Temu, AliExpress & Co: Rightly condemned? How dangerous are cheap goods from the web?
Laurin Lehner
· 27.04.2025
A visit to the AliExpress or Temu websites makes bargain hunters' hearts beat faster. You can find almost everything here at prices that are too good to be true. From frames and add-on parts to clothing, all areas of the MTB range are covered.
A parallel world of its own has long since emerged on the websites of low-cost Asian retailers. Products that sometimes cost thousands of euros in the original cost just a few notes. There is no question that this is tempting. The counterfeits usually look deceptively similar to their originals and the Asian suppliers do not shy away from any detail. Some products are almost identical to a branded product, others are even labelled with the original brand name, such as a Poc jersey for 8.78 euros or Troy Lee trousers for 25.15 euros.
Or products such as bike shoes that look strikingly similar to a Specialized brand model, costing 35.50 euros. Safety is also important when it comes to brake pads, wheels, stems, handlebars and frames. Here, too, there is everything a biker's heart desires. Bike Ahead has ordered and tested some of the counterfeit products from AliExpress itself, with the result that none of the counterfeits pass the required standardised test unscathed. In practice, such defects in carbon parts can lead to serious injuries.
Who or what is Temu and AliExpress?
Temu and AliExpress are Chinese online marketplaces that stand out above all for their extremely favourable prices. Both platforms offer a huge range of products - from clothing, electronics and household goods to tools, toys and beauty products. Most products are sold directly by manufacturers or retailers from China, which keeps prices low but delivery times long. The quality of the products often varies, returns are complicated and safety-relevant items such as electronics or bicycle parts sometimes lack the necessary certificates. While Temu targets bargain hunters in particular with aggressive marketing and coupons, AliExpress has been established for longer and works in a similar way to eBay with retailers. Both platforms are particularly interesting for patient, price-orientated buyers - who are prepared to compromise on product quality and service.
Interview with Dirk Zedler: "From harmless to life-threatening."
BIKE: Are all bike products on AliExpress and Temu bad or even dangerous??
DIRK ZEDLER: It's hard to say. You buy a pig in a poke. Almost all companies produce in Asia, and there were definitely overproductions. There are reports of finished products being put on the kerbside because the warehouses were full. So it can happen that you get an expensive carbon frame for a fraction of the usual price on the usual websites, but without a known label. However, it is more likely that you will buy an inferior counterfeit, which can be dangerous. Glass fibre is often used, which has a negative impact on stiffness and durability. The risk is high.
How can I find out whether it is an overproduction or a plagiarism?
A photo on the website is not enough, tests are necessary. We have carried out such tests and found that such carbon parts do burst under low loads. I also remember cases where seat posts buckled after only 300 kilometres.
But the Asians know how frames are built. Is it really that dangerous?
The spectrum ranges from harmless to life-threatening. True, the Asians know how to build frames and add-on parts. However, bike companies monitor this meticulously through so-called third-party tests. If this monitoring is lacking, there is a high probability that materials are being skimped on.
What about aluminium frames or parts?
The consequences of an aluminium frame failure are usually less dramatic. A poorly manufactured aluminium frame can also break at the weld seam, but a breakage rarely ends in a catastrophic crash as with carbon frames. In short: I could imagine riding an aluminium frame from the websites mentioned, but I still wouldn't do it.
What about aluminium components?
The savings on frames are probably the most tempting. Aluminium components such as cranks, pedals or stems from Temu and the like don't offer as much of a price advantage. You usually only save a few euros compared to the original, which is not worth it. Anyone who has seen a video of a broken handlebar will agree with me.
So you generally advise against these products?
Yes, because another aspect is liability. If you are seriously injured due to a component failure, you cannot hold anyone liable. Even with pedals, material failure can lead to serious accidents, as we know from our expertise department. Ever since e-mountainbikes have been available, manufacturers have been obliged to supply pedals. Some companies want to save money here and buy them as so-called open mould products, which are non-exclusive moulds that bike labels sell in Asia. The attempt to have these labelled and certified here often does not work due to defects. Sometimes a pedal cage slips off the axle under low loads.
Why is consumer protection failing here?
Consumer protection does not fail. Since December 2024, a new Europe-wide consumer protection law (GPSR) has been in place to counteract the flood of products from platforms such as Temu and AliExpress. These products must now fulfil EU testing requirements. This applies not only to bike frames and other bike components, but also to many other product categories. For example, toys. It must be ensured and documented that the teddy bear you order on Temu is not full of harmful substances.
So the problem will soon solve itself?
Yes, that is the plan. But it may take one to two years for the regulations to take effect. The platforms have a duty, but there will first be precedents where the EU takes a tough stance. It's also about reducing waste.
There are now a few Asian labels that produce high-quality products, have them certified here and offer them at a favourable price. Could this become a trend?
Possibly, many well-known companies, such as Canyon, started this way. Brand building costs a lot of money, bike companies invest massively in marketing. This starts with the World Cup team with mechanics and managers and extends to marketing teams and product presentations.
What does a high-quality carbon frame cost?
I'm not allowed to say that, but of course there is a lot of margin. But you also have to remember that the bike companies have to finance design, development, independence, quality control, distribution channels and even service and marketing, and not with Asian wages.
Do western labels secure exclusive rights to sell their frames in the USA or Europe?
There are different models. Anyone can use open-mould frames and attach their logo. Then there are models in which Western manufacturers work together with Asian manufacturers and receive exclusive rights for one continent for one or two years. And then there are closed mould models, which we know from well-known brands such as Canyon, or niche providers such as YT. They are not allowed to be sold by others.
Many bike companies produce with the same Asian manufacturers. Are these Asian manufacturers also allowed to produce non-name products and sell them here?
Yes, but many of these products remain in Asia. Demand there is growing enormously, especially in China, currently the largest road bike market. Of course, well-known US and European brands are also sold there, but also many of our own.
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Laurin Lehner
Editor
