[Closed] A nice look at Hope crank manufacture

Oh, and I want a pair as they look ace.

Do any manufacturers bore out for the pedal and bb axle to do testing before going through all the other processes?

I don't know about forging but is it possible you can have a bad batch of them being delivered without knowing?

I don't know about forging but is it possible you can have a bad batch of them being delivered without knowing?

Of course it is!

The materials supplier could provide the incorrect alloy. Or the forging company could get Hope's material mixed up with that for another client. If there is heat treating, that could be done incorrectly like if a thermostat was malfunctioning or something similar.

I'm sure that Hope works with reputable suppliers, but mistakes do happen.
As long as people are in the process, screwups are possible!

They look pretty. I want a red pair.

🙂

I've got a 7k Santa Cruz, won't be putting these on my bike though

Why the hate for 7k bikes? Bitter much?

Why the hate for 7k bikes? Bitter much?

Cranks look nice, currently I'd probably go carbon next though.

not going on my baby blue either.

i like Hope, I like the way they try to get things right, but this crank is just not appealing at all.

it's almost like a school boy project. using limited resource and know how to produce a crank which is nowhere near where it needs to be to compete with the giants of sram and shimano.

they want to knock those rapids up to 100% though, Mams look so unimpressive running that slow and chuck a few more tools in the carousel.

30mm axle to be used with their bb.

they make a 30mm BB?

is this a threaded jobbie?

I want to like them but they don't have the CNC'd sexiness I was hoping for, and I'm not that keen on the graphics. Might be different in the flesh though.

Yes, they make a 30mm threaded BB. As indeed do Race Face I think.

[i] cannondaleking - Member

Hopes trade prices are very high so very little mark for retailer plus min order of £500 I think last time I ordered from them plus carrage. Hence why I don't stock hope just get it in to order as its a lot for me to have too much of it sat in stock [/i]

And this is one of my biggest issues with the Modern LBS. They hold as little stock as possible, and ime it's all low-end stuff. You visit the shop, you think you know what you want and the LBS offer to order it in for you, at a price ~60% over the web price.
(I was quoted £150 to order an item I could get for £90 online)

So, for doing nothing more than visiting my LBS and deferring the process of going online and clicking the buy button, to a shop assistant. I will be charged significantly more than if I had remained at home and ordered online, myself.
Then we get LBS owners wondering why things are the way they are. Perhaps if LBS owners had the minimals to actually hold stock, then perhaps folks would get back into the habit of going to the shop to buy stuff. I don't mind paying between 10 to 15% over the web price, if I can walk into a shop and buy the item there and then.
However, I suspect that we've entered a one-way street on this matter. You can't un-invent the web.

I think I like what Hope do. They appear to stay and Manufacture in the UK and call me whatever you want to. I do buy Hope partly for the fact that it's UK produced. I know it's terribly unfashionable to support UK business and all that. But, well, you know me...

I agree Solo, last few times I've been to the two closest lbs they didn't have even basic parts so would have had to order in. The shame is that the shop that closed because a big hitter was moving in probably would have had the parts.

I also like supporting British companies, especially those just down the road. Apparently, according to STW, I'm an idiot for not buying a direct sales generic bike/frame though.

creamegg - Member

I want to like them but they don't have the CNC'd sexiness I was hoping for,

They could have machined them from billet but it'd make for a less good product. I'm a wee bit surprised with the machining style though since they've not gone for the exaggerated (and pointless) sharpedged ZOMFG CNC look of the brakes.

And this is one of my biggest issues with the Modern LBS. They hold as little stock as possible, and ime it's all low-end stuff.

There's this vicious circle, though - shops know that enthusiasts mostly buy stuff online, so why stock high-end parts that date really quickly and probably won't sell? Shops aren't daft (well, most of them) so they stock the stuff that actually sells, which generally isn't high-end parts.

I have this conversation a lot - "Why don't you stock XXXX? You'd sell lots of them!" "Well, actually you're the first person in three years to ask for one."

cokie - Member
They are really pushing their cranks! I can't remember any of Hopes products ever getting this much advertising?!

I am struggling to see why they exist, except as a crank for teh must-have-Hope fanboi.

[i] bencooper - Member

There's this vicious circle, though - shops know that enthusiasts mostly buy stuff online.

I have this conversation a lot - "Why don't you stock XXXX? You'd sell lots of them!" "Well, actually you're the first person in three years to ask for one." [/i]

Hence my remark:
[i]However, I suspect that we've entered a one-way street on this matter. You can't un-invent the web.[/i]

As above, I'm aware that having the luxury of a local LBS means items will cost a tad more, but asking £150 for something I get retail, online, for £90? I struggle to see where the extra £60 was going...

So, these days, LBS appear to survive mostly, on the income stream flowing from their servicing department.
This then is the modern state of the UK LBS.

[i] cynic-al - Member

I am struggling to see why they exist, except as a crank for teh [s]must-have-Hope[/s] [b]like to buy competitive UK products when possible[/b] fanboi. [/i]
FTFY.
😉

I am struggling to see why they exist, except as a crank for teh must-have-Hope fanboi.

I'd assume it's because their market research said they'd sell loads so make lots of cash.

I struggle to see where the extra £60 was going...

Rent, rates, utilities, wages, etc etc 😉

chestrockwell - Member

I am struggling to see why they exist, except as a crank for teh must-have-Hope fanboi.

I'd assume it's because their market research said they'd sell loads so make lots of cash.

Of course - but how will they improve my ride? They won't.

[i] bencooper - Member

I struggle to see where the extra £60 was going...

Rent, rates, utilities, wages, etc etc[/i]

Nope!

Firstly, you appear to have missed the sarcastic triple stop I posted at the end of my sentence you've quoted.

Secondly, you missed out the profit, in your list and £60 for <5mins work? Equaling something like £720 per hour. Hhmmmm, you've obviously modeled your business on Apple corporate pricing strategy.

Best you carry on mending bikes for the mechanically inept.

Of course - but how will they improve my ride? They won't.

Well, no - but frankly most bike upgrades won't. No-one really needs more than Deore level components at best. But they're fun to have.

Of course - but how will they improve my ride? They won't.

[i] cynic-al - Member

Of course - but how will they improve my ride? They won't. [/i]

Oh yes they will! Or do you ride bikes without cranks?

[img] [/img]

😆

Secondly, you missed out the profit, in your list and £60 for <5mins work? Equaling something like £720 per hour. Hhmmmm, you've obviously modeled your business on Apple corporate pricing strategy.

Best you carry on mending bikes for the mechanically inept.

Please tell me you don't honestly think that's how overhead/costing/profit/hourly rates/etc is calculated.

As to the cranks, they're clearly of no real benefit. I'd still love some though if my XTRs die.

Solo - Member

Secondly, you missed out the profit, in your list and £60 for <5mins work? Equaling something like £720 per hour. Hhmmmm, you've obviously modeled your business on Apple corporate pricing strategy.

See those shiny machines? They cost a kabillion quid.

Best you carry on mending bikes for the mechanically inept.

Oh, I don't do repairs unless I really like you. It's much easier to make £720 per hour ordering stuff from CRC for customers 🙂

[i] It's much easier to make £720 per hour ordering stuff from CRC for customers[/i]
😆

I don't shop with CRC either.
8)

If I break my Shimano cranks I'd like some of these. I don't care if that makes me a fanboy, I like that they're making quality products here in the UK and I'm willing to pay more for them. Good video.

Funnily enough it's a similar reason to preferring to buy an alloy frame made in Taiwan to a carbon frame made in China - I feel better about the life of those making the frame. A UK made frame would be even better but the choices are rather limited...

Oh god don't them started with overly expensive filing cabinets again........ 😉

I've just watched the video. I'm very impressed with it. I wouldn't imagine that Hope are doing anymore or less than the other players, SRAM, Shimano, etc. But what struck me about the video was all the folk working there, specialists, knowledgeable about their role and the product and all done in the UK.

Well done, Team Hope Tech, UK!
🙂

chestrockwell - Member
I agree Solo, last few times I've been to the two closest lbs they didn't have even basic parts so would have had to order in.

As Ben said, for a clued up consumer who know what they want and shops around online, forget the LBS. We just can't compete. We are more like a car garage these days, until fuel prices become realistic or transport is taxed realistically the LBS will decline.

A bit of a shame really, bikes can be such a force for climate change and a slow in consumerism but instead the industry and consumers are just following the same model that might ultimately **** the planet.

really liking the look of the cranks.

Not sure the price is that high compared to Shimano top end stuff. People seem to be comparing CRC Shimano prices with Hope RRP... M980 chainsets RRP at £375..

[i] cynic-al - Member

As Ben said, for a clued up consumer who know what they want and shops around online, forget the LBS. We just can't compete. [/i]

A point I made in an earlier post was that I don't expect LBS to match the prices online. Even a tard such as myself knows LBS have a different overhead structure. My issue is the actual margin of difference in price. If LBS could get within 10-15% of online for items under £250, I'd expect I'd be happy to pay it. Then again, perhaps me and my preferences put me into a minority of cyclists who think that way.

As for the "[i]we can't compete[/i]". I'm glad Hope didn't feel like that, when facing the competition from the far East, otherwise they wouldn't be here today.
🙂

[i] grenosteve - Member

really liking the look of the cranks.[/i]

Yeap. And while they're about it..

Oi! Hope, I want a road crank. Urry up!
😆

I love the engineering, and the attention to detail.

Its when they go and take all these well engineered products and stick them on a bike(in the video) that looks like its been welded together out of left over waste metal from the Sheffield steel industry, that really lets it down. 😉

I love the engineering, and the attention to detail.

Its when they go and take all these well engineered products and stick them on a bike(in the video) that looks like its been welded together out of left over waste metal from the Sheffield steel industry, that really lets it down.

What would you stick them on? A frame made from bits of fabric and glue?
If we're being like that then the only frame that would do them justice is a Nicolai.

Solo - Member
My issue is the actual margin of difference in price. If LBS could get within 10-15% of online for items under £250, I'd expect I'd be happy to pay it. Then again, perhaps me and my preferences put me into a minority of cyclists who think that way.

...

Even a tard such as myself knows LBS have a different overhead structure

You do?

As for the "we can't compete". I'm glad Hope didn't feel like that, when facing the competition from the far East, otherwise they wouldn't be here today.

Me too - a completely different situation though.