I can see what your saying.
Perhaps also though a deeper look was taken and a different view adopted.
As pointed out by one of our American friends with little Knowledge of the Uk scene back in the day, the original Clockwork was an Entry level bike with an entry level tubeset. It did come with spec Options, and due to its Flamboyant Race Jacket/image/ride it became the bike of Affordale choice and one that became a dominance (from a viewers perspective) at race events and on the trails, Forever Immortilising it in our hearts minds and History Books.
Perhaps, in our Modern world, with the mass expectation of Alloy at a Minimum, and the market move toward 29er, the need was here to keep up with current market demands, and not loose sight of its grass roots, hence the current example for the NEXT generation.
When you look closely enough to the above examples it is easy to say its yet another generic example, but you look close i suspect there are differences in tubing profiles, dropouts, geometry/angles etc.
Made in the far east?, yes!, like all the rest? Yes! , but just like the Original!Built to suit a markets needs and hit a Price point, Just like the Original made in the far east.
I dont think there method has changed, however uncomfortable in makes us oldies feel..
What does Frustrate me a little though, is when a great little company like Orange, fail to see what is staring them in the face...., !!!
for example, Steel isnt dead, Far from it, you only need to see what Cotic have Achieved, a well built product (albeit, a tweeked design from a legend...IMHO) that grew a cult following.
Charge, On-One, etc etc etc, all seemed to jump on a material manufactured in the far east cheeply, when the bigger boys turned there head on steel forever. ( another Example, Trek forgetting Bontrager Frames, :roll: )
the cycle market is more segmented now than ever before, and the above Brands have filled a man made Void very well in my eyes.
Given where Orange started, (with far east manufactured steel) you would think someone would have noticed there was a growing market segment they could still continue on profitably with..... :?
Just a thought, but a shame in my eyes.
