After 40 years: Bonner Drahtesel closes – Huge discounts on sales!

After 40 years: Bonner Drahtesel closes – Huge discounts on sales!

After 40 years of successful history, the Drahtesel specialist shop in Bonn is closing its doors. Owners Jean and Lilo Franzen have decided to close their traditional bicycle shop and are currently inviting you to a large clearance sale that has been running since September 5, 2025. The sale includes a wide range of bicycles, e-bikes and accessories from renowned brands such as Tout Terrain, Flyer, I:SY, Qio, Gazelle, Bergamont, Stevens, Maxcycles, Velo de Ville, Falter and Woom. Everything is offered at greatly reduced prices while stocks last, according to wa.de and ga.de.

The business premises are located at Moltkestrasse 10-12 in Bonn and are open from Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Even though the business is closing, the bike mobility guarantee remains in place. Jean Franzen will continue to be available to answer questions about service and maintenance, which should reassure many long-time customers.

Why the clearance sale?

A key reason for the closure of the specialist bicycle shop could be the general decline in the German bicycle market. According to a recent study by EY-Parthenon, the market recorded a 10% decline in sales to 6.3 billion euros in 2024. This trend is caused by declining demand and growing online sales. Sales of mechanical bicycles have also declined, and e-bikes now account for 86% of sales in the German bicycle market. In contrast, demand for e-bikes remained relatively stable, which could support the market's forecast recovery by 2030. These developments may also have contributed to Jean and Lilo Franzen closing their doors to pursue new opportunities, explains ey.com.

The decision to start the clearance sale was not easy. Jean and Lilo Franzen have maintained close contact with their customers over the years and have built many close bonds. “This is not an easy chapter to close,” says Jean Franzen, who is also there for customers with individual advice and live ergonomic analyzes on site. “We know that people need good advice, especially when buying a new bicycle or e-bike.”

A look into the future

Overall, the Franzen are withdrawing from a business that they ran for decades. Exciting new prospects are already in store for some of the staff, while the store will be completely cleared and swept clean by the end of the year. A consistently positive response comes from customers who will miss the specialist retailer and their expertise.
It remains to be seen which business could possibly continue the tradition of the bike. Until then, all doors are open for a few bargains and the memories of 40 years of cycling.