Quality and longevity, those are the key questions.
If you're of a certain delicate age you might remember in the early to mid sixties mocking Japan's habit of copying western products with dubiously designed, low quality, low cost products. That all changed in the late sixties and seventies when Japanese products began to be associated with high quality, durability and longevity.
Political issues aside, I still regard most Chinese products as low cost and low quality. It's up to the Chinese to decide when they want to evolve to a different position in the marketplace. China can assemble iPhones, so the capability is probably there, but is there the will?
Would you purchase a Chinese bike? Given the politics involved and the quality of other Chinese products I wouldn't.
I have to purchase some china made machined things, bushings, bearings and some other heavy machined parts.
I have samples from the last 10 years and can say the quality of metals and machining has improved tremendously, the quality is as good as we can produce in our own machine shop.
China can produce quality when its required. The problem is a culture of wringing pennies off cost is in the DNA many Chinese producers - they think all buyers are expecting this too. One they taste a premium price, they can hold a good line on quality.
They also have a bit of national pride in besting anything designed in Japan, I suspect the improvements in quality and some innovation as a value add is what is attracting motorcycle manufacturers to China. And of course cost.
I have a chinese stainless steel sink that rusts. The drains had to be replaced within months of installing it. Shite. If they can't make a decent sink I won't trust them with a bike.
I have a chinese stainless steel sink that rusts. The drains had to be replaced within months of installing it. Shite. If they can't make a decent sink I won't trust them with a bike.
That will continue to be a problem for cheapie consumer goods. Stainless used in sinks needs to be precicely annealed after stamping to improve its resistances to dings and corrosion.
That's the quality difference between a $39 and $99 Homedepot bar sink.
Ppl complain about China made products....but want the lower price. You get what you pay for. China can make better quality, but companies go there for the cost savings and they got it. Fast, cheap or good...pick 2.
That will continue to be a problem for cheapie consumer goods. Stainless used in sinks needs to be precicely annealed after stamping to improve its resistances to dings and corrosion.
That's the quality difference between a $39 and $99 Homedepot bar sink.
What I don't like is premium brands charging high prices and yet going offshore for labour. Not a few have been called out on that.
In some cases the quality has dropped as well tho the high prices remain.
I do worry about things like risers and prefer a higher price German made set as it's a critical bit on the bike and lots of force acting on it. Same with chains... I'll pay for Regina as they have the long history and tech to justify the price.
Other bits like mirror extenders I'm happy to go for the lower cost and on occasion need to return. Amazon is my friend.
I have a chinese stainless steel sink that rusts. The drains had to be replaced within months of installing it. Shite. If they can't make a decent sink I won't trust them with a bike.
My Craftsman snowblower is 30+ years old, very little plastic on it, it still runs great with an occasional carb cleaning and it looks like new. I'm sure I'll have it another 15+ years, at which time I'll probably be too old to use it. Maybe I'll revise my will and leave it to my grandson.
I don't think people value things that last the way they used to, not that they really have a choice in terms of what's for sale. Will people pay more for general consumer products that are more durable and will last for years. I've been a Consumers Reports subscriber for decades and always check reliability record on major purchases, but I feel I'm a bit of an exception that way as many people seem to not care about this at all.
It's not likely the quality of the steel, sinks are 304 alloy. The issue is when you form stainless, it hardens the formed areas. Brushing also has to be done with non ferrous natural. Then everything needs to be reannealed.
Cheapo Chinese sinks get brushed with cheap carbon steel brushes an are not re-annealed.
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