By Johnny | Mokwheel Factory Store | Oregon's Official Mokwheel Flagship Dealer
I'm gonna be honest with you — it is more dangerous than ever to buy an e-bike online in 2026. The 2025 tariffs changed this industry forever. Companies either got smart or got out. And we're still seeing the fallout as brands struggle to hold on.
The last person who's going to tell you that is the company trying to sell you a bike.
My Story
I've got six years in this business and I'll be real with you — I lived this firsthand. We had to close our Corvallis location and let three employees go because of what 2025 brought to this industry. So when I tell you buying online carries more risk right now — I'm not saying it to scare you. I'm saying it because the facts are harder to assess than they've ever been.
At the end of the day, you really just need to ask yourself one question before you buy anything.
The One Question
Is this company here to stay?
Because the specs don't matter. The price doesn't matter. The reviews don't matter. If the company disappears — everything disappears with it.
3 Things to Check Before You Buy
1. Call Them
Try to get a real person on the phone with a service question. If there's no American number, if nobody picks up, if you can't get anyone — that's strike one. A brand that can't answer the phone before you buy definitely won't answer it after.
2. Check the Warranty
Find their warranty page. Is it easy to find? Is it written in plain language? Brands that are confident in their product make their warranty easy to find and easy to understand. Brands that are struggling bury it.
3. Find the Parts
Go to their website right now. Are parts listed? Are they in stock? E-bikes are not regular bikes — everything is proprietary. If parts aren't there before you need them, they won't be there when you do.
One More Thing — After You Buy
Know the return policy. And do not throw away the box until the return window is completely closed. A lot of brands won't take a return without original packaging — and finding a box that fits a 70-pound e-bike is not a situation you want to be in.
The Better Answer
If I'm being completely honest — the single best move you can make is finding a local dealer who carries a brand they actually believe in. Not a big box store. Not Amazon. A real shop with real people who ride these bikes, service these bikes, and are going to be there when you need them.
Even if they don't have the exact model you had in mind — that bike is going to last lifetimes longer.
Come See Us in Oregon
If you're in Oregon — Tualatin, Eugene, Portland area — come test ride something. You'll understand immediately why this matters.
📍 Tualatin (Portland area): 503-404-3986
📍 Eugene: 541-838-6728
🌐 Shop our full Mokwheel lineup
🔧 Book a service appointment
Already bought online and stuck? Drop it in the comments — I read every one.
