DEFENDER2.NET - View topic

↓ Advertise on Defender2 ↓

Home · FAQ · New Posts · My Posts · PMs · Search · Members · Map · Calendar · Profile · Donate · Register · Log In

Home > Off Topic > Made in China

Page 3 of 3

Print this entire topic ·

90 Dreamer

Member Since: 13 Jul 2019
Location: Oop North
Posts: 2169

2016 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Corris Grey

Tim in Scotland wrote:
A friend of mine recently bought a lightweight Hummingbird folding e-bike - made in the U.K. but VERY expensive. She’s delighted with it and recently had to get a spare part for it so phoned the on line shop she bought it from who didn’t have the part in stock and weren’t sure when it would be available but they did give her the details of the U.K. factory making them and she dealt directly with the designer. She made some suggestions , he thought about them and a couple of days later changes were incorporated into the bikes. You can’t do that with a Made in China bike!
If you are interested https://hummingbirdbike.com/ based in Banbury

not sure of the exact connection but Prodrive are involved in the manufacture of that bike........

28th Sep 2021 12:01pm

What puddle?

Member Since: 25 Oct 2013
Location: Reading
Posts: 952

Tim in Scotland wrote:
A friend of mine recently bought a lightweight Hummingbird folding e-bike - made in the U.K. but VERY expensive. She’s delighted with it and recently had to get a spare part for it so phoned the on line shop she bought it from who didn’t have the part in stock and weren’t sure when it would be available but they did give her the details of the U.K. factory making them and she dealt directly with the designer. She made some suggestions , he thought about them and a couple of days later changes were incorporated into the bikes. You can’t do that with a Made in China bike!
If you are interested https://hummingbirdbike.com/ based in Banbury

Yes, Tim, they were the ones I as referring to...£4,500 Mine was £695! The wheels are small and thin, and would make riding them on country paths too uncomfortable. Excellent build quality, I should imagine...and English, so not allowed for you, Tim

Now left.

28th Sep 2021 12:25pm

Tim in Scotland

Member Since: 23 May 2007
Location: The Land that time forgot
Posts: 3753

No problem for me as I’m an expat from Portsmouth, via Carbis Bay and Swansea arriving here in lovely Scotland in 1964 and kind of put down roots!
The Hummingbird suits my friend to a T, as she is recovering from a motorcycle accident 10 years ago and now fortunately nearly fully recovered but she needed an easy to get onto, light weight bike that she could easily lift on her own and she had sufficient compensation from the insurers of the car that T boned the Harley she was pillion on that the cost is “petty cash” so to speak. It’s helped her no end to regain her confidence that she would be able to get out and about on SUSTRANS type cycle routes without needing outside help. She never folds it though as she has a specially adapted bike rack on the rear of her Suzuki Ignis.
For sure it’s no mountain bike which is about the only limitation it has. Pangea Green D250 90 HSE with Air Suspension, Off-road Pack, Towing Pack, Black Contrast roof , rear recovery eyes, Front bash plate, Classic flaps all round, extended wheel arch kit and a few bits from PowerfulUK Expel Clear Gloss PPF to come
2020 D240 1st Edition in Pangea Green with Acorn interior. Now gone - old faithful, no mechanical issues whatsoever ever but the leaks and rattles all over the place won’t be missed!

28th Sep 2021 1:48pm

What puddle?

Member Since: 25 Oct 2013
Location: Reading
Posts: 952

Carbis Bay!!!! Bliss - we have a picture of it on our bedroom wall. Spent many an afternoon on Porthkidney Sands! Park the car at the church, walk down under the railway...and empty sand - no one there because no toilets or ice cream. Just love it down there, and would like to retire there (house prices are half what they are in Reading!). Now left.

28th Sep 2021 2:22pm

Ads90

Member Since: 16 Jun 2008
Location: Cots-on-the-Wolds
Posts: 812

2007 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 CSW Keswick Green

Rashers wrote:
When I was a kid (1970's-early 80's) Made in Taiwan was the lowest of the low. All of the little plastic crap which we had all had those immortal words printed on them. Everyone laughed at Taiwan, but now they are not a laughing stock and as I have read here, much respected.

This reminds me of history. The Japanese were laughed at when they started making motorcycles. Jap-crap, I believe was the saying as us Brits still got home and placed a drip tray under our trusty Triumphs and Nortons.

I guess the Chinese are on a similar path and although there are plenty on here who seem to dismiss them, I expect if we all keep breathing, the same story will be played out in time and another country will pick up the batten for manufacturing cheap rubbish to sell to the world.

I remember the same Rashers, add made in Hong Kong to that list too.
And I suspect China is already perfectly capable of making world-class products, it just that they also have the ability to make the cheap tat cheaper than anywhere else. And because the western world demands it's consumables dirt cheap, can't really blame China for fulfilling that end of the market by the container load.
So I agree that if we can afford to spend a little more on quality products made closer to home, we should do, not least for environmental reasons - less shipping miles, greater longevity and overall a more satisfying experience. Can be hard when there's not much choice though.

28th Sep 2021 2:43pm

Page 3 of 3

All times are GMT

Jump to

< Previous Topic | Next Topic >

Posting Rules

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum