Chris Nolte
Well-Known Member
We just got word that our first order or Riese & Müller bikes will be arriving to the US this week and I figured I would celebrate by telling the story of how these awesome bikes made their way over here.
For the past three years I have been attending Eurobike to check out trends in the market and to find sources for new products. From the first time I saw the R&M bikes I was taken back by the designs and the attention to detail. They obviously get it. This comes as little surprise considering the way the company was founded. It was started by two MTB racers Markus Riese & Heiko Müller. They wanted a bike to take with them when they travelled but they weren't satisfied with the offerings at the time. They built the first full suspension folding bike the Birdy. The bike retained the same racey feeling they craved and it was a major success.
From here they stuck with the idea of full suspension for city bikes and considering the benefits for safety, comfort and performance. Later they started introducing electric assist until they ultimately moved to only offer electric assist bikes with the Bosch system aside for their Birdy model.
I have been begging them for years to come to the US, I even pleaded with their manufacturing partner Pacific. Last summer I got the good news that they will come to the US after several emails with Heiko. They didn't waste anytime either. They setup a booth at Interbike and have decided to participate in the Ebike Expos throughout the US. Below are some images from a tour at their Factory I did last September.
My Fiance Marisa, Me, Heiko and the National Sales Manager Erich on the Packster
An early prototype of the Birdy modified to use on the mountains in the winter
Lot's of Bosch motors
Heiko setting up a Delite for Marisa to test ride
While we were visiting they were in the middle of expanding their warehouse. This is part of it. They are super dialed in with their parts and organization. Something like what you would see at Amazon.
This is a container at the back of their warehouse being loaded for shipping. They fill 1+ of these per day.
This is Sandra Heiko's wife with my soon to be wife Marisa.
Another view of the assembly area.
Some bikes that just arrived back from the Eurobike show.
A Delite being assembled in the R&M way. Having visited some factories in Taiwan I was thoroughly impressed by the way they handled things. It's what you would expect from German Engineers.
Below are some more images. Enjoy!
For the past three years I have been attending Eurobike to check out trends in the market and to find sources for new products. From the first time I saw the R&M bikes I was taken back by the designs and the attention to detail. They obviously get it. This comes as little surprise considering the way the company was founded. It was started by two MTB racers Markus Riese & Heiko Müller. They wanted a bike to take with them when they travelled but they weren't satisfied with the offerings at the time. They built the first full suspension folding bike the Birdy. The bike retained the same racey feeling they craved and it was a major success.
From here they stuck with the idea of full suspension for city bikes and considering the benefits for safety, comfort and performance. Later they started introducing electric assist until they ultimately moved to only offer electric assist bikes with the Bosch system aside for their Birdy model.
I have been begging them for years to come to the US, I even pleaded with their manufacturing partner Pacific. Last summer I got the good news that they will come to the US after several emails with Heiko. They didn't waste anytime either. They setup a booth at Interbike and have decided to participate in the Ebike Expos throughout the US. Below are some images from a tour at their Factory I did last September.
My Fiance Marisa, Me, Heiko and the National Sales Manager Erich on the Packster
An early prototype of the Birdy modified to use on the mountains in the winter
Lot's of Bosch motors
Heiko setting up a Delite for Marisa to test ride
While we were visiting they were in the middle of expanding their warehouse. This is part of it. They are super dialed in with their parts and organization. Something like what you would see at Amazon.
This is a container at the back of their warehouse being loaded for shipping. They fill 1+ of these per day.
This is Sandra Heiko's wife with my soon to be wife Marisa.
Another view of the assembly area.
Some bikes that just arrived back from the Eurobike show.
A Delite being assembled in the R&M way. Having visited some factories in Taiwan I was thoroughly impressed by the way they handled things. It's what you would expect from German Engineers.
Below are some more images. Enjoy!
