Study: Wear and tear is the most common damage to e-bikes and bikes - not theft

The worst case, the Armageddon, the final boss that is probably on everyone's mind when it comes to the topic of Damage to the bike is probably the loss or theft of your beloved bike. In one fell swoop, at least a few thousand euros worth of damage has been done, because the cellar compartment is now empty or only the crumbs of a bicycle lock bear witness to the crime.

A study conducted by the specialist insurer Wertgarantie with over 1,500 participants surveyed topics such as bike care, maintenance and repair behaviour and bike protection. The surprising result: the Wear and tear is the most common type of damage to bicycles at 42 per cent. In second and third place with just under 16 per cent are the Fall and with just under 15 per cent Technical defects. Surprisingly, theft is very far behind in terms of damage at less than 10 per cent. The distribution by age group is also interesting. Technical defects, crashes and accidents with the bike occur more frequently in the age groups under 50. In contrast, the 50 and 59 age groups are characterised by an increase in wear and tear damage.

Security: smart solutions on the rise

But it is still just under 10 per cent Theft - Security therefore plays a role. Almost 64 per cent of those surveyed said that they always lock their bike or e-bike and 12 per cent already use a security system. Smart solution with GPS tracker or directly to an app, such as the one recently introduced by Canyon. Of course, this does not replace a classic lock, which is the chain lock with just under 43 per cent. Everything is bought online? Not at all. At just under 60 per cent, local specialist dealers are the first port of call when it comes to buying bikes and e-bikes.

Repairing wear and tear: DIY bike bolting is a trend

This study also shows that people like to tinker and repair things themselves. Around 28 per cent of respondents with e-bikes repair everything themselves and 29 per cent of those with bikes. But of course, around a third of all respondents also have their bikes and e-bikes repaired in a professional workshop. When it comes to self-repair, YouTube videos are at the forefront: over 31 per cent use YouTube to help them repair their bikes themselves.

Sustainability in bikes and e-bikes: when do you buy a new bike?

Over 63 per cent of respondents see it differently and dispose of their bikes and e-bikes even though they are not defective. One of the main reasons given was a change in usage behaviour. This sounds anything but sustainable and often suggests that the existing bike will be replaced by a newer one.

The topic Sustainability is nevertheless becoming increasingly important for the respondents in the study, with almost 80 per cent opting to repair or sell old or defective bikes or e-bikes instead of simply disposing of them. Almost 56 per cent of respondents say "yes" to buying bikes and e-bikes made from sustainable materials. Over 44 per cent would also opt to buy a used bike or e-bike instead of a new one. The same applies to accessories, which almost 32 per cent would prefer to buy used and over 51 per cent would prefer to buy sustainably produced accessories, such as environmentally friendly cleaning agents and lubricants.

>> Read more about used bikes in this article: Buying used bikes? Private, refurbished or better to buy new bikes? <<

Willingness to pay for sustainable bikes is increasing

It goes even further. Over 13 per cent of respondents would be prepared to pay a higher price for a sustainably produced bike or e-bike. There is a clear trend towards recycled materials as opposed to renewable raw materials: over 37 per cent would prefer a bike or e-bike made from recycled materials compared to just under 13 per cent who would prefer renewable raw materials.

There are also pleasing figures on the subject of Waste disposal. Over 21 per cent give their bike another life by selling it to private individuals via portals. Giving away and donating is also very popular with over 14 per cent. The figures show that the more than 1,500 respondents are increasingly taking sustainability into account when making purchasing decisions and decisions on maintenance and disposal, thus raising awareness of sustainable behaviour.

Interesting facts bike vs e-bike

More than 20 per cent of respondents in the Bike group do not know what brand their bike is. As many as 30 per cent of respondents have owned their bikes for more than 5 years. The prevalence of bicycles is higher in large cities than in rural areas. The opposite is true for e-bikes. Most e-bikes are ridden in places with a population of 5,000 to 20,000. E-bikes are also more common in multi-person households.

The topic of leasing is also interesting. The proportion of leased bikes is almost three times higher for e-bikes than for non-motorised bikes. There were similarities in the importance of physical well-being (92 per cent) and sporting fitness (83 per cent). In addition, 70 per cent attach importance to using public transport instead of the car.

About the study

The study was conducted by Wertgarantie in collaboration with the market research institute Splendid Research. It was based on 1519 participants aged between 18 and 69. These included 1018 cyclists and 501 pedelec riders (referred to as e-bikes in the study). The data was collected between 8 and 23 February 2023. These results formed the basis for the Bicycle & E-Bike Report 2023 cited here.