What's up with welded Nitto parts?

[JohnS]

Anyone know what's going on here???

From Will's January update email...

 Anything Nitto makes that's welded might get scarce soon. We still have big back racks, fillet stems, bullmoose bars, 32F mini front racks, brake hangers, and lugged stems and posts; If you've been eyeing something on that list, I'd get it now.

That's kind of scary! Nitto parts are my favs.

JohnS

[Joe Bernard]

The way I read it - a completely wild guess - is the supply has been terrible for years and most of it has gotten too pricey to try to sell. Riv has been slowly replacing everything welded with cheaper/more plentiful options, I imagine they're going to keep the forged stems and that's about it. Guessing! 

[jeff dobie]

I have been looking for a particular Nitto stem for several months with no luck and some how stumbled on this place in Japan Circles bicycle shop https://shop.circles-jp.com/en  shipping was only $22 and they shipped right away via fedex

[JohnS]

Thank you Jeff for sharing. Eric had mentioned Circles bike shop in his MB-2 build, so I appreciate the link.

Is it just me or is it kind of crazy that we have to search the world over to find a particular bike part???? It shouldn't have to be this hard to find current production parts. I could understand if it were some odd, vintage part that was out of production for decades, but really, production parts not available in the US. Ugh, rant off.

JohnS

[Howard Ramsay]

It's not just NITTO. From Reuters News Agency last week:
Japan cuts economic view as exports to Asia weaken | Reuters 

[Minh]

i do not know the exact arrangement, but there seems to be a connection between this Circles shop and Sim.works here in the US, so that you can sometimes find the same item there,.  I've also ordered from them and its pretty well sorted, other than high cost of shipping for some items.  

On Monday, January 30, 2023 at 12:29:42 PM UTC-5 jeff dobie wrote:

[Eric Marth]

Circles and Blue Lug ship to the US super, super fast. As I mentioned recently on iBOB, I typically receive packages from BL and Circles in fewer days than I do from Rivendell. 

Sim Works is the in-house brand of Circles, they have stuff custom run mostly by other manufacturers, many in Japan. They have a US office in Portland, Oregon located inside the Chris King manufacturing warehouse.  

It makes sense to me that these super shops in Japan have an easier time stocking Nitto products, especially the odd and esoteric ones. There are certain stems, racks and other bits I haven't seen at any US bike shops. 

If you're ever looking for Nitto parts it's always a good idea to check BL and Circles. There might be other good shops, too, I just don't know of them... yet!