Advice on buying an electric bike in Europe

[Toady]

Hi,
I am converting my hybrid bike to an electric bike using the Bafang kit after advice on this site (kit ordered)

The problem is the boss does not like the look of the bike conversions and has proposed that we purchase an electric bike, for her, in Europe on our travels.

Advice please? Are there any pitfalls I should be aware of?

 

[Happy Jim]

Take a spare 3 pin plug so you can chop,off the molded one that won’t plug in anywhere in your van.

 

[Lucky]

Buy from Decathlon if you're OK with a budget ebike. Branches everywhere throughout Europe and reportedly they're very helpful if you have a warranty claim, which can be an issue if you buy from some independents.

 

[Ridgeway]

The only problem i can see is that on average they are cheaper

 

[Toady]

Looks like I am on to a loser here and she will get her wish.

Looking at spending about 2-3K.

Seems to be little stock in the UK and what is available is expensive.

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[Mikeco]

If you get to Spain you could buy an Orbea one, partly made in Spain and decent quality, we paid around £1700 each for ours but that was about 5 years ago, bought ours in Lincoln though.

 

[AXO66]

If you do buy over there, let us know how you get on. Were exempt from the local VAT, and any issues of bringing them back into UK?

 

[Toady]

If you do buy over there, let us know how you get on. Were exempt from the local VAT, and any issues of bringing them back into UK?

Will update you. I plan to only take my bike and purchase the electric bike for the other half on our travels.

Hopefully, will get a good deal and no issues returning home. Bike should be used and dirty by then.

 

[The Lord Squid]

Depending on the value of the bike, you may need a "certificate on conformity" to avoid paying duty. (I have no knowledge of this - I merely read it on the internet.)
https://www.gov.uk/bringing-goods-into-uk-personal-use/arriving-in-Great-Britain
I don't know what the position is on VAT.

 

[Ridgeway]

You boys and girls enjoy a rather healthy 20% VAT rate from memory so i don't see any benefit in trying to claim back the purchasing VAT unless you want to avoid it altogether.....

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[bobandjanie]

We got ours in Germany from https://www.fahrrad-xxl.de/fahrraeder/e-bike/
Probably the biggest dealer in Germany, can't remember what store but they have loads of stores and massive stock the store we used had a track up and down in the store and you can try as many bikes as you want. Bob.

 

[Lenny HB]

Germany is usually the cheapest place to buy bought ours from Germany a few years ago.
The only difference is they are LHD, front brake is on the left, rear on the right. Doesn't bother us, most have hydraulic brakes so you could get the dealer to change them over if it bothers you or buy a bleed kit for a few quid and do it yourself.

 

[ManTheVan]

Why not pick up an electric 6-speed Brompton before you go? It would be within your budget, at the top end. They are brilliant bikes.

 

[jumar]

Having bought 4 quality eMTBs over the past 3 years, 2 each...all bought on internet from Germany, our latest are YT.....bought from the factory, fortunately we haven't had any issues I couldn't sort out....however if we had, then returning one would have involved boxing it up and sending it off...easier to return locally, therefore buy locally, eBikes are fantastic bits of kit, but if they go wrong, can be a pain to sort....Why didn't I buy locally? You just cannot...they are direct from YT factory in Germany....we wasn't looking to save on buying, just needed something that does the job.....

 

[Dutch 68]

Buy a Gazelle in the Netherlands , fantastic quality bike, biggest and oldest brand in Bike mad the Netherlands, they have some dealers in UK too

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[The Coops]

A Van Moof, what a bit of kit, battery hidden in frame, auto locking and a tracker and a 4 speed auto gearbox with a 70km plus range have a look at the website Dutch brand about £1700 in the UK but will be checking Dutch prices next time over there.

 

[Jamesh]

I'd you want a more sporty bike then a canyon would be a good call.

Well regarded in the road cycling world.

https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/electric-bikes/electric-city-bike/roadlite-on/roadlite-on-7/2789.html?dwvar_2789_pv_rahmenfarbe=GY

Cheers James

 

[Ridgeway]

We got ours in Germany from https://www.fahrrad-xxl.de/fahrraeder/e-bike/
Probably the biggest dealer in Germany, can't remember what store but they have loads of stores and massive stock the store we used had a track up and down in the store and you can try as many bikes as you want. Bob.

That sounds like Stadler, they have maybe 20 large stores like that across DE

 

[suavecarve]

We got ours in Germany from https://www.fahrrad-xxl.de/fahrraeder/e-bike/
Probably the biggest dealer in Germany, can't remember what store but they have loads of stores and massive stock the store we used had a track up and down in the store and you can try as many bikes as you want. Bob.

We also got ours there, in Aachen, other towns are available.
Around the 2K euros mark there was quite a selection and the quality knocks spots off the aforementioned Decathlon where we struggled to get anything like what we needed.
No idea what the warranty is like as not needed (10 months old) for either bike.
When you take note of the bike prices we had about 70 euros knocked the price of each one as they didnt have to send it in the post.