Wow, this is getting out of hand. we are trying to make the bike we would like to buy and ride. There is no intent to scam or mislead people. I like to take my clone out for a good long weekend and ride, i have had my share of break downs on the trail and thats what we are tring to fix. We are trying to make a good working bike at a good price, i guess these are our core values. I think we need to move on and work together to make the best bike posiable

Somehow, I doubt whether my approval/disapproval is going to change the world in any significant way. If I view something as "wowie-zowie" someone might chalk up a few more sales, if I don't like it, no sale...and the sun will still rise tomorrow..."same as it ever was..." As for a "pencil whipping", essentially all I did was break your post down into single topics and pose simple questions based upon them. "How", as in "how someone likes/dislikes" something is strictly a matter of opinion; it's all good by me. Agreeing to disagree keeps things from getting stale. On the other hand, "what" questions generally require factual answers. Seperating facts from opinions is the only way to actually resolve anything and that is my inclination...supply the facts and let everyone make their own calls.

I've watched the whole made-in-PRC thing play out for close to 10 years now, in a number of different countries. It's changed but seems no closer to actually delivering OEM quality and consistency. You might be surprised to learn just how many times other vendors have risen and fallen with Chinese bikes and related bits. Things have gotten really ugly at times. Part of it is nothing more than what results from cost-based marketing. The amount of crap sold through ebay made life difficult for those sourcing & supplying better quality items. It's pretty tough to determine anything from low-res auction pix, eh? What I've seen, time and again, is rising hype; to be sure, it's a gradual process. However, over time, an imperceptibly slow escalation can grow to towering proportions, becoming a house of cards. Sooner or later a light breeze comes along and it ain't pretty.

The compromises have been fairly consistent over the years and my take was always along the lines of "it's not toothpaste, dog food, milk or kiddie toys", in other words not my cuppa, but not dangerous - at least. The hub issue was bad enough, then the swingarm bolt breakage; those are clear indications of just how far the reverse-bidding approach has been taken. Safety issues of that magnitude for a few lousy bucks, that's scary s*** Then, while amidst this backdrop, the quality claims start rising and no vendor even addresses the details. When the rhetoric reaches a point where entry-level parts are being equated with high-end/no compromise items, the tornado sirens go off. You get the picture, time to start asking questions, get the facts and put things to rest. I think the previous post goes a long way toward setting things straight. The direct questions posed in my previous post were an opportunity to really shine with direct answers. I'm all for keeping things mellow & chilled, wasn't pissed-off in the first place...

racerx you keep saying that you have been "watching" the PRC thing the last 10 years. I think there is a big difference between watching something and actually dealing with it on a daily basis. Trailbuddy has some very nice parts, and I think its nice quality. It may not be racerx quality, but you will just have to live with that. Ron and Mark are cool dudes and are bringing some exciting parts and bikes into the reproduction market. I love it! No matter how much you type, it wont change that. Sorry.

Hmmmm...semantics...okay, let's be more specific. "Watching" includes sourcing, testing, evaluating, collecting feedback from contacts in multiple countries and attempting to have items made to spec in PRC. Have you ever ridden, or even seen firsthand, a bike set-up with top-of-the-line parts? I check out the "latest and greatest" when it becomes available. Just so there's no mistake, that means new items from low-to-high end. If something new & great hits the market, I'm interested. Riders abroad use their bikes as serious daily transporation. Having numerous global contacts provides rapid feedback as the miles go on at unbelievable rates. I simply pass on the information, use it as you see fit. After a decade's worth of direct experience, up to manufacturer level, the inexorable conclusion is that there is only one reason to source bike parts from PRC at this point in time - price. Real parts cost real money, once you cross a certain quality threshold, the cost advantage goes away. No matter how you slice it, fifty cents will never be a buck. Interested in 5000 pontiac V8 cranks? They're only .002" off spec and waiting to be shipped west. The point is not to invalidate anyone else's opinions, just to give some background as to what mine are based upon.

So, to be crystal clear, buy what you like. I'm sure that Ron & Mark are good guys who appreciate your patronage. Attempting to raise the bar on the Chinese end of the market seems a worthwhile aim. No need to further explain my aproach to things, you either get it or you don't and agreement is not a requirement. Thus, there's no need to be defensive as stating facts is not the same as mounting an attack. We're dealing in opinions here.

"If you don't like the way I drive, then stay off the sidewalk!"...