What you must know about bicycle warranties

When you're shopping for a bicycle or any high-ticket item, one of the first things that likely comes to mind is the warranty. People often wonder how crucial a warranty is and whether all warranties are created equal. What exactly does a warranty cover? These questions are common among consumers. Since bicycle warranties tend to be more intricate compared to those for home appliances or cars, it's worth taking the time to understand them before purchasing your next bike. Doing so could save you a lot of stress and potential headaches down the line.

What is a Warranty?

A warranty is essentially a promise made by the bicycle manufacturer to you, the consumer. It guarantees that if a covered part malfunctions due to a defect in manufacturing or workmanship, it will be either replaced or repaired free of charge. However, these promises usually come with several conditions and limitations. For manufacturers, warranties serve as both marketing tools to keep customers happy and loyal and a way to generate additional revenue with minimal risk. Studies show that warranties often play a key role in influencing purchasing decisions, especially for expensive items like bicycles.

Bicycles come with various types of warranties, including Lifetime Warranties, Limited Lifetime Warranties, Limited Warranties, or Limited Crash Damage Warranties. Different parts of the same bike may have one or more of these warranties. For instance, while the frame might have a lifetime warranty and qualify for crash replacement pricing, the drivetrain components may have a two-year limited warranty provided by the manufacturer of those components, not necessarily the bike maker.

Lifetime Warranty

The Lifetime Warranty, sometimes referred to as the "full warranty," is highly sought after by consumers. However, it doesn't always mean what people imagine. The term "lifetime" is interpreted differently by various manufacturers. For some, it might refer to the duration during which the original purchaser owns the product, while for others, it could mean the expected life span of the product, typically determined through testing. In some cases, "lifetime" refers to the period during which the manufacturer continues producing the product. Once the product is discontinued, the manufacturer might still honor the warranty for a specific period outlined in the warranty document. Before considering a product with a lifetime warranty, it’s wise to carefully review the warranty statement to fully grasp what "lifetime" truly means. It's quite rare for "lifetime" to literally mean the lifespan of a human.

Limited Warranty

Slightly less comprehensive than a Lifetime Warranty is the Limited Warranty, sometimes called the "limited lifetime warranty." This type of warranty often limits coverage to specific parts, certain types of defects, and the duration of coverage. What exactly gets limited varies depending on the manufacturer and product in question. Therefore, it's essential to thoroughly read the entire warranty document, including the fine print. Common exclusions include cosmetic defects, wear and tear, accidental damage, improper use, and a time limit on coverage. Another important detail to watch out for is that the warranty is usually attached to the original owner, making it non-transferable. This can significantly affect the resale value of a bike.

Crash Replacement

Some bicycle manufacturers offer limited warranties to cover crash damage, primarily for frames and wheels, which are the most costly components of the bike. Crash replacement is essentially a steep discount, but it's still a valuable coverage, particularly if you're prone to crashing. By offering crash replacement discounts, manufacturers aim to retain their customers. Manufacturers will always try to replace your crashed components with identical or similar ones. However, if the component has been out of production for a long time or is out of stock, you might be out of luck. In some instances, you may receive an offer to upgrade your frame or wheels to a modern equivalent. If this happens, ensure that your remaining components will fit the new frame or wheels, as the cycling industry evolves quickly, making many components obsolete.

Your Bike's Warranty

Even though a bike may seem straightforward, it consists of hundreds of parts grouped into dozens of individual components. Besides the frame, most components on a bike are made by third-party suppliers, each of which often offers its own separate warranties.

While many large bicycle manufacturers provide lifetime warranties on the frame and sometimes wheels, the drivetrain, brakes, and nearly all other components typically carry limited warranties from their respective manufacturers, such as Shimano or SRAM. Motors and batteries, even from the same manufacturer, may have limited warranties with significantly different terms.

Check out the table below for warranties from various component manufacturers:

* Various components may carry different warranties.

Transferability

Most manufacturer warranties are tied to the original owner and cannot be transferred to a new owner. This can be a bitter pill to swallow when looking for a used bike, especially a high-end one. Some manufacturers are starting to adapt, offering lifetime warranties while providing the second owner with a limited warranty, which could be as short as the remainder of the 2-year period from when the original owner bought the bike.

The Role of a Shop

A warranty is a promise from the manufacturer to you, not the shop where you bought your bike. In this scenario, the shop acts as an authorized dealer who can perform warranty work but cannot approve it—only the manufacturer can. When you bring in a bike with a defective part, the shop will assess the situation and, when appropriate, file a claim with the manufacturer. Most bike shops can quickly determine whether your claim will be covered under the bike's warranty. Unfortunately, not every bike shop files claims on your behalf, so if in doubt, take your bike to the shop where you purchased it or at least another shop that carries the brand of your bike.

Direct-to-Consumer Brands

If you bought a bike from a direct-to-consumer brand, you can't take it to a local shop expecting the work to be covered under warranty. Instead, you'll need to contact the online retailer's warranty department and follow their process, which may vary based on the situation. If the repair is common and can be done by any reputable bike shop, you might receive replacement parts in the mail and pay the shop for labor. Some brands even reimburse labor costs, so be sure to keep your receipt. For more complex problems, such as issues with a proprietary e-bike electrical system, you might be required to pack up the bike and ship it to the manufacturer's repair facility.

Common Exclusions

Warranty contracts are often lengthy documents that can sometimes be hard to understand. Fortunately, most regulations require a clear list of exclusions, so if you're unsure, start with that section, as it will clearly outline exactly what the warranty won't cover.

Most warranties have reasonable exclusions that protect manufacturers from questionable or fraudulent claims and save everyone time. For example, nearly all warranties do not cover products that have been modified, poorly maintained, neglected, abused, or involved in accidents.

A particular warning to home mechanics is that all warranties will deny coverage if the damage was caused by improper assembly or repair, or due to a lack of technical skill, competence, or experience on the user's part. If you're not confident working on your bike, avoid the risk and take it to a qualified bicycle repair shop.

Poor maintenance is a very common reason for warranty denials. If you bring a bike with shifting issues but the chain is rusty, that claim will undoubtedly be denied. A suspension fork that has never been serviced but is now losing air will also not be covered by warranty. All bicycle component manufacturers publish recommended maintenance schedules, and you're expected to follow them if you wish to maintain warranty coverage.

As an owner, you can perform most routine bicycle maintenance at home. This includes cleaning and lubricating the chain, cleaning drivetrain components, and keeping tires properly inflated. Additionally, ensuring that all bolts on the bike are tightened to specification can help prevent costly damage and even crashes.

Finally, all warranties exclude wear and tear that naturally occurs as the bike is being ridden, even as intended.

Recall Notices

If a defect in the manufacturing process is discovered to be statistically significant, the bicycle manufacturer will issue a recall and replace the defective bike or bike part under warranty. When a recall is issued, it's crucial to get the recalled part replaced immediately and not ride the bike until the defect has been repaired or replaced. Once a recall is issued, the bicycle warranty might not cover the bike until the recall issue has been corrected.

Extended Warranty

If you plan on keeping your bike beyond the warranty term and want peace of mind knowing that any repairs or replacements will be covered, you should consider an extended warranty. Not all extended warranties are the same or provide the same coverage, so it's important to understand what you're buying.

The most common concern among new bike owners is wear and tear. Many components of a bicycle, such as the drivetrain, brakes, bearings, and suspension components, are designed to wear out as part of normal riding. If a bicycle part moves, it will eventually wear out and need to be replaced before causing more significant damage. The extended warranty offered by Velocare covers the cost of replacing bike parts that have deteriorated through normal use of the bike.

Insurance

It's important to understand that warranties only cover failures that can be directly attributed to defects in materials or craftsmanship. So, if you lose control of your bike and crash with devastating damage, it would not be covered.

A bicycle policy offered by Velosurance covers accidental damage and even theft of a bicycle. The policy is designed specifically to cover the risks associated with cycling, such as damage in a crash, a motorist versus bicycle accident, or even if the bike falls off the car's bike rack. The policy can also be customized with optional coverages such as worldwide coverage, vehicle contract protection, liability coverage, and medical gap. The policy offered by Velosurance covers all bikes, including Class 1, 2, and 3 ebikes.