On-One bikes are designed in the UK, with frames mostly made in Taiwan and China, then hand built and finished at Planet X’s base in Rotherham.
Riders often first meet On-One through a value hardtail, gravel bike or titanium trail frame on the Planet X site, then ask a direct question: where did this bike come from. Brand slogans talk about British design and hand built bikes, yet the global bike trade leans heavily on Asian factories. Sorting out how those pieces fit together helps you decide whether an On-One suits your next build or complete bike.
Where Are On-One Bikes Made? Brand Origins And Assembly
On-One is a brand within the Planet X group, a British company founded in Sheffield and now based in nearby Rotherham in South Yorkshire.Planet X describes more than thirty years of bike design and building in this region, in a story that includes labels such as Planet X, On-One, Holdsworth and Titus.Independent company profiles list the firm as a private business based in Rotherham.
Planet X works with specialist frame makers in Taiwan, China and Italy to produce road, gravel, trail and time trial frames, then completes bike builds in its UK workshop before shipping orders out to customers. Frames are produced to Planet X and On-One drawings, with tubing, moulds and hardware specified by the British team, while finishing, component fitting and setup take place in Rotherham.
So when you ask “Where Are On-One Bikes Made?” the clear answer is that design and complete bike building are British, while frame production mostly happens in Asia, with some models drawing on Italian partners. The finished bike that arrives at your door passes through both sides of that process: an overseas factory frame and a UK workshop build.
On-One Models And Typical Manufacturing Locations
On-One offers steel hardtails, titanium trail bikes, gravel rigs and versatile road or all road machines. Exact sourcing can shift over time, yet the broad pattern stays similar across the range. The first table gives a compact picture of how different model groups are usually made and built.
| On-One Range | Frame Material | Typical Origin And Build |
|---|---|---|
| Classic Steel Hardtails | Chromoly steel | Welded in Asia, finished and built in the UK |
| Modern Titanium Hardtails | Titanium | Frames from Asian plants, complete bikes built in Rotherham |
| Aluminium Trail And Enduro Bikes | Aluminium | Fabricated in Taiwan or China, finished and checked in the UK |
| Carbon Hardtails And Trail Frames | Carbon fibre | Moulded in Asian factories, then finished and built in Britain |
| Gravel And Adventure Bikes | Steel, aluminium or carbon | Mixed Asian frame production, Planet X workshop builds in the UK |
| Drop Bar Road And All Road Bikes | Aluminium, steel or carbon | Frames from Taiwan, China or Italy, full builds done in Rotherham |
| Bare Framesets For Custom Builds | Varies by model | Same overseas frame suppliers, build kit added in the UK or at home |
This pattern matches many mid priced mail order brands. Large Asian plants keep frame costs down, while the UK workshop handles specification, builds, checks and packing.
Where On-One Bikes Are Made Today And Why Riders Care
Most riders searching for where On-One bikes are made want more than a country stamped on the down tube. They want to know whether the frame comes from the same industrial parks used by big names, how much control the British team has over design details, and how easy life will be if a hanger bends or a brake hose rubs through.
Planet X has openly stated that it works with Taiwanese, Chinese and Italian partners for frame manufacturing while building complete bikes in the UK. Taiwan in particular is known for consistent aluminium and carbon work at scale, with experienced welders and well developed testing lines.
Design and specification stay in South Yorkshire. The On-One crew decide head angles, reach figures, seat tube lengths, tyre clearance and small touches such as dropper post routing or rack mounts. Overseas plants turn those drawings into production frames, which are then shipped to Rotherham for paint, hardware fitting and complete bike builds.
This split means an On-One bike has an international supply chain but still feels rooted in British riding conditions. Geometry often reflects steep UK trails, short winter days and wet surfaces, while the production base abroad delivers value that would be hard to match with fully domestic manufacturing.
Design Headquarters In Sheffield And Rotherham
The story of On-One starts in Sheffield, where Planet X took shape in the late nineteen eighties. Riders there wanted aggressive yet simple bikes that could handle rough tracks without fancy marketing. That mindset still shapes On-One today, while the company now lists nearby Rotherham as its base.
Staff in South Yorkshire handle frame concepts, prototype testing and specification choices. They ride sample bikes on local trails, compare fit and handling across sizes, and update numbers when they see room for improvement. Those decisions then travel to frame partners overseas, yet the character of the finished bike reflects the terrain and weather close to the design desk.
Rotherham also holds the main warehouse and workshop. Bikes are built from bare frames to complete packages, with wheels fitted, brakes bled and drivetrains dialled in before packing. Keeping this stage in the UK shortens the distance between designers, mechanics and customers, which makes problems easier to solve.
How Production Choices Influence Ride Quality
Country of origin alone does not decide how a bike rides or how long it lasts. Tube selection, geometry, build kit and quality control count for more than the flag on the frame. On-One tends to favour practical touches such as generous tyre clearance, space for full length mudguards on many drop bar models and clean routing for dropper posts on flat bar bikes.
Frames from modern Asian plants can be light, tough and tidy when the brand gives clear instructions and invests time in testing samples. Feedback from riders on classic On-One steel frames, long travel hardtails and newer gravel bikes shows that these frames can shrug off rough use when built and maintained sensibly.
Final assembly in Rotherham adds another layer of checking. Mechanics can spot cable rub, uneven spoke tension or noisy bottom brackets before the bike leaves the building. If something still slips through, buyers deal with a UK team that understands the product line and can send parts or clear instructions quickly.
Pros And Trade Offs Of On-One Manufacturing Locations
Choosing a bike with a mixed production story always involves pros and downsides. The second table outlines common strengths and weak points of the way On-One splits work between Asian frame plants and UK assembly. It is not a scorecard, more a way to line up your own priorities with how the brand operates.
| Production Stage | Main Strengths | Possible Downsides |
|---|---|---|
| Asian Frame Manufacturing | High volume plants keep prices keen with consistent welds or lay ups | Long shipping routes and demand spikes can slow restocks and spare frames |
| Italian Road Frame Production | Heritage metalwork and neat finishing on selected road and all road frames | Higher frame costs push up full bike prices and limit use to certain lines |
| UK Design And Testing | Geometry shaped by British roads and trails with steady rider feedback | Local testing terrain may not match every rider’s home surfaces |
| UK Workshop Assembly | Mechanics build and check bikes before shipping with direct contact routes for owners | Bikes still rely on imported frames, so “made in Britain” only describes part of the story |
| Direct To Customer Sales | Lower overheads can shift more spend into components and wheelsets | No routine fitting session at a local shop unless you book one yourself |
Some riders mainly care about value, tyre clearance, bottle mounts and whether the bike can handle a loaded weekend trip. On-One sits between extremes, pairing global frame production with a British base that shapes design and speaks directly to owners.
How To Decide Whether An On-One Bike Fits Your Priorities
If price against specification is your main filter, On-One’s mix of Asian frames and UK builds can look appealing. Frames from established plants keep costs under control, while thought through specifications bring sensible drivetrains, brakes and contact points that hold up under daily use.
Riders who care about clear after sales help often like the idea of dealing with a UK firm that publishes clear direct contact details. Planet X gives phone and email channels on its site, which makes it easier to ask about hanger options, fork compatibility or tyre fit before you place an order.
If full domestic production matters more than price, smaller builders that weld in the UK, Europe or North America may match your values more closely. Those bikes usually cost more than an On-One, yet they line up with riders who enjoy dealing with a tiny workshop or who want near total control over where their money flows.
Final Thoughts On Where On-One Bikes Are Made
So where does everything land. On-One is a British brand based in South Yorkshire that designs bikes at home, contracts frame manufacturing to partners in Taiwan, China and Italy, then builds complete bikes in a UK workshop. The result is a product that mixes British geometry and setup with global manufacturing muscle.
For many riders, the real question is not only “Where Are On-One Bikes Made?” but whether that production story matches what they want from a bike. If you like the blend of UK design, value focused mail order pricing and frames from experienced overseas plants, an On-One hardtail, gravel bike or road machine can be an honest workhorse in the shed for years.