Importer Guide

The biggest mistake a new importer makes is filling the container with a single model because it's "the cheapest per unit". Price is not the yardstick — turnover speed and margin are.

The 60 / 30 / 10 allocation rule

• 60% volume category: The best-selling category in your market — often 26″/27.5″ mountain bikes in Middle Eastern markets, and kids' bikes ahead of peak seasons. The margin is lower, but it turns fast and covers your costs.
• 30% margin category: City bikes, folding bikes and fat bikes — less competition and 35–50% margins.
• 10% test category: Trial e-bikes or cruisers in a small quantity. If they succeed, they become a margin category in your next container.

When should you mix categories in one container?

Always, for your first 3 containers. A 40 ft container holds 550–650 bikes — don't bet all of it on a single untested product. Ask us for a Mixed Loading Plan and we'll balance the quantities so your unit cost rises by no more than 3–4%.

Signals to help you read your market correctly

• Watch what your top 3 competitors are selling — then don't copy them in the same category; look for the gap instead.
• Seasonality: kids' bikes sell before holidays and summer; place production orders 3 months in advance.
• E-bikes are growing in every market, but they need after-sales service — don't enter the category before you have a service technician in place.

Wheel size is not a technical detail — it's a commercial decision that determines who you sell to. Here's the complete map:

Adult sizes

• 26″: Historically the most in-demand size in Middle Eastern markets. Spare parts are available everywhere and it carries the lowest price. Ideal for daily use and mixed roads.
• 27.5″: The golden balance — smoother rolling than 26″ and more agile than 29″. This is the rising size in the mountain category, and we recommend it for any new lineup.
• 29″: For performance enthusiasts and long-distance riders. It targets a higher-priced segment — keep it to just 10–15% of your mix.
• 700C: The size for road and city bikes — essential if your market has a cycling-sport culture or a delivery economy.

Kids' sizes by age

• 12″: ages 2–4 • 16″: ages 4–6 • 20″: ages 6–9 • 24″: ages 9–13
• The golden rule: 16″ and 20″ are the fastest movers — make them two-thirds of your kids' quantity.

Tire Width

For markets with unpaved roads, order 2.1–2.4″ tires on mountain bikes; for fat bikes go 4″ and up — they sell superbly in sandy and beach regions.

A counterfeit chain stamped "Shimano" stretches and wears out within months, and counterfeit brakes can cost you your entire reputation. The bike-parts market has a high rate of counterfeiting — here's how to protect your goods:

Telltale signs that expose counterfeits

• Chains (KMC / Shimano): Genuine chains carry a sharp, uniform laser engraving on every link. Counterfeits have faded or ink-printed markings, and their links vary in shine.
• Derailleurs: Genuine Shimano comes with a verifiable serial tracking code, and each shift lands with a single decisive "click". Counterfeits shift loosely and wobble.
• Hydraulic brakes: Test the pressure — genuine levers hold a firm, constant bite; counterfeits gradually "sink" due to internal leakage.
• E-bike motors (Bafang / Bosch): A genuine motor carries a QR code verifiable on the manufacturer's website; a counterfeit is usually lighter because it contains less copper — and it overheats quickly.

Ask your supplier these three questions

1. Do you buy components directly from the authorized distributor? Ask for the distributor's invoice.
2. Can serial numbers be verified before shipment?
3. Do you accept third-party inspection (SGS / TÜV) on a random sample from the container?

We answer "yes" to all three — every one of our components comes through authorized distribution channels and reaches you with certificates of origin.

Freight cost is roughly fixed whether you fill the container or not — so every extra bike you fit in directly lowers your unit cost. The difference between random loading and planned loading can reach 20% of the bike count.

Levels of disassembly

• CBU (fully assembled): Ready to sell immediately but consumes a lot of volume — only 180–220 bikes in a 40 ft container. Suitable if you have no assembly workshop.
• SKD (partially disassembled): Front wheel, handlebar and pedals detached — assembly takes 15–20 minutes per bike. 550–650 bikes in a 40 ft HQ container. The best option for most importers.
• CKD (fully disassembled): The highest loading density (+15% over SKD) and the lowest unit cost, but it requires an equipped assembly workshop and skilled labor.

Real-world loading figures (SKD)

• 20 ft container: 250–300 adult bikes, or 350–400 kids' bikes
• 40 ft HQ container: 550–650 adult bikes, or 750–850 kids' bikes
• E-bikes: Quantity drops 25–30% due to battery weight and packaging requirements (UN38.3)

Loading tricks that cut your cost

1. Slot kids' sizes into the gaps between adult bikes — you gain an extra 8–10% density.
2. Request "half-width" cartons for 12″ and 16″ kids' bikes — two stacks instead of one.
3. Ask us for the Loading Plan before confirming your order — we send it free with every quotation.