13/04/2026
There’s been a huge rise in e-bikes, e-cargo bikes and e-trikes lately — and it’s a great thing to see.
With fuel prices where they are right now, it makes sense. More people are looking for better ways to get around, especially with families.
During April 2026, a bike retailer has reported a 136% year-on-year increase in e-bike sales, driven by rising Australian fuel prices and the shift toward more cost-effective transport.
So it’s definitely happening across the board.
I came across a post recently where people were questioning the cost of bike assembly — saying it’s simple, you can watch a 10-minute video and do it yourself.
And I get it — it looks simple.
But there’s something I’m seeing more and more of…
Bikes arriving in a box, getting put together at home, and being ridden straight away.
Online retailers provide 10-minute assembly videos showing you how to put them together.
But what those videos don’t show is everything that actually needs to be done.
I was out at Wamuran this morning assembling an e-cargo bike, and like most of them, it wasn’t even close to ready to ride out of the box.
Just about every bolt on the bike needed to be checked and torqued — most of them were loose.
That’s not unusual.
Nothing is lubricated properly from factory, so that all needs to be done.
The gears have only had a rough setup — they’re not properly tuned.
The brakes are almost always rubbing — I’ve never pulled one out of a box where they didn’t need resetting and centring.
That’s before you even start going over the bike properly.
And with e-bikes, there’s another layer again.
I’m checking that:
• brake cut-outs are working properly
• the motor engages and disengages as it should
• the crank sensors are functioning correctly
Because if those things aren’t right, the bike isn’t safe.
Then I set the bike up to suit the rider.
Because bikes don’t come set up for you.
Seat height and fore/aft position get adjusted.
Handlebar height and position get adjusted.
Brake levers get positioned so they can actually be reached properly — not everyone has the same size hands.
Gear levers get positioned so they’re usable and comfortable.
If those things are wrong, it affects how safely you can control the bike.
Especially on a cargo bike — when you’ve got kids on board.
As parents ourselves, we understand how important that is.
We take the time to install car seats properly, make sure seatbelts are right, and do everything we can to keep our kids safe in a car.
But with e-bikes, a lot of people don’t think twice — they put them together, load the kids on, and go.
These bikes are carrying your most precious cargo.
So it’s worth making sure everything is set up properly, checked over, and safe before you head out on it.
I’ve even had jobs on $10,000 bikes where I’ve had to drill out and re-tap fittings just to get baskets and accessories mounted properly.
That’s the level of what can come out of a box.
And then once all of that is done, I don’t just leave.
I take the time to walk the customer through the bike.
How to charge the battery properly.
How to remove and refit it.
Correct tyre pressures.
How the assist system works.
What to look out for.
How to maintain it moving forward.
Because a lot of people simply haven’t owned something like this before.
You don’t get any of that from a 10-minute assembly video.
You might be able to bolt a few parts on in 10 minutes…
But it takes a lot longer to make sure the bike is actually safe, working properly, and set up for the person riding it.
There are some great bike shops around Brisbane that offer proper assembly — and that’s always a solid option.
But if you’ve chosen to buy online and have it delivered, just know there’s more to it than putting it together.
This isn’t about overcomplicating things.
It’s about making sure your bike is right before you ride it.
Because when you’ve got your family on board, it’s worth doing properly.
If you’ve got a new bike arriving — or already sitting in a box — feel free to reach out.
Every build is different, so pricing is based on what the bike actually needs.
You’re not just getting it assembled — you’re getting a personalised set-up, a basic bike fit to suit the rider, and a full safety check before it’s ready to ride.
Experience. Knowledge. And everything in between.
