What do bike manufacturers actually make?

[bigpoppa]

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On most modern bikes, it seems the:
Suspension comes from Showa, Marazocchi, ohlins, WP
Brakes come from Tokico, Nissin, Brembo, J juan
Electronics come from Bosch
Tires from Pirelli, Michelin, Bridgestone
TFT screens from garmin etc

Occasionally a company will have integration and they will try to do everything themselves(KTM and WP suspension) but for the most part everything is shopped out, so it makes me wonder, what all do manufacturers actually build themselves?
Engines? frames?
(not being critical, because from a financial and engineering point of view it makes sense, just curious)

 

[Brian P]

Varies from one model to the next. Same as the auto industry. Most parts and subassemblies come from suppliers, the company whose name is on the bike puts it together. Typically, really major components like frames are made in-house.

 

[DownUnder]

This has always been the way though. I don't recall any of the big guys making their own brakes and suspension

 

[Mad Mike]

This has always been the way though. I don't recall any of the big guys making their own brakes and suspension

Japanese make most of their own.

I think the biggest difference is the Japanese have the scale to design their own subassemblies, and for the most part make them.

Euro makers do more system integration, relying on the oe to do the design.

 

[ReSTored]

Very often a sourced component is highlighted because its perceived to be a premium product, like Brembo, Showa or Ohlin.

Many "car / bike manufacturing plants are in fact either assembly facilities where subcomponents are shipped and assembled on an assembly line of some sort or a mix of manufacturing and assembly.

 

[Renboy]

Cars, motorcycles, cnc machines, a ton of stuff is done this way. In house is the design, assembly and big stuff (chasis/engine), the rest is outsourced. Could you imagine if a car company made it's own everything down to headlight bulbs and wiper blades? Division of labour expanded.

 

[nobbie48]

Japanese make most of their own.

I think the biggest difference is the Japanese have the scale to design their own subassemblies, and for the most part make them.

Euro makers do more system integration, relying on the oe to do the design.

I forget what year Goldwing alternators switched from Japanese to Chinese with the associated drop in reliability.

My HD turn signal came from HD with a Made in Korea sticker.

 

[oioioi]

On the thought of manufacturers using sourced components.

Are manufacturers designing their bikes based on the design and specs of the component or are the component manufactures making their components based on the bike manufacturers request?

Who is shopping ins whos store/warehouse?

 

[Mad Mike]

On the thought of manufacturers using sourced components.

Are manufacturers designing their bikes based on the design and specs of the component or are the component manufactures making their components based on the bike manufacturers request?

Who is shopping ins whos store/warehouse?

It’s usually collaborative. The part manufacturer has the engineering and production technology, the bike manufacturer produces the high level performance and cost specs.

The part manufacturer tweaks their core tech to make the parts work for the bike manufacturer.

This does leave some gaps in dependability engineering, which is pretty much accepted in all euro vehicle manufacturing.

 

[bigpoppa]

On the thought of manufacturers using sourced components.

Are manufacturers designing their bikes based on the design and specs of the component or are the component manufactures making their components based on the bike manufacturers request?

Who is shopping ins whos store/warehouse?

whoever is constantly undersprung, underbraked, and comes with mediocre tires from the dealer

 

[Evoex]

On the thought of manufacturers using sourced components.

Are manufacturers designing their bikes based on the design and specs of the component or are the component manufactures making their components based on the bike manufacturers request?

Who is shopping ins whos store/warehouse?

In a general sense; somewhat depends on if you`re strictly production & design or just assembly but typically the OEM approaches the Tier 1 and says 'we want a part with these dimensions/tolerances that can do this', go make it.

 

[Mad Mike]

whoever is constantly undersprung, underbraked, and comes with mediocre tires from the dealer

Cost.

I’m not in the auto game, but we make assemblies for lots of manufacturers. Shaving $0.30 cents off a $100 assembly might be a decision to harden or not harden a small steel component. Unhardened means 20,000 actuations till failure, harden means 150000 actuations. Manufacturer goes unhardened a because 10000 actuations/year gets them thru warranty.

 

[guzzirider]

The trend on smaller displacement bikes is to totally outsource the unit or rebrand.
KTM 390, BMW 310, Suzuki GW250

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