Riese & Muller Experiences Rapid Growth, Expands into US
Founded in a garage by two university friends 24 years ago, German brand Riese & Muller creates car-replacing electric commuter, cargo and mountain bikes that defy convention and look like nothing else on the market.
Gates recently toured the R&M assembly factory and headquarters in Weiterstadt, Germany, where workers assemble frames, add components, build wheels, install Gates belt drives and more, then package the complete bikes for shipment to countries around Europe and, now, the United States. With about 250 employees, the company is experiencing rapid growth due to its innovative designs. The company is now building a new, larger, 237,000 square-foot headquarters and factory near Frankfurt to keep up with demand. All of its eBikes use Bosch motors and can be configured with many different options, such as double battery packs for longer range, or, like the Packster 40 cargo bike, with Gates Carbon Drive belts for low-maintenance simplicity.
Markus Riese and Heiko Muller officially launched Riese and Muller in 1993 with the creation of the Birdy, a folding full-suspension bike that won awards for its unique “Foldable Suspension Ride” design. Early versions of the Birdy, equipped with a belt drive, are on display at the company headquarters.
In 2016, Riese and Muller entered the U.S. market, with about 25 dealers in San Francisco; Portland, Oregon; Boulder and Denver, Colorado; Seattle, New York and Los Angeles. “We believe these are the most important markets in the U.S. for our products,” says Sandra Wolf, CEO. “These are the markets where change is happening, where people are transitioning from cars to bikes and eBikes for mobility.” The Nevo is one of the models being offered in the United States with a Gates belt drive. Check out their full line at r-m.de
