The other day, I had the opportunity to visit the Fukushima factory of NITTO, a company we at the Circles product development division are deeply indebted to through our work with SimWorks. Let’s head inside and infiltrate the factory!
I happened to spot this sign on the wall. As it turns out, this is Nitto’s corporate motto!
Behind the scenes, they exert endless effort every day to create products that are beautiful, durable, and highly safe. This is exactly why they have earned the trust of so many cyclists, but how exactly is that quality born?
Let’s look at the durability tests!
This is a video of a front rack durability test. The rack is loaded with weights and subjected to constant vibration, a test that runs all day while the factory is in operation. They alternate days to flip the frame and perform the same durability test for rear racks.
Vibration is a cyclist's worst enemy; it can cause bolts to loosen or, in the worst-case scenario, lead to parts breaking due to accumulated fatigue. These days, many people attach racks to bikes like gravel bikes and ride over rough, vibration-heavy off-road terrain, which is why even more rigorous durability testing is required.
Seatposts, which act as the unsung heroes supporting the rider, undergo durability tests where force is applied forward and backward to a degree that you can visibly see them bend. Aside from race-specific models, you won't find a weight limit listed anywhere in Nitto’s seatpost manuals. Whether it’s a child or a sumo wrestler, they are built for everyone!
Like seatposts, handlebars are crucial components that support the rider. They apply force to the ends of the bars, alternating between left and right. The way they apply the force varies from day to day; I happened to visit again the following day, and at that time, they were applying force up and down to both ends simultaneously.
Unbeaten by rain, unbeaten by wind
Many of you likely store your bikes outdoors, and naturally, bikes are used outside. They conduct tests here by exposing various bicycle parts to the elements to see the effects of rust from rain and damage from ultraviolet rays.
This is a plating durability test for handlebars. The blue sticker says "H.16" (2004). Did the sharp-eyed among you catch that? This handlebar has been left outdoors since 2004, constantly exposed to rain and UV rays. Despite being nearly 20 years into the test, there is only the slightest hint of rust on the plating. When you use a handlebar normally, the ends are sealed with end caps or grips, so they don’t rust like this.
Safety is built upon layers of testing
Handlebars and racks are parts where breakage is absolutely impermissible. If one were to break while riding... I don't even want to imagine it. Just as there is a right tool for every job, reliable parts that reduce the risk of failure are essential for daily commuting and school runs.
When Nitto President Yoshikawa was explaining their corporate motto, he remarked, "We aim to make things that can be used for 10 years," which left a lasting impression on me. Nitto has celebrated its 100th anniversary, and their safety is a result of the feedback gathered from countless parts used in a wide variety of durability tests and environments over that century. Because this foundation of safety is so solidly built, they are able to further pursue the creation of beautiful and lightweight parts.
We recently restocked chromoly handlebars like the Getaround CrMo Bar and Little Nick CrMo Bar, as well as the Ramble Bar, and we also just released a delicious new rack called the Burrito Rack. These products—and all products released by SimWorks—are born from this foundation of safety cultivated by Nitto, packed with our own ideas and philosophy.
