Why did Noleen call it quits?

[Frankd3000]

Was it their choice?

Were they forced out of the market?

With the success of the Mega Air forks and shocks the way it is right now I can't understand why they don't run another batch of, oh, 10,000.

So? Someone fill me in.

PATIA!

[Simon]

If I remember correctly the official line from K2 was
something along these lines,
though Noleen produce good suspension it is
more economically viable to offer K2 bikes with Fox
shock option (regarding the razorback),
this appears to be what the customer prefer's,
basically someone would be more likely to purchase
a K2 with a Fox shock,
I believe K2 owned the Noleen brand and just shut it down.

[Carbon_Angus]

Simon says! [smiley=laughing.gif]

It was probably ea$ier at the time for k2 to buy Noleen. They did very little R&D other than come out with a nice air fork. Economies of scale combined with the overseas mfg market and the fact that the i2i was an odd length made the lifespan of Noleen bike shocks short lived. IMHO

[smiley=beer.gif]

[Matno]

After the X-link, Chubby, the NR-x series, and the SmartShocks and forks, I don't think Noleen had the best reputation anymore...

Granted, some of us really liked the X-links, and the Chubby was awesome compared to anything else on the market for at least a year, Noleen just got passed up in terms of shock technology. Plus, many of their shocks/forks (particularly the smart ones) had horrible reputations for durability. That never helps a brand.

[Frankd3000]

K2 owns/owned Noleen? Hmmm, didn't know that. Does/did that apply as a whole, like the MX-side of the equation, also? Just curious.

I guess bikes were never meant to come with batteries. (shrug)

[shovelon]

K2 decided to end the Noleen tie, but needed a service center for warrantee repair. They arranged something with the Hesperia loction to stay open.

Just like many other companies, K2 wanted to limit liability exposure.

By the way, I still use that smartshock, but turned off on climbs, light damping on descents. Will be swapping it out to a Risse when it comes in.
Terry

[bikendan]

the mega air forks were made by RST for k2, just put a noleen sticker on it. it is basically, the same as the RST aerosa fork.
and some of the noleen rear shocks were made by DNM for k2, same thing with the sticker.
i think k2 started outsourcing their "noleen" shock making to other companies in 2000.

[shovelon]

No kidding, Mega Air made by RST?

 The Chubby was also made by RST. It was the Hi-5 rebadged the Chubby. It  was reset for 4 inches  though, and could be upgraded to 5 inch which is what the chubbies became in aftermarket. But  the Hi-5 started to break and then the end of RST was seen.

 My Chubby was awesome though. It was air damped but was coil/elastomer sprung. A simple regrease every 4 months kept it smooth.

Terry