Short answer: A usable bicycle RFQ fits on one page and locks four blocks: the technical spec (frame size and material, wheel size, speeds and groupset brand, brake type, fork, tyre, colourways, target weight); the commercial block (quantity per model and per colour, target market and the standard that applies — EN ISO 4210, EN ISO 8098 for kids, EN 15194 for e-bikes, CPSC 16 CFR Part 1512 for the USA); packaging and loading (assembly level, carton dimensions, units per 20GP and per 40HQ); and terms (Incoterm, destination port, lead time, shipping window). Request test reports, the declaration of conformity, packing list, certificate of origin and warranty terms in the same message. A factory with all four blocks quotes in three to five working days and cannot substitute components later.
Why does a vague enquiry produce a useless quotation?
An enquiry that says only "please quote 26 inch mountain bike, 500 units" forces the sales engineer to invent about forty component decisions for you, and because the reply will be judged on one number, they invent downward: cheapest freewheel, cheapest V-brake, unbranded fork. Correcting that spec at sample stage costs three weeks. The RFQ is also your anti-substitution document: what it names becomes the reference for the proforma invoice, sample approval and inspection checklist. A component never named in writing can never be called a defect.
What technical fields must a bicycle RFQ contain?
| Field | What to write in the RFQ |
| Frame size and geometry | Seat tube and top tube length, head angle, rider height range |
| Frame material and tubing | Hi-ten steel, 6061 or 7005 alloy; hydroformed or straight gauge; butted or not |
| Wheel size | 12in to 29in or 700c, plus rim width, single or double wall |
| Speeds and groupset | Speed count plus brand and series, or equal or better than a named series |
| Brake type | V-brake, mechanical disc or hydraulic disc, with rotor diameter (160 or 180 mm) |
| Fork type | Rigid steel or alloy, or suspension travel in mm, coil or air, lockout or not |
| Tyre size and tread | ETRTO size, tread type (slick, semi-slick, knobby), puncture belt, tube or tubeless |
| Colourways, saddle, grips | Pantone references, matt or gloss, quantity per colour; saddle and grip brand |
| Target weight | Kilograms with tolerance, stated with or without pedals |
Every blank line is filled in at the cheapest available grade: 21-speed alone spans three quality tiers.
What extra fields does an e-bike RFQ need?
An e-bike is a regulated electrical product, so name the destination market before the motor. In the EU, an EPAC under EN 15194 uses a 250 W continuous rated motor with assistance cut off at 25 km/h; above that it is a moped. In the United States, a low-speed electric bicycle is limited to 750 W and 20 mph on motor power alone, with Class 3 pedal-assist permitted to 28 mph.
State motor position (hub or mid-drive), rated power, torque or cadence sensor, battery voltage and watt-hour capacity, cell brand and mounting. Request the UN 38.3 test report and battery MSDS with the quotation, and for US orders ask whether the system holds UL 2849 and the pack UL 2271. Specify the charger plug per market: Type C for the EU, Type G for the UK, Type A for the USA, Type I for Australia. E-bikes clear under HS 8711.60, not HS 8712.00.
Which market standard should I name?
| Market | Standard to name | Key point |
| EU, adult bicycles | EN ISO 4210 | Separate parts for city, mountain and road use |
| EU, children | EN ISO 8098 | Saddle heights 435 mm to 635 mm |
| EU, e-bikes | EN 15194 | 250 W rated, cut-off at 25 km/h |
| United Kingdom | Same standards, UKCA or CE | Declaration names a UK responsible person |
| United States | CPSC 16 CFR Part 1512 | Reflectors, brake performance, foot brake |
| Helmets shipped alongside | AS/NZS 1927 or EN 1078 | Certified separately from the bicycle |
How should packaging and loading be written?
Bicycles are volume cargo, so packaging is a commercial term. State the assembly level: most export bicycles ship 85 to 90 percent assembled, with front wheel, handlebar, saddle and pedals loose in the carton. Ask the factory to confirm carton dimensions, weights and CBM, then units per 20GP and per 40HQ, so you compare freight per bike rather than per container. Define master carton marking: model code, colour, frame size, quantity, weights, origin and the EAN or UPC barcode.
Which documents should you request inside the RFQ?
- Test reports to the named standard, with laboratory name and date
- CE or UKCA declaration of conformity with the correct importer field
- Packing list with carton dimensions, CBM and weights per model
- Certificate of origin, or the applicable FTA certificate where an agreement lowers duty
- Warranty terms split by frame and component, in years and months
- A spare-parts kit as a share of order units, commonly one to two percent for hangers, brake pads, tubes and chargers — see our spare parts range
- ISO 9001 for the factory, plus UN 38.3 and MSDS for any battery
Which commercial terms make quotations comparable?
Two quotations are comparable only if both state the same terms. Name the Incoterm — EXW, FOB, CIF or DDP — and the destination port, because FOB Nansha and CIF Hamburg are not the same commitment. Give quantity per model and per colour: typical export minimums are 25 to 50 units for e-bikes, 25 to 75 for road, 50 to 150 for city and commuter, 50 to 100 for mountain and folding, and 100 to 250 for kids' bikes. State lead time in days and your shipping window, and ask the factory to count production days from sample approval and deposit, not from the order date. Our importer guide sets out the full sequence.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a factory take to quote a complete bicycle RFQ?
A catalogue model should come back in three to five working days. A full OEM project with custom geometry, custom paint or a new e-bike system takes seven to ten, because the factory must price tooling, collect component quotations and check certification scope. A detailed RFQ answered within an hour is quoting a different bike.
Should I send a sample bike or a reference link with the RFQ?
Send both where you can. A physical sample removes ambiguity about finish, weld quality and assembly feel, while a reference model shows which market tier you target. Always pair it with a written spec sheet and mark which components may be substituted with equal or better, otherwise every line is treated as negotiable.
What is the difference between an RFQ and a spec sheet?
The spec sheet is the technical half: components, sizes, colours and weight. The RFQ is the complete request, containing the spec sheet plus quantities, target market and standard, packaging, documents and commercial terms. A spec sheet alone tells a factory what to build but not what to price.
Do I need to name a standard if my market has no mandatory certification?
Yes. The standard drives component choices such as reflectors, chainguards, brake force and maximum rider weight, so it changes the build even where nobody checks it. Naming EN ISO 4210 or CPSC 16 CFR Part 1512 also gives your inspector an objective checklist.
Can one RFQ cover several models at once?
Yes, and it usually should, because consolidating models improves container fill. List each model as its own block with its own spec, quantity and colour split, then state whether they ship together in one FCL or as separate deliveries. Ask the factory to confirm the combined loading plan for a 40HQ.
Send your RFQ
Have the four blocks ready and we will return a line-by-line quotation, loading plan and certification scope. Start with our OEM and ODM page to see which fields we need for an own-brand build.
