Looking for some facts and opinons regarding bmx companies old and new.

What U.S. bmx companies have turned to overseas production and distribution? Opinions on quality better, worse or about the same? Reasons?

Overall quality and craftsmanship on bikes and parts bitd compared to today's bikes and parts?
What are some of the best non-U.S. brands?

Thanks for any feedback.

The newer bikes are heavy compared to the old stuff and most of the bikes I have seen look butchered in ways I cant explain.

Pretty much all BMX companies have bikes / frames made overseas. Things are different now than back in the 80's as far as quality of the craftsmanship from foreign made frames. For example - Taiwan. Taiwan is a HUGE source for BMX products, and bicycle parts in general. Yes, the Taiwan worker is paid much less than a US worker, and materials cost very little over there. They make so much product, and because they do, they have the most State-Of-The-Art machines over there to make the product. Ever see a FSA carbon fiber road bike bar? Beautiful product with a "how'd they make that!" flair. All because of great machines and technology. Same is true with some BMX product that is made there. I have seen some nicely made frames, with very nice welds, made from over there.
yes - frames are now heavier than the 80's counterparts. Why? Well, modern frames are longer, which means more material. Bikes now are used with greater punishment by the user, so dropouts are thicker, etc. Frames now are "labeled" for which their intended use is. Race, Dirt Jump, Street. Race frames are generally the lightest.
There are some US manufacturers still. But you are going to pay more cash for a US made frame. I personally race a US made Alliant, which I love. I used to work for MCS Bicycles, and some frames were USA made (all the MCS Speed Freak frames, and Bully Brawler frames), and others were made overseas. I now work for FMF, which all the frames are manufactured overseas, but we do have some parts made here in the States as well. The majority of all companies have product made overseas. Redline, Haro, MirraCo, GT, Schwinn... and others.. all have production made overseas. And many different companies actually have their product made in the same manufacturing facility over there. I'm not going to name names, but many of the top BMX frames are all made in the same factory by the same hands.....

[ September 12, 2006, 02:12 AM: Message edited by: ColoredTuffs.com ]