Ever since an 80's era Specialized Expedition entered my life, I've been researching Japanese made bike frames. It was initially very surprising to me that Specialized, a major high-end brand today, had taken a bike made in Japan, the Miyata 1000, and rebranded it as their own. I was also pleasantly surprised by the esteem that the Expedition was held in by the touring community. I've read that their are 3 touring bikes that head the list of possibly the best touring bikes of all times. The Trek 520, the Miyata 1000, and the Expedition. 2 of the 3, are Japanese steel. At it's core, any bike starts with the frame. It is the heart and soul of any bike.
The steel bikes that are still desirable today, seem to break down into their country of origin. Italy, France, USA, and Japan. Maybe I'm missing a country, but obviously the Italians got it going on. Frenchie; OK, don't know much about their bikes, but they seem to be a part of cycling history. USA; I always assumed that with our innovative spirit, we would figure out how to make the best steel frames in the world. I thought that until I learned that we, and other countries, took the frames made in Japan and relabeled them as our own.
So, as a furtherance to my bicycle education, I'm hoping to start a discussion about the qualities of Japanese steel.