Editorial assessment
Although a bicycle does not have a TÜV stamp and most components do not have a fixed expiry date, this does not mean that they will last indefinitely. Safety-critical components, in particular, are often only checked once a problem has already arisen. The biggest risk is that material ageing isn’t always visible. If you check your bike regularly and spot wear and tear early on, you’ll ride more safely and prevent costly consequential damage. The crucial question is therefore not: ‘How old is my bike?’ but rather: ‘Is it still in a technical condition I can trust?’ You should pay particular attention to safety-critical components such as tyres and brakes.
A bicycle should be checked regularly. After all, even a high-quality bike ages. Some components wear out due to high mileage, whilst others simply lose their properties over time. Although there is no fixed expiry date for bicycle parts, as there is for food, nor an age limit as with car tyres, there are nevertheless components whose condition is crucial to safety, performance and riding enjoyment – and these are inevitably affected by age.
What happens during a roadside check?
Even without a bicycle MOT, a bike must be safe to ride on public roads. If key components such as brakes, lights or steering are faulty, the police may prohibit you from continuing your journey and, depending on the fault, issue a warning or impose a fine. More importantly, a bicycle that is not in perfect working order increases the risk of accidents – both for the rider and for other road users.
Roadworthiness: These points should be checked regularly
To ensure that a bicycle can be ridden safely in traffic, it is essential that safety-critical components function perfectly. These include, in particular, the braking system, tyres, steering, wheels and lights. Bicycles that are only used seasonally or have been left unused for a long time should be thoroughly checked before the first ride. This is because being left unused does not automatically prevent parts from ageing. Seals can become brittle, lubricants can lose their properties and rubber components can harden.
A quick safety check before setting off can help spot many problems early on:
- Do both brakes work reliably?
- Are the handlebars and stem free of play?
- Are the tyres free from cracks and sufficiently inflated?
- Are the wheels and thru-axles secure?
- Are the lights working?
These simple checks only take a few minutes, but they can be crucial for safety.
Tyres: It’s not just the tread that counts
Age is a key factor when it comes to car tyres. Even a tyre with sufficient tread depth can cause problems at the TÜV once it is eight years old. The situation is similar for bicycles.
The rubber compound changes over time; the tyre may harden and lose grip. Visible cracks in the sidewalls or a porous surface are particularly critical. Bicycles that are left outside permanently are particularly affected by UV radiation, moisture and temperature fluctuations.
There is no specific expiry date for bicycle tyres. Nevertheless, their condition should be checked regularly. They should be replaced at the latest when visible signs of ageing appear or when their performance deteriorates significantly – regardless of how many kilometres the tyres have been used for.
Brakes: The most important safety factor
Brakes are among those components where there is no room for compromise. Brake pads wear out at different rates depending on how they are used. Whilst a city bike can often cover many thousands of kilometres on a single set of pads, a mountain bike riding on alpine terrain can reach this limit much more quickly.
As well as the thickness of the material, the quality of the braking surface also plays a role. Glazed or contaminated brake pads can perform significantly worse, even if they are of sufficient thickness.
Brake discs also wear out. Heat, wear and tear, and material loss can affect braking performance. If you notice a decline in braking performance, you should not ignore the cause.
E-bike batteries: Ageing is part of the process
With e-bikes, battery ageing is particularly noticeable. Lithium-ion batteries gradually lose capacity as the number of charge cycles increases. High temperatures, frost or incorrect storage can also accelerate the ageing process.
A battery does not have a fixed expiry date. However, after several years, its range may be significantly reduced. Correct storage is particularly important: a battery should neither be left completely flat nor stored for long periods at extreme temperatures. However, if the battery’s capacity decreases, this does not pose a safety risk.
Lighting: A small component, a big impact
Road safety is often underestimated, particularly when it comes to lights. Properly functioning lights are not only crucial during the darker months of the year, but also ensure that cyclists are more visible in general. Faulty lights, flat batteries or damaged cables should therefore not be checked only just before your next night-time ride. By regularly checking that your front and rear lights are working properly, you can improve your own safety with very little effort.
Carbon: durable, but not indestructible
Carbon frames are considered to be lightweight, stiff and durable. Nevertheless, even this material is not immune to damage. Invisible damage in the form of cracks can occur, particularly following serious crashes. Whilst minor scratches are usually not a problem, cracks, dents or unusual noises should be taken seriously. If in doubt, it’s worth having the frame professionally checked following a hard impact.
Max Fuchs
Editor