How Giant Bicycles in Taiwan Became a Bicycle Giant

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.ย. 2024
  • I regularly make use of YouBike here in Taipei. It is a simple, easy-to-use bike share that makes biking around Taipei as convenient as the MRT. I use it regularly to get to places while enjoying the outdoors.
    YouBike would not work half as well as it does if the bikes sucked. And luckily they do not. These bikes were provided by Giant, Taiwan's biggest bicycle brand.
    I do not know much about the bicycle industry, so Giant's success and name recognition came as a surprise to me. It is pretty cool that in the midst of a bunch of semiconductor and electronics companies, one of Taiwan's most well-known brands makes bicycles of all things.
    In this video, I want to profile Taichung-based Giant Bicycle. Their beginnings, rise to prominence, and how they managed to make it from being a white label manufacturer to a global brand of their own.
    Links:
    - The Asianometry Newsletter: asianometry.com
    - Patreon: / asianometry
    Dedicated to L for teaching me how to ride a bike.

ความคิดเห็น • 265

  • @Asianometry
    @Asianometry  3 ปีที่แล้ว +22

    Have you guys used YouBike before?
    Watch other company profiles here: th-cam.com/play/PLKtxx9TnH76Qod2z94xcDNV95_ItzIM-S.html

    • @Evolition180
      @Evolition180 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      I love Ubike! Now Giant is providing bikes for the new Ubike second generation 👍. You have good videos. How about a video on one of Taiwans scooter companies 😀

    • @harrickvharrick3957
      @harrickvharrick3957 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      What is 'the' MRT? Don't expect people from around the world to know what the abbreviation for a local transportation company means..

  • @escargotomy
    @escargotomy 3 ปีที่แล้ว +66

    Interesting story to be sure. In 1992 I purchased a Giant Innova Hybrid bike for $350 at the recommendation of the bike shop owner who had recently become a dealer for them. He said they were offering the best value to quality he'd ever seen and that was good enough for me. 29 years later, I am still pedaling the same Giant bike that has given me 3 decades of recreation, transportation and fitness. Literally tens of thousands miles. Easily the best $350 I have ever spent.

    • @ronjon7942
      @ronjon7942 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Yep, same (almost). Until it was recently stolen, I had fully intended my new 2006 Rincon to be my last , and I’m looking hard for that exact chassis (w a bent center bar). Meanwhile, I grabbed up a Warp, my first rear-suspension bike; I’m pretty happy w it, but I do miss that darn Rincon. I’m glad my bike guy is a Giant dealer.

    • @HolahkuTaigiTWFormosanDiplomat
      @HolahkuTaigiTWFormosanDiplomat 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      0.0

  • @johnhaggerty6009
    @johnhaggerty6009 3 ปีที่แล้ว +106

    Giant replaced my motor under warranty when the warranty had expired 8 months because of the Covid 19 lockdown, I was truly grateful to them for doing so on my Quick E + electric bicycle. I thought I would let people know how they stand behind there products. I really enjoyed the video. Thanks.

    • @reinerfranke5436
      @reinerfranke5436 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Giant is unique that they rebrand a yamaha motor. Interesting how that works out. No other do motor rebranding.

    • @nomad-pq4yw8iy7v
      @nomad-pq4yw8iy7v 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Giant is a pretty solid company they stand behind there bikes that means a lot to to a rider like me THANKS GIANT!

  • @jinngeechia9715
    @jinngeechia9715 3 ปีที่แล้ว +112

    Giant revolutionized road bicycles with the TCR or Total Compact Road. To those into bicycle history, the TCR defined what is viewed as the truly modern road bicycle in the last 20 oe 30 years. A departure from the straight top tube of the vintage bicycles. It was smaller, more nimble, more aerodynamic due to its compact shape and made other manufacturers follow. It also made sport cycling even more accessible to everyone because the horizontal top tube bicycle dictated custom made sizes which can number to 22 different frames. Giant with the TCR is able to make it in 3 or 4 sizes from XS to XL. Costs went down as a result with a maximum of 4 frames to fit nearly everyone.

    • @iMadrid11
      @iMadrid11 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      It’s a shame Giant won’t have a single bike represented in this years 2021 Tour de France. With Team CCC going bankrupt in 2020 with sponsors pulling out support due to the pandemic.
      It’s back to drawing again for Giant’s marketing team. They need to find a World Grand Tour level team to partner with as an equipment sponsor to showcase the TCR. Otherwise their brand value would fall in the sports road racing category.

    • @jinngeechia9715
      @jinngeechia9715 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@iMadrid11 Yeah this is sad. The first win was with Tom Dumoulin on a TCR in the 2017 Giro d'Italia.

    • @capmidnite
      @capmidnite 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Not sure if the TCR was a "more aerodynamic" design. If you look at a bike straight on, a sloping top tube doesn't make it more aero. As you said, I think the TCR makes it easier for manufacturers to make more universal sizes (S,M,L) instead of 22 different frames. So-called innovations in the bike industry recently have been to make things easier or simpler for the manufacturer (cartridge bearings, PressFit bottom brackets, etc).

    • @iMadrid11
      @iMadrid11 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@capmidnite Easier to manufacture means lower production costs equals to higher profits. Just like the recent hookless rims the bike industry is trying to peddle. They figured out a way to produce rims at a lower cost by eliminating the hook bead. While asking you to pay a lot more money for so called new technology.

    • @womplestilskin
      @womplestilskin 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@capmidnite it's less aero for sure, all the new aero bikes are not compact frames.

  • @hikikomicklori9290
    @hikikomicklori9290 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I own two GIANT bikes and I LOVE them. They will always have my business and I cannot recommend them enough.

  • @alexbroere2669
    @alexbroere2669 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    As a youngster I lived in Taiwan for a few years and my parents got me (of course) a Giant bike. 14 years later we parted because I became too big for the bike but now I still have a Giant bike in my garage. Love the brand! Amazing how many great companies come from Taiwan.

  • @vaughanjones4149
    @vaughanjones4149 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Bought my first carbon road bike from Giant and had defect in head tube after a year and my local bike shop had to scrap it and claim my life time warranty from Giant- they couldn’t replace my frame as they didn’t have any XL sizes left, so they offered me my size XL at Christmas or a size L within 2 weeks or $1000 for the cost of the frame! I went with the size L, so at the end of the day in the middle of a pandemic Giant stood by there word and for that I’m relived and grateful.

  • @xelseartheonlyone1267
    @xelseartheonlyone1267 3 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    I managed to buy a serious bike for the first time in my life. Is a Giant road bike. I love it. It is the most amazing thing i ever had.
    Worth every cent!

  • @PedanticNo1
    @PedanticNo1 3 ปีที่แล้ว +75

    My second bike, a Giant, was stolen after one year as a young child.
    I now associate Giant with sadness and pain.

    • @dickybirdcch
      @dickybirdcch 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      I had my first Specialized Mountain Bike stolen from outside a Chinese takeaway in London, I also still feel the pain.

    • @jinngeechia9715
      @jinngeechia9715 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      If there are any thing that can be called scum, it is a bicycle thief. A lot of people think it is not a huge loss if a bicycle is stolen compared to an automobile but it is. It can even be a heirloom hand-me-down that gives it a huge sentimental value.

    • @rorychivers8769
      @rorychivers8769 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      @@jinngeechia9715 My older brother had his Saracen bike stolen from him by someone who pretended to be a good friend
      He would strip the entire bike down to pieces and polish every part after every single ride.
      It took him ten years before he got another bike, and only because it was gifted to him.
      Bike thieves are the worst kind of scum on this earth.

    • @DrewskiTheLegend
      @DrewskiTheLegend 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@rorychivers8769 that sucks about his bike being stolen, but as a pro bike mechanic myself, stripping the whole bike down after every ride is pretty weird/unnecessary/stupid. Bet he didn’t have a torque wrench either so add dangerous to the list.

    • @charleschavarria7523
      @charleschavarria7523 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I had my Schwinn Apple Krate stolen in 1968: what kind of God makes a world where monsters thrive…

  • @TruGamer128
    @TruGamer128 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Giant makes great bikes. I just bought one and it's the best bike I've ever owned.
    I'm truly happy for their success and in my humble opinion is hard earned and well deserved.

  • @Hugo_Rocker
    @Hugo_Rocker 26 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I own a 1990 Giant ATX 780 and I still ride it. It was a great value at the time. I was just out of college and mountain biking was becoming a huge part of cycling. I now own many other bikes, but I love my Giant!

  • @ph11p3540
    @ph11p3540 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I used to deliver Giant bike frames from Vancouver to a container depot in Surry BC where the Bikes would be shipped off to Raleigh Bikes in Ontario. When I looked at Raleigh and Giant bikes being sold in the same store I used to chuckle about it knowing they were practically the same bikes. Fortunately they were all priced the same feature for feature. Both really good bike brands in Canada.

    • @KenGold666
      @KenGold666 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I'm watching from Burnaby , BC

  • @georginaprice1530
    @georginaprice1530 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    This Canadian has a Giant electric bike, really happy with quality and service. I've also done a road bike tour in Taiwan, great country for cycling, super friendly people, supportive, safe, great biking culture. Thank you.

    • @tonychen1062
      @tonychen1062 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Taiwan will welcome you to pay visit to us again😉

    • @alexchen5616
      @alexchen5616 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Well come to Taiwan again

  • @frankhuicts
    @frankhuicts 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    My son forwarded one of your videos regarding TSMC water issue with their new Arizona fab, in response to my question to him months ago, before he went for his training in Tainan. He will eventually return to Arizona for that new fab. I agree marketing your own well-made videos is tough and you only reached me by chance. I'm an individual investor and your videos help be to quickly update my knowledge about certain companies and industries. People view your "dry, aka not-for-entertainment" subjects for a reason. It will be interesting to know what others get from it.

  • @Incomudro1963
    @Incomudro1963 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    At the end of this past winter, I decided to replace my department store Schwinn bicycle with a genuine road bike.
    Much online research often lead me to Giant.
    I narrowed my picks down to Trek Domane, Scott Speedster, and Giant Contend.
    Ultimately, and largely due to availability - I purchased a Giant Contend a two hour drive from my home.
    I'm very happy with the bike.

  • @sogcezar
    @sogcezar 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    As an avid bicycle rider and proponent of such, I really appreciated your video and analysis of this Giant company that Giant became.
    I wish you all the success and hopefully you will become a giant within this media.
    Take care brother!

  • @jinngeechia9715
    @jinngeechia9715 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Remember these two names. Giant and Merida. Both are Taiwanese bicycle companies. You will be hard pressed to find Merida in North America because it is not available there. I don't know if it is an agreement between Merida or Specialized because Merida owns almost 40% of Specialized. The bicycle scene is becoming more like the automobile industry. Giant is akin to VWAG or Volkswagen Auto Group. They make frames not just for themselves but other big brands also. They are not in the liberty to say who they are making the frames for. But in the end, if you can see past the big brand names like Trek, Cannondale, etc. Buying a Giant or Merida bicycle makes you very clever because you didn't pay for the "badge". ;)

    • @iMadrid11
      @iMadrid11 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Specialized does have a special agreement with Merida. Which prohibits Merida from selling their bikes in North America.

    • @PhiyackYuh
      @PhiyackYuh 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Are you saying that a high end giant carbon frame is the same as any high end carbon like specialzed aethos or trek emonda? Im curious. I’ve always wanted giant as its value for money in paper but i wonder if they are quality bikes and re-sellable? Any insights would be great. Thanks

    • @iMadrid11
      @iMadrid11 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@PhiyackYuh They are similar in quality but not exactly the same. Giant, Specialized and Trek design their own original carbon frame molds designs and have their own specific way of laying down sheets of fibers.
      Cheap no name Chinese carbon uses an Open Mold Design. They are cheaper because the can cut corners by using lower grade carbon fiber and cheap resins.
      There are some bike brands that use existing Open Mold Designs. They can be made into high quality carbon frames. If you don’t skimp out on the quality of build materials and labor.

    • @veryinterestingpersonaliti8321
      @veryinterestingpersonaliti8321 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@PhiyackYuh Giant made Trek.

    • @janeblogs324
      @janeblogs324 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      We get merida in Ausfalia. I own 2 meridas now only because they lose all their value after 1 year. Merida is like the Hyundai of bicycles, good quality, reliable but worth nothing 2nd hand and often sold to a 3rd,4th,5th buyer in a few years.
      They charge $1000 new and after 1 year everyone realises how basic they are and sell them 2nd hand. No one wants to be seen on a merida so they sell stupidly cheap, 1/3 to 1/4 of retail.
      I would never buy a new merida, total waste of money when a brand name is cheaper with the identical shimano components

  • @MattSwain1
    @MattSwain1 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I’ve bought 4 Giant bikes of different types over the course of about the last 12 years and think they’re great, they seem to keep hitting the sweet spot of good quality for sensible money. Interesting to learn about their background

  • @1BCamden
    @1BCamden 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I have only ever purchased GIANT, and as I have over the years continued to upgrade, I truly miss those models that I have sold on to friends, and good homes at a fraction of the original price tag.
    Thank you GIANT, your move into composites was a water shed moment for my MTB indulgence, but I have never looked back.

  • @jb_au
    @jb_au 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    I thank you for yet another high-quality coverage of a Taiwanese industry and I certainly hope the USA comes out in full support of Taiwan as an independent, self-governing and democratic nation, I have certainly enjoyed my time in Taiwan. Regards, John from Australia

  • @daledude66
    @daledude66 3 ปีที่แล้ว +26

    Wow, I literally bought a Giant bike a few hours ago

    • @lionpolis
      @lionpolis 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      do it

    • @daledude66
      @daledude66 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@blahaj___ Contend AR. Been trying to get one for over a year!

  • @qlum
    @qlum 3 ปีที่แล้ว +24

    Ah, did not know Giant was Taiwanese, it is still pretty much the only non-dutch company to have any market share in the Dutch market for city / utility bicycles.
    I must add here that they still manufacture them in the Netherlands.

    • @oceanheadted
      @oceanheadted ปีที่แล้ว

      Yes, I thought it was an American brand!

    • @Obelisk57
      @Obelisk57 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Is the management there Taiwanese or Dutch.

  • @wtfyman
    @wtfyman 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    It's a bit of a niche Taiwanese company, but I like Meanwell. Excellent quality power supplies at a reasonable price. Taiwanese electronics companies are generally excellent

    • @microwave311
      @microwave311 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      It is not a niche company, it's the gold standard for several large industries

    • @EthanCGamer
      @EthanCGamer 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@microwave311 This is true, the arcade industry uses many mean well power supplies. If I need to replace a PSU in a game, I always try to get the mean well version of it. Never had one explode on me yet, unlike the no-name brands.

  • @saltyp123
    @saltyp123 3 ปีที่แล้ว +28

    Bicycle industry insider fact:
    Trek and Giant are made in the same factory

    • @madmonkeycycling9098
      @madmonkeycycling9098 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Some Treks are made by quest composites, not owned by Giant.

    • @saltyp123
      @saltyp123 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@madmonkeycycling9098 I just looked that up...I wonder if we can get a frame direct with some bitcoin...haha

    • @naim8877
      @naim8877 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      N Scott

    • @graham2954
      @graham2954 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I thought Merida were made by Giant too. I worked in Taichung years ago and used to pass on my way to work

    • @saltyp123
      @saltyp123 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@graham2954 they probably are...

  • @julientyt
    @julientyt 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Taiwanese watching this video ended up knowing more about Schwinn, what a nice surprise.

  • @normantong3475
    @normantong3475 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I owned a Giant TCR 2 composite carbon road bike with Shimano 105 components in 2012.. Giant manufactured good quality bike that is to say it is bang for the buck things.
    it still served me well in fact I enjoyed riding my Giant TCR instead of my Italian bike
    These days Giant is making better bike with the latest technology and material that surpass the European and American brand

  • @robbchastain3036
    @robbchastain3036 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Thanks for your presentation, the business side of cycling is fascinating. And there's a book titled No Hands, the Rise and Fall of the Schwinn Bicycle Company, written by two journalists in Chicago. And it tells the story of Schwinn and Giant, which was pretty much the final chapter of Schwinn as a bike builder in Chicago for nearly a century.

  • @firebld
    @firebld 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Bought Giant X1 mountain bike. After 15 years, its still running strong. The bike stand but the biker getting old. Recently change latest greatest bike group set, change brake etc. Now it run like new. Giant bike stand for quality, second to none.

  • @tysonm2525
    @tysonm2525 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I just found this channel and I love it!!! I also love my Giant MTB and Taiwan 🇹🇼!

  • @floydblandston108
    @floydblandston108 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Yup, that's how I remember it. From 1970- 1990, as the overall market for bikes in the USA split into different types (BMX, Road, Mountain, kids), our own manufacturers were slow to respond, not wanting to lose the efficiencies of scale and a captive market, and went abroad to fill niche markets. Europe for road, Japan for Mountain, and Taiwan for BMX and childrens bikes. By the time they began to feel threatened, their old 'mass market' was gone, their WW2 era machinery and techniques were junk, and Asian makers had shown the ability to produce quality goods for less than re-investment would have been worth. 'Giant' didn't strictly *win* our market, it was handed to them.

  • @user-cr3jv8se1u
    @user-cr3jv8se1u 29 วันที่ผ่านมา

    My first job as a teenager was fixing and assembling bicycles, at a bike shop and also a department store. Back then, in the mid 1970s, some of the imported Taiwanese bicycles were rather poor, mostly ones which didn't use "imported" Japanese components like Shimano derailleurs and Dia-Compe brakes. Years later, a buddy of mine got a Giant dirt bike which was of very good quality. Maybe the welds were a bit unappealing, but otherwise an excellent product.

  • @martinangelomooney1010
    @martinangelomooney1010 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I'm a proud Giant user.

  • @j887276
    @j887276 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    In the 90's everyone I knew had or wanted a chrome Giant or Royce Union. As an adult I have a Giant road bike.

  • @Edward135i
    @Edward135i ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I had no idea that Giant was taiwanese, I always thought they where American. Shows that their American marketing strategy worked very well.

  • @cal7447
    @cal7447 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    The way you tied Giant's story to your channel's development was very interesting!

  • @terencetan5478
    @terencetan5478 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    love to see u talk about taiwan’s economy and its companies in general, such as asus, Chimei, which didn’t get International attention or branding.

  • @cra_55
    @cra_55 ปีที่แล้ว

    Giant today really is a Giant. Some brands specialize in cheap affordable bikes for the masses, while others specialize in premium bikes for hobbyists and athletes. Giant is the only brand I can think of that excel on both ends of the price range.

  • @barryyoung3861
    @barryyoung3861 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Congratulations on creating a very believable channel with fascinating, factual information professionally presented in an honest, interesting manner.thank you.

  • @Nono-hk3is
    @Nono-hk3is ปีที่แล้ว +1

    We have two used Giants... They resell at high-ish prices, but are absolutely worth it if long life is what you are looking for.

  • @herosstratos
    @herosstratos 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Germany was one of the largest aluminum producers and manufacturers of aluminum products until the 1950s.
    The production of cheap aluminum products in Germany was then given up and Taiwan filled this gap in the market.
    The technologies for the production and processing of aluminum were then further developed in such a way that Taiwan became the producer of the best quality aluminum products for the consumer market.
    As a result, Taiwan was able to achieve a dominant position in the production of top quality aluminum bicycle frames. Taiwan also has the dominant position in the corresponding successor technology for the production of carbon fibers and carbon fiber products such as carbon fiber frames.

  • @gierhardtsloan8502
    @gierhardtsloan8502 3 ปีที่แล้ว +67

    Bet you felt pretty clever with that title deer.

    • @gierhardtsloan8502
      @gierhardtsloan8502 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @Mark his profile photo, along with his siki deer or Nara park and Taiwan video.

    • @gierhardtsloan8502
      @gierhardtsloan8502 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @Mark cheers mate.

    • @TheCyclingCardio
      @TheCyclingCardio 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Oh deer

    • @jdc8352
      @jdc8352 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      *dear in this context. Yo

  • @Seriousasaninfarc
    @Seriousasaninfarc 3 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Taichung is such a pretty city. Also the supposed birthplace of bubble tea.

    • @lucky5609
      @lucky5609 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Nice!!

    • @kidShibuya
      @kidShibuya 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Now I know who to blame for putting spongy garbage into nice tea...

    • @swearbear23
      @swearbear23 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@kidShibuya if it tastes spongy something has gone really wrong.

    • @veryinterestingpersonaliti8321
      @veryinterestingpersonaliti8321 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Not really. Its from Tainan City!!

  • @UntiltedName
    @UntiltedName 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I always raced Cannondales and later Litespeed bikes in the early 00s. Cross country only (and some mild cyclocross). I never considered Giant as a bike in my price point, but they were not all that rare in the semi-pro and pro XC racing scene. I also recall Giant bikes generally being rated well in the magazines back then. But there was something about the brand itself that didn't quite catch my eye. Cannondale was doing quirky stuff, and was what my nearest bike shop had. Litespeed was marketed as *the* titanium bike back then, which I moved over to. The other brands like Trek, Giant, Gary Fisher, Specialized, etc just didn't grab my attention.
    I still ride my racing Litespeed from 2005. With upgrades as needed. Something about newer bikes annoy me and I can't put my finger on it. But you certainly have to spend a whole hell of a lot more money now to get a good amount of bike, compared to the price/performance ratio back then.

  • @Williamchan87
    @Williamchan87 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Giant is the largest bike manufacture in the world, and Merida another Taiwan bike company is second largest bike manufacture in the world

    • @budiprasodjo8815
      @budiprasodjo8815 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Merida also owned wholly or majority stake at specialized

    • @TougeGrandTour
      @TougeGrandTour 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Kinesis is one of the largest too. Even though they don’t make a lot of products in their own brand name.

    • @TougeGrandTour
      @TougeGrandTour 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@budiprasodjo8815 Merida paid $30M for a 49% stake in Specialized back in 2001. Rest of the 51% stake is still owned by Mike Sinyard.

    • @Williamchan87
      @Williamchan87 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@TougeGrandTour ya, i think Mike now might regret it, however without Merida Specialized wouldnt be as big, probably alot smaller of a company, the manufacturing and retailing side, and probably cheaper unit cost.

  • @ajgoetsch
    @ajgoetsch 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I thoroughly enjoyed this analysis. The informative content, with your presentation and style, make for very engaging viewing. I look forward to seeing others. Thanks!

  • @woolfel
    @woolfel 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Giant is the only major bike brand that has it's own carbon fiber weave machine. I own several nice road bikes and one of them is Giant. In terms of value, Giant TCR is a better deal than Specialized, Pinarello, Trek and other european brands. In the US, only the high end bikes are manufactured 100% in the US. The mid and low end carbon bikes are made by giant. But really a 10K Trek isn't actually better than a 3K carbon bike, you're just paying 1000.00 to reduce the weight by 1lb.

    • @iMadrid11
      @iMadrid11 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Trek no longer builds bikes in America. The Trek Wisconsin plant closed down production in 2017. Specialized is 40% owned by Merida. Merida has a special agreement with Specialized that prohibits the sale of Merida bikes in North America.

    • @woolfel
      @woolfel 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@iMadrid11 I haven't kept up. that means more than half the high end carbon frames are made in Taiwan or China.

  • @microcolonel
    @microcolonel 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I bought a Giant bicycle the other day, excellent value thanks to Giant, Tektro, and Shimano. Bicycles are also a lot cheaper at retail here in Wyoming than they were back in Ontario.
    I always wanted disc brakes, and Tektro is making that a thing for everyone.

    • @TougeGrandTour
      @TougeGrandTour 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Tektro is another Taiwanese company.

  • @IsraelMagalit
    @IsraelMagalit 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Great info. I've new-found respect for Giant now.

  • @shadowchaser19816
    @shadowchaser19816 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Excellent choice of topics. Good research. Great reporting !

  • @VarkaTheDragon
    @VarkaTheDragon 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Branding is hard. It starts with figuring out what you're about, and building a persona that reflects those values. The rest seems to just build from there (through hard work and relevance to those core values, of course).

    • @TougeGrandTour
      @TougeGrandTour 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Ride Life and the rest is history.

  • @lossantoscity3249
    @lossantoscity3249 3 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    One more Fact 99% of Top quality Bikes are made in Taiwan. Even the $10,000 USD Trek and Specialized are made in Taiwan! HAHA

    • @krunoslavloncar9171
      @krunoslavloncar9171 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Trek is made in Giant factory , that is fact . Specialized is made by Merida .

    • @LongLIN-ol6es
      @LongLIN-ol6es 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@krunoslavloncar9171 Merida is also a taiwanese brand.

    • @krunoslavloncar9171
      @krunoslavloncar9171 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@LongLIN-ol6es I know

    • @agunlogisteam
      @agunlogisteam 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Not just frames. SRAM got their factory on Taiwan too.

    • @lossantoscity3249
      @lossantoscity3249 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@agunlogisteam Even Fox Shocks that cost $1500 is just next to DNM shocks, Which i believe uses the same CNC machines, The main difference is just the R&D. LOL
      That's why a $100 DNM shocks can compete to a $500 Shocks. LOL

  • @osanaisamyth5591
    @osanaisamyth5591 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    interesting how Taiwan has been there competing from the beginning and there isn't too much exposure about it

    • @gwyn.
      @gwyn. 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Do it well and quietly, people who demands it would naturally come.

    • @veryinterestingpersonaliti8321
      @veryinterestingpersonaliti8321 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks to the China dk suckers.

  • @harrickvharrick3957
    @harrickvharrick3957 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    As a Dutchman and thus in a country where plenty of bikes are made, Giant is among the best. Especially be cause they more or less standard have frames that are made from aluminium or another alloy and as a result light weight, and be cause everything mounted on it sits well in place, won't come off quickly, and works well together. I have only one gripe: for a country that is flat, it is hopeless of you as your only option have a "mountain-bike steer", that is mounted of a horizontal extension that sets it (like) a totally undesirable 10 centimeters forward in horizontal direction, that fucks up the way you sit on the bike, strains your neck (largely making it impossible to look forward and see incoming traffic coming) and makes the whole biking experience worthless. IF YOU ARE NOT (GONNA RIDE) IN THE MOUNTAINS, YOUR DON'T WANT A MOUNTAIN BIKE STEER! Jees, don't those guys EVER try their own product? How come they didn't figure that out in nearly FIFTY YEARS?

  • @excitableboy7031
    @excitableboy7031 3 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    Giant's taiwanese? Never knew that. I own one too, they make good bikes

    • @mlai2546
      @mlai2546 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I think they also make bikes for Trek, Scott, Colnago. I believe Liv is also Giant, but branded for women.

    • @DQridesbikes
      @DQridesbikes 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      90% of bikes and bike parts are designed here and made in Taiwan

    • @PhiyackYuh
      @PhiyackYuh 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@DQridesbikes can you give botique bicycle brands apart from trek, specialized, giant, merida? Are they good quality or hit and miss?

    • @dionisiuskusuma1462
      @dionisiuskusuma1462 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@PhiyackYuh what do you mean by boutique brands? Trek, Specialized, Giant and Merida are not by any means a boutique brand. Boutique brands would be something like Moots, Sarto, Tommasini, Ciocc, Bastion Cycles to name a few

  • @bernieleinz5110
    @bernieleinz5110 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Well done! Absolutely love my Giant Defy!

  • @sammylove7751
    @sammylove7751 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I love your voice and all the details you bring about Asia..😍 And especially technology and sometimes biodiversity...😍

  • @patricklew3041
    @patricklew3041 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Excellent video and very informative. Yes, Giant is the world's largest bike manufacturer and I do have a cyclocross made by Giant. Keep up the good work.

  • @froggy0162
    @froggy0162 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    In Australia Giant have a great reputation for customer support. Occasionally a particular model has had cracking problems and Giant always swiftly warranty the frame with no fuss.
    But that’s rare and most of their models are just great. I’ve had several and still have two - a high end carbon fibre mountain bike and a carbon fibre road bike. Both are a joy to ride.
    Should be noted though that Giant did engage in some dodgy business practices by essentially stealing a suspension design for mountain bikes…

    • @sepg5084
      @sepg5084 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Unfortunately, stealing is basic with business unless it is patented ans the patent is worth enforcing. Apple and Microsoft "stole" a lot of innovative designs from Xerox, look at where they are now.

    • @1BCamden
      @1BCamden 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      My son failed a frame at the headstock, GIANT supplied a new replacement at absolutely no cost.

  • @americusdeville865
    @americusdeville865 6 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Video covered great brands. Asus is to me the best computer. Giant has an impressive history. Adds more depth to the urban hybrid brand bike products, eg the Giant Escape bike.

  • @AlexandruJalea
    @AlexandruJalea 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Smug face coming up with the title. Love it!

  • @chidambaranathans1975
    @chidambaranathans1975 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I got into India's 14th best technical institution and have chosen electronics and communication engineering your semiconductor videos induced intrest in me . Thank you.

  • @1pasupaty
    @1pasupaty 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    You can never have any problem with giant bicycles. My college went thru cycling giant bicycles

  • @capmidnite
    @capmidnite 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I'm confused. The Plaza Accord which resulted in the JPY appreciating was mid-1980s while the bike boom was early to mid 1970s.

  • @giutubospatubo1546
    @giutubospatubo1546 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I love Giant and have used their bikes for years. Great quality at great price. Unfortunately, with the bike boom, they have become a lot more expensive, so I´m afraid they are going to loose the quality/price ratio that made them so successful. My next bike might not be Giant if this trend continues, since bike prices have become ridiculous due to ridiculous profit margins from manufacturers.

  • @cra_55
    @cra_55 ปีที่แล้ว

    Taiwan as a whole is a titan in the bicycle industry

    • @Obelisk57
      @Obelisk57 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      ...and yachts, of all things.

  • @diegoespinosa45
    @diegoespinosa45 ปีที่แล้ว

    You should make more videos about bicycle manufacturing in Taiwan!

  • @josesbox9555
    @josesbox9555 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Giant builds some great bikes.

  • @dickieblench5001
    @dickieblench5001 ปีที่แล้ว

    A great lesson in product versus marketing. Marketing is King (no pun intended) as long as the product is sufficient. Giant always had great products but lacked marketing ability in foreign markets. Now they have caught up and have both aces marketing and product. Specialized are No 1 for marketing but struggled to match Giants product. Me? I'll take my TCR anyday

  • @platin2148
    @platin2148 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I really like the market insights one get from this channel. Keep up the good work 👍🏻
    My company also does supply bikes in Europe sadly the main brand got split of because of a mistake in the early days of the company the main brand is now split in two one that makes motorcycles and the other one that makes bicycles with the same brand and now the go into the market again with two brands and it seems like they bikes are all already sold out till 2023 ..

  • @capmidnite
    @capmidnite 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I think what should also be mentioned is how Giant and the Taiwanese bike industry in general has achieved massive economies of scale with modern automated factories that can't be duplicated elsewhere. Giant still manufactures for companies such as Trek. It is a virtuous cycle, where economies of scale leads to lower production costs, which leads to more brand-name bike companies realizing it's cheaper to sub-contract Giant to manufacture their mid-level bikes and slap their label on it.

  • @sarcasmo57
    @sarcasmo57 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I had a Giant bike in the 90s, it was nice.

  • @sinoroman
    @sinoroman 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    There is subtle buzzing noise in the background, can you hear it? Or is it just me?

    • @anywhereroam9698
      @anywhereroam9698 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      You are right. I can only just hear it though.

  • @pinkipromise
    @pinkipromise 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    wow taiwan has many global companies

  • @chatoz
    @chatoz 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks for the history lesson.

  • @djnavari
    @djnavari 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Fantastic high quality videos as always!

  • @racerx8410712
    @racerx8410712 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Great vid! Now if someone could make a video about how some of the people from Giant went on to form Kinesis which in turn makes not only most if not all the bikes for Bikes Direct as well as bikes for other big brand names.

  • @taiwanisacountry
    @taiwanisacountry 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Great video thanks man.
    And you have no idea how happy my bro is for hearing you saying aluminium correctly. xD Americans really are butchering that word. The same with Wolfram.(Tungsten) what are they, Norwegians. :D
    I am Danish. Thanks a lot man.

    • @SwarleySwablu
      @SwarleySwablu 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      I noticed how he said aluminium instead of aluminum.

  • @cliffwoodbury5319
    @cliffwoodbury5319 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    i know 1 person that a GIANT - He is a GIANT - biggest bike i have ever seen!!!!

  • @lugsborro
    @lugsborro 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Started loving cycling in my mid 50's, got me a Liv mtb, tomorrow, am picking up my Liv RB, my very first RB.. love the brand!! 🚵‍♀️🚵‍♀️🚵‍♀️

  • @MrKotBonifacy
    @MrKotBonifacy 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    9:57 - "This steel alloy [CroMoly] is very strong and resistant to corrosion" - well, it IS strong (and elastic and resistant to fatigue - also, easy to repair) but its corrosion resistance is not it's strongest point. In fact, it is rather susceptible to it, as any bike mechanic can attest.

  • @yyang-haj
    @yyang-haj 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Wow I didnt know that chromoly frames only started in the 1980s

  • @hlim431
    @hlim431 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Excellent video!!! But as a bike geek I wanted even more bike footage... how many brands do they supply etc and how many UCI teams & if that helped them rise!

  • @jimbo4203
    @jimbo4203 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Been trying to buy another giant e bike all year, the shop near me just couldn't get any in . Sadly because of this the shop has now closed . So i got a Specialized turbo sl

  • @justinchong1136
    @justinchong1136 ปีที่แล้ว

    Can you do a profile video on Shimano? Great content btw. Big fan.

  • @donaldhawkins5209
    @donaldhawkins5209 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Just wanted to say your English is so good I thought you were a native speaker

  • @JesseMgala
    @JesseMgala 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I remember in the mid-90's, Taiwan made products were synanymous to crappy products. But now I buy everything but Chinese made. I have a 2009 Giant Defy3 by the way, bought used in 2012, enough for a hobby rider like me.

  • @NallePu83
    @NallePu83 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Giant is the biggest bike brand in the world

  • @yogeshnaik9276
    @yogeshnaik9276 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Very right, technical science of making bike n brand very important

  • @NeutralGenericUser
    @NeutralGenericUser 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Really informative. Thanks! I love my Giant bike!

  • @ryanexx5250
    @ryanexx5250 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    I had to re read that tile a couple times lol

  • @davidtam28
    @davidtam28 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Would you like to add Shimano (group set maker) to your future topics?

  • @bezalelthecreative8503
    @bezalelthecreative8503 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    so that explains why i own an imported Giant Bicycle that is only made for Taiwan market (Propel SL Disc 2021), which you won't see on any international website/reviewers

  • @richwaight
    @richwaight 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Super interesting video! :) Thanks for posting :)

  • @SwarleySwablu
    @SwarleySwablu 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    The photograph used in 11:38 was taken from Damshui station!

  • @Erik-rp1hi
    @Erik-rp1hi 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Hodaka import a cheap off road dirt bike into the US in the 70's. Chrome gas tank. Cheap and pretty good starter bike.

    • @clean1566
      @clean1566 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      It was a very good bike for price. A good friend of mine had a Hodaka 90, and it really was as good as any Yamaha or Suzuki at the time.

  • @timfreeman2603
    @timfreeman2603 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    No mention of LIV?
    I worked in a bike shop when Giant launched in Australia. They (Taiwan) had a good reputation then.

    • @PhiyackYuh
      @PhiyackYuh 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Does giant still have good reputation up to date?

  • @solstar4778
    @solstar4778 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I have one a Nutra ! Lots of maintenance compared to my one Schwann Mirada, and Jamis bicycles!

  • @chinmayprakash7726
    @chinmayprakash7726 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Your videos are damn interesting.

  • @murdercom998
    @murdercom998 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Love my giant mountain bike great company :)

  • @goodboyringo9716
    @goodboyringo9716 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Giant would be bigger if they had some bikes for sale in the US