The electric mountain bike industry loves buzzwords, but occasionally, a machine is released that forces us to rewrite the lexicon. The newΒ 2027 Orbea Rallon RS is that machine. This isn't simply a review; this is a comprehensive technical breakdown. We've analysed the engineering documentation to bring you the most detailed overview of the Rallon RS available on the internet. We're moving beyond the marketing fluff to understand exactly how this bike works, why it's different, andΒ what it means for the future of trail riding. Orbea has unveiled a new era of performance based on their RS (Rider Synergy) philosophy. But unlike previous iterations, this isn't just about a motor; it's about a unified, intelligent nervous system that connects every component on the bike.Β 1. The Core Innovation: A Unified "Nervous System" The headline feature of the Rallon RS is System Integration. Most e-bikes are a collection of separate parts: a motor from one brand, suspension from another, and a drivetrain from a third, all operating in isolation. Orbea has shattered this siloed approach. For the 2027 Rallon RS, they've self engineered a single, unified system that connects the remote, motor, shifting, dropper post, suspension, and central battery. The "Open Development" Protocol This level of integration is rare because it requires competitors to share secrets. Orbea successfully invited TQ and Fox to "open development" protocolsβa unique move in the industry. Shared Power: All components draw from the central battery, eliminating the need for separate charging of group set batteries or shock batteries, simplifying charging and reducing clutter. Proprietary Communication: The components share information via a proprietary communications system, allowing them to "talk" to each other in real-time. Β 2. The Conductor: The CANbus Controller & Central Brain You might be asking, "How do all these disparate parts actually talk to each other?" The answer lies in the bike's "central brain"βa sophisticated controller network that acts as the conductor for the entire system. Unlike standard e-bikes, the Rallon RS utilises aΒ CANbus-style architecture (Controller Area Network) to create a high-speed data highway between components. This is the RS-HMI (Human Machine Interface) and it's been significantly expanded for the Rallon RS. The Nexus Point: The system acts as a central hub, routing critical data between the TQ motor, the Fox suspension and the dropper post in milliseconds. Decentralised Intelligence: While there is a "central brain" managing the flow, the brilliance of this controller system is that it allows for cross-component inputs without the rider removing their hands from the handlebars. It doesn't just send a signal to "open shock"; it processes complex data streams (like torque and cadence) and translates them into suspension commands. Unified Control: Because all componentsβshifting, dropper, motor, and suspensionβare linked through this single proprietary protocol, they operate as one cohesive unit rather than fighting against one another. This is what allows for features like "Stealth Mode" and custom dropper positions to be managed from a single app interface. 3. The "Trigger": The MC10-RS "Smart" Dropper The most surprising piece from Orbea's own innovation team launched on the Rise in 2025 and makes it onto this bike - the MC10-RS Smart Dropper. It's no longer just a mechanical telescoping tube; it's a sophisticated data input device.Β The Sensor: The MC10-RS dropper utilises an optoelectronic Time-of-Flight sensor. This is an industry-first application of this technology in a dropper post. The Function: This sensor communicates the post's exact position to the central system multiple times per second. The Result: The bike knows when you are ready to descend. When the dropper is lowered, the system automatically signals the shock to open fully, optimising downhill performance without the rider ever touching a lockout lever. 4. Suspension Informed by Motor Data Fox's Live Valve has existed for years, but it's relied on sensors mounted to the frame to guess what the terrain is doing. The Rallon RS changes the game by feeding the suspension direct data from the motor. The proprietary Fox ENEO Live Valve shock doesn't just react to bumps; it anticipates them based on rider behaviour. The TQ motor feeds the following data points directly to the suspension algorithms: Cadence Rider Power Motor Power Bike Speed Why this matters: Orbeaβs custom algorithms use this data to deliver predictable response. If you're pedalling hard (high rider power/cadence), the suspension knows to firm up for efficiency. If you stop pedalling and drop the post (zero cadence/low dropper), the system instantly knows you are descending and opens the dampers on the shock. 5. Adaptive Motor Behaviour The intelligence loop is bidirectional. Just as the motor talks to the suspension, the bike's orientation talks back to the motor. The TQ-HPR40 motor on the Rallon RS features a specific behavioural tune that recognises terrain context. Downhill Detection: The system recognises when the bike is pointed downhill and the dropper is in the lowered position. Assistance Adjustment: In this specific state, the motor adjusts its assistance to avoid "unwanted inputs" in technical terrain. This solves the common e-bike problem of the motor "pushing" you dangerously when you accidentally ratchet the pedals in a tight corner or technical chute. 6. The Power Plant: TQ-HPR40 & RS Tune Orbea is careful not to call this an "e-bike" in the traditional sense, but rather a bike that removes climbing compromises. The Motor: They utilised the TQ-HPR40, selected for being the lightest and quietest motor available for this application. Performance Specs: Max Power: 200 Watts. Max Torque: 40 Nm. The "RS Tune": The firmware is tuned to provide assistance that "never exceeds the rider's own input," preserving the natural feeling of a mechanical bike. Battery System: Internal: 290Wh battery integrated into the downtube. Range: 1200m to 1800m of vertical climbing depending on rider weight and mode. Range Extender: Optional 160Wh external battery boosts capacity by 55% for full-day outings. 7. Frame Engineering: "Steep 'n' Deep" & Carbon Construction The chassis itself is a feat of manufacturing, built on the legacy of the World Cup-developed Rallon. Advanced Carbon Lay-up: The Rallon RS uses Orbeaβs most advanced carbon manufacturing process to date. It requires more time in the mould but reduces material overlaps and waste, placing carbon only exactly where needed for stiffness and strength. Steep 'n' Deep Geometry: The frame is designed around maximising dropper insertion. All Sizes: Compatible with full insertion of a 210mm dropper. Sizes L & XL: Compatible with up to a massive 240mm dropper. Total Adjustability: Mullet vs. 29: A dedicated linkage allows for swapping rear wheel sizes without affecting geometry. Flip Chip: Adjusts Bottom Bracket height by 8mm and Head Angle byΒ 0.5'. Headset: Adjustable cups allow for a - 0.75' head angle change. 8. Comprehensive Model & Spec Breakdown Orbea is launching with two distinct build levels. Below is the granular specification for each, as detailed in the official Bluepaper, tipping the scales at ~18kg.Β Rallon RS-LTD (The Ultimate Integration) This build represents the full realisation of the "Smart" system with Fox Live Valve Neo. Β Frame: Orbea Rallon RS OMR Carbon (Mullet & 29" compatible, Boost 12x148) Smart Shock: Fox Float X2 Live Valve Neo Factory (Trunnion Evol LV, Custom Tune, 205x62.5mm) Fork: Fox 38 Float Factory 180, Grip X2, QR15x110, Kashima Motor/Battery: TQ-HPR40 / TQ HPR 290Wh Smart Dropper: OC Mountain Control MC10 Electronic Dropper (31.6mm) Drivetrain: Shifters: Shimano XTR M9250 Derailleur: Shimano XTR M9260 12s (Di2) Cassette: Shimano CS-M9200 10-51t Crank: e*thirteen Helix Race Alloy 32t Brakes: Shimano XTR 9200 Hydraulic Disc Wheels: Oquo Mountain Control MC32LTD (Carbon) Cockpit: OC Mountain Control MC10 Carbon Handlebar & MC11 Alu SL Stem Colours: MyO CM, Fuel Carbon View Matt - Magic Gold Matt, Frozen Concrete Gloss - Carbon View Matt The 2027 Orbea Rallon RS-Ltd is available to order in a limited "launch edition" colourway right now (exclusive to the first 50 units).Β Rallon RS-Team (Performance Focused) A high-performance spec that swaps the electronic suspension for traditional damping, though upgradeable.Β Β Frame: Orbea Rallon RS OMR Carbon Shock: Fox Float X2 Factory (2-Pos Adjust, Kashima, Custom Tune) (Note: Lacks the Live Valve Neo automation standard) Fork: Fox 38 Float Factory 180, Grip X2, QR15x110, Kashima Motor/Battery: TQ-HPR40 / TQ HPR 290Wh Dropper: OC Mountain Control MC10 Electronic Dropper Drivetrain: Shifters: Shimano XT M8250 Derailleur: Shimano XT M8260 SGS (Di2) Cassette: Shimano CS-M8200 10-51t Brakes: Shimano XT 8220 Hydraulic Disc Wheels: Oquo Mountain Control MC32TEAM (Alloy) Cockpit: OC Mountain Control MC10 Carbon Handlebar & MC11 Alu SL Stem Colours: MyO CM, Fuel Carbon View Matt - Magic Gold Matt, Frozen Concrete Gloss - Carbon View Matt The 2027 Orbea Rallon RS-Team is available to order immediately with delivery dates estimated before the spring really sets in! Geometry Reference (Low Setting / 29") For those crunching the numbers, here is the critical geometry for the Rallon RS: Size Reach Stack Head Angle Seat Tube Wheelbase S 430mm 633.7mm 64.25' 400mm 1215.12mm M 455mm 638.2mm 64.25' 405mm 1242.3mm L 478mm 647.21mm 64.25' 410mm 1269.64mm XL 505mm 656.22mm 64.25' 420mm 1300.98mm 9. Exclusive UK Access: Our Verdict & First Ride As one of the premier Orbea dealers in the UK, we were incredibly fortunate to receive an invite to get hands-on with the Rallon RS before its global release. We have had the privilege of taking this machine for a spin - more on this soon! The "Ghost" in the Machine When we first read the spec sheet, we were admittedly sceptical. Would all this technology alienate the rider from the trail? Would it feel like riding a computer rather than a bike? We are happy to report that those fears vanished within the first 500 metres. The brilliance of the RS system is its invisibility. You don't feel the electronics working; you just feel... better. The TQ motor is so quiet and the assistance so subtle that it genuinely feels like you are having the best climbing day of your life, rather than being pushed by a motor. That "Aha!" Moment The real revelation, however, came when the trail pointed down. There is a specific sensation when you hit the dropper lever on the Rallon RS. In a split second, the seat vanishes, the suspension opens up, and the bike hunkers down, ready for war. You don't have to fumble for a shock lever or worry if youβre in "climb mode." The bike just knows. The "Smart" dropper and suspension integration creates a flow state that is hard to describe until you experience it. It removes the mental load of managing the bike, allowing you to focus purely on line choice and grip. It feels planted, precise, and frighteningly fast. Exclusive Allocation Because of our long-standing relationship with Orbea, we are immensely proud to be one of a tiny handful of dealers to receive an allocation from the very first production run. There are only 50 bikes in this initial drop globally, and we've secured stock for our customers. This isn't just a new model; it's a leap forward in mountain bike history. If you want to be one of the very first riders in the world to experience the Era of Smart Performance, get in touch with us immediately. Conclusion The Orbea Rallon RS is what happens when a company stops looking at what competitors are doing and starts asking what the rider needs. By integrating TQβs motor data, Foxβs electronic suspension, and their own sensor-equipped dropper into one cohesive loop, Orbea has created a bike that feels less like a machine and more like an extension of the body.
What's easier than having to hunt out all the right components to service your eBike drivetrain? Having all the hard work done for you! We've put together the most commonly used service kits in our workshop into convenient packages, and then popped a discount on top to make keeping your investment performing at its best this winter, and long into the future easy and with lower costs.Β Unleash peak performance with Shimano Service Kits Drivetrain maintenance is crucial for the longevity and performance of your electric bike. The added power from the motor subjects componentsβlike the chain, cassette, and chainringβto significantly higher loads than traditional bikes.Β Neglecting maintenance accelerates wear, leading to poor shifting, noise, and potential damage to the entire system. Regular cleaning and timely replacement with genuine parts ensure your e-bike maintains its peak efficiency and smooth power delivery, protecting your investment and maximizing your ride time.Β What's included in the Shimano Service Kit?Β Each service kit includes a matched cassette, chain and set of pulley and tensioner wheels for the drivetrain type its designed for.Β The Shimano XT (M8100) 12 Speed Gear Service Kit for example, includes a Shimano XT M8100 12 speed 10-51t HYPERGLIDE+ cassette and a XT M8100 12 speed 126 link chain (with quick link). The final part and very often overlooked or simply picked clean is a matching set of pulley and tensioner (jockey) wheels.Β Fitted inside the rear derailleur cage, the top of these two little toothed wheels aligns the chain inside the derailleur with the cassette. The bottom holds tension on the chain over rough surfaces.Β When worn, these can cause the chain to skip, bind or otherwise not run through the rear derailleur in the silky smooth way it should. At its worst, seized jockey wheels can bind the rear derailleur to the point its possible to snap a rear derailleur off its hanger (a costly mistake!)Β WhatΒ isn't included in the Shimano Service Kit?Β Brake pads and chainrings. Why?Β There are just too many variables. Bikes which come with the XTR group set for example might have the 2 piston or 4 piston version of XTR brake callipers. Then there's the range of pads materials and cross compatibility. Do you want resin, or sintered pads? For XTR, do you want the steel or titanium backed version? What if your rotors are only compatible with resin pads? The possibilities are endless.Β This is the same for chain rings. These are drive unit specific - some might have a Shimano motor, where others have a Bosch system. Do you prefer a 32, 34 or even 38t front ring? Again, there are just too many variables.Β How else can I save money with Shimano Service Kits?Β There's no rule that says just because your bike came with a specific group set that youΒ must replace the chain and cassette with those same components - quite the opposite.Β Many riders choose to forgo a tiny bit of performance and around 100g in weight and go for the next tierΒ down. This is something I actually do personally. I buy bikes with Ultegra (for road) or XT (for off-road) group sets and once the original chain and cassette are worn out, I replace them with 105 (for road) and SLX (for off-road), only returning them to factory spec when looking to sell a bike.Β Although this is technically a bit of a downgrade, its simply a case of being pragmatic. Its 100% true that thereΒ are incremental performance benefits as you go up through the tiers (105->Ultegra->Dura-Ace for road and SLX->XT->XTR for mountain bikes) and each jump also comes in a little lighter (and more expensive!) but if you go down, you also get marginally harderΒ wearing components.Β For me, at 6'3 and 200lbs, I'm well outside the bounds of the modern performance cyclist - (normally circa 5'8" and around 150lbs and much faster up hills that me!) and so do I really need that couple of extra watts and 100g less? I don't think so. Ill take harder wearing components at a lower cost, thank you! Many Shimano components/group sets have cross-compatible alternatives if you're looking to save some money on your servicing - just ask us!Β Can E-Bikeshop fit my Shimano Service kit?Β Absolutely!Β Selling the components as a bundled kit is a new effort to make life easier for our customers both when purchasing parts online but also in our workshop, where we can offer a discount on getting the whole lot done in one go. Easier for us, easier and cheaper forΒ you. You can book your bike in for servicing/routine maintenance here. Our team of manufacturer/OEM trained and highly experienced technicians will be very happy to assess your bike and talk you though any current or preventative maintenance issues found.Β PLEASE NOTE: E-BIKESHOP ONLY TAKES IN FOR SERVICE/DIAGNOSTICS/REPAIR BIKES WE'VE SOLD TO OUR OWN CUSTOMERS. IF YOUR BIKE DIDN'T ORIGINATE WITH E-BIKESHOP, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR ORIGINAL PLACE OF PURCHASE FOR AFTER-SALES SUPPORT.Β Ready to bring your bike back to peak performance? Shimano Service Kits are live on our website now. Simply type "Service kit" in the search box or click here.Β Looking for a kit we don't list? Get in touch and we'll be happy to put something together for you.Β Β Β
The rumours were true. Of course,Β we knew - we just couldn't tell you!Β The Bosch Performance Line CX electric bike motor is getting an upgrade to 100Nm of torque, offering an increased 400% assistance - the same as you plus another 4 sets of legs pushing on the pedals with a peak output of 750W - and that's not all in the 2026 Bosch eBike system update... Β A summary of the points covered about the new Bosch 2026 release in this article: - Is this the first time Bosch has given their electric bike owners a free power upgrade?- Why have Bosch chosen model year 2026, to give eBike owners 100Nm of power?- Which Bosch motors are eligible for the free 2026 100Nm power upgrade?- How can I get the new 100Nm Bosch electric bike power upgrade?- When can I get the new 2026 100Nm Bosch electric bike power upgrade?- Can I update my existing bike with the new model year 2026 100Nm power upgrade?- Is the 100Nm Bosch ebike power upgrade the only update for model year 2026? Β Is this the first time Bosch has given their electric bike owners a free power upgrade? Nope! They've done this before, back in 2021. The Generation 4 Performance CX motor launched in 2019 with 75Nm but Bosch never give up on a product at launch. They have access to a mind-boggling amount of user data uploaded to their systems each time a bike is plugged in with a dealer/repair centre and its rumoured that even 100Nm is well below the operating limits of the CX drive unit. Through continual monitoring and development of their systems, they can see where more can be gained in terms of power, efficiency and longevity. In 2021, Bosch offered a free upgrade to CX drive unit owners by way of a software update. The only thing their owners had to do was pop into their local Bosch approved dealer and the update could be applied in just a couple of minutes and voila - 85Nm!Β Β Β Why have Bosch chosen model year 2026, to give eBike owners 100Nm of power? We're not privy to all the commercial decisions that Bosch make, but theyΒ do generally keep well ahead of current market trends, especially with their user interface systems (displays and apps) which are easily the best in the industry and so it stands to reason that they would do the same with power outputs.Β Bosch don't like to just rush into things, though. As arguably the "worlds favourite motor" and with an outstanding reputation of performance and reliability to maintain, this would probably have been in the pipeline for the last couple of years.Β With the new DJI Avinox system pumping out 105Nm, the Rocky Mountain Dyname offering 108Nm and (despite their arguably far worse reliability data) Specialized's Brose systems offering 90Nm, Bosch were for probably the first time in the last 10 years a little behind and so had to respond at some point. Although we don't think it should be theΒ only consideration when buying a new electric bike - peak power figures do sell bikes and this new update for model year 2026 will have a big impact on sales rates of bikes with the latest Bosch Performance CX motor.Β Β Β Which Bosch motors are eligible for the free 2026 100Nm power upgrade? At the moment, itsΒ just going to be the new "Generation 5" Performance CX motor (not its official, but seemingly commonly accepted name!) equipped bikes. In the trade, this is known as the "BDU384Y" motor.Β If you want to take advantage of the new 100Nm torque offering, you'll probably need to upgrade your current bike unless you bought it in the last 6 months! If it helps - all of the 2025 model yearΒ Cube Stereo Hybrid ONE44, Stereo Hybrid ONE77 and Orbea Wild full suspension electric bike models use this newer Gen 5 motor and will be compatible with the 100Nm upgrade as well as all Cube Reaction hard tail electric bikes from the Pro model upwards.Β The "Gen 5" Performance CX motor was launched in late 2024 as a replacement for the Gen 4 although the Gen 4 is still a very good and well regarded motor after 6 years in production and is still being used by many manufacturers in current generation bikes.Β Β Β How can I get the new 100Nm Bosch electric bike power upgrade? One of the massive advantages of the latest Smart System equipped bikes is the Bosch eBike Flow app. Not only does this have a huge number of features for the rider (Sat Nav, fitness metrics, etc), it also includes its own built in "mini" diagnostic suite and software update system.Β We're almost certain that this update will be available to owners "over the air", and will be offered with no more complication that any other routine software update.Β At worst, we'll be offering the upgrade to our customers at no charge when booking in to our workshop for any other work.Β Β Β When can I get the new 2026 100Nm Bosch electric bike power upgrade? The upgrade will be already be applied to new bikes produced by manufacturers after 1st May 2025 but will be available via your dealer or the Bosch eBike Flow app in July for bikes produced before this date.Β Β Β Can I update my existing Gen 5/BDU384Y Bosch CX bike with the new model year 2026 100Nm power upgrade? Yes!Β Those who already own a bike with the latest BDU384Y ("Gen 5") motor will be able to update their bikes around the end of July 2025 either by visiting their dealer or using the Bosch eBike Flow app when the function is switched on for end users.Β Β Β Is the 100Nm Bosch ebike power upgrade the only update for model year 2026?Β Nope! There are other new toys coming too... The eagle eyed will have seen a neatly designed but fairly odd/out of place looking blanking plate being fitted in the top tube of bikes which use the Bosch Mini Remote and System Controller display system for the last year. We saw the very first of them being used by Cube on their Stereo Hybrid range of electric full suspension mountain bikes.Β Given that other models had a slot madeΒ just for the System Controller, it was obvious something else was coming and Cube were either looking to offer the option to their owners of future upgrades (very kind!), or, the reason for the bigger hole in the frame was late/didn't arrive in time.Β So what else is new for the 2026 Bosch eBike system in terms of components? New Bosch Kiox 400C The Kiox 400C is a trail-ready display thatβs seamlessly integrated into the top tube, keeping it well protected from bumps and impacts. Its dynamic screen automatically presents the most relevant data at the right moment, so thereβs no need to switch views manually. Climbing? Youβll see your power output, cadence, and elevation gained.Β Descending? Your speed is shown clearly. A USB-C port allows you to charge devices on the go, and the screen delivers impressive brightness of up to 1,000 cd/mΒ², automatically adjusting to the surrounding light conditions. Β New Bosch eMTB+ Riding Mode The new eMTB+ riding mode delivers dynamic support at the highest level, blending the smooth control of eMTB mode with the full power of Race modeβoffering up to 400% maximum support. Extended boost remains easy to modulate like in eMTB mode, while unleashing the full force of Race mode when needed. Power is delivered naturally and responsively, based on your pedal input. eMTB+ gives you the best of both worldsβcombining agility, performance, and control for a truly natural riding experience. Β New Bosch eSHIFT M+ M+ enhances eShift with an extra layer of automation when youβre riding manually. While you still shift gears yourself when pedalling, the system takes over during coastingβautomatically selecting the optimal gear for when you resume pedalling. This gives you full manual control when you want it, and smart support when you donβt. M+ reduces effort and ensures you're always in the right gear. It will be available via an over-the-air update through the eBike Flow app from autumn 2025 for TRP E.A.S.I. A12 systems. Β Β Are you ready for a new 100Nm Bosch drive electric bike?Β Although our stock bikes will ship with 85Nm until post-May production starts to arrive, the update will be available to you via the Bosch eBike Flow app when enabled or when popping in to our workshops.Β We expect demand for the latest BDU384Y/"Gen 5" to skyrocket with this news and stocks of bikes with the latest CX motor will likely see shortages, at least in the short term as the end of model year 2025 approaches. We were already seeing stock shortages on some key models before this news and this wont improve so if you're keen to take advantage of the 2026 model year 100Nm model year before next years bikes arrive, now is the time!Β If you need any help with which bikes will be compatible with the 2026 update, please get in touch.Β You can see all of our electric bikes here.Β
Have you been putting off servicing your bike? Something bugging you but haven't had the time to get it sorted? Maybe you had some upgrades planned for next season? Spring is a busy time in the bike industry - tens of thousands of fair-weather cyclists emerge to join the winter-worn veterans.Β On top of this, Spring is also the busiest time of the year for new bike sales which adds to the workload of workshops and so its normally the worst time to get a bike serviced. You can beat the rush by getting your bike serviced during the quieter season of the year, while taking advantage of lower prices* and be ready the moment the sunΒ comes out.Β BOOK YOUR ELECTRIC BIKE SERVICE NOW Β Top 5 reasons to have your electric bike serviced Optimised Performance Regular servicing ensures the motor, battery, and drivetrain function efficiently for the longest period possible, extending their overall lifespan. Software updates (done as part of the service and at no extra cost) improve system performance, fix bugs, and may even include enhanced battery economy updates from the manufacturer. Extended Lifespan Routine and preventative maintenance prevents premature wear of expensive components like the motor, battery and suspension. Catching issues early (e.g. worn-out bearings or chains/cassettes) avoids costlier repairs or mid-ride breakdowns later on, leading to much better and long term rider enjoyment.Β Safety Assurance Regular checks on brakes, tyres, and frame integrity ensure your e-bike is safe to ride for both you and those around you.Β Electrical inspections help identify any loose connections, frayed wires, or water ingress issues which can be addressed immediately, again, extending long term performance and reliability.Β Battery Health Proper care (e.g., cleaning of contacts and other physical checks) ensures the battery maintains its range and efficiency for longer and most importantly, is safe to be in service.Β A well-maintained battery is less likely to degrade or fail unexpectedly and so this is a very important part of routine servicing which is best carried out by a manufacturer approved service and repair centre.Β Compliance and Warranty Servicing at recommended intervals often keeps your warranty valid, proving your own diligence and commitment in ensuring your bike is safe and its expected performance levels are maintained.Β Following manufacturer guidelines ensures you meet compliance standards for safety and performance, especially for road legality. Β E-Bikeshop Workshop Pricing *E-Bikeshop has always maintained workshop pricing lower than any of its competitors, often by as much as half. This has been made possible by only working on bikes we've sold to our own customers and not having a workshop filled with imported bikes for which there is next to no manufacturer support, leading to lengthy parts/repair times.E-Bikeshop last reviewed its workshop labour pricing in 2017 at Β£55 per hour for the first hour and Β£45 per hour thereafter and this has remained for the last 7 years, despite significantly higher costs of business. From 1st March 2025, our new pricing will be a flat Β£69 per hour for labour. This will apply to all types of work undertaken. We know that many of our competitors are charging as much as Β£100 per hour (sometimes more in London!), so we still feel this represents excellent value for work carried out by our highly qualified electric bike technicians. First services (inside 3 months from delivery) are unaffected and will remain free for our customers.Β Β Help us, to help you! While the weather isn't as inviting, there isn't a better time to get your bike serviced. Not only does it generally have less impact of peoples riding, its also the quietest time of the year for workshop bookings, giving us much more flexibility and time to work with and around you.Workshop labour prices will remain at Β£55 per hour until next year and 75% of services at E-Bikeshop are are currently completed with bills of less than Β£100 including parts.Β BOOK YOUR ELECTRIC BIKE SERVICE NOW Β Please note: E-Bikeshop only services, maintains and carries out warranty work and repairs on electric bikes it has sold to it'sΒ own customers in order to keepΒ our workshop available and flexibleΒ for those who've invested in a bike with us, allowing us the time to invest back into them. You'll normally find a slot available within less than 48 hours and most jobs are completed "while you wait".Β
On 12th December 2024, the UK Government issues statutory guidelines to the electric bike industry on battery safety. This is not technically new information. "Statutory guidance" is a set of instructions which explains how to interpret and implement specific pieces of legislation. This piece of legislation (The General Product Safety Regulations 2005) is quite long winded, so we'll break it down into more easily absorbed chunks. Quick jump to the best bits:- -Β Who is this guidance aimed at?-Β Scope/reach of the guidelines- Purpose of the guidance-Β The "GSPR"- UK Government position on safe electric bike batteries under the GSPR- What powers do the government have for non-compliance with regulatory requirements?- What does E-Bikeshop think about the new Government guidance on electric bike battery safety? Who is this guidance aimed at? The statutory guidance from the UK Government is aimed at businesses who "produce, import or distribute lithium-ion batteries for use with e-bikes", and this includes those intended for use in ebike conversion kits (whether DIY or a "ready made" product to attach to an ordinary bicycle". Put simply, this means this guidance is designed to simplify the law on the subject and in way which doesn't require a lawyer to understand. It's relevant and should be adhered to by manufacturers of bikes, their distributors and the end retailer (us!). Scope/reach of the guidelines The scope of these new guidelines has been left (almost certainly on purpose) quite wide - designed to encompass all sales of electric bicycles (including conversion kits) in the UK, along with all batteries designed for use in them, through all parts of the chain (import, distribution, end user sale by a retailer).Β Purpose of the guidance The purpose of the newly provided statutory guidance is as you might expect - safety related. Over the last several years (likely on the back of the Covid induced cycling boom), there has been a worrying increase in the number of electric bike fires, some of which has . These have almost exclusively been the lower end of the market - cheap far Eastern imports or DIY conversions. By providing the statutory guidance, the UK Government hopes to make clear the legislation on electric bike safety standards while seeking to raise the minimum standards of product supplied throughout the supply chainΒ - the aim being a better standard of product which is less likely to pose a fire hazard. The "GSPR" The GSPR or "General Product Safety Regulations 2005" is a piece of legislation in the UK which lays out the standard(s) of product put on the market, specifically relating to safety on which this new piece of statutory guidance is based.Β Under this legislation there exists a "catchall" piece - "Section 5". It reads as follows; Β General safety requirement 5. (1) No producer shall place a product on the market unless the product is a safe product (2) No producer shall offer or agree to place a product on the market or expose or possess a product for placing on the market unless the product is a safe product. (3) No producer shall offer or agree to supply a product or expose or possess a product for supply unless the product is a safe product (4) No producer shall supply a product unless the product is a safe product. Β In short, no manufacturer, distributor or retailer should place on the market a product they know or suspect to be unsafe for sale. This includes/meansΒ us. The onus is on the personΒ sellingΒ the product to ensure its a "safe" product and the UK Government will assume its safe (by virtue of retailers selling it) until proven otherwise. UK Government position on safe electric bike batteries under the GSPR To be considered a safe product under the GSPR, a battery intended for use with electric bikes or conversion kits must include built in safety mechanisms. Below are the minimum standards Battery protection The battery protective system should; Include a BMS or "Battery Management System" or other equivalent safety system. Be able to protect the battery from electrical damage. Be able to detect the voltage of individual cells, total battery pack current and its temperature during charging and discharging. Be able to detect and prevent the cells from entering thermal runaway as a result of using an incorrect charger.Β Β Battery design and construction The design of the battery should be able to resist damage from external sources. This means that the battery should be able to deal with a reasonable amount of foreseeable impact and vibration from normal wear and tear (impact from accidental drops, vibration from riding). It should be able to protect the battery from high and low temperatures, as well as liquids (water ingress).Β It should also be supplied with relevant information to enable consumers to be able to source a suitable charger. Finally, there should be sufficient information for consumers to learn how to properly use (charge and discharge) their battery, along with any relevant warnings.Β What powers do the government have for non-compliance with regulatory requirements?Β The Office for Product Safety and Standards along with local authorities have the power to enforce the requirements of the GPSR. If investigations into non-compliance produce evidence to support, authorities can take action against producers, distributors and retailers by suspending sale of the products, enforce warnings about them to consumers or force their withdrawal from sale.Β Failure to bring products inline with compliance and/or to ignore advice, warnings or instructions given could see the person(s) guilty of an offence punishable with financial penalties and/or a custodial sentenceΒ -there really is no excuse for selling poor quality electric bikes!Β What does E-Bikeshop think about the new Government guidance on electric bike battery safety? We fully welcome the guidance. Anything whichΒ works to increase the quality of products on the market with the aim of better protection of consumers from the worrying number of fires caused by them should beΒ embraced and supported by allΒ good retailers. We hope it also serves as a warning to those still selling products which don't meet the minimum safety criteria that the GovernmentΒ isΒ actively watching the market and taking steps to remove the products and those who sell them from the field.Β This is a subject I covered back in February 2023, where I discussed electric bike battery fires and who might be at risk. Thankfully, despite having been an electric bike specialist in the industry for more than 12 years and having sold over 30,000 electric bikes globally in that time, we haveΒ never had a battery fire.Β We can proudly say that this is a direct result of only working with the very top European manufacturers of electric bikes who only useΒ safe and reliable drive systems and batteries from the likes of Bosch, Yamaha, Shimano, Mahle, Fazua and others.Β Β If you're looking for a safe and reliable electric bike, you can take a look atΒ allΒ of our fully compliant electric bikes now.Β
There's noΒ better way to celebrate the arrival of your new Orbea factory bikesΒ Rise or Wild than with the opportunity to ride Orbea's top machinesΒ in their spiritual home, paid for by Orbea themselves. Based just 40 minutes from Alicante airport in the sunny South East of Spain, Boom Adventures is owned and run by Ben Moore (OrbeaΒ Factory ProΒ rider) and his wife Suzi, right at the base of the 1,408mΒ Puig Campana. The area boasts some of the best MTB trails in the world. How to win the MTB holiday of a lifetime with Orbea and Boom Adventures To be entered into the draw, you only need to purchase and take delivery of a Orbea Rise or Orbea Wild between 4th September 2024 and 5thΒ March 2025* and enter the code HOLIDAYΒ at the checkout. Not only will you be entered into the prize draw for the MTB holiday of a lifetime butΒ there's a chance to win anΒ exclusive Orbea HIRU x E-Bikeshop MTB jersey**. This competitionΒ isΒ exclusive to E-Bikeshop customers and not available via other retailers or when purchasing from Orbea directly.Β Β Orbea Rise The 2025 Orbea Rise range is already live on our website and physical stock is available for immediate delivery. With its newly unleashed 85Nm Shimano RS motor, bigger 630Wh battery and brand new frame offering a full power, long travel bike at sub-20Kg, the Rise returns to trails having barely had its crown tipped for the last couple of years. The 2024 version was a showstopper... Β Orbea Wild THE most awarded bike at launch for its technology in design, the previous generation Orbea Wild is still setting new standards in power to weight ratio and performance in its "all mountain" class.Β Unfortunately, that's all we can tell you at the moment. The 2025 Orbea Wild is due to be launchedΒ very soon.Β In the meantime, here's the multi-award winner... Β How will the winner be notified?Β All eligible Orbea Rise and Orbea WildΒ orders will be assigned a number and on Friday 6thΒ December, a random number generator will choose 26 riders from all orders placed between the competition start and end dates. The winner of the competition will be chosen in the same way from these 26.Β Orbea HIRU jerseysΒ will be sent to winners the following day***.Β 25x The Orbea HIRU X E-Bikeshop Jersey Designed by Orbea for this competition, if you receive one of these limited edition exclusive jerseys, you'll be the proud owner of a piece of super comfortable, high performance cycling clothing worn by many of Orbea's top athletes (and some of our store staff!).Β 1x The ORBEA HIRU "Golden Jersey" If you receive this Orbea HIRU Golden Jersey, signed by the Orbea Pro Rider Ben Moore himself - CONGRATULATIONS! You're off to Spain with Orbea and Boom Adventures for the MTB Holiday of a lifetime! Β Who are Boom Adventures? Boom AdventuresΒ is owned and run by Ben Moore (Orbea Factory Rider, Urban Downhill Specialist and E-Maxivalanche champion) and his wife Suzi.Β Based just outside Alicante, Boom AdventuresΒ specialise in small-group, fully led MTB riding and tuition around theΒ Puig Campana area, where riders can choose the type and level of riding best suited to them from a vast range of trail types.Β With an impressive racingΒ record spanning over a decade, Ben knows a thing or two about how to get the best from a bike and in no better place than on his own doorstep. Β What will you be doing?Β Orbea will be fundingΒ your whole trip. All you need to do is get yourself to your closest international airport and Orbea and Boom Adventures will take care of the rest.Β When you arrive in Alicante, your transport to Boom HQ will be arranged and you'll be taken to your accommodation. From here, your bed and board will be covered for the duration of your stay and you'll meet the team looking after you. Prior to departing, you'll have the chance to let the team know what kind of riding you want to do and for the next 4 days, you'll be the master of your own riding destiny with bikes provided straight from the Orbea factory media stock to match your preferred riding. Β Where you'll be riding In case you missed it, you can check out a sneak peak of the trails in Ben's back yard in the promo video on Youtube Β Ready to win?Β Every order of an Orbea Rise or Orbea WildΒ delivered before the competition end date is eligible for entry so don't delay. Jump to our Orbea Electric BikesΒ collection now! (2025 Orbea Wild options will be added at launch). Β Β * Orders must be placed, fully paid and the bikeΒ shipped to the customer before the end of the competition. If placing a Pre-Order, E-Bikeshop, Orbea or any of its partner services cannot be held responsible for any delays in production or delivery which lead to the arrival of the bike with E-Bikeshop or the customerΒ after the competition end date, where the entry will not be valid.Β ** We only have 26 Jerseys for this competition with a mix of sizes. We will, where possible, accommodate size requests. Please let us know your preference in the customer notes section when placing your order. The request for a specific size will not guarantee it can be provided. *** You must notify us of any change of address between the date of order and the competition end date.Β Contact ben@e-bikeshop.co.uk for full Terms & Conditions. Β
The 2024 Farnham Charity Bike Ride, organised byΒ The HedghogsΒ and now in its 16th year will be held in Farnham, Surrey on Sunday 15th September. E-Bikeshop will be sponsoring the event for 2024, and here's everything you need to know about this fantastic day out in the Surrey and Hampshire countryside.Β Β Click the links below to jump to answers about the Farnham Charity Bike Ride -What is the Farnham Charity Bike Ride?-Who runs the Farnham Charity Bike Ride?-Where does the 2024 Farnham Charity Bike Ride start and finish?-What time does the 2024 Farnham Charity Bike Ride start?-What routes are available on the 2024 Farnham Charity Bike Ride?-Who can enter the 2024 Farnham Charity Bike Ride?-How can I enter the 2024 Farnham Charity Bike Ride? Β What is the Farnham Charity Bike Ride? The Farnham Charity Bike Ride is exactly what it says on the tin. The annual event aims to raise money for local charities and causes while providing a great day out in the Surrey and Hampshire countryside.Β Who runs the Farnham Charity Bike Ride? The Farnham Charity Bike Ride is organised and run by The HedgehogsΒ and a small army of volunteers. TheΒ Hedgehogs is a charitable organisation based in Farnham and having been helping local people since 1959 and have raised over Β£2.4m for local causes.Β Where does the 2024 Farnham Charity Bike Ride start and finish?Β In previous years, theΒ rideΒ has started and finished on Castle Street. Castle Street is closed on the day of the ride and serves as the sign on, meeting point and start/end point for all of the ride lengths.Β What time does the 2024 Farnham Charity Bike Ride start?Β The Farnham Charity Bike Ride, like most charity rides, operates a staggered start time based on ride length. The 75 mile riders will be setting off at 8:00am, followed by the 50 milers at 8:30am, the 25 milers at 9:00am, and finally the 16 mile riders at 9:30am. Having ridden the last two events, we would advise being there about 45 minutes before your start time to ensure you have ample time to sign on, get a good drink and some food in and do any last minute bike checks to ensure you'reΒ at the start line ready to set off at your allotted time.Β What routes are available on the 2024 Farnham Charity Bike Ride?Β The Farnham Charity bike ride offers 4 routes to cater to all types of rider and abilities, from seasoned club riders all the way down to families with children.Β 16 Mile Route The 16 mile Farnham Charity Bike Ride route is the shortest and most easily completed route and is ideal for families with children. Although there's still 1,200 feet of climbing, there's a great refreshment stop on the route and its a charity ride, not a race and you have 5 hours to complete it. That's an average speed of justΒ 3 miles an hour!Β Children under 16 ride for free with a fee paying adult! This ride starts at 9:30am. You can find the Strava Route here, and the GarminΒ Course file here.Β 25 Mile Route The 25 mile Farnham Charity Bike Ride route is the original route of the event. 1,800 feet of climbing through some challenging but still readilyΒ completable climbs, the 25 mile route has two refreshment stops, fantastic views and a great medal waiting for you at the end of the ride. Most reasonably fit people would complete this route with ease.Β This rides starts at 9:00am. You canΒ find the Strava Route here, and theΒ GarminΒ CourseΒ file here.Β 50 Mile Route The 50 mile Farnham Charity Bike Ride route covers all of the 25 mile route but rather than returning from Binstead, heads south and takes in Wyck, East Worldham, Lower Farringdon before looping back up through Selbourne, Oakhanger and back to the Binstead split where it joins the last part of the 25 mile route.Β The 3,400 feet of climbing is probably the most rewarding of any local ride, with incredible views across the South Downs National Park area. A reasonable degree of base fitness is required for this route, although Josh and I did it last year having not turned a wheel for several months because it fell during our peak sales season and didn't have time for training!Β This ride starts at 8:30am. You canΒ find the Strava Route here. 75 Mile Route The longest route on the Farnham Charity Bike Ride for 2024, "Butser or Bust" is the 75 mile route for the climbers, club riders and anyone else who wants to ruin their legs for the following 36 hours!Β Leaving the 50 mile route at Selbourne, the 75 mile route heads further South into the National Park and to East Meon, then onward to climb Buster Hill at 889ft. After earningΒ yourΒ almost 1000ft descent, you'll take in Charlton before heading into the back side of Queen Elizabeth Country Park, along the Shipwrights way and tracking northward via Ramsdean, Steep (which reallyΒ is!), Hawkley and then re-joining the tail end of the 50 mile route just outside Selbourne.Β The 75 mile route is a real challenge, and we would recommend that only those fully prepared in fitness and nutrition/light repair toolsΒ tackle it.Β This ride starts at 8:00am You canΒ find the Strava Route here. Who can enter the 2024 Farnham Charity Bike Ride?Β The Farnham Charity Bike Ride is open to all riders of all abilities but our adviceΒ is to pick a ride which best suits your fitness, your bike and your abilities. Although well signposted, mostly covering only minor rather than major A roads and with lots of marshal and refreshment points, the roads will not be closed for the event and youΒ should aimΒ to be fully self-sufficient out on the road.Β How can I enter the 2024 Farnham Charity Bike Ride?Β Entering is easy and its better to do it sooner rather than later. Head over to the Farnham Charity Bike Ride website or go straight to the 2024 Farnham Charity Bike Ride tickets pageΒ to enter NOW! Feel free to let us know if you're riding - it would be great to get together before or after the race and connect more of our local customers!Β Β Last years ride with Ben & Josh Brand new to road cycling, Josh (our all round office, admin and organisational wizard)Β had only taken delivery of his brand new carbon black Orbea Orca Aero just a week before the 2023 ride and the 50 mile route was twice the distance of his previous longest road ride.Β We set off from E-Bikeshop's Farnham HQΒ just over a mile away from the start line at about 7.30am, got ourselves registered, received our bike numbers and headed to the start line in glorious sunshineΒ - both already dreaming ofΒ a well deserved post-ride McDonalds!Β Here's what he had to say about it; I thoroughly enjoyed participating in the Farnham charity bike ride in 2023. There's something special about several hundred cyclists coming together to ride for charity. Everyone was so warm and welcoming, whilst also being very supportive and helping each other on some tricky Surrey climbs. The event itself was very well organised, with refreshment stations and marshals throughout the course ensuring we were fuelled and safe. The course is well routed and offered in 4 lengths, suitable for cyclists of all abilities. I would highly recommend this ride and look forward to completing the 2024 route! - Josh We're looking forward to supporting this fantastic local event and look forward to seeing our customers out on the route.Β If you want to get involved but don't have a bike, don't panic! Electric bikes are accepted and encouraged for those who want to use one on the day (remember, its a charity ride, not a race) and with over 700 bikes in stock, we're sure to have a bike for you.Β Feel free to give us a call on 01252 279279, send us an email or Book an Appointment to come and see usΒ todayΒ for your new Electric Bike.Β Β
With the prices of electric bikesΒ having tumbled in the wake of the Covid-19 induced sales boom and global overstock at an unprecedented high, the "buyers market" right now is arguably the best time to buy a bike,Β but,Β is theΒ priceΒ the only thing you should be considering? Β Jump to answers of popular questions around buying cheap electric bikes: -Β Is the price everything when buying heavily discounted electric bikes?-Β What goes into the cheapest price you can find?-Β Who pays the price for cheap electric bike sales?-Β Where is all the profit from cheap electric bikes going? -Β Why does it pay to look past the initial purchase price of an electric bike?-Β Things you should be considering when buying a cheap electric bike?- Is it good value to buy the cheapest priced option on electric bikes? Β Following on from our recent discussion on "Why are electric bikes so expensive", we'll break down where your money goes not just at point of sale, but later down the line to determine whether that "great deal" is likely to stay that way. Β Β Is the price everything when buying heavily discounted electric bikes?Β With discounts abound and consumers always looking for the best possible deal, itΒ pays to shop around right now. Across the UK there are some incredible deals on new electric bikesΒ but when it comes to investing in a new electric bike, what happensΒ after the sale is often overlooked in favour of the lowest possible price. To highlight why thisΒ isn'tΒ the best way to buy a bike, we'll break down where your money goes after that bargain of the year purchase, and what to expect in the following weeks, months and years.Β Β Β What goes into the cheapest price you can find? All bikes, like any consumer product, have an RRP. This is a carefully considered amount which not only covers the immediate cost to the manufacturer, but also the ongoing costs further down the line. Here's how its broken down; The component manufacturers Your new electric bike is the sum total of parts and contribution byΒ dozens of individual entities. Motors from Bosch, suspension from Fox, gears from Shimano, wheels from RaceFace, chain rings from FSA, tyres from Schwalbe - these are just some of the major components. Everything on your bike, down to the individual nuts and bolts, has a RRP payable by the bike manufacturer to obtain them for your new bike. The bike manufacturer The company who makes your bike also has its own costs to cover. ThisΒ includes the raw materials and labour for manufacturing the frame along with the final assembly of the bike before it leaves their factory. The manufacturer will also be tacking on a little bit of profit to cover future product development, marketing, staff and building costs, local taxes and very importantly for the consumer - futureΒ warranty and support obligations. The distributor (read, "middleman") Some manufacturers (especially the biggest/global ones) don't sell directly to their retailers. They use a distributor who not only handles the shipment of bikes to the retailer but often includes some responsibility for invoicing, warranty and first line support to the dealer network. Cube for example, don't sell to dealers in the UK.Β We buy from a distributor who has responsibility for looking after the UK and the Netherlands. They too, need to make some money. The retailer (us!) The retailer, (when sold at full RRP) generally makes theΒ largest portion of margin (profit). This is for two reasons - firstly, manufacturers make money onΒ volume, so their piece of the pie is less per bike but bigger overall. Secondly, its your retailer who normally bears a highest "cost of sale" on a "per bike" basis. A good manufacturer only has to show us their offering for the next model year and we order thousands of bikes each year. Job done. Retailers have to do far more work just to sell a single bike. This has a higher time, marketing andΒ overheads cost. Your retailer not only has to build and inspect your new bike before you get out on it but if it does its job properly, it also has to be able toΒ look after that bike with warranty, aftercare, goodwill and support for its expected 8-10 year minimum lifespan. All of this comes out of our profit on bike sales, as well as ever increasing business costs of wages, buildings ownership/leasing, insurances, subsidised shipping costs (it costs Β£90, not the Β£4.99 we charge, to ship a bike), commissions to cycle schemes, finance and all of the other unseen costs of simply being a retailer.Β Β Β Who pays the price for cheap electric bike sales? Your retailer, generally. Although some manufacturersΒ have beenΒ supporting retailers with extra margin on new bikes to help them clear old stock. Think about it this way - would you accept less money to go to work, becauseΒ your employer has a bit less work on that month? Of course not!Β Β When businesses reduce the price on something there isΒ always a reason. No businessΒ likes to reduce their income.Β Contrary to belief, we don'tΒ run on caffeine, past sell-by energy gels and dreams alone! In the bike industry right now, prices are being reduced to solve two business stressorsΒ - space and cashflow. Sometimes both.Β When a business has committed to "X" number of bikes from a brand but already has a full warehouse and is struggling to accept in what they asked for, the fastest/easiest way to empty the warehouse to accept inΒ new stock is to reduce prices. Some businesses are also suffering at the other end. Cashflow. When all of your money is sitting in your warehouse in bikes which aren't selling, your cash in the bank to pay for more (or your bills) reduces. How do you get that back up? AΒ sale!Β Β Β Where is all the profit from cheap electric bikes going?Β I could write aΒ bookΒ about this, but I thinkΒ an image willΒ probably sum it up in a better, more easily visualised way.Β Here's an exact, "to scale" breakdownΒ of where your money goes if you buy a bike at a full RRP of Β£3,999, if you buy it with a discount and finally if you buy it with a discountΒ and use a cycle to work scheme voucher or finance;Β As you can see, itsΒ always the retailer who eventually takes the hit.Β When the price of a bike is discounted, the VAT obligation remains at 20% of the sale price. The cost price of the bike also doesn't change which means that reductions can only come from one place - your retailer.Β Further, when using a cycle to work scheme, these companiesΒ also have to make some money from somewhere and that somewhere is the retailer. We have to pay them a commission for their "work". This is normally around 10% of the sale price (not the RRP, but the price the bike was sold at), which means that at the moment, cycle schemes are makingΒ more money than the bike shop, with none of the liability or long term service commitment costs!Β Hardly fair, but that's a rife topic inside the industry right now...Β This is also why many retailers are currently charging extra "fees" when using a cycle scheme voucher. Some are sailingΒ so close to the wind with their profit/sales pricing that they would make a loss if they sold you a bike via a cycle scheme and instead are charging (often hidden until long into the process) fees on top of the bike price. Often this means that the end price means you'll end up payingΒ more than a retailer who originally looked like they were charging more. A bike advertised at Β£3,999 on our website will cost you just that, regardless of how you pay. A competitor might have it up at Β£3,699 but add a 15% scheme surcharge, meaning you'll actually pay Β£4,253... That's Β£554 more than you originally bought into! Many retailers also offer "0% finance", yet no finance is truly free.Β Someone has to pay for the privilege of lending money and again that someone is your retailer, with fees similar to the cycle to work scheme.Β Β Β Why does it pay to look past the initial purchase price of an electric bike? See thatΒ tiny slither of blue in the last bar of the chart above? That'sΒ allΒ your retailerΒ has in their pocket to support you with after buying a heavily discounted bike.Β Ask yourself - with so little in the pot, what kind of aftersales support and care can you expect to receive and how motived are they going to be to give you it if your retailer, after costs, made literally Β£50 or less off a Β£4,000 sale?Β We've learned from the last 18 months that dealers who have found themselves in a position where it's become absolutely necessary (as opposed to just hopping on the band wagon) to sell bikes at or below the "cost + VAT" price, IE, they're making negligible profits, or (worse still) a loss,Β don't last long.Β Selling a bike for close to or exactly what you paid for it leaves absolutely nothing in the pot to pay the overheads of actually running the business. Last year we saw the UK's biggest parts, accessories and apparel retailer Wiggle/CRC lose their $150m parent provided overdraft and slide down the pan, so there's no reason why a small independent bike shop couldn't suffer the same fate. IfΒ you sell stock at your cost price (or less), how do you pay your staff? How do you pay the mortgage/lease and business rates on your shop? What about shipping, tooling, or the customer service team who should be on hand to support those customers with their new bike for the average 8-10 year product lifecycle? The answer is of course - you can't. FRP Advisors, liquidation firm to Wiggle/CRCΒ have a local rate number though...Β As one of the biggest ebike specialists in Europe, each week, we get dozens of phone calls from people coming to us because they're "out of options". They've purchased a bike but have later found that the supplying dealer is either disinterested in providing support unless they're very local and can bring the bike to them, or worse, they're not even there to pick the phone up anymore. Sadly, the latter part has become more and more common over the last 12 months.Β Β Β ThingsΒ you should be considering when buying a cheap electric bike? PriceΒ Do consider the price. When the deal is done, its the amount you're attributing to what should be a great way to get fitter and enjoy the outdoors. There's no sense paying full RRP if the shop just one town away has it up at 30% off and your closest dealer is unable to compete butΒ do at least give them the chance. Supporting your local store is the best way to make sure they're still there when you discover your brake pads are shot or you need your 9th spare innertube of the year on a Saturday afternoon and you want to ride on Sunday morning! No online retailer can save you there! Reputation Check out some of the companies most recent reviews. Staff in most retail environments changes regularly so you can probably ignore anything more than 2 years old but the last 6-18 months is generally pretty telling of the retailersΒ current ability to support their customers needs and investment in them. Our reviews can be found here. Support Make sure you question them on their support offering. Is it sufficiently staffed, accessible and well qualified? For comparison, we're open 6 days a week from 9am until 5.30pm and during those hours we're available on the phone, email, WhatsApp and video call and our customer support staff are all highly trained bike technicians who now spend their time in the office, supporting everything from changing an innertube to complex, "at distance" ebike drive system diagnostics. We even have a dedicated Service and Support portal. Our workshops are also staffed by some of the highest qualified and most experienced technicians in the industry, with decades of experience in electric and non-electric bikes. Distance Perhaps one of the most overlooked aspects of aftersales support, the distance to the supplying dealer should be a primary consideration. The dealerΒ who first suppliedΒ your bike holds the onus for support and warranty. Is buying a bike 300 miles away worth the extra Β£100 off when it needs a warranty repair?Β If you're buying a heavily discounted bike, make sure that if you're buying it online/a dealer a long way away that any discount if sufficient to offset the distance and be prepared to hear "just take it to a local dealer" or "here is the manufacturers telephone number" when calling for help. Also be aware that generally, bike shops don't like having to take on the work that others don't want or aren't qualified to do after pocketing the profit from the bike! Β Β So, is itΒ good value to buy the cheapest priced option on electric bikes? The general consensus, often sadly found out far too late isΒ no, spending time researching and deciding on the right bike for you and then focussingΒ solely on finding it at the cheapest price without paying attention to the business' ability to look after what can be a complex product beyond wheeling the bike out of the door is possibly the worst way to place your investment.Β If you're interested in understanding howΒ E-Bikeshop can support your next electric bike investment, please give us a call on 01252 279279, fire us a Whatsapp message (same number) or Book an Appointment to come and see us today. You'll get to see the facility, the team at work and get a better understanding of what it takes not only to sell electric bikes in a first class environment, but also how weΒ plan to still be looking after you in 2034! Need more help with your electric bike purchase or learning how they work and which style of eBike may be best for you? Check out our Electric Bike Buyers Guide here.Β Β
While writing this, I'm looking at an inventory list of just under 400 Orbea bikes in our Surrey warehouse, all patiently waitingΒ for new owners. Here's a brief rundown of why, and whyΒ right now is the best time to get out on one.Β Β How to get your own heavily discounted 2023 & 2024 Orbea Wild, Rise, Gain or Vibe.Β If you want to skip the "what" and "why", buyingΒ a brand new Orbea electric bike with as much as 40% off is easy. Just head over to the Orbea Electric Bikes category page on our website and take a look. If you need any help in choosing the right discounted 2023 or 2024 Orbea for you, just give us a call on 01252 279279, pop us a message on Whatsapp (same number) or make a Showroom Booking to come and see them.Β Price matching - If you can find any of our current Orbea sale bikes at a lower price elsewhere, fill in the details hereΒ and we'll be happy to see what we can do!Β Be quick -Β With new price drops announced in the last few days, they're already starting to fly out of the door. Remember, we shipΒ worldwide.Β UK shipping is normally next day and for the rest of the world, 5-10 days.Β If you're interested inΒ howΒ we and the rest of the industry ended up in this position and why right now is the best time to take advantage of it, read on... Β Why are there so many cheap 2024 Orbea electric bikes? The root of this question is in theΒ Covid-19 lockdowns of 2020/2021. With the industry doing an average of a years trade every 3-4 months, bike sales were booming in a way never seen before.Β Did the bike manufacturers overproduce bikes in 2023/2024? In short they did,Β yes, but bike manufacturers like Orbea don't produce an infinite number of bikes up to aΒ specificΒ date then just stop. They only make what they'reΒ asked for by their dealers. WithΒ some dealers still massively over-egging their pre-orders into as lateΒ asΒ 2023 (when the industry had already slumped and the second hand market was flooded with nearly new lockdown purchased bikes), falsely believing that the "Covid wave" was going to continue, Orbea only did their job. Dealers asked. Orbea provided.Β Why has E-Bikeshop got so many 2023 and 2024 Orbea electric bikes left?Β AlthoughΒ at E-Bikeshop weΒ didn't over order, we did order the kind of numbers we expected to sell based on our pre-Covid business growth. Unfortunately, lots of other UK and European dealers by this point were already hitting warehouse and cashflow stress points. This was the point at which they started cancelling some of their backorders with the manufacturers, leading to backlogs in manufacturer warehouses and the best way for any business to ease those is to drop the price. Orbea dropped. Dealers dropped. Those who were just a little uncomfortable dropped a little. Those struggling to pay bills and staff dropped aΒ lot.Β This kicked off "the great 2023/2024 price war" which sadly, some businesses lost.Β We held off cancelling backordersΒ out of respect to the commitment we made to our manufacturers while alsoΒ refusing to get involved in the price war because ultimately, no-one wins one. Unfortunately, this means we fell behind in the sales race in a price led market and have found ourselves sitting on more inventory than we need to be. Β What are the advantages of buying a cheap Orbea electric bike in 2024? Rock bottom pricing Right now, in a market very much being led by price, Orbea electric bikes have never been so cheap and with a market "reset" expected in 2025,Β its likely they never will be again. With as much as 40% off some models, now really is the best time to get one. Many models are being sold at or below cost price to clear the way for 2025 models.Β Quality Orbea are a manufacturer renowned for their impeccable attention to detail, hand crafted and painted frames and outstanding customer care,Β having been producing bikes from the same site in Mallabia since 1930. They're never normally the cheapest option in stores because of this. But right now, theyΒ are.Β A Ferarri, for Ford money...Β Warranty Even though some of these bikes aren't from the current model year, you still getΒ the full factory warranty. Quite unusually, Orbea offer aΒ lifetime frame warranty on their bikes. You'll also still get the normal 2 year drive system warranty and a minimum of a year on all other non-consumable parts.Β Our support Buying a cheap 2024 Orbea electric bike doesn't mean you get less support. We're fully committed to providing industry leading aftersales, service and warranty support to our customers and you'll still have full access to our team of ebike experts 6 days a week via phone, email, Whatsapp, messenger and video call and in-store.Β Β WhichΒ 2023 and 2024 Orbea electric bikes are the cheapest?Β Discounted Orbea Rise models With a small number of the 2022 model year options still left, the Orbea Rise makes up the bulk of our older bikes which need to make way for the 2025 models and this also includes 2023 and 2024 models.Β The Orbea Rise is a multi-award winning, ultra-lightweight full suspension mountain bike designed for those who want to go further, with less weight and without compromise in components and capability.Β You can get your discounted Orbea Rise here.Β Discounted Orbea Wild models The 2023 Orbea Wild was theΒ most awardedΒ full suspension electric mountain bike of 2023 and numbers of them are now very slim. The 2024 models were effectively the same, and they too are currently heavily discounted to make way for new model year stock at the end of summer.Β The Orbea Wild is a 160mm travel "all-mountain" bike designed for those looking for adventure without limitation. Using the latest Bosch Generation 4 85Nm motor and their largest batteries, its also one of the lightest "full fat" full suspension mountain bikes on the market.Β If you're looking to go Wild on the trails this summer,Β you can pick up a cheap Orbea Wild here.Β Discounted Orbea Gain models The Orbea Gain isΒ theΒ electric road bike for road bike enthusiasts. Beautifully crafted to his the super reliable Mahle X35+ drive system so that it looks almost identical to a non-e road bike, its been propelling roadies up some of the worlds biggest climbs and grabbing awards along the way since it first came to market in 2016.Β If you want to beat your local club ride to the top the hill without overstressing your joints, a discounted Orbea Gain electric road bike is for you.Β Discounted Orbea Vibe models Based loosely on the Gain, the Vibe uses the same light-weight, super reliable Mahle X35+ drive system but incorporates it into a traffic beating, ultra-manoeuvrable urban leisure bike focussed on providingΒ leisure riders and commuters a more upright, forward focussed geometry without limiting performance.Β Looking for a light-weight electric bike for commuting? Maybe you want to get out and explore more than just the back roads. Hop on a discounted Orbea Vibe electric bike and discover what you've been missing in your local area.Β Β Get your hands on a heavily discounted Orbea today I've never been shy of the fact that Orbea has beenΒ a favourite brand for a long time. Not only do they build some of the most aesthetically pleasing and best performing bikes in the industry, they're also a lovely company to work with from a dealer perspective.Β It pains me to see this devalued by selling them at next to cost price but with warehouses across the UK backed up with bikes from all brands, manufacturers will struggle to get the new model year bikes into them and so... needs must!Β Right now is the best time to bag yourself probably the best deals in living history. View all discounted Orbea Electric Bikes here.Β
Taking advantage of the last of the UK summer sun and offering 54 riders the chance to ride the brand new 2023 Orbea Wild and Rise models, we headed to Queen Elizabeth Country Park in the Hampshire countryside for a day of thrills, spills and laughter on some of the best bikes in the business.Β Here's howΒ the fully booked event went.Β 2023 Orbea Wild and 2023 Orbea Rise Demo at QECP Β With Covid-19 lockdowns having put a halt to Owners Club Rides and Demo days for over 2 years, it was great to be back out on the trails with customers. There's a completely different dynamic to being out in the wild with current and potential customers which just isn't achievable in a store settingΒ - it really brings out the fun of mountain biking and QECP is a great place for it.Β Queen Elizabeth Country Park Known to local riders as QECP or just "QE", Queen Elizabeth Country Park is a 1400 acre woodland park in the the South Downs National Park and includes Buster Hill, the highest point in the South Downs at 886ft. The park contains several locally well regarded, way-marked/graded and well maintained mountain bike trails, along with dozens of "pirate" trails created by many years of multi-generational mountain bikers. Despite having ridden almost every inch of it over the last 15 years, rocking up at the gates at 7.30am was still a first for me. Having driven there while the sun was still coming up, seeing the mist hovering in the canopy and morning dew on the grassy areas at the bottom was a welcoming sight, as were the friendly faces of Dom and Lee from Orbea and Factory Pro rider Ben Moore, who had flown over from Spain where he now lives full time especially forΒ our event.Β Β 2023 Orbea Wild and Orbea Rise in the Paddock Set up in the gravel area outside of Southern E-Bike Rentals, the Orbea stand is as commanding as it is colourful, with all of the shiny new Wild and Rise models neatly lined up, clean and raring to go.Β The bikes on offer for the day were; 2023 Orbea Wild M-Team The brand new and award winning 2023 Orbea Wild M-Team, all painted in custom Orbea MyO custom colours looked incredible in the sunshine.Β Their carbon frame, fittedΒ with the latest Bosch Generation 4 motor with 85Nm of torque and a 750Wh batteryΒ makes them the perfect tool to attack the steep climbs of QECP, especially in the winter when itΒ can turn into a bit of a bog in some places. The Kashima coated Fox 38 Float Factory Forks, Float X2 Rear shock and a full XT group set place this bike firmly in the top end of current eBike technology.Β Β 2023 Orbea Rise M-Team Also available to ride on the day was the 2023 Orbea Rise M-Team. Painted in custom MyO colours and a personal favourite, QECP is a place where the Rise models should be right at home.Β The 2023 M-Team variant uses the Shimano EP8 motor with Orbea's own custom RS Tuning, Kashima coated Fox 36 Float Factory forks, their Float X shock and also uses Shimano's complete XT group set only on this model, its the Di2 electric shift version.Β Β Your Orbea Demo Day Team The day was expertly set up and run by Lee and Dom from Orbea UK. Orbea, as with their bikes, put a huge amount of effort into their demo days.Β As well as arriving the day before to set up their huge Orbea branded marquees, both Lee and Dom were on hand throughout the day to help get riders set up and ready for their ride, including fitting supplied or customers own pedals and suspension tuning to get the most of out of the bike on the trails.Β Also along for the day was Ben Moore. Flying in from Spain for the event, Ben is an Orbea Global Factory Team Pro rider. He's also an "Urban Downhill Pro and top notch flapjack eater". His enthusiasm for the brand mirroring my own and hisΒ eagernessΒ to do everything from set up bikes for the riders, lead rides and even replace a derailleur which ended up not attached where it should have beenΒ added an immense level of value and fun to the day.Β Having an impressive list of victories to his name, he's alsoΒ not unused to nor bad in front of a camera, which is never a bad thing! Β What the riders had to say AfterΒ getting the very excited riders set up, out of the stiles and up onto the trails, it gave us all time to grab a drink and anticipate the feedback while discussing some of our own riding stories and how the Wild and Rise models compares and excels against its competition.Β There wasn't a frown to be seen on the faces of riders coming back, with everyone having discovered something theyΒ loved, whether it was about the bikes or the new found ability to fly to the top and get in more of the faster, flowy downhill sections.Β We'll let them tell you in their own words in the video below.Β A special thanks is owed to Orbea for putting on the day for us, and Ben for flying over to take part in the day. These kind of events are often difficult or impossible to pull off to this extent with out the support and backing of our manufacturers, and they wouldn't exist at all without our enthusiastic demo riders - You! Β If you're looking to get your hands on the latest Orbea eMTB models, there's no better place than at E-Bikeshop in Farnham, Surrey. We'reΒ the only dealerΒ in the UK where it's normally possible to see the whole 2023 Orbea Wild and 2023 Orbea RiseΒ in all colours and sizes all in one place.Β Give us a call or Book an Appointment to come and see them today.Β
WhyΒ are electric bikes so expensive and is it really worth paying more for a bike of a specific brand or with specific components? Do you really "get what you pay for", or,Β as some online comments often suggest, are bike manufacturers and their retailers just "ripping people off"?Β Can you build one "cheaper"?Β We'll break down the cost of a modern, European manufactured ebike and compare it, as most do, against its sub-Β£1,500 competition.Β Why do electric bikes cost so much?Β Firstly, "expensive" is of course, subjective. SomeoneΒ with millions in the bankΒ will naturally find Β£3,000-4,000+ for a new bike to be much "cheaper" than someone on minimum wage but it's not that simple - manufacturers aren't just targeting high earners with high prices to the exclusion of all others.Β Since 2020, prices have been rising in all areas of the market. The final RRP price of a bike,Β high or low, comes down toΒ multiple factors; Raw materials Components Labour Location/Transport Aftercare/Warranty Β Lets break these down;Β Raw Materials The base cost of raw materials has been rising steadily since before the start of Covid. Rubber for example, increased over by almost 100% from $1.05/kg to $2.00kg between 2020 and 2021. You can imagine what this does to the price of a set of tyres, and not just on bicycles.Β The same goes forΒ everything else. Over the same period, the price of Steel jumped from $451 per ton to $811. Oil jumped from $16 a barrel to $116 a barrel and the world runs on the stuff.Β Β Components This section actually ties in many of the otherΒ "reasons" into one. Raw materials, labour, transport and aftercare all has a knock on affectΒ with the price of components and we've seen the prices on Shimano and other parts gradually increasing by a couple of percent each year.Β At manufacturer level this is compounded byΒ all of the components suffering the same fate of globally increasing prices onΒ everything at a rate faster than normal.Β Β Labour Labour prices globally are continually on the rise and generally only aΒ recession with massively increased levels of unemployment tends to bring the average down, where there are significantly more people than jobs. This hasn't really been the case since circa 2008 and so right now, wagesΒ are on the up.Β Along with everything else...Β Β Location/Transport The location of a factory and the transport of finished goods to the end retailer has a big part to play in the final price of a product. Wages in the Far East are significantly less than the West and much of the raw materials also originate there and so pre-Covid, it made sense to manufacture components there and take advantage of the highly robust but also very cheap sea freight over to Europe for final assembly and addition of the largely German made drive systems.Β While Covid restrictions were in place, with less ships on the water and full containers paying more than empty, prices to ship a container from Malaysia (where ShimanoΒ manufacturing is based) to Europe went from $1,500 to over $20,000 in some cases. It also took longer to arrive. This was driven by lack of capacity andΒ fewer empties being taken back to a country which like many Far Eastern territories relies on its export trade to function. No empties in means no stuff coming out. The less stuff comes out, the more it costs... This has for the most part settled down now, but its still more expensive than it used to be to move things around - especially with the price of oil still being at $80 a barrel at the time of writing.Β Β Aftersales/Warranty I left this bit until last because although its not theΒ most expensive portion of the price of a bikes RRP, its arguably one of the most important and normally completely overlooked by new riders at point of purchase.Β Bosch now have more than 650 registered service centres in the UK, and Yamaha aren't all that far behind.Β Their warranties are not only very good (2 years on all non-wear parts) but perhapsΒ most importantly, the parts are generally readily available and cross compatible, making it far quicker and easier for shops to repair these systems.Β Offering such an iron-clad service for maintenance and repairΒ does come at a cost. It means manufacturing at zero return and then storing tens of million of pounds worth of parts, "just in case".Β The companies making Β£500-Β£1,500 bikes are absolutelyΒ not doing this.Β Β The difference between "cheap" and "expensive" electric bikesΒ Not selling the entry level, low cost and low quality end of the market products is something we've always taken great pride in and so we actually have very little experience in them outside of taking dozens of calls a week from people complaining that theirs is broken!Β Typing in "electric bike" and hitting the search button on the two most popular online market places, I'm instantly served up aΒ limitless list of sub Β£1,500 ebikes.Β If they can make them for this price, how are Cube "getting away with" charging Β£3,399 for their 2024 Kathmandu Hybrid One 750?Β Its not a secret. Its not rocket science and it certainly isn't a con.Β Cyclists aren't being "ripped off". In fact, in many cases you're more likely to be ripped off on a sub Β£900 bike than on a bike of Β£9,000+.Β How?Β Performance, reliability, longevity and post sales support.Β TheseΒ four things are what the previously discussed raw materials, components, labour, location/transport and aftercare/warranty translate to for the end user - You.Β Β Performance Generally speaking, the term "performance" is pretty wide reaching but what we're talking about here is how the bike performs against what it was designed to do. A folding bike is generally a lighter weight bike. Sub Β£1500 versions are generally around 20-25kg because steel is far cheaper than the specially formulated alloy/carbon bikes. Cheaper versions can be harder and take longer to fold or require things taking off.Β A mountain bike should be capable of taking on the roughest of off-road trails and so the much cheaper ones, made to a slim budget, aren't expected to last as long as a Β£5,000+ full carbon framed bike with suspension from Fox or Rockshox. Top end Fox front forks alone cost more than many entry level bikes because their performance characteristics (off the back of decades of R&D in world stage racing) come at a price point which just isn't achievable for less.Β Β As well as the overall level of components and function of the bike, an electric bike wouldn't be electric without its motor/drive system and the entry level bikes tend to use unbranded motors and batteries fromΒ Far Eastern companies who you've probably never heard of. You'll also likely find their performance data (torque output and battery range) either lacking from what you were promised, or well aboveΒ what the law permits in the UK. On top of this, they have have a bit of a smoking problemΒ that "expensive" bikes don't suffer with.Β You'll be exceptionally hard pressed to find a Bosch, Yamaha or other top driveΒ system fitted on a sub-Β£1,800 bike unless its heavily discounted in a sale. More on that a bit later on...Β Β Reliability No one wants to be left stranded at the side of the road. Likewise, no one wants to be in and out of their dealer for repairs on something which was supposed to make their life easier,Β healthier or otherwise better.Β Sub Β£1500 bikes are widely known to not be anywhere near as reliable as those at the Β£2,000+ price point. This bit is really quite simpleΒ and you've probably already heard the saying "buy cheap, buy twice"Β - that's exactly where we're heading with this...Β The cheaper bikes tend to use much lower quality components which have gone through considerably less (if any) product development and testing when compared to the 102 years Shimano have under their belt. Their batteries also tend to fail much earlier and their wiring systems can be unrefined and difficult to work on.Β So bad is the problem of reliability of some of the very cheap bike models in their supplying countries that there are now "bike graveyards" springing up, with owners dumping their bikes in their tens of thousands out of frustration withΒ lack ofΒ support or parts available to repair them, or where its simply cheaper to throw it away and buy a new bike. It's a bit of an industry "dirty secret" and we don't see it here in the UK where they tend to just end up in smaller numbers at local waste recycling centres or left locked up somewhere, never to be ridden again.Β Β Longevity/Post sales support Again, this is where theΒ real value lies and the investment in a Β£2,000+ bike really starts to pay dividends. Longevity All of our bikes (and many of those from the brands we don't stock here at E-Bikeshop) at this price point are designed to last a minimum of 8-10 years with very little in the way of unnecessary or difficult fuss, maintenance and hassle.Β Most of the sub Β£1,500 bike manufacturers have been in business for less than 5 years and many for as little as just a few months at the point they launch a bike using unbranded motors, batteries and brakes/gears. These are all of the things you rely on the most to get the use and value from your bike.Β Β All of our bikes are made from either alloy or carbon fibre, so their frames will never rust. Their motors are made by companies with over 15 years development. Bosch have been around since 1886 and are unlikely to disappear in the next 10. The rest of the components on the bike are also from companies with lengthy history in the bike industryΒ and you'll find their components on everything fromΒ ordinary leisureΒ bikes to the world stage at the Tour de France and Olympics.Β Β Post Sales Support.Β This is where the real value of a better quality/higher priced bike starts to make itself obvious and paying a higher price for a better bike, pays itself off.Β Using components from the top manufacturers like Shimano, SRAM and Magura for brakes and gears as well as Yamaha, Shimano and Bosch for motor/drive systems means that should you ever need repair or routine maintenance, the parts will be readily available to you not just from us but from almost any bike shop,Β anywhere in the world.Β A customer can purchaseΒ aΒ bike from us here in the UK and we can ship it to Sydney in Australia butΒ what if they have a Bosch speed sensor issue 6 months into ownership? Its the same as here in the UK. There are 61 Bosch service centres in Sydney alone. Taking it on Holiday to France? Even better. ThereΒ are 1496 Bosch accredited service centres there too and the number is growing globally every day as more retailers see the value in only stocking things they can repair.Β On the opposite end of the scale, we take several dozen calls each week fromΒ people who have purchased a sub Β£1,500 bike online and within a few months (weeks, in some cases) have a problem. Having normally bought it through online only businesses who conveniently almost never have a telephone number, they're struggling to get support and turn in desperation to local bike shops for help.Β The often highly frustrating downside to this is thatΒ most bike shops can't and in all honestly, don't want toΒ help unless it was something they supplied. The onus of support and repair is on the company who already pocketed your profit but now can't/doesn't want to help. In fact, inΒ many cases, they're not even bike businesses. Its just a small team in a warehouse full of cheap bikes chucking them into delivery vans each day and even if they wanted to help, theyΒ often seem to know next to nothing about them!Β Β To make matters worse, parts and sparesΒ for these bikes are in about as good supply as their support offering. Effectively, there normally isn't any. You pay your money and if it works, great. If it doesn't, you throw it in the bin and start again. Some spares like chains, brake pads etc are generally easy to find but if you have an issue with the drive system it normally spells "new bike day".Β Suddenly, that Β£1,500 bargain bike is being replaced and if you spend another Β£1,500, will it happen again? Regardless, you could have bought a next to bombproof Cube Touring Hybrid Pro for that Β£3,000. Or, recognising the value in a good quality bike, do you spend that full Β£3,000 now, taking your total investment in eBikes to Β£4,500? That Β£4,500 could have bought you a Haibike AllMtn CF 12, currently on sale at Β£4,299 down from Β£5,899. Or worse. It puts you off them altogether... Β "Building or converting your ownΒ ebike is less expensive" This argument is actually absolutely true and offers a really cool level of flexibility, especially on custom built bikes like choppers, cruisers and all the strange and wonderful things (including lots of very old models) people can dream up and there's a hugely diverse following for these kind of bikes. Despite riding a top of the range Haibike Trekking model to and from work, our technician SteveΒ hereΒ also ownsΒ an electric bike he built himself; It can be significantly cheaper to build an ebike than toΒ buy one. The downside is that your whole drive system is almost certainly going to be coming from the same place as the sub-Β£1,500 bikes and the level (lack of) of support is very often going to be the same.Β Bafang, the largest and most well known supplier of retrofit kits are now very well respected in the DIY community and appear to be starting to compete with the other major players in terms of performance and reliability, however their parts and spares capability is still catered for mostly from the Far East.Β Getting parts and spares normally means a trawl on Alibaba or other Chinese wholesale site, can take weeks to arrive and lots of bike shops wont touch anything they didn't build themselves and so you're almost always going to be very much on your own with this kind of route.Β Yes, its cheaper to buy all the bits, but adding in the time to modify your current frame, build the kit and then maintain it will eventually be outweighed by the cost and future support value of a purpose-designed ebike from a reputable dealer.Β There is alsoΒ the satisfaction of having done it yourself and for many, this is a key factor in the conversion of a bike.Β Sadly, at any price, this isn't something we can sellΒ to a customer! We love seeing some of the crazy things people build online but because the support for their parts and spares doesn't meet the minimum standards we expect of our manufacturers, its not something we would ever involve ourselves in.Β Β So, are electric bikes really that expensive? If you've ever felt like electric bike are expensive, you wont be on your own, for whatever reason it is.Β Are electric bikes expensive? WellΒ good ones aren't necessarily cheap and they're a lot more expensive if you make the mistake of buying one twice.Β Many of our customers come to us with the feeling that eBikes are expensive, but many of them have also been bitten by a "cheap" one and felt bitter about it, so much so they've put off buying another, which is a huge shame. The sub Β£1,500 bargain they purchased onΒ eBay or Amazon from a seller they've never heard of and doesn't have a physical shop was later inevitably not able to support the bike the way a proper bike shop can, and they ended up with an expensive garage ornament that they've felt pretty upset about.Β What they've since found is that by purchasing a bike from a European or other well known manufacturerΒ built using industry leading and well recognised components andΒ from a proper bike business with a physical location and easily reachable support is that even in the much lower likelihood of something going wrong, they're always safe in the knowledge that they have the support there when they need it, and the parts are almost always readily available whether at their own dealer, or away.Β Β In summary No, eBikes which cost as much as or even more than a reasonable second hand car aren't expensiveΒ if you you consider more than just the initial purchase price. More often than not a bike which some would consider "cheap" to buy often ends up being the opposite in the long run.Β Its also worth bearing in mind that ifΒ you can't see the value in a particular bike, IE, you're a mountain biker but think Β£14,000 for bike is ridiculous then its highly likely that the bike in question wasn't designed with you in mind, and that's absolutely ok. Bikes with these kind of price tags are aimed at the very highest/competing skill level riders, where its expected that these kind of riders will get the best out of the top end performance componentry and wouldn't ride anything less.Β In paying more for your first or next eBike, you're investing in something which was designed from the very outset to not only be the best and most reliable version of what it is, but also includes complete product lifecycle support at almost all good independent bike shops. When looked after, they're more than capable of seeing out at least 8-10 years of serviceΒ before requiring anything major and many of our customers who purchased eBikes from us when we first moved over to selling only electric bikes back in 2012, are still bringing them in for annual service in 2023!Β Β If you're looking for a super reliable and exceptional long term value electric bike with a globally recognised warranty and after sales support, you could do far worse than taking a look at our wide range of Electric Bikes for all types of riders.Β Β
There's something quite special about being able to design your own bike - especially when itΒ costs absolutely nothing.Β You read that right. You can custom paint your brand new 2023 Orbea Wild and 2023 Orbea Rise in millions of combinations and it wont cost you a penny above the normal RRP! Lets take a look at the options for 2023 Orbea Wild and 2023 Orbea Rise MyOΒ bikes andΒ how E-Bikeshop offers the easiest, best and fastest way to get your MyO bike.Β TLDR; We have good levels of remaining allocations for MyO bikes with short lead times and the full list is near the bottom of this article... Β What is Orbea MyO? The Orbea MyO is Orbea's own customisation tool which allows riders to not only custom paint their new bike, but also adjust some of the specification to their preferred component or to better suit their riding needs. This can either be done via Orbea directly (with the bike shipped to their chosen dealer), or directly through your Orbea dealer. We'll coverΒ how to do this a little later on.Β Not only are many of the component swaps free, those which are upgrades above the normal specification are only charged at the price difference.Β At the end of the process, you can export your new bike as a PDF to keep or take to your dealer to order.Β Β Β What can you change in Orbea MyO?Β PaintΒ Every Orbea MyO Wild and Rise bike is hand painted with incredible care and precision. Each of these models is actually made of at least half a dozen different painted "sections" and the colour of these can all beΒ chosen from their customisation charts, allowing potentially millions of combinations and riders to choose something understated, lairy, bright, bold but always unique. This part is completely free.Β We "painted" this demo version in E-Bikeshop colours for this article. Β SpecificationAs well as being able to paint the bike how you like, you can also change the specification. Wheels and tyres, bars and brakes, seat posts, batteries, displays and suspension can all be swapped out from the bikes standard specification and replaced with Orbea's own suggested replacements. Not only does this allow much greater flexibility for riders, but they also only charge the difference in price between the standard and the upgraded component. Some are even free! On the 2023 Carbon (M) Rise variants, you can also elect to switch the battery from 360Wh to the new, larger 540Wh version.Β Β Β Β Why should you choose MyO over a stock bike? With some manufacturers having a market share so big that you can easily find half a dozen people at your local bike park all riding the same bike in the same colour, Orbea MyO offers their riders something truly special and unique.Β As well as being able to express yourself through your custom designed bike, it offers a great value tool for specification changes.Β Lots of riders have their own preference of components and no manufacturer can account for all rider preferences. With the Orbea MyO tool, components like suspension often have three or more choices, allowing riders to find something better suited to their own riding style or component preference.Β No more having to buy the shock you want in advance of receiving your bike in the hope you can flog the stock one on eBay for at least half it's RRP!Β With some manufacturers having such a huge market share that its not uncommon to rock up to your local trail centre and find handfuls of people riding the same bike in the same colour you can be quietly confident that your bike, isΒ yours.Β Β Β How do you get your Orbea MyO bike?Β There are two ways to get your hands on a brand new 2023 Orbea Wild or 2023 Orbea Rise through the MyO platform.Β The hardest/longest way..Β Anyone can order a MyO bike at any time via the Orbea website. You simply select the model you want to start with as the "base", select a size, and then complete your specification of paint and parts. The downside is thatΒ all Orbea bikesΒ must be shipped via a dealer. They don't deal "direct to consumer" because they want to make sure all of their bikes are handed over or delivered to the customer in nothing but absolutely perfect, ready to ride condition with a full handover and set up where possible. The reason this is the most difficult and will come with the longest lead times is that you willΒ always be joining the back of the queue.Β If (and its a big "if", because MyO bikes sell out quickly at the start of the model year) you can get one, you can often expect lead times of between 6 and 12 months to get your bike. It's still worth it, but there's a better way...Β The easiest/fastest way.At E-Bikeshop, weΒ pre-order "MyO frame blanks" at the start of the year - something which very few dealers bother with. This means that weΒ always have bare MyO frames waiting/pre-programmed into production. As well as speeding up the order/arrival process, we can also ship them anywhere in the world, so its not even necessary to have a dealer close by to get yours.Β In short, if you didn't already order one at the start of the year, E-Bikeshop is likely to be the fastest way to get your new 2023 Orbea Wild or 2023 Orbea Rise via the MyO platform.Β Β Β What MyO options doΒ E-Bikeshop have left for 2023?Β Despite already being half way into model year 2023, we still have a small portion of our pre-ordered MyO frames left, but time is running to supply a specification for them. WeΒ must supply 45 days notice of their specification prior to their expected production and shipping date.Β Here is our list of 2023 Orbea MyO frame blanks, available for immediate specification and theirΒ current build date (they would be expected to land with us 1 week later). Each date representsΒ one available bike, unless specified; 2023 Orbea Rise M10 MyO Small Frame30th August 2023 (Order before 19th July)18th September 2023Β (Order before 7th August) Medium Frame29th August 2023Β (Order before 18th July)18th September 2023Β (Order before 7th August) Large Frame25th September 2023Β (Order before 14th August)9th October 2023 (Order before 28th August)16th October 2023 (x2)Β (Order before 4th September)23rd October 2023 (Order beforeΒ 11th September) You can find the regular 2023 Orbea Rise M10 here 2023 Orbea Rise M-Team MyO Small Frame11th September 2023Β (Order before 31st July) Medium Frame18th September 2023Β (Order before 7th August) Large Frame18th September 2023Β (Order before 7th August) You can find the regularΒ 2023 Orbea Rise M-TeamΒ here 2023 Orbea Rise M-Ltd MyO Large Frame25th September (x2)Β (Order before 14th August) Extra Large Frame25th September (x2)Β (Order beforeΒ 14thΒ August) You can find the regularΒ 2023Β Orbea Rise M-LTD here 2023 Orbea Wild M10 MyO Large Frame2nd October 2023 (Order beforeΒ 21st August) Extra Large Frame2nd October 2023Β (Order beforeΒ 21st August) You can find the regularΒ 2023Β OrbeaΒ Wild M10 here 2023 Orbea Wild M-Team MyO Large Frame23rd October 2023Β (Order beforeΒ 11th September)13th November 2023Β (Order beforeΒ 2nd October) Extra Large Frame25th October 2023Β (Order beforeΒ 13th September) You can find the regularΒ 2023Β OrbeaΒ WildΒ M-TeamΒ here Β Ready to order your new 2023 Orbea MyO bike?Β We don'tΒ actively advertise these "blank frames" on our website, but there's a couple of ways you can get your name on one for this year; Orbea'sΒ own websiteHead over to the Orbea MyO platform and pick your model from the frames we have available above. Complete your specification and at the end, select E-Bikeshop as your chosen dealer. Your specificationΒ will be sent to us and we'll be in touch to finalise the details and arrange payment.Β Get in touch with us directlyContacting us directΒ is a great way to getΒ a 2023 Orbea MyO bike if you're not within a reasonable travel distance. Remember, you don'tΒ need to be in the UK to get a MyO bike from E-Bikeshop. We ship to 154 countries and can send your bike onwards (EX VAT if outside of the UK). We already have established routes for most of Europe, the USA, Australia, Hong Kong and other East Asian countries. The only place we can't currently get a bike to is Brunei. Sorry - their rules not ours! Visit usΒ Book an appointment to come and see us at our showroom in Surrey where we normally have around 50 Orbea bikes on display at any one time and we'll be more than happy to walk you through the whole process, including advice on any component changes to suit your preferredΒ riding.Β Β
Finally, we're starting to see the return of normality on some models in the bike industry and as a result,Β many retailersΒ have a problemΒ that for the most part, we bought on ourselves... If you're still on the fence about whether a 2022 Orbea Rise is right for you, you might like our previous feature on Full Fat Vs Lightweight ebikes, or the full model feature on the Orbea Rise models.Β WhyΒ are we seeing mass discounting of 2022 Orbea Rise models? During 2020 (when Rise was launched), bike retailers were doing a years worth of business in as little as every 3 months.Β When orders were placed for 2022 model stock back in spring 2021, demand was still off the charts and many dealers who didn't predict the inevitable return to normality massively over-egged their orders. In turn, the manufacturers over-produced. We asked, they delivered.Β Now, with demand havingΒ dropped to just above what we saw pre-Covid (like pre-Jurassic, this is apparently a recognised measure of time now!), these bikes have been produced and are ready to roll, split between dealers warehouses and sitting at Orbea's factory in Spain.Β Unfortunately,Β the market hasn't been so eager with a poor start to the summer weather here in the UK and as a result, there's a bit of a run on the price of some models and the 2022 Rise is one of them. Consumers aren't silly and of course, they're eager for the best deal.Β Why isΒ right nowΒ is the time to buy a Rise? The 2022Β Orbea Rise was the better bike. There. I said it. It comes down to just two things which we'll go into further a bit later on;Β The Bike. The latest 2023 model is as all Orbea's are, an incredible bike and no-one would be disappointed with one if the preferred model/size/colour from 2022 is already sold out. The colours and overall fit and finish are fantastic and the specification is arguably still better than all of their competition.Β There were however a few specification alternations between 2022 and 2023 which in some cases have flown under the radar but more discerningΒ riders might have spotted and for this reason, the 2022 Orbea Rise has been flying out of stores at ever reducing prices whileΒ stock exists.Β The Price.Β The price was raisedΒ forΒ the 2023 Orbea Rise models because of the normalΒ annual rises in raw materials, production and transport. In short, like all manufacturers, Orbea put the price up because it costs more to make it now. By this point, the 2022 Rise had already paid its way when things were a bit cheaper with Orbea already having agreed its component prices over a year prior.Β Better specification on the 2022 Orbea Rise There wereΒ a few changes to the specification which only those who know the full product and component family layout might have spotted, but we'll run them off here for you to see in the plainest form;Β Β Rise M20 - The entry level model and very little change. The bars and seat post were changed for 2023 to bring them in line with Orbea's own newly designed items.Β Rise M10 - Normally the best value model in the range when considering specification against price and factoring in the skill level of an average rider and also saw the highest level of change. For 2023 it dropped from Shimano XT to Shimano SLX level brakes. It also lost its Raceface handlebars and stem in favour of Orbea branded items and its Raceface Turbine wheelset replaced byΒ Orbea's own brand new OQUO items (which have been reviewed very well!). Rise M-Team -Β How you feel about the changes to the M-Team depend on who you are and how you look at it. Absolute top specification Shimano XTR group set is dropped in favour of a Shimano XT (next model down) setup on the 2023 version, but, its the swanky electric shift Di2 version. The Raceface bars, stem and wheels are replaced with the same items as used on the M10. RiseΒ M-Ltd - Very few changes on this. The Raceface components are again swapped out with Orbea's own top end componentry for 2023, but it retains its Fox Transfer SL Kashima dropper. Better pricing on the 2022 Orbea Rise With prices having gone up for 2023 but Orbea and their retailers being in a period of overstock currently, prices onΒ 2022 models have been tumbling which only widens the value gap between the two model years.Β Bearing in mind the marginally better specification of the 2022 models, here's a breakdown of prices on our website right now;Β Rise M20Orbea Rise M20Β 2023 -Β RRP Β£6,499Orbea Rise M20 2022 - Was Β£5,899, now Β£4,099. Saving of Β£2,400 over the current model Rise M10Orbea Rise M10 2023 -Β RRP Β£7,999Orbea Rise M10 2022 - Was Β£7,499, now Β£5,199. Saving of Β£2,800 over the current model Rise M-TeamOrbea Rise M-Team 2023 -Β RRP Β£9,299Orbea Rise M-TeamΒ 2022 - Was Β£8,799, now Β£6,099. Saving of Β£3,200 over the current model Rise M-LtdOrbea Rise M-Ltd 2023 -Β RRP Β£9,999Orbea Rise M-Ltd 2022 - Was Β£9,599, now Β£6,699. Saving of Β£3,300 over the current model Will 2022 Orbea Rise models get any cheaper?Β In short, not without significant losses.Β Right now, most dealers (including E-Bikeshop) involved in thisΒ mass discounting are selling them at cost price, save for enough margin to cover off their cost of sale. Things like the time it takes to build, inspect and do any software updates, shipping and packaging, costs associated with those who purchase using a cycle to work scheme or interest free finance (which retailers actually pay for) are built in but otherwise, there is no room to drop further on these, making thisΒ the time to bag one.Β How sustainable is the pricing on 2022 Orbea Rise? This is not at all sustainable. No-one wins a "race to the bottom" which is whyΒ top retailers generally try toΒ avoid it, especially onΒ high qualityΒ brands like Orbea where they really are worth every penny of their ordinary RRP and discounts only tend to come about as a result of situations like the current one.Β This is a short term solution to a short term problem which is likely to self-resolve once dealers have cleared their overstocks.Β Its worth considering where you purchase your ultra-discounted 2022 Orbea Rise from.Β Electric bikes are a specialist product which requires specialist support. The initial purchase of the bike is just the first step in your ebike journey. A company which sells most or all of their bikes at next to cost price will rarely have anything left in the pot to support them, if they manage to stay around at all.Β E-Bikeshop is a specialist in electric bikes and we've shipping bikes globally for more than 13 years and anΒ Orbea dealer since 2018. All of its staff are industry experts in the products we sell and parts and spares are held in direct stock for almost anything a customer could need for ordinary maintenance and most repairs.Β Yet still, it Rises.Β Its by now well known that I'm a massive Orbea fan and I've beenΒ flicking between riding my road going Orbea Orca M20LTD andΒ the Rise M10 forΒ over 2 years now and its been a fantastic machine. One of the first off the production lineΒ at the back end ofΒ 2020, its seen a lot of action.Β Here it is half way up the Red at Queen Elizabeth Country Park, which I'm fortunate enough to live very near to; Less aggressive and more risk averse than I was when I was younger and a bounced a bit better, its the perfect all rounder for those whoΒ like to ride super fast trails, carve out berms and whoop those on heavier bikes up the hills.Β With nothing more than normal routine maintenance, cleaning and making sure the drivetrain is kept clean and lubricated (very sandyΒ in our part of the country), its performed faultlessly and I full expect it to continue that way for many years to come and with the spec of the M10 having been so good at the time of release, I don't expect it to get left behind as the model evolves either. Here's what Orbea had to say when they launched the Orbea Rise models Ready to buy your discounted 2022 Orbea Rise?Β Head over to our dedicated Orbea Rise E-BikesΒ page where you can find the full range of 2022 and 2023 Rise models to compare.Β If you're still stuck, feel free to Contact Us or Book an Appointment to come and see them. With more than 80 Rise model variants in physical stock at time of writing and over 20 in the showroom, you wont find a larger selection available for immediately delivery outside of Orbea's own factory!Β
With a new model year comes yet more development from the worlds biggest mainstream electric bike motor and drive system manufacturer. A product of continual innovation, for model year 2024 Bosch are bringing to market more updates, clever tools and brand new products to complement the new Smart System updates already launched for 2023. We take a look at what has been unveiled for 2024. What new products are Bosch launching for 2024 electric bikes? Bosch always like to surprise us and the 2024 product launchΒ is no exception. Even at the back of our minds, believing we must be due one soon, along with a couple of new display options and a brand new battery set up, for the first time in several years we're finally getting aΒ brand new motor from Bosch for 2024!Β New 2024 Bosch Performance Line SX motor Aimed at the lightweight category and looking to compete with the likes of the Shimano EP8/EP801 and the EP6, the new Fazua Ride 60 and the TQ HPR50, the 2024 Bosch Performance Line SX is Smart System enabled and will likely start appearing on bikes at early as Autumn 2023. LightweightThe new Bosch Performance Line SX motor comes in at sub 2kg which is unheard of for a Bosch eBike motor previously. This new tech not only allows a smaller and lighter shell, but it also allows bike manufactures to integrate the motors in new ways.Β Β Up to 600 Watts250w nominal (UK legal limit) but peaking at 600w with an output of 55Nm and weighing in at just under 2kg, its brand new "Sprint Mode" will mirror technology already on offer from Shimano. This new mode is designed to directly mimic the riders input and offer a more natural, sporty ride without overstepping its mark and will suit riders who want a lightweight bike to complement their ride in a more intuitive way. Β New Sprint ModeThis cadence based assistance program is designed to offer eGravel and urban riders more dynamic support when they need it most although its application will lend itself well to lighter weight full suspension bikes. New 2024 Bosch Purion 200 display Having neglected to include the old Purion in the latest Bosch Smart System update, for the current model year we've seen many entry level bikes arriving with just the LED Remote as a "display" option. While the LED Remote doesn't offer anything in the way of real time data, users could still use their mobile phone and the Bosch eBike flow app as a cycle computer.Β The new Bosch Purion 200 solves this gap in theΒ Bosch product line. Looking strikingly similar to the existing LED Remote, the new Purion 200 uses the same button layout on the left hand side but now incorporates a really neat 1.6" colour displayΒ & will be an easy "plugΒ 'n' play" upgrade for any bikes already on the market with just the LED Remote. New 2024 Bosch Kiox 500 display Bigger = BetterLarger than theΒ current Kiox launched in the last product range update, the new Bosch Kiox 500Β display builds on an already intuitive eBike control system but offers a much larger displayΒ area for better visibility of its best features.Β Fitness and NavigationDesigned around maximising the benefits of the satellite navigation and fitness tracking tools, the new Bosch Kiox 500 will suit those riding further and in unfamiliar territory, or looking to push the boundaries of their fitness and move up to the next level. This data can be fed during or post ride to most of the top fitness apps. Your Bike. Your Way.The larger display now also offers the ability to tailor the display layout to better suit each individual riders needs.Β Riders can select what is visible on the 'home screen' allowing for a clutter-free experience. New 2024 Bosch PowerMore 250 Although dual batteries aren't new to Bosch, the brand new Bosch PowerMore 250 offers an easy to add/remove, completely portable bottle cage sized range extender very similar to those already on offer from the manufacturers of Shimano and Mahle systems.Β This clever, userΒ friendly system is easily added to the bike when you need the extra range, and removed when you need to shave some weight. 1.6Kg, to be precise. The new PowerMore 250 extender battery is neat and compact in design, similar to a bikes water bottle for example it is 20cm long and only about 8cm wide.Β New 2024 Bosch Dual Battery system Finally, the return of the Bosch Dual battery system!Β Featured on lots of our bikes (Haibike, Scott and Orbea had previously taken advantage of this technology on pre-2023 models) prior to the 2023 Bosch Smart System update, the option vanished for a while and very little was said by Bosch about it. Now, for 2024 the Bosch Dual Battery system returns (on compatible bikes) for those who cover longer distances or transport heavy goods. This has initially been depicted by Bosch as a link-up of their Powertube battery range and the new Bosch PowerMore 250, which would mean that with their largest 750Wh PowerTube battery, the maximum theoretical capacity on offer immediately for manufacturers who build their bikes with it in mind (and we think that at least one of our manufacturers has already done this and they're in store now!), would be 1,000Wh. This figure is a little down on the previously achievable 1125Wh using the internally mounted 625Wh PowerTube and a frame mounted 500Wh PowerPack, but with Bosch's own figures, the new combo has a potential range of over 200 miles on a full charge, and who needs more than that?! New 2024 Bosch PowerPack 400Β & 500 Rack We thought we had seen the last of these very many years ago, but now they're back.Β Normally found on more entry level bikes, the PowerPack rack batteries were favoured by many for their ease of fitting/removal and the ability to keep costs down when designing frames. Fitted into the rear luggage/pannier rack of the bike, they were a common feature on leisure/touring/hybrid style bikes and we expect this will be the same when they return on model year 2024 bikes although we can see a possibility of Cargo style bikes making use of them too.Β Given that they're only being launched in 400WhΒ & 500Wh varieties, unless they do later appear on Cargo models we expect these are being targeted at the lower end of the market, but that's no bad thing at all if it allows manufacturers to bring bike prices down and capture more riders on a Bosch driven product. Β Β Watch The Latest 2024 Seminar From Bosch Bosch is launching the new 2024 Bosch eBike system today on YouTube with a live seminar. Watch below: Our thoughts on the new 2024 Bosch eBike Systems Quite literally light years ahead of the competition when it comes to product development, especially with their display systems, we love and eagerly anticipate receiving the Bosch Dealer Package each year.Β Not only are they always surprising us with new features, they're never a gimmick. Their "real-world" usable products are always something our customers get great value from. The ability to be able to use your screen on your bike as a SatNav either in "free ride" or by importing maps or GPX files from your favourite cycling apps remains a Bosch exclusive, as does their Flow+ and Connect Module for worry free tracking and built in security alarm released in the last update.Β As well as fantastic products, Bosch offerΒ industry leading diagnostic equipment and after sales support to their authorised dealers and support centres and we expect this to continue through to their new 2024 Bosch eBike Systems update.Β Β A couple of quick answers to questions we expect in the coming days; When will these products be available?Given that model year 2023 is currently in full swing, we don't expect to see any availability of them prior to the launch of model year 2024 bikes which currently is expected to be around Autumn this year. Bosch will naturally prioritise bike manufacturers and so its unlikely we'll be able to buy any of these components directly (IE, not already fitted to a bike) until Spring 2024. Β Can IΒ fit the new Bosch Purion 200 and Bosch Kiox 500 display on my current bike?Yes, the new Purion 200 and Kiox 500 will be available to purchase as an upgrade from already fitted displays on bikes which already have the Bosch Smart system however as above, we don't expect to see any availability to purchase them separately from Bosch until Spring 2024. If you are unsure if your current bike is running on the latest Smart System software, there are a few easy ways to work this out. The Bosch Smart System product range was launched on model year 2022 bikes. If you bike is older than this, it will not be compatible.Β While the Smart System was launched on Model Year 2022 bikes, the previous system was still being produced and so if your bike came with a Bosch Purion, Intuvia (not Intuvia 100) or Kiox (not Kiox 300) display, your bike isΒ not Smart System compatible and these displays will not work. Can I get the Bosch PowerMore 250 Range Extender for my current bike?Β The new Bosch PowerMoreΒ 250 is likely toΒ have been communicated to bike manufacturers as much as 2 years ago, to give them enough time to build compatibility into their model year 2023 bikesΒ if they wanted to. Right now, we don't have a compatibility list although weΒ have seen some unusual bolts on downtubes which we didn't have an explanation for from the manufacturer (because these products have been under embargo until today, and we have only known for a week!).Β We'll update here when we know exactly which of our bikes will be compatible. Β Can I change the motor in my bike to one of the new Bosch Smart System motors?This is unfortunately not possible. Frames for eBikes are designed by manufacturers specifically around the motor/battery combination and each motor has different mounting points/dimensions. This makes all of them incompatible with each other.Β Β We hope you've found this article useful. If you're looking for your new Bosch driven electric bike, you can find more than 50 available in our Bosch eBike Range. Β Β