What if it’s stolen?

[Gringo]

if I buy a second hand bike (Bosch) and it needs to go back to a dealer for any reason, would the dealer know if it’s stolen when it’s plugged into the diagnostics?
I don’t want to buy a stolen bike but you can’t be 100% sure

My reasons for asking.
A Victoria eUrban 11.8 E-Bike has been advised locally at a good price (£1700) and I’ve been on the lookout for a bike that my sister can use to join me on my rides.
She can’t really justify an expensive bike only for ”nice days” perhaps once a week in the summer but as I’m riding 3 times a week throughout the year (just for the fun of it) I thought of buying myself another bike that uses the same Bosch battery as my Cube.
A second bike would give me a spare battery doubling my range for when I’m riding solo and a bike my sister can use when we both go out.

 

[Nealh]

An original buyers receipt as proof of purchase.

 

[Gringo]

An original buyers receipt as proof of purchase.

Obviously,
I had a hell of a job finding the receipt for the last bike I sold after 3 years of ownership (I found it in the end).
When the bike is second or even third hand the paper work isn’t always available.
Good will and a 100% seller isn’t a guarantee that someone else hasn't been duped.

 

[Nev]

A second bike would give me a spare battery doubling my range for when I’m riding solo and a bike my sister can use when we both go out.

I have two Bosch bikes each with the 500wh battery, however I have not tried swapping the battery packs over. I mentioned to the bike shop that it would be handy for long rides up in the mountains I would be able to take a spare battery pack with me. They told me to be careful, they had heard of several customers that had done this and had trouble that meant they had to re-install the software from Bosch for the customers.

I have not tried since they told me this, but I am sure I have read on the forums here that other people have swapped over batteries without any problems, but I don't really want to take the risk.

 

[Raboa]

Some stolen ebikes that I have seen seem to be quiet cheap to get rid of them quickly and don't come with a battery / charger / display.

This seller could have done their homework and be selling a stolen bike or it is genuine.

 

[xena]

I have two Bosch bikes each with the 500wh battery, however I have not tried swapping the battery packs over. I mentioned to the bike shop that it would be handy for long rides up in the mountains I would be able to take a spare battery pack with me. They told me to be careful, they had heard of several customers that had done this and had trouble that meant they had to re-install the software from Bosch for the customers.

I have not tried since they told me this, but I am sure I have read on the forums here that other people have swapped over batteries without any problems, but I don't really want to take the risk.

I've got 3 that I swap the batteries between with no ill effects, 2 x 2018 and a 2017. I did also have a 2014 400Wh battery pack that used to get swapped as well, with no problems. YMMV.

 

[zakventis]

They told me to be careful, they had heard of several customers that had done this and had trouble that meant they had to re-install the software from Bosch for the customers.

I have two Treks, both with 500W Bosch batteries and have been swapping them for the past 2 years without any problem.

 

[Headshok]

I brought a 400W from a chap in Switzerland, and I can swap back and forth no issues, when you log on to Ebike Connect it saves and lists the Serial numbers of the Battery, Motor and the display - So theoretically it would easy to report stolen parts, but if Bosch bike shop software works with a alerts system ( like Border Control does in the Movies) I would be very surprised!

 

[D C]

I have two Bosch bikes each with the 500wh battery, however I have not tried swapping the battery packs over. I mentioned to the bike shop that it would be handy for long rides up in the mountains I would be able to take a spare battery pack with me. They told me to be careful, they had heard of several customers that had done this and had trouble that meant they had to re-install the software from Bosch for the customers.

I have not tried since they told me this, but I am sure I have read on the forums here that other people have swapped over batteries without any problems, but I don't really want to take the risk.

I was also warned about this by a Haibike dealer last year when I was looking at buying.
I bought two Giant bikes which I interchange batteries without problem.
Maybe it's something that only affects recent models. I presume the Haibike dealer I spoke to was telling the truth as he knew it was going to cost him the sale of two bikes.

 

[Gubbins]

When mine was stolen I had the idea that if the stolen bike details could be added to a database of sorts that could be checked against, or a flag added for service access. Whist this may seem unfair on the buyer who stands to loosesome money, theft is massively unfair on the victim who has likely lost a ship load of money.