Are there no "small" bike brands?

BayAreaJerry

BayAreaJerry

Member
Ive noticed in skiing there is space for the huge companies like volkl, k2, and solomon as well as little companies like J, on3p, or moment. Is there just not a space for these smal brands in the bike industry? it seems researching and creating a bike is a much harder thing to pull off then building a ski, not to mention that you also have to sell components with the bike. If there are any little brands doing cool things, I'd like to know so I can support them.
 
There's tons of small and custom bike brands. I think the lack of awareness about them comes down mostly to cost. Bikes are a lot more expensive than skis to begin with, so I think it's harder for the small bike companies to hit a price point the average rider can afford.

I mostly drool over the Forbidden Druid - https://www.forbiddenbike.com

Here is a list of Canadian bike companies, depending how you define small I'd say half to three-quarters of them qualify: https://cyclingmagazine.ca/sections/gear-reviews/bikesframes/canadian-bicycle-brands/
 
I would argue that yes there are smaller bike brands, but as OP said creating a bike is a whole different ball park than skis. There are threads about people creating their own skis on a press, but bikes need a special place for manufacturing frames, wheels, suspension etc. A few companies I can think of are Moot and Evil, plus you have other brands like Yeti and Transition that arent as small as Moot or Evil but not as huge as Giant or Trek.

I like having a unique bike, but if you want to support the smaller business in in biking, I think you best move would to support a true local bike shop, and not some mega chain.
 
This is really kind of a testament to how crazy advanced MTB technology is. Everything from aircraft grade materials like aluminum to carbon fiber, computer simulations for suspension geometry that can isolate terrain from pedal force, manufacturing the actual bike and working with all the different suppliers for parts etc.
 
If by a "big brand" you mean trek, specialized, giant, etc. then there's a lot of smaller (not nearly as small as ON3P or J skis as mtb is much more mainstream than freeskiing) brands around. Transition bikes, Evil Bikes, Pivot, Santa Cruz (although one could argue that SC isn't small/core anymore) Yeti, Kona, Devinci, Niner, Propain, just to name a few. IMO the most "core" brand out of that list is Transition, they support so many younger talented riders and give recognition to lesser known riders.
 
Plenty of small boutique bike brands out there. You'll rarely seem them because they're often small batch american manufactured and the price reflects that. Kinda like how someone may buy a pair of $499 k2's over $749 on3p's when the k2's may be all they ever need.

This is not a jab at small companies, it is just hard to compete with the big international brands when you're not exploiting sweatshop labor and/or large production sizes.

My fav 'small' bike brand is REEB. Close to home, true to their roots and their steel 29'rs are bomber as fuck. Word on the street is they don't even make money off their bikes, it's soley a passion project subsidized by oscar blues beer sales.
 
14141603:Biffbarf said:
Plenty of small boutique bike brands out there. You'll rarely seem them because they're often small batch american manufactured and the price reflects that. Kinda like how someone may buy a pair of $499 k2's over $749 on3p's when the k2's may be all they ever need.

This is not a jab at small companies, it is just hard to compete with the big international brands when you're not exploiting sweatshop labor and/or large production sizes.

My fav 'small' bike brand is REEB. Close to home, true to their roots and their steel 29'rs are bomber as fuck. Word on the street is they don't even make money off their bikes, it's soley a passion project subsidized by oscar blues beer sales.
Click to expand...

Reeb looks pretty sweet actually. That is what Ive always heard about steel, "Aluminum is light but steel is smooth."
 
14141603:Biffbarf said:
Plenty of small boutique bike brands out there. You'll rarely seem them because they're often small batch american manufactured and the price reflects that. Kinda like how someone may buy a pair of $499 k2's over $749 on3p's when the k2's may be all they ever need.

This is not a jab at small companies, it is just hard to compete with the big international brands when you're not exploiting sweatshop labor and/or large production sizes.

My fav 'small' bike brand is REEB. Close to home, true to their roots and their steel 29'rs are bomber as fuck. Word on the street is they don't even make money off their bikes, it's soley a passion project subsidized by oscar blues beer sales.
Click to expand...

Reeb looks pretty sweet actually. That is what Ive always heard about steel, "Aluminum is light but steel is smooth."
 
14141579:typicaldenverkid said:
I would argue that yes there are smaller bike brands, but as OP said creating a bike is a whole different ball park than skis. There are threads about people creating their own skis on a press, but bikes need a special place for manufacturing frames, wheels, suspension etc. A few companies I can think of are Moot and Evil, plus you have other brands like Yeti and Transition that arent as small as Moot or Evil but not as huge as Giant or Trek.

I like having a unique bike, but if you want to support the smaller business in in biking, I think you best move would to support a true local bike shop, and not some mega chain.
Click to expand...

14141597:clindblomskier said:
If by a "big brand" you mean trek, specialized, giant, etc. then there's a lot of smaller (not nearly as small as ON3P or J skis as mtb is much more mainstream than freeskiing) brands around. Transition bikes, Evil Bikes, Pivot, Santa Cruz (although one could argue that SC isn't small/core anymore) Yeti, Kona, Devinci, Niner, Propain, just to name a few. IMO the most "core" brand out of that list is Transition, they support so many younger talented riders and give recognition to lesser known riders.
Click to expand...

I guess these companies still feel really big to me, like Line or Faction. Not something you are going to see in every shop but still really popular. I guess the the bike scale is just bigger when it comes to companies, at both ends of the spectrum.

I think my cool local brands are Ibis and Marin, although Marin is pretty huge and Ibis is owned by Santa Cruz which is also huge. Santa cruz has done a lot for california trails and towns so I dont feel bad about supporting them, just nice to help the little guy. If anyone knows any other California based bike brands I'd love to know
 
14141607:SuspiciousFish said:
Reeb looks pretty sweet actually. That is what Ive always heard about steel, "Aluminum is light but steel is smooth."
Click to expand...

You can just thrash on them it is unreal. So many companies try to build the lightest hardtail possible for the lightweight lycra wearin' wannabe vance legstrongs out there. My 6'5 250lb uncle has a single speed redyk w/ the i9 wheelset and it's gotta be one of the most bombproof bikes out there.
 
There a bunch small bike brands, like privateer bikes. They make a 3 thousand dollars Enduro race bike and the spec on it is insane.
 
U4YLG.gif
Heres a small bike
 
14143333:little1337 said:
U4YLG.gif
Heres a small bike
Click to expand...

saw a dude ride one of those at Circus Circus in Reno. I was impressed. Not gonna lie. Shit looks impossible and he was riding around in circles and shit on a tiny stage
 
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