While I agree that more standardisation would be beneficial, especially regarding electronics(!), the rest of the bike is fairly standardized (wheel / bottom bracket / pedal screw / steering column diameter etc.)
. Unfortunately, I think the introduction of electronics via ebikes and other "new" technologies for the bike are diluting that standardisation in my perception. For another view point of why biking may be shit in your area, I invite you to watch a few videos of this channel: https://youtu.be/ORzNZUeUHAM
Unfortunately, I think the introduction of electronics via ebikes and other "new" technologies for the bike are diluting that standardisation in my perception.
You would be surprised. My wife's e-bike was stolen without its battery. When she bought a new e-bike (of a different brand), she could just purchase it without a battery and use her old one.
(Lots of e-bikes in Western Europe use Bosch batteries/motors.)
I am not of the persuasion that a for-profit corporation can maintain a standard. A standard in my mind is an industry-wide effort to create an open, low baseline and barrier of entry without proprietariness. Even if 90% of bikes have a Bosch motor, that's not a standard if it's not open.
Standards always evolve and ultimately if the larger companies like Shimano, SRAM, or Taiwanese OEMs don’t adopt them, they’re a moot point.
Bicycle chainrings are the perfect example. There are established mounting patterns, but since the late 90s, Shimano’s MTB division and Campagnolo loved introducing proprietary BCDs.
And disc brakes have an established "International Standard" mounting standard, but no one builds actual I.S. mount brakes--it's either post mount or flat mount. (Yes, post/I.S. are practically interchangeable due to the adapter.)
