More New Tariffs?

[Mike Gillespie]

Just recently came across this news regarding new tariffs on bikes, components and accessories.

Submit a Comment on Proposed 50% Tariffs
on Bikes and E-Bikes by next Tues. Oct. 21st
On October 7, 2025, the U.S. Commerce Department published new requests for inclusion of derivative products in the Section 232 aluminum and steel tariffs. Two requests specifically seek to add bicycles, frames, and electric bicycles, potentially subjecting them to a 50% tariff. The public comment period closes October 21.

People for Bikes has setup a resource page to submit a comment to the bureau of Industry and Security.  Comments can be submitted from organizations, individuals or anonymously until next Tuesday.

[Ben Miller]

I saw that too. I also heard it was because of some kid's bike company called Guardian Bikes. Boooooo!

https://www.bicycleretailer.com/industry-news/2025/10/08/peopleforbikes-urges-industry-action-guardian-calls-%E2%80%98crushing%E2%80%99-increased

[Ben Miller]

And, note that it 's only meant to hit Aluminum and Steel bikes. I imagine they are trying to target low-end bikes from China, but it would absolutely crush the high-end market of steel bikes that we love: particularly RBW. It seems brutally unfair if RBW and other high-end bike companies have to raise their prices, but not any of the carbon bikes frame manufacturers. And especially so for RBW, which tried to keep at least some MUSA frame manufacturing alive for so long, despite the economic headwinds.

Again. BOOOOO! 

[Patrick Moore]

At least someone is still making something tangible in the Yew Ess Ay; but yes, very bad and probably wholly unconsidered side effect on US mfrs of good steel bikes.

But so far, it’s only a proposal.

But why not this, if you have to have a tariff?

In May Riley gave a speech to the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship in which he suggested the U.S. impose a $150 flat tariff on all bike imports. “A modestly protective tariff of $150 per bicycle would have the effect of reshoring most mass-market bicycle production while not materially affecting high-performance, limited-production imported bicycles,” he told the committee. 

Lastly, I entirely agree that “Safety Brake” is a far, far better product name than “SlidePad."

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Patrick Moore

Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum

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[Brian Turner]

The owner of Guardian (Brian Riley) posted a comment on the Bikerumor.com article, and is rightly getting blasted:

See comments here

Basically parroting a bunch of isolationist / MAGA garbage talking points to justify wanting to build a wall around his own investment, while punishing everyone else - including consumers.

Brian

Lexington, KY

[Patrick Moore]

????

Politics is off-topic; please. Stick to effect on high-end independent US-based makers.

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[Michael Baquerizo]

Riding a bike is political even if it's unintentionally political. When you're on a bike, you're saying, even if you're not trying to say, that you can move your body around, efficiently and with a fair amount of fun, without endangering others, taking up more than your share of space, without using resources and contributing to all of usage of resources. 

- Grant Peterson of Rivendell Bicycles

[Patrick Moore]

Yeah, but Grant doesn’t set the parameters of acceptable topics of conversation on this list. I refer this dispute to Jim.

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[Bill Lindsay]

Tariff-related:

I just ordered some unique parts from Ratio Technology, made in the UK.  Those parts are targeted at one of my Rivendell Bicycles.  In fact, one of my American-made Rivendell Bicycles.  I expect I will find out relatively soon what that will cost me in extra fees.  I will not hold my breath waiting for an American Entrepreneur to spawn a business to compete domestically with Ratio Technology, nor will I hold my breath waiting for Ratio Technology to move their operations into the United States of America.  

Bill Lindsay

El Cerrito, CA

On Friday, October 17, 2025 at 8:38:44 AM UTC-7 Mike Gillespie wrote:

[Josiah Anderson]

I'm not Jim, but I would think that discussion of the imminent threat of major shake-ups of the bike industry should be on topic, as long as it can be done respectfully. Politics has lots of effects, and while we avoid discussing most of them here, it feels strange to pretend this one doesn't exist. The bike industry is what pays my rent, and I for one think this is relevant and rather scary. 

Josiah Anderson

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[Patrick Moore]

I can agree with this, with the specification “respectfully,” which means among other things avoiding inflammatory language.

Funny you should mention [tariffs]: just a short while ago I ordered a “Tried-and-liked in 2025”—quality extended saddle wedge from Crumpler in Australia (the selling factor: it’s 15” long but has a stiff construction and a full-zip closure that holds largish loads and doesn’t require rolling it up when empty.* Also, it was available in bright orange).

The website retail in American Freedom purchase coupons was $111. Good enough. But I ordered just as the tariffs came down and Aussie Post stopped mailing to the USA. OK. That meant that Crumpler had to mail it UPS expedited superfast service at $50 US coupons. Fair enough.

But then, UPS emailed me and said, we’re asking you for $80 US plastic counters for the tariff, and we’re adding $14 US monopoly sheets for our trouble.

Upshot is, that a $111 USD item cost me $255 American Freedom lollipops, or aprox $800 Australian dollars.

I don’t mind; the seat bag is so perfect for my needs for the bike it’s meant for (Matthews dirt road road bike) that I prefer to have the bag and pay instead of not paying and not having the bag, but a 90% tariff upcharge is not something I’d prefer for routine transactions.

*It carried my 1/5 lb repair kit with room for a bottle of wine carefully inserted, and the support strap system and the shape-maintaining construction meant that all that weight at the back end didn’t make it droop onto the rear fender. Yet it’s not so huge that riding with only the kit makes it floppy.

https://us.crumpler.com/products/great-question?variant=40477649010767

[Perhaps should have ordered from this US site, but I didn’t see it until just now.]

15” nose to tail.

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[Patrick Moore]

In situ. Orange is the new black.

[Ben Miller]

Dunno, I think tariffs and politics are inextricably linked. Don't think you can untangle that particular rats nest. And I don't think Brian said anything that wasn't obvious: it's an isolationist policy from Trump's Make America Great Again playbook. 

Let's just hope it doesn't come to pass. But those hopes are getting harder to come by it seems.

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[Igor]

Patrick, just an FYI for yourself and others here, while this is a US-site..it is not a us-based site. The orders ship from their warehouse in Australia so all the (current tariffs) still apply. 

[Bill Lindsay]

Sure enough my shipment of Ratio Technology parts came in last night.  It was about $200 worth of stuff.  Today my FedEx notification came about my extra fees, which was $28 and change.  So there you go.  

Bill Lindsay

El Cerrito, CA