Only Burley and Rodriguez?

**KnottedYet** · 08-02-2006, 11:19 AM

Are Burley and Rodriguez the only all-steel production (not custom) frames made in the US?

The Rivendell production bikes (Atlantis, Rambouillet, etc) are utterly beautiful, but for the same price as one of those frames made by hand in another country I can buy an entire bike with a frame made by hand here. (well, let me amend that. I could buy an entire Burley and almost an entire Rodriguez.)

Not that I'm dissing a bike frame made in Japan! The Riv site says they are very particular about the work done by the Osaka company, and that they follow Riv designs to the letter.

No, my interest in a US made frame is that I feel the US manufacturing industry is waaaay too focussed on cars and we need to be producing more bikes.

Besides, locally grown frame builders have a James Dean aura that makes me swoon.....

Are there any other companies? (not custom. I can't afford custom)

**mimitabby** · 08-02-2006, 11:24 AM

you can go used (buy a used bike) like i did.

**KnottedYet** · 08-02-2006, 11:25 AM

But what other brands (new or used) are steel and made in the US?

**SadieKate** · 08-02-2006, 11:33 AM

Off the top of my head, Gunnar and Kelly. Gunnar is still in production. Kelly is not but you might find a used frame.

As of a few weeks ago, Kelly still had some frames.
http://www.kellybike.com/2nd_rr_gobsale.html

**KnottedYet** · 08-02-2006, 11:42 AM

Is this not a beaut of a bike? I guess that bluish-white is the "color of the month"

http://www.gunnarbikes.com/sport.php

Most of my bikes have been made in Taiwan, too. Rivendell's production bikes are made by Toyo in Osaka, Japan. I loooved the Jamis I rode. That bike is gonna be my benchmark against which I measure all the other full-steels as I work my way toward getting a bike next year.
LBS told me both Surly and Soma are made in China.

I guess it's good that I can't afford to buy my new bike yet, because it gives me the chance to savor all the options out there. (and save more money as I wait)

**mimitabby** · 08-02-2006, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by KnottedYet

Is this not a beaut of a bike? I guess that bluish-white is the "color of the month"

http://www.gunnarbikes.com/sport.php

looks like mother's milk!

**SalsaMTB** · 08-02-2006, 11:57 AM

Ionic Bikes is a steel bike manufacturer, owned and operated as the same guys as Dean (dean is Ti, Ionic is steel). They offer custom and non-custom. They make phenominal frames, but their wait times are really long. One word of advice, do not trust the time they quote you on the phone. Your bike will be forever at the paint shop. People who have them, swear they are worth the wait though

www.ionicbikes.com

**Eden** · 08-02-2006, 11:37 AM

I couldn't find anything on their web site about where the bikes are made, but how about Surly? They are known for their minimalist steel frame bikes that are reasonably priced. For the most part they don't offer full bikes - just the frames and you add the components.

**tulip** · 08-02-2006, 11:40 AM

Luna makes custom, but also pre-built. $2000 is what you'll pay, which is cheaper than custom, but may be over your budget. They are made in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Most bikes are not made in Japan, but in Taiwan. I've found the quality of my Jamis to be exceptional. And it's steel.

**mimitabby** · 08-02-2006, 11:45 AM

good luck even finding aluminum frames actually built in the USA!
you've been to freerange cycle, they have some steel frame bikes there; cool bikes..i forget the name though.

**jeannierides** · 08-02-2006, 03:14 PM

I have a Gunnar Roadie, and it's made in the US by Waterford. I love it.
http://www.gunnarbikes.com/roadie.php

**BleeckerSt_Girl** · 08-02-2006, 03:23 PM

Is it important whether the steel itself was made in the US, or only that the frame was put-together in the US?

**Quillfred** · 08-02-2006, 05:58 PM

What about this nice Seattle company.....

http://www.davidsonbicycles.com/html/home.shtml

Not exactly chopped liva.....

**KnottedYet** · 08-02-2006, 06:51 PM

Hmmmm, yet another made in the US steel bike! Woohoo! I've hit the jackpot!

You guys are too awesome!

I spent an interesting half hour or so at R+E (home of Rodriguez) talking to Smiley about bikes. Made right here in Seattle! So, the Rodriguez Adventure ($2,200 with Campy Mirage) sounds like my Rodriguez. Right down to the bottle opener on the chain stay. (gotta be able to open those Red Hook ESB's!)

That was the first stop of the afternoon. Second stop was the bank, ain't enough money in my "bike acct" for wheels, let alone a bike yet. But it will get there. I deposited another $100 today.

Third stop was the dentist. Oh, crud. I need a root canal and a crown. Preliminary estimate: $3,600. First words out of my mouth: "That's more than a Rodriguez with full Campy Veloce!" (aka $2,800) My dentist is a biker, so he understood. And he sympathized.

The tooth is structually pretty ok with a stable big crack down the root, it's just the pain. How long can I stand the pain? I haven't chewed on that side in about 3 years. What's another year or two anyway? A couple beers (Red Hook ESB, of course) and the pain eases up. Will my dental insurance pay for a Rodriguez since I can use the bottle opener chain stay to get to the beer which dulls the pain of the cracked tooth?

**mimitabby** · 08-02-2006, 07:21 PM

Knotted,
I am glad you talked to Smiley, I like him. He fitted us to our tandem. Never missed a step.
After drooling over the Rivendell Ramboulet for years DH decided to get a locally made bike instead (Sunday) so he put in an order for a Davidson; steel of course.. That's down at Elliott Bay Bikes.

Keep saving your money... And I hope your dental insurance pays for most of that tooth!

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