At the Eurobike trade show, hopes are high that smart, AI-equipped bikes can revive an industry that has struggled for years with sales growth.
Artificial intelligence, long used in cars and smartphones, is now entering the world of cycling in areas ranging from electric motors to safety and services.
At the stand of Avinox, a maker of electric bike motors, the DNA of parent company and Chinese drone specialist DJI has been transposed into cycling.
The on-screen motor features sensors that constantly monitor the rider’s movements and terrain conditions, allowing the AI to automatically adjust the motor’s assistance for pedaling.
This makes traveling “easier and safer without having to think about it,” said Avinox developer Ferdinand Wolf.
The system even allows a rider to transmit their heart rate in real time so that the e-bike’s motor can modify the level of assistance as needed.
– Safety signals –
Elsewhere in the show, there’s technology aimed at keeping cyclists alive and injury-free.
In Germany’s Canyon, a racing bike equipped with cameras and radars promises to alert cyclists “to the presence of elements they don’t necessarily perceive,” said company spokesman Ben Hilldson.
“If a car is parking, the system can predict a door opening and warn the cyclist,” he said.
The rider would then be notified via visual cues on the frame, vibrations on the handlebars or via technology inside their helmet.
Canyon is introducing a helmet equipped with a large mask capable of displaying real-time alerts or receiving an audio signal, depending on the user’s preference.
The products are currently in the prototype stage, Hilldson said.
Canyon is also working with carmaker Volkswagen on a communications system that would allow the bike to interact with surrounding cars and other infrastructure, with launch expected in about three years.
The main obstacle: almost all vehicles currently on the road are not yet equipped to exchange such data.
– Smart grids –
Artificial intelligence is also shaking up services in the cycling industry.
At insurer Linexo “around 90 percent of claims will be handled completely automatically by the end of the year,” said head of the bicycle division Soeren Hirsch.
Automation handles standard cases, while experts review complex claims and detect fraud, “the only way to keep insurance premiums stable,” he added.
Meanwhile, start-up Wunderfix offers repair services that connect retailers, customers and shops through an app that allows cyclists to diagnose and, when possible, repair their bikes themselves.
About 3,000 service requests have already been registered this year, the company says.
The rise of smart bikes and smart bikes has fueled hopes of a comeback for the business.
The European bicycle market shrank in 2025 for the third consecutive year, with sales falling four percent to 15.2 million units, according to consultants EY-Parthenon.
“After the boom during the Covid-19 pandemic, the sector has been going through a painful consolidation since 2023: lower sales, high inventories and strong price pressure have weighed heavily on many players,” said EY-Parthenon analyst Constantin Gall.
However, the market is expected to stabilize this year before slowly recovering, with revenues forecast at €21.2bn for 2031 – on par with record sales in 2022.
Alongside infrastructure investment, “digital and data-driven offerings” will be a growth driver, the consultancy said.
