“What is your MOQ and lead time?” is the first question every new brand asks, and the answers are usually useless because they are given as a single number. Here is how the timeline actually runs, and what moves the MOQ up or down.
The timeline, stage by stage
3–10 days
Specification and quotation. You send a target market, a rider type and a retail price. We come back with two or three platform options, a specification and a costed quotation. Vague briefs take longer — a reference bike or a tech pack cuts this stage in half.
2–4 weeks
Prototype / sample. A sample frame or complete build for physical validation. This is where geometry, finish and component fit get settled. Changes requested after this point restart the clock.
1–2 weeks
Sample approval and pre-production. You sign off the reference, we confirm component stock and lock the schedule. Nothing should be ordered from suppliers before this signature.
30–60 days
Production. Frames and standard builds typically run 30–60 days from material release, depending on paint complexity and whether components are long-lead.
20–40 days
Sea freight. Foshan to a European or US port. Air is 5–10 days but costs roughly three times more per unit on a complete bike.
Total, realistically: 3 to 5 months from first email to bikes in a warehouse, if nothing goes wrong. Plan your launch date backwards from that, not from the production time alone.
What actually drives MOQ
MOQ is not a policy, it is four variables multiplied together:
| Variable | Raises the MOQ | Lowers the MOQ |
|---|---|---|
| Tooling | New private mould — every size needs its own tooling | Existing open-mould platform — no tooling at all |
| Material | High-modulus carbon, T1100, complex layups | 6061 / 7005 aluminium, steel |
| Finish | Multi-colour paint, decals under clear coat, bespoke graphics | Single colour, standard decal set |
| Components | Long-lead groupsets, custom wheel builds, proprietary parts | Standard catalogue components you nominate |
The reliable rule: an existing platform with a standard colour can start at the lowest quantity we offer. A new private mould in high-modulus carbon with a bespoke finish is a container-scale commitment. Everything in between is negotiated on those four variables — which is why we quote MOQ per configuration instead of publishing one number.
How to get a smaller first order
Launch on open mould
Use a platform we already make. Zero tooling, lowest MOQ, and you can prove the market before you commit to a mould.
Mix the container
Combine models, sizes and colourways in one shipment. A mixed container reaches the same freight economics as a single-model order.
Ship KD
Knocked-down packing cuts freight volume significantly on container shipments — the single biggest lever on landed cost for entry-price bikes.
Cite this page
Meihanda MOQ & Lead Time Benchmark, October 2026. Ranges reflect our own order history across 12 language markets and are confirmed per configuration. Link: meihanda.com/moq-lead-time-benchmark
Meihanda MOQ & Lead Time Benchmark, October 2026. Ranges reflect our own order history across 12 language markets and are confirmed per configuration. Link: meihanda.com/moq-lead-time-benchmark
Send us a target and we will give you the real number.
Model, quantity, destination market and price point is enough to start. See the OEM/ODM process · Start an inquiry
Model, quantity, destination market and price point is enough to start. See the OEM/ODM process · Start an inquiry
