Why is this better than that?

Why does something being hand made make it better? I here much about something called '531' apart from being lighter (is it?) what difference does it have to my cromo 4130 (or something like that). Is NJS like Corgi? My bike has lasted 12 years of of daily riding and still works fine.

Are we simply buying these names for image based reasons?*

*There is nothing wrong with this if this is the case.

i know what you mean, cars being made by robots was used as an advertising ploy in the 80s but nowadays people have reverted to the charm of the hand made, but seriously do you think your lotus is worth the same as a nagasawa?

dont take the price £1400 or whatever that bike is going for as the comparison, a nagasawa frame goes for what £400 or something, how much did you pay for the lotus frame? £80-150? so £300 odd quid for the charm and history of NJS and Keirin culture...i can see why people pay for that. I can't afford it but if i could, i might.