End of an era. Race Face closes shop.

[Christophe Noel]

Looks like the rumors were true and Race Face has closed their doors after an 18 year run. They went into liquidation proceedings today. That included the release of 60 employees in their facility here in NA, and 30 more in Asia.

Bummer.

 

[FurthurOnTheFly]

What? Wow.

 

[yubert]

Bummer indeed!! I always liked their cranks and gears....

 

[alexrex20]

i'm surprised they weren't bought up by a competitor.

 

[Marcie's Disco]

Innovate or die - bummer

 

[Christophe Noel]

i'm surprised they weren't bought up by a competitor.

Anyone big enough to purchase them already makes similar items. Why buy the competition when the competition is folding under its own weight?

Anyone own a Race Face equiped Titus??

 

[Flagster]

I still wish I had that black carbon next crank I "gave" to an ex gf...sexy...(the crank)

 

[Cackalak Han]

I remember back in the late '90's, being extremely jealous whenever I saw Race Face cranks on a fellow rider's bike. Last few years.....meh.

Wish the former employees best of luck in the job market.

 

[EMrider]

Sorry to see them close. I have put many miles on a set of RF cranks and bars, while wearing my RF knee and elbow pads. I'm no expert, but they sure appeared to make quality stuff.

I've read on a few other boards that the 'issue' was not weak sales. On the contrary, demand was described as solid. Other problems supposedly undermined the company.

The high-end MTB market has got to be a brutal place to earn a living.

R

 

[adventureduo]

Wow, i still have they're cranks on my hardtail! Remember buying them back in 1995.

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

super bummer...

 

[Christophe Noel]

The funny thing for me is, in 27 years of avid riding and racing, I've owned piles of bike stuff, and I think I only owned one RF product, an RF handlebar. Weird.

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

I've only owned a couple things as well, some piss poor designed cranks mostly, and then a weak stem that flexed way too much. Unfortunately the "innovate or die" thing does apply as least for them I found... And I've probably bought at least 10 sets of cranks over the last 4 year I figure...

 

[chris_the_wrench]

I never felt the need to run their stuff on my bikes, but I've seen plenty of it cross my repair stands. They flourished in the late days of "cnc'ish" type cranks, but I'm still surprised by their closing because I thought they were still being used OEM on several brands?

I do have a Titus, but alas no Race Face....

-Chris

 

[java]

bummer, i have a RALLY old set of their cranks on my cross bike. never had any issues