E-bike recalls: Throw all the bicycle industry recalls from the last 15 years into one pile until the matter takes on frightening proportions? That doesn't exactly sound like serious research. It's a shame that what initially looks like serious consumer information ultimately turns out to be scaremongering and the associated business model.
Product recalls are not uncommon, especially in industries whose products have a long service life and are subject to high demands. Of course, if the Chinese toaster burns out after six months, you won't immediately alert the Federal Office of Consumer Protection. And because of the few euros, it's probably not worth holding the provider liable via the online platform - or trying to do so.
Registering as the owner with the manufacturer makes sense
However, there are product categories that are more visible to the public - e-bikes, for example in our example. If a manufacturer recalls products, it can cause quite a stir and be picked up by the media - like the recent recalls surrounding Babboe's family cargo bikes. And that's a good thing, because it's not always possible to identify all buyers of a particular product series. And last but not least, there is the used market, whose players are not listed anywhere.
That's why the editors' note: Registering a newly purchased e-bike makes sense, in addition to possible additional services from the manufacturer (extended warranty), because the manufacturer can then identify and contact the original owner if a recall is necessary.
Sometimes, however, one has the impression that the legitimate reference to a product recall is used as an opportunity to hand out a little something. And it often seems as if the bicycle industry is disproportionately affected by such events. In a similar way to how people like to scold bicycle hooligans collectively or how the dangers of cycling are discussed in far too general terms. In this context, hardly anyone says that cars (and trucks) are actually dangerous road users. It is the collision with a car that makes cycling dangerous, not cycling per se.
Few serious reports about e-bike recalls
The specific reason for these thoughts: "Bulls and many brands affected by recall," headlines the online platform www.efahrer.com . It sounds alarming, and indeed, in July 2023, the manufacturer Zemo initiated a recall affecting various e-bikes with single-tube frames from the 2014 and 2019 model years. Should we reiterate this eight-month-old safety campaign? – Sure, if necessary.
But as it goes on—sorry, dear e-driver—the seriousness of the report drops significantly. 11.000 Pedelecs are called by the ZEG (Two-Wheeled Shopping
So Pedelecs, but which ones? A number of product names are listed, but no manufacturers - not the only evidence of careful second-hand research. Electra 1 and 2, Li-Tec 1, these are names that don't ring a bell at first. No wonder: if you look into the matter, you find out that this is a recall from 2010 (!). “The dealer will take care of the necessary repairs,” said the “E-driver” hopefully. Let's put it this way: The dealer will look in surprise at the customer who comes into the store with a museum-quality electric bike and tells them something about a current recall.
And there are also the owners of a Bulls Green Mover, who are called on by the “e-driver” to have the dealer install an update of the control software. He will first send the trainee into the basement to look for the old diagnostic device for the Alber rear engine - after all, the thing with the Bulls Green Mover was at least nine years ago.
Users of an e-bike from KTM or Biketec (which refers to the Flyer brand, which is not mentioned because the editor probably doesn't know any better) should please no longer use their e-bike batteries from 2013. It would actually be interesting to know how many of these eleven-year-old e-bikes are still in use. We suspect the number is trending towards “0”. And if these users still exist, replacing the affected battery will be difficult.
But why do the editors of a large portal like chip.de do something like that?
This is called click-baiting in New German. Encourage unsettled consumers to click on the article and thereby generate reach for your own portal. At the same time, such an article promotes e-bikes, when the operator of the portal receives a sales commission via so-called affiliate links. In the case of the above-mentioned article at EFahrer, these also include products such as e-bike insurance or links to online shops. Here you will find shops like Amazon or Lidl - no insider tips - and suddenly there are sales commissions for e-drivers if the reader orders a bucket of wall paint from Amazon a few hours later - thanks to cookies!
By the way, it's also interesting how boldly Chip and E-drivers publish these articles several times. The article in question originally appeared in 2023 and was now taken out of the can at the beginning of the season with the first rays of sunshine and the awakening interest in bicycles and e-bikes and simply published again with a publication date of March 22, 2024 - it doesn't cost anything and maybe ordered If a reader later buys wall paint from Amazon, they can quickly and easily earn a few euros.
For those seeking reliable information about e-bikes, tests, and new models, or who would like to take a test ride before buying, we always recommend visiting a specialist retailer. Currently, the vast majority of e-bikes are readily available and can even be attractively financed, for example, through company bike leasing, and are also fully insured. You can always find bicycles and e-bikes tested to the best of our knowledge and belief on our website velomotion.de , or on the site of our colleagues at focus-mobility.de – who, although also part of Burda Forward, thankfully operate with considerably more integrity when it comes to e-bikes.
