.ubc.ca/