Daforza confirms new supply chain for Wisper and sets out position on inherited Cycleman dispute

Daforza (Distribution) Ltd, acquired the Wisper Electric Bikes brand from AMPS Bikes in February 2026, and has publicly set out an account of the supply problems it inherited with the electric bike brand, as well as the steps being taken to restore reliable availability for dealers and riders.

The press statement said that Wisper Electric Bikes had suffered several years of disruption linked to a single large manufacturer order placed in October 2021 with Cycleman, a long-standing Far East manufacturing partner that also produces the Reany Bike brand.

That order covered components for approximately 5,200 bicycles ($4.7m), intended to meet pandemic-era demand. A deposit of €470,000 was paid, with staged deliveries promised in March, April and May 2022. Those delivery dates were not met by Cycleman, said the statement, and the first consignment of around 1,450 units only arrived in Portugal for assembly in late October 2022, missing the cycling season that year.

It added: “Inspection of the shipment identified widespread quality failures, including cracked weld filler, paint defects, brake problems and wiring faults across many of the models, said Daforza. The goods were rejected and corrective work was agreed to take place in Portugal. Hundreds of frames needed stripping back to bare metal for weld repair, respray and rewiring. That programme occupied most of 2023 and meant the 2023 season was also missed.

“Of the original 5,200 bicycles ordered, only a small portion have ever passed quality inspection and been supplied. To date, goods to the value of approximately €350,000 have been delivered against the €470,000 deposit, leaving €120,000 worth of stock outstanding. Cycleman has acknowledged responsibility for that balance.”

The press statement provides more detail on the dispute:

“Multiple Failed Resolutions
In January 2026, Wisper founder David Miall met Cycleman Chief Executive Mark Rao and Sales Director Alan Wan in Belgium. Cycleman agreed to honour the outstanding balance and release quality-checked stock to the same value, enabling Wisper to trade through the 2026 season. In return, Wisper would permit Cycleman to dispose of rejected stock elsewhere. A written agreement was promised the next week.

The draft agreement that arrived contained a material clause that had not been agreed in Belgium: the right for Cycleman to sell Wisper-branded bicycles and components worldwide for a minimum of five years. That proposal was rejected.

The reasons for rejection are simple:
1. Warranty exposure – If rejected stock reached the market under the Wisper name, riders would look to Wisper for warranty support.
2. No effective territorial control – An undertaking not to sell in the UK cannot prevent third-party leakage into Wisper’s home market.
3. Brand dilution – The draft would potentially have enabled Cycleman to keep manufacturing Wisper-branded bicycles for at least five years with no obligation to the brand owner.
4. Unverified stock – Cycleman has claimed the full 5,200 units exist, but has refused to provide evidence beyond the original purchase order.

Further talks took place at Eurobike in Frankfurt in June 2026, with Daforza representatives also in attendance. Cycleman and Reany Bike CEO Mark Rao and Sales Director Alan Wan offered to release of €50,000 of stock the following week, together with a fresh written agreement for the disposal of the rejected stock against defined criteria. No bicycles, displays or batteries were subsequently dispatched.

Two further written understandings followed, the last reducing the immediate release to €25,000 of stock. Neither has been fulfilled.

Cycleman CEO Mark Rao stated during a videocall between Wisper, AMPS Electric Bikes, Incycles (Portugal) and Daforza representatives, that he felt he had no obligation to refund the balance owed, nor supply bikes to the same value.

While negotiations to resolve this issue continued, Daforza has purchased approximately £15,000 of parts from Cycleman and other suppliers during the summer of 2026 to keep existing Wisper riders on the road.

Procuring components that have already been paid for in order to give them away under warranty is not a viable commercial model. It was a temporary decision taken in the expectation that paid-for stock would finally be released. Cycleman has since stated in writing that it will no longer sell parts to Daforza unless David Miall signs the five-year global brand licence. As a result, that option is no longer available, and both Daforza & David Miall regard Cycleman’s strategy as an attempt to extract brand rights under duress, which neither party will agree to. Models that depended on Cycleman supply (Wayfarer, 705 and 905) were discontinued by
Daforza earlier this year.

The Way Forward
Daforza has spent 2026 developing a new Wisper range, removing Cycleman from the supply chain entirely. The new models are scheduled for release in 2027.

For legacy components, alternative sources are being secured for common service items of older models, including traditional rack batteries (375Wh and 750Wh), motors and displays. New case moulds and CE certification are required for the replacement batteries, so factory-new units are unlikely to be available before the New Year. However, in the interim, short-run supply is being maintained by refurbishing existing battery cases with new cells and battery-management systems. That process is slow, but it is the most effective way to keep Wisper riders supported until new batteries become available.

Daforza took on this project to put the Wisper brand back on a stable footing, and we had hoped 2026 would be a transitional year, with already paid-for supply from Cycleman covering the gap until our new range can be launched in 2027. Cycleman’s failure to honour delivery promises and warranties has made that endeavour incredibly challenging. Daforza aims to keep honouring obligations to existing owners as far as supply allows, and shall bring a completely new, independently sourced Wisper range to market in 2027. The team are working to build a supply chain that can support the Wisper brand into the future, and we very much appreciate your support as this process is undertaken. We do understand that it has been incredibly frustrating, to say the least. It is not the situation we wanted to inherit, however, it is the one we have. Despite this, the company is fully prepared to see this project through and provide assurance that the right steps are being  taken to resolve the historic supply issues. Our objective is to make sure 2027 is witness to a new range of Wisper bikes that are worthy of the brand, supported by a supply chain that is responsible and reliable.

Our vision is to reintroduce Wisper as a British heritage brand – free of the encumbrance of poor supply, and with contemporary features that will set it apart as a true British marque. We will be visiting retailers to demonstrate the new range in the near future, and we look forward to showing you our vision for Wisper Electric Bikes in 2027.”

CIN has contacted Cycleman for its response.