Wholesale Cycling & Bikes Suppliers

Bikes, parts and accessories are different businesses

Complete bicycles are bulky, need assembly and carry the highest liability. Components such as tyres, tubes, chains, brakes and pedals are small but must fit the bike, so compatibility is the main source of errors. Accessories such as helmets, lights, locks, bags and pumps are easy to ship but some are regulated. Clothing has its own sizing issues.

Safety standards

Bicycles are covered by safety standards in many markets, and helmets must meet a legal standard in several of them. Check the rules for your market. Lights and reflectors have legal requirements in some countries, and these differ in what is mandatory for road use. Ask for test reports against the standard needed for your market, since a helmet without proper certification is a legal and safety problem. Do not sell helmets that lack a verified certification label.

Electric bikes and batteries

Electric bikes and conversion kits add regulation. Many markets limit assisted speed and motor power for a bike to be treated as a bicycle, and above that limit it may count as a motor vehicle requiring registration or insurance. Rules differ by country, so check them for your market. Lithium batteries need transport safety testing, can be restricted on air freight, and have been linked to fires from poor-quality packs. Ask for battery certification, charger approvals and the electrical marks for your market, such as CE in Europe. Ask how replacement batteries are supplied, since a bike without available batteries becomes useless.

Quality and compatibility

• Frame and fork: check material, welds and rated rider weight.
• Components: the quality of brakes, gears and wheels differs a lot between price tiers. Brake performance should be non-negotiable.
• Sizing: frame and wheel sizes, axle standards and bottom bracket types vary, and buying wrong parts causes returns.
• Assembly: bikes shipped partially assembled need proper final checks. Ask whether a pre-delivery inspection is expected before sale.

Seasonality and margins

Sales peak in spring and summer, and sales of winter clothing and lights rise in autumn. Complete bikes face discounting at the end of the season and from model-year changes, so old stock loses value. Margins on parts and accessories are generally better than on complete bikes, which are bulky and expensive to ship. Counterfeit and imitation components, especially of known brands, are a known risk, so verify authorised supply.

Freight and pack sizes

Bikes ship boxed, with handlebars and wheels removed, and fit relatively few units per container. Parts ship in boxed quantities, such as tubes by the dozen. Ask for box dimensions and units per pallet.

What to ask a supplier

• Which safety standards does this bike, helmet or part meet?
• What is the battery certification and how are spares supplied?
• What is the speed and power limit for my market?
• What is the warranty on frames and motors?
• Are spare parts and manuals available?