I have no info on the name, size, width, offset or bolt pattern available all I know is that its a new release from ROTA..and I don't think its an RB either.
dont think this will change anything for watanabe... think about it, there have been banana type wheels forever...
panasports, rota RB, konig rewind etc etc..
on top of that they'll be the only ones offering size that you can't get anywhere else x9 x10.. x11...
dont think this will change anything for watanabe... think about it, there have been banana type wheels forever...
panasports, rota RB, konig rewind etc etc..
on top of that they'll be the only ones offering size that you can't get anywhere else x9 x10.. x11...
As a designer I don't agree with ripping IP, however, WAT hardly has the IP on this style wheel - English and American companies have been producing similar wheels since the 60's
Also, it is naive to think that these will have a large impact on Wat's business. Four of these wheels will likely sell for roughly the cost of ONE Wat - completely different consumers.
Anyone who was planning on buying Wats still will; those who never were will buy these.
As a designer I don't agree with ripping IP, however, WAT hardly has the IP on this style wheel - English and American companies have been producing similar wheels since the 60's
Also, it is naive to think that these will have a large impact on Wat's business. Four of these wheels will likely sell for roughly the cost of ONE Wat - completely different consumers.
Anyone who was planning on buying Wats still will; those who never were will buy these.
Yeah, I'm a designer, too. I know Watanabe doesn't have the IP on the 8 spoke design, but they are distinctly different from panasport and minilite. They offer materials and options the others don't. As a designer, I am painfully aware of what it takes to legally copy a design. What bothers me is Rota's history of copying popular designs. Look at the companys that have closed recently. From my point of view, it diminishes the value of innovation and technical evolution for the sake of personal gain. When will Rota put the money it makes from copying old, popular designs back into making something truly unique and technologically innovative?
At this point, having witnessed that company roll out copy after copy for 15+ years, something tells me they have no plans to do that. just a quote that sort of sums it up, "Creativity is thinking up new things. Innovation is doing new things."
There's no denying Rota is getting better at their game.
I used to think their knockoffs looked very cheap and somehow slightly different from the originals.
The last couple of wheels they've released look pretty good in my eyes...
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