What makes a bike listed on BikeBlacklist?

I list bikes with poor quality, unclear specs, or those sold by companies with questionable practices. Those who are also lack sufficient information about the bike, such as the motor brand or other parts, lack of repair stations and other things might also be canidates for the list.

Many shops can't or won't repair these bikes on the list.

The list is based on information from the platform Greenfinder, the websites of the bikes being sold, magazines, TV reports, online videos, news sources, test results, forum posts, personal experience and your reports via the contact form.

Why avoid bikes without clear motor information?

Bikes lacking motor details often leave you stranded as repair shops may refuse service of the whole bike. Due to unknown parts the electronic cant be repaied in shops. You may either have to contact the brand or look through AliExpress to find the right part. If its even availeble.

Are all low-budget bikes unreliable?

Not all budget bikes are bad, but many on the list lack transparency and durability, making them risky buys. At example mechanical brakes, specially on e-bikes, can be dangerous. Most mechanical brakes are not designed for higher weights (some bikes on this list are 100+ lbs / 45+ kg) and speeds up to 100 km/h (62 mp/h). A go to hydraulic break is the Shimano MT200 for a cheap but good disc break.

Can I upgrade a regular bike to an e-bike?

In general: It is possible to do so, to save money, but please consider, that frames and parts may break earlier. Please look into your local laws which sets you are allowed to buy regarding max speed and power.
For the EU & UK, it is more complex. The E-Mountainbike Magazine published an article about this topic in 2021.
In a Nutshell: It would cost more than €20,000 to get the bike street legal. The person who mount the kit is now the bikes' manufacturer.

The Bike has to be compliant with DIN EN 15194-2017 ISO 4210, Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, EMC Directive 2014/30/EU and EN 15194.

The EMC test costs around €3000, the full bike test up to €25,000.

To the Article

What is with bikes, where the speed can be increased in a menu?

Such an e-bike is not legal for use on public roads in Europe and Australia, even if the rider does not use the motor assistance function.

As soon as it is technically possible to increase the motor assistance to more than 25 km/h via the menu, the pedelec legally loses its status as a bicycle. For the legislator, the decisive factor is not the actual use, but the design-related maximum speed or the technical characteristics of the vehicle.