Where is BikeLife?

[GroenHoender]

What happened to BikeLife.Co.Za  = a local company specialising in bike finances?

I have used them before - very friendly people with great service.

 

 

What other bike finance companies are out there, and which can be recommended?

Edited October 8, 2018 by GroenHoender

[Robbie Stewart]

Chris Willemse, being Cyclelab now, finances through Wesbank. Much safer than Bikelife.

MUCH!

 

but, rather try not finance a new bike. I would not in any case, but that's just my own 2c worth.

[WeekendWarrior80]

There's Yonda as well. Looks like they also finance through Wesbank:

https://www.yonda.co.za/

 

I'm thinking I may need to finance my next mtb.

Edited October 8, 2018 by WeekendWarrior80

[keithbe]

There's Yonda as well. Looks like they also finance through Wesbank:

https://www.yonda.co.za/

 

I'm thinking I may need to finance my next mtb.

Yonda do work through Wesbank. Note: a "commission" % is added to the finance amount. Added - either bike shop takes a knock or purchaser settles the amount. Edited October 8, 2018 by keithbe

[GroenHoender]

 

but, rather try not finance a new bike. I would not in any case, but that's just my own 2c worth.

 

I share the same sentiment but try buying 2x e-MTB bikes for a family, which certainly is not cheap.

 

Actually wanted to keep my current Giant Anthem bike and get a Giant e-bike as extra. But was shocked to find out how much value it has lost over a year's period (bike itself is less than 1.5 years old). Plus service cost is also increasing.

 

According to the Giant sales person in Durbanville, it is due to SA's poor economy and bicycle market (high costs to import and distribute). Secondhand values are dropping like dead flies while new (normal) bikes prices are skyrocketing. 

 

But even still, e-bikes sales are booming, even with high prices because according to him, it has more appeal for a larger audience (especially those that never have ridden bikes before, or the aged people or those recovering from injuries). He is selling more e-bikes than ordinary ones. He predicts that the market, in 5 year's time, will be more e-bike oriented.

 

Even in my town, I am seeing more and more locals on e-bikes. Plus, I stay in Stellenbosch but work in Somerset West and I see a lot of bike commuters (on e-bikes) between these towns.

[WeekendWarrior80]

Yonda do work through Wesbank. Note: a "commission" % is added to the finance amount. Added - either bike shop takes a knock or purchaser settles the amount.

The bike has to cost at least 30k to be financed through them, apparently.

 

Any idea how Cycle Lab works in that regard?

[Slowbee]

I share the same sentiment but try buying 2x e-MTB bikes for a family, which certainly is not cheap.

 

Actually wanted to keep my current Giant Anthem bike and get a Giant e-bike as extra. But was shocked to find out how much value it has lost over a year's period (bike itself is less than 1.5 years old). Plus service cost is also increasing.

 

According to the Giant sales person in Durbanville, it is due to SA's poor economy and bicycle market (high costs to import and distribute). Secondhand values are dropping like dead flies while new (normal) bikes prices are skyrocketing. 

 

But even still, e-bikes sales are booming, even with high prices because according to him, it has more appeal for a larger audience (especially those that never have ridden bikes before, or the aged people or those recovering from injuries). He is selling more e-bikes than ordinary ones. He predicts that the market, in 5 year's time, will be more e-bike oriented.

 

Even in my town, I am seeing more and more locals on e-bikes. Plus, I stay in Stellenbosch but work in Somerset West and I see a lot of bike commuters (on e-bikes) between these towns.

where do you work in Somerset West?

[GroenHoender]

The bike has to cost at least 30k to be financed through them, apparently.

 

Any idea how Cycle Lab works in that regard?

 

Both Yonda and CycleLab use WesBank as finance option.

 

And according to Yonda, it is minimum R30 000 bike price, with a R10 000 as deposit. No idea if CycleLab is the same but if it is the minimum required by WesBank, then it is presumedly the same required by CycleLab.

 

I have made a quick comparison between CycleLab and Yonda with their online calculators. Both has given me the same monthly installment figure, give or take a R100 more or less.

Edited October 9, 2018 by GroenHoender

[GroenHoender]

where do you work in Somerset West?

 

The Sanctuary complex.

The one with the lake :-)

Opposite Paardevlei nature park.

[Slowbee]

The Sanctuary complex.

The one with the lake :-)

Opposite Paardevlei nature park.

:eek: , I am not sure I would call it Nature Park - but it is a cool place.

 

But why an e bike ? When the south easter blows you get a free lift home in any case

[GroenHoender]

:eek: , I am not sure I would call it Nature Park - but it is a cool place.

 

But why an e bike ? When the south easter blows you get a free lift home in any case

 

Getting old ballie myself :-P

But mostly for the commuting between 2 towns - faster with e-bike.

Also save a ton on fuel.

[Devlin Fogg]

Hi guys.

I own Yonda so you are welcome to DM me if you need more info.

Yonda works via Wesbank, just the same as Cyclelab, but available nationwide, and you will get the same finance terms as if you went through Cyclelab.

 

The minimum amount is R10 000.

 

From 30k up, there is a 10% deposit payable (normally)

 

As I said, please DM me if you need specific info, or check out www.yonda.co.za

 

Happy Trails.

 

[WeekendWarrior80]

Hi guys.

I own Yonda so you are welcome to DM me if you need more info.

Yonda works via Wesbank, just the same as Cyclelab, but available nationwide, and you will get the same finance terms as if you went through Cyclelab.

 

The minimum amount is R10 000.

 

From 30k up, there is a 10% deposit payable (normally)

 

As I said, please DM me if you need specific info, or check out www.yonda.co.za

 

Happy Trails.

Thanks for letting us know [emoji106]

[thisismyotherbike]

Chris Willemse, being Cyclelab now, finances through Wesbank. Much safer than Bikelife.

 

MUCH!

 

 

Safer? For who?

 

I'm obsessed with counterparty risk from deposit-taking institutions who have my money, but don't give a hoot about my creditors' balance sheets. If they collapse my little loan might just disappear in the ensuing chaos

[Robbie Stewart]

Safer? For who?

 

I'm obsessed with counterparty risk from deposit-taking institutions who have my money, but don't give a hoot about my creditors' balance sheets. If they collapse my little loan might just disappear in the ensuing chaos

 

Bikelife has been discussed in previous threads, and from what I can remember is that they had a tendency to keep invoicing after the purchase has reached the end of the term, and that people were basically having all sorts of run arounds and fun trying to have this matter resolved.

 

I too was thinking of it for a bit (for as long as it took me to save up for my dream-machine), but sanity prevailed in the end. Reading up about Bikelife finally nudged me in the right direction.

 

As an aside, I don't usually find ads on tv particularly funny, but the new Hippo ad is rather hilarious, and in this situation, probably pretty apt.

 

[GroenHoender]

Bikelife has been discussed in previous threads, and from what I can remember is that they had a tendency to keep invoicing after the purchase has reached the end of the term, and that people were basically having all sorts of run arounds and fun trying to have this matter resolved.

 

I too was thinking of it for a bit (for as long as it took me to save up for my dream-machine), but sanity prevailed in the end. Reading up about Bikelife finally nudged me in the right direction.

 

That is an interesting story about BikeLife.I never had any problems with them, ever. 

 

Before I bought my Anthem bike, I saved up a year for it (which was like a water torture treatment - very very long wait as I did not have any other bike then). And by the time I finally could buy it, it was just sheer bad luck that the bike I wanted was sold out and I had to buy the next year model (which was more expensive and above my total savings).

 

So I thought "waddehel, willie nog wag nie" and went to BikeLife (as suggested by the bike shop where I ordered my bike) because their terms were even cheaper than a getting a credit card or any other loan option. Their invoices (and prompt responses) was top notch. When I paid off my last instalment, they promptly closed my debt account, and send me proof of everything.

 

Just curious on why they are gone?

Edited October 8, 2018 by GroenHoender