10,000 yuan bicycle maintenance is expensive, and the gap in the relevant insurance market needs to be filled
With the rise of cycling culture, the high-end bicycle market is gradually heating up, but the high maintenance costs and the gap in the related insurance market have become the focus of attention of cycling enthusiasts. At the turn of spring and summer, there was a gust of cycling wind blowing along the West Lake, and along with it some expensive bicycle repair disputes, once again sparked public discussion about "sky-high bicycles" and their insurance issues.
According to the data disclosed by the China Bicycle Industry Association, in 2023, the high-end trend in the bicycle industry will be obvious, with the output of bicycles above 1,000 yuan increasing by 15.1% year-on-year, the proportion of 1,000 yuan vehicles in the total output has reached 24.9%, and the sales of high-end sports bicycles will increase by more than 10%. This trend undoubtedly provides more options for cycling enthusiasts, but with it comes the problem of high maintenance costs.
Taking a bicycle maintenance dispute in Wenzhou as an example, an American brand Trek bicycle priced at more than 50,000 yuan was accidentally knocked down, and the repair cost was as high as more than 38,000 yuan. This "sky-high maintenance order" quickly sparked heated discussions in the society, so that many cycling enthusiasts began to pay attention to the issue of bicycle insurance.
However, there are not many insurance products on the market today for high-end bicycles. On the one hand, due to the niche bicycle market, insurance companies believe that the operation of this type of insurance faces great uncertainty, high risk, large investment, and small premium scale, so it lacks the willingness to establish an insurance product system, service capacity, and sales channels in this field. On the other hand, high-end bicycle insurance is in its infancy, and the tight control of insurance companies on the underwriting of commercial insurance for luxury cars also reflects the market's concerns about such risks.
Recently, Trek bicycles have once again been on the hot search due to the problem of "sky-high maintenance". In Nankai District, Tianjin, a Cui Ke P1 Phantom Rainbow custom painted bicycle with a price of nearly 130,000 yuan was accidentally knocked down, causing the owner to have a dispute with the other party on maintenance issues, and once called the police. The incident has once again raised public attention to issues such as the high cost of repairing high-end bicycles and the lack of insurance markets.
Chu Yurun, the manager of Cuike Bicycle Shop, said in an interview that the price of this P1 Phantom Rainbow custom painted bicycle is as high as more than 120,000 yuan, plus the modification cost of the owner, the value of the whole vehicle is about 150,000 yuan. Due to the carbon fiber frame, the material, while light and has good shock absorption, is fragile in the event of an impact, prone to breakage and difficult to repair. In addition, the whole vehicle is imported from the United States, and the paint damage cannot be completely repaired, and the paint of each car is handmade and different, and the repair can only be carried out by a third party.
Regarding the question raised by netizens "why do these high-end bicycles have no foot supports", Chu Yurun explained that there are potential safety hazards in road bike foot supports, and foot supports may be inserted into tires during team riding, resulting in danger. In addition, every time you retract or release the footrest, the frame can be damaged, and the footstand can affect the speed and stability of the ride. As a result, many bike races and high-end bikes do not allow foot braces.
Although the high-end bicycle market is hot, there is a gap in the insurance market. Xiao Tao, a cycling enthusiast, said that during riding, the risk of damage to the vehicle is much higher than personal injury. Once a vehicle is damaged, even a slight scratch paint can cost thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars to repair. However, there are not many insurance products for high-end bicycles on the market today, and owners are often forced to pay the high repair costs themselves.
The reason for the high maintenance cost of high-end bicycles is mainly due to the special materials used, exquisite craftsmanship and brand premium. At the same time, due to the relatively niche market for high-end bicycles, insurance companies face some difficulties when launching related insurance products, such as low market acceptance, difficulty in assessing losses, and high pressure on compensation.
However, despite these difficulties, some insurance companies and bicycle brands have begun to experiment with insurance products for high-end bicycles. These products usually cover personal accidents and damage to bicycle property during cycling, which can provide more comprehensive coverage for cycling enthusiasts.
Among them, some bicycle brands such as Giant have launched customized insurance products for their own brands in their apps, providing more convenient and personalized insurance services for cycling enthusiasts. In addition, some insurance companies have also introduced high-end bicycle damage insurance, which covers basic bicycle components such as frame, wheels, and transmission system, as well as the personal safety of the owner and third-party liability.
The launch of these insurance products not only provides more comprehensive protection for cycling enthusiasts, but also reflects the efforts of the insurance market to continuously adapt and meet the needs of consumers. However, the high cost of high-end bicycle maintenance still requires bicycle manufacturers, insurance companies and consumers to work together to reduce repair costs by improving product quality, optimizing insurance products and services, and raising consumer safety awareness.
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