Would you rent for 6 months

[outerlimits]

This looks interesting
Apparently you can rent any bike for a minimum of 6 months, then just hand it back, and it includes all servicing cost. I’d imagine you would still have to pay for parts ect.

Here is an example of a $8200 bike, which works out to be $2184 over the 6 month term. You have the option to buy after too.

 

[Zimmerframe]

Sounds expensive... So I'm obviously not their target market ?

 

[outerlimits]

Sounds expensive... So I'm obviously not their target market ?

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.
Target market would be someone that was thinking of an eMtb, but did not know for sure if they would like it and or did not want to dump a large sum to find out.

 

[TheBikePilot]

I think it’s a great idea..

I probably would if I hadn’t bought already.

 

[CjP]

Yeah looked at that initially. Only in qld and Newcastle.
If your one to upgrade often then it works out a tiny bit more pricey but the convenience to just hand it in and get a shines new one is nice.

 

[outerlimits]

Yeah looked at that initially. Only in qld and Newcastle.
If your one to upgrade often then it works out a tiny bit more pricey but the convenience to just hand it in and get a shines new one is nice.

I think there are more stores being added as time goes by.

Ownership vs Renting ?
Wonder what the depreciation would be on a new ebike after 12 months say. ?‍ I’d guess you’d knock 1/3 off retail at least. Renting for 12 months would probs work out to 50% of retail.

 

[RobNevyn]

Interesting idea, I can understand that they would need to make their money back within a 2 year period to make it viable but it still seems expensive for a 6 month period.
I assume they would need to have some kind of insurance plan with it as well given normal wear and tear on (e)mtbs.

I have seen similar ideas with rental or subscription based business models for a number of things that normally wouldn't be considered that differ from the normal lease options. Companies like Volvo are already talking about subscription based services for their cars.

 

[CjP]

I think there are more stores being added as time goes by.

Ownership vs Renting ?
Wonder what the depreciation would be on a new ebike after 12 months say. ?‍ I’d guess you’d knock 1/3 off retail at least. Renting for 12 months would probs work out to 50% of retail.

Yeah my bikes cop a beating so I’m thinking 50% after a year. Like I said for me it was quite an attractive offer as I enjoy upgrading while I have the means to.
For people getting into ebikes and are not sure what suits them I think this is a great idea.

 

[Zimmerframe]

Yeah my bikes cop a beating so I’m thinking 50% after a year. Like I said for me it was quite an attractive offer as I enjoy upgrading while I have the means to.
For people getting into ebikes and are not sure what suits them I think this is a great idea.

Uhmmm ... good point ... If I look back on this year ... it would have been cheaper to rent !

 

[Zimmerframe]

If @Christian rented a "Raleigh Chopper" ...

 

[outerlimits]

I’m thinking I might look into it further for the Wifey. She doesn’t use her current conventional hard tail Mtb much, if at all. Don’t know why, but she complains of any hard work, but mostly does not have the time, to keep bike fit.

 

[outerlimits]

O

If @Christian rented a "Raleigh Chopper" ...

Only you would do that ?‍

 

[CjP]

If @Christian rented a "Raleigh Chopper" ...

Looks like my old mongoose is going to get the 180 boxxers.. stay tuned...

 

[HORSPWR]

This looks interesting
Apparently you can rent any bike for a minimum of 6 months, then just hand it back, and it includes all servicing cost. I’d imagine you would still have to pay for parts ect.

Here is an example of a $8200 bike, which works out to be $2184 over the 6 month term. You have the option to buy after too.

View attachment 21336

You'd only get to ride it for 2 months out of the 6 while you're waiting for replacement motors

 

[ryturn]

You'd only get to ride it for 2 months out of the 6 while you're waiting for replacement motors

Gilberts must have slowed their freight runs into Alice Springs , l've just done a motor and Specialized Australia had the new one on overnight freight same day .

 

[GeorgesEBike]

I would pay $7,000 per year to lease a brand new SWorks Levo. It would save me the hassle of selling my bikes every year.

 

[jsharpe]

Where I live the riding season is only about 6 months long anyway (too much snow Dec-May). However, I have tended to keep my bikes for many years and the incremental upgrades typically likely cost a lot less overall. On the other hand, eMTB technology might be a bit different driver for upgrading to a newer model. It's lots easier (and possible) to swap out a fork or drivetrain than a motor or battery.

 

[steve_sordy]

The biggest uncertainty is the second hand value of the bike. Once that has been decided upon the rest is just finance. It works for cars, but there is a well understood and thriving second car market to support values (although mistakes are sometimes made). If whoever is offering this deal gets it wrong, they are on a one way track to bankruptcy.

But then again, if it is only for six months, many more people may be interested in a six-month old bike, especially if it still had 18 months warranty!

 

[iXi]

The way it's going it would be cheaper for me. I ride my bike 5-7 times a week, it's 7 months old now and I reckon I'd only get half the retail price back if I sold it.

 

[Slowroller]

I'd definitley consider that if it was cheaper. $2,500 per year and I'd be all over it.

 

[outerlimits]

You'd only get to ride it for 2 months out of the 6 while you're waiting for replacement motors

I'd definitley consider that if it was cheaper. $2,500 per year and I'd be all over it.

just got the pricing on the Levo hardtail which retails for $4300 from memory.
6 months at $45.23 a week. Which makes it $1175.98 for 6 months. The beauty is you can buy it at any time. And after 6 months you can opt out at any time.
Now I just got to convince the wife ?‍ She needs an ebike.

 

[steve_sordy]

just got the pricing on the Levo hardtail which retails for $4300 from memory.
6 months at $45.23 a week. Which makes it $1175.98 for 6 months. The beauty is you can buy it at any time. And after 6 months you can opt out at any time.
Now I just got to convince the wife ?‍ She needs an ebike.

But you still need a bike for 12 months, so that's $2352 for a year. So after two years you have paid $4704. Or $404 more than the bike cost new. And you still don't own it. Same if you rent four successive bikes for six months each.

But to only pay a finance on-cost of $404 over two years on a loan of $4300 is a low charge indeed when you have no capital at risk.

I haven't followed the link, so I am unaware of all the terms and conditions. But nobody has mentioned a deposit, or insurance.

It looks like a good deal for the ones providing the bikes. They get a load of six-month old bikes to sell probably make a good deal on that as well, plus the financing charges.

I think it's an interesting development and I hope it takes off.

 

[Gary]

It looks like a good deal for the ones providing the bikes. They get a load of six-month old bikes to sell probably make a good deal on that as well

so exactly the same as any bicycle hire companys business model?

I don't think many of them do it for no profit.

 

[steve_sordy]

so exactly the same as any bicycle hire companys business model?

I don't think many of them do it for no profit.

I have no problem with anybody making a profit, I hope the bike manufacturers continue to make a profit or we'd be without bikes. The crazy prices we are paying for new emtbs are funding all the development.

Several years ago I went to Rutland Cycling (UK) to test ride an ex-rental bike. I got talking to the guy there and he told me that RC rent out loads of bikes, but mostly budget end stuff in the school holidays. I asked why they had high-end FS trail bikes in their rental inventory when the surrounding area was mostly flat. He said it was a requirement of the manufacturer (he meant GIANT), they wanted people like me to be able to see and test ride the bikes. It was part of the deal to supply loads of budget HTs. The bike I was looking at was that year's model and didn't look as though it had ever been ridden (considered too expensive to hire apparently). He was happy to sell it to me for 50% of what new ones were costing, plus tyres of my choice, a new cassette and chain, plus 3 months warranty. I've no idea what GIANT charged him for the bike, but I'm sure he made a profit!

 

[Gary]

The crazy prices we are paying for new emtbs are funding all the development.

lol. You really believe that?
All the highest priced (up to what? £9k+) E8000 based Emtbs use nothing anymore "developed" than my £3k Vitus does.
Spesh take the utter piss with their top end pricing. (they always did though, simply look at S-Works anything of any product year to see what I mean). There's nothing any more technologically advanced in the base 2019 Levo than in the S-Works. They've just stuck better components on a carbon frame that cost no more to produce than any other mass (factory) produced Carbon mtb frame. Folk will still queue up to pay that premium though. So why not?
Just two examples of many. Don't get too caught up in which brands I'm using to get my point across.
The actual developments in emtb comes from the motor manufacturers. Bosch, Shimano etc. and the bike manufacturers simply order a set number of motor units each year to fill their quota for next years production. And In the case of Shimano lump it in with component purchases. Just as SRAM is lumped in with RS. larger unit numbers command lower prices. (to the bike manufacturer, Not you)

I'm sure he made a profit!

On the entire years rental bikes. Yes.
on the one you bought. probably not so much. He'd have just wanted rid of it.
No new current year bike has a mark up of 50%

 

[steve_sordy]

lol. You really believe that?
All the highest priced (up to what? £9k+) E8000 based Emtbs use nothing anymore "developed" than my £3k Vitus does.
........................
The actual developments in emtb comes from the motor manufacturers. Bosch, Shimano etc. and the bike manufacturers simply order a set number of motor units each year to fill their quota for next years production. .............

So Bosch, Shimano etc are the ones that do all the development? OK, I accept that. But who pays for the motors? The bike makers! And who pays them? We do.

The emtb frames are different to the mtb frames and have to be designed and tested, tooling made, or moulds machined. Ultimately we the bike riders pay for this. If we don't buy enough of the bikes or insist on only paying the discounted prices, then the manufacturers lose money and they stop making the bikes

 

[Gary]

Like all bikes then, yeah?

What exactly was your point again??

 

[outerlimits]

But you still need a bike for 12 months, so that's $2352 for a year. So after two years you have paid $4704. Or $404 more than the bike cost new. And you still don't own it. Same if you rent four successive bikes for six months each.

Yeah, it’s not for everyone, tho you do have the option to buy the bike at any time minus the rental you have already paid. Even after 1 day rental you have the option to buy if you wish. They allow you to have it covered under your home contents insurance, which is something a lot of people do already. Also the servicing of the bike is included for the life of the rental term, but does not cover consumables and parts ect which is understandable. You do pay a little more in the long run, but it’s not massive. Like I said, it’s not for everyone, but it can be pretty dam good for some, depending if they choose to buy at some stage during the rental or not.