I’m looking to treat myself to a new bike or frame, but it’s surprisingly difficult out here.
I’m just over 6’4", so ride 60cm c-c road bikes. I have yet to find anyone who has a large enough frame in stock - fair enough; no local demand - but why can none of the major stores get me something from the factory? I get the same story everywhere (Merida, Giant, Fuji to name but 3). Anyone know why it’s a problem? Surely they can just earmark one from the production line and send it to Tainan rather than Europe, the US or wherever?
There’s a particular bike in the Merida line-up that I’d like, so if anyone has a contact of someone senior at Merida HQ, I’d be happy to hear from you.
I’m 3" shorter, and had the same wish a couple of years ago. I had a Fuji in mind, but gave up - in one of their shops I ended up almost waving $50k in the face of the laoban, but he showed surprisingly little interest and said that he couldn’t get a large frame. He then tried to convince me that I looked good on a 54cm.
Someone on here did once answer why it might be a problem, but I can’t remember exactly why. Something to do with the way frames are earmarked for either the import or export market. As I know you know from your last line, your best bet is to get somebody in the right position in the company to help you.
good luck.
It’s probably easier looking at close-out sales from on-line stores in the US / UK, and then get it shipped over.
I ride a similar size frame and I can relate to your annoyance at how hard they are to come by. The reasons why you can’t just grab one off the assembly line even though the majority are made here are varied, but the main ones are:
Brands aren’t randomly manufacturing bikes all the time. Production runs throughout the year build sizes and quantities to meet the specific demands the brand’s global distribution network has forecast and ordered many months in advance due to the long supplier lead times. Bikes at the extremes of the size ranges are naturally made in lower quantities and to very specific demands since stock is hard to shift meaning the comparatively small number of XXL frames coming off the line during any given run are normally already spoken for.
Even if the unit you wanted could be snagged from whatever export market it was earmarked for (zero are going to Taiwan obviously) it wouldn’t be worth the hassle or in many cases it wouldn’t be possible for just one bike, to prepare the documents and pay the taxes to make it a domestic market bike. Frames and components imported (or manufactured locally) for assembly at Taiwan factories remain bonded, ie. Taiwan taxes, duties and VAT aren’t paid since they are destined for immediate export. That means the government and the tax man are involved and there’s too much cost and red tape for one to ‘fall off the back of the truck’.
Taiwan retail shops and by extension Taiwan import/distribution companies are notoriously incompetent, lazy and uninterested in customer service. “Buy what we have, not what you need” is the mantra most of them live by. In addition many are utterly ignorant of sizing and bike fit importance and honestly think you will “look more handsome” on a bike 2 sizes too small.
Your best bet is probably to find a shop that focuses on one or two major brands and hopefully has a half decent relationship with the distributor/importer and ask them to put in the request for an XXL bike on their next forecast and wait for the production cycle to run through. It could well be 6 months wait, but since the 2015 model year order/production season is just about to start, your timing might be okay. Alternatively you might consider ordering an XXL frame from one of the manufacturer direct brands like canyon.com
Thanks for the responses and information, chaps. Kinda fits with what I suspected but was too naive to actually believe.
I have actually found one local brand who implied they will do a custom build at no extra cost as I would be their ‘tallest’ customer. Watch this space…
Hadn’t thought of Canyon, so will take a look, thanks.
It’s a crazy old world where I will probably have to have a bike shipped back to Taiwan from the UK.
There’s a few distributors in the Taipei area.[/quote]
Yeah, I’d go with a local brand.
For metal bikes, Rikulau would be another good option, and they do some really nice Ti bikes as well. The frames are made at Ora, which is one of the better metal frame-building outfits in the world, from what I’ve heard.
I’ve communicated with both Speedone and Rikulau in the past and they are very helpful.
For carbon, think about Velocite’s Geos, which is available in an XL frame (59cm TT, 20cm HT). I know a hardcore rider who has one and he loves it. Their alloy bike, the Selene, is also available in XL. Cam (dist) and Victor (owner) post on here from time to time so I’m sure you can hit them up easily.
[quote=“ColT”]Yeah, working on getting something sorted with Rikulau in 931 or 953…
Will take a look at Velocite too. Ta.[/quote]
Cool! If I don’t end up getting a bike in the US when I go back to school, I might get a custom Ti or stainless Rikulau when I move back here. I’d love some pics and a review if you end up getting one.
[quote=“ColT”]Thanks for the responses and information, chaps. Kinda fits with what I suspected but was too naive to actually believe.
I have actually found one local brand who implied they will do a custom build at no extra cost as I would be their ‘tallest’ customer. Watch this space…
Hadn’t thought of Canyon, so will take a look, thanks.
It’s a crazy old world where I will probably have to have a bike shipped back to Taiwan from the UK.[/quote]
Hello ColT. I’m 6’7" tall and I managed to find a 63cm frame, which is just on the edge of being big enough.
Thanks for the previous link dosvog2002, this is the best I could find. They don’t do frames any bigger.
I emailed them and they said to wait a few months before I could get one. I guess they won’t produce again for the export market but they did say they had some 60’s in. She put me onto their dealer.
I’m looking at August, but wondering if anyone can help me with a custom fitter? The lowest price I could get on this was 45,000NT which isn’t too bad as it is a great bike, but I was hoping for something cheaper or at least the same price but made to measure. Did you manage to get a custom build made?
Any clues anyone? I’m in Taipei but willing to travel for the right build / bike.
