Where Are Forme Bikes Made? | UK Roots, Global Assembly

Quick Answer On Forme Bike Production

If you are asking where are forme bikes made?, you are really asking about several steps in a modern bike brand’s supply chain.

Forme is a British brand based in Derbyshire, where models are conceived, specified, and tested on local roads and trails. Frames and many components are produced for them in specialist factories in Taiwan and other parts of Asia, then shipped to assembly sites in the UK and Europe, including an Italian plant for some e-bikes.

That mix of British design and overseas frame production is common across the bike industry, including long-standing brands that started in the UK.

Production Stage	Main Location	What Happens There
Brand Headquarters	Derbyshire, United Kingdom	Range planning, geometry, paint schemes, and spec choices.
Design And Testing	Peak District, UK	Riders and coaches shape handling and fit on local climbs and lanes.
Frame Manufacturing	Taiwan And Wider Asia	Aluminium and carbon frames welded, moulded, and finished in large plants.
Paint And Decals	Partner Factories In Asia	Frames painted, clear-coated, and branded before shipping.
Kids Bike Assembly	United Kingdom	Lightweight kids models built and checked for fit and safety.
E-Bike Assembly	Italy	Certain Bosch-equipped e-bikes built and prepared for retailers.
Distribution	UK And European Retailers	Stock sent to shops and leasing partners that work directly with riders.

Forme Bike Production: Where Your Bike Is Built

Forme launched in 2010 as a British brand under the Moore Large distribution house in Derby. From the start the company leaned on UK road and mountain riding for its ideas, while using Far Eastern factories for frame building and finishing.

A feature in a long running cycling magazine explained that early Forme frames came from Kinesis in Taiwan, with welding and frame production handled there before the bikes headed to a second plant for paint and build. That set the pattern for Forme: a Derbyshire brain, with Asian muscle doing the heavy manufacturing work.

On the latest kids range, the brand itself stresses that the bikes are built and tested in the UK for British roads and weather. That matches the way the current Forme site talks about design and testing by coaches, parents, and children in Derbyshire.

Where Are Forme Bikes Made? Brand Origins And Manufacturing Map

The production story falls into three parts: design work, frame building, and final assembly.

Design And Testing In Derbyshire

Forme’s home patch sits on the edge of the Peak District, right between steep moorland routes and busy commuter roads. The team behind the brand includes former pro racers, downhill riders, and British Cycling coaches who know what works on rough lanes, wet descents, and winter commutes.

This group shapes each model’s geometry, tyre clearances, mounts, and spec. Demo bikes then head out on real rides over Derbyshire hills, where details such as brake choice, gear ratios, and cockpit parts get tweaked before a model reaches production.

Frame Production In Asian Factories

Once a design is signed off in Derbyshire, drawings and tube specs go to frame partners in Asia. In the early years, an interview with Forme’s founder made it clear that every complete bike in the range came out of Taiwan, with Kinesis handling the frame work and a second plant dealing with paint and assembly.

That link to Taiwanese manufacturing fits a wider pattern in cycling. Taiwan built its reputation through decades of work for global brands, and its factories produce high volumes of quality aluminium and carbon frames for every price point. Forme tapped into that pool, asking for its own tube shapes and geometries rather than buying generic framesets.

Assembly In The UK And Europe

Forme has always pushed the message that bikes are created in Derbyshire for UK riding. For current kids bikes, the brand and leasing partner describe the bikes as built and tested in the UK before reaching young riders, which lines up with the idea of final assembly and checks happening close to home.

For e-bikes, a Bicycle Retailer industry report described how Forme shipped Bosch-equipped models between its Derby base and an Italian assembly plant. That story centred on a shipment theft, yet it also confirmed that at least some e-bikes are bolted together and prepared for sale inside the EU.

Put together, this means that a typical Forme bike passes through at least three regions: design and testing in Britain, frame building in Asia, and final assembly either in the UK or at a European partner plant.

Forme After The Moore Large Collapse

In early 2023, Moore Large went into administration, which hit Forme in a direct way because the brand sat inside that distribution house. Adult Forme lines vanished from many shop floors once existing stock cleared, and the company name itself disappeared from some trade listings.

That does not mean every Forme bike vanished. Kids models live on through partnerships with leasing services that specialise in lightweight children’s bikes, using the same geometry and sizing that made the brand popular with young riders and parents.

Are New Forme Bikes Still Available?

If you want a brand new Forme right now, kids bikes give you the clearest route. Leasing services and selected retailers showcase the current Cubley and Kinder ranges, with Forme presenting both as UK-built kids bikes tested by coaches, parents, and children.

Some shops still display older adult stock on their websites. Stock levels shift quickly though, so a listing does not always mean a bike is sitting in a warehouse. A quick call or email before you travel saves wasted time.

The brand’s own website now points mainly to partner platforms for sales, so treat that site as a hub for current kids models rather than a full range catalogue.

What About Spares And Warranty?

Spares for Forme bikes are easier to handle than many riders expect. Most parts come from big component makers such as Shimano or from generic suppliers, so a good workshop can match items like drivetrains, wheels, and finishing kit without chasing rare stock.

Warranty sits in a grey area for bikes bought before Moore Large closed, since the original distributor no longer trades. For second hand owners, real value lies in frame health and the ability to service the bike with standard parts, not in old paperwork.

If you are buying a used Forme, treat it like any other pre-owned bike: check the frame for cracks, look over suspension pivots on mountain models, and factor in a fresh service or consumables such as tyres, chain, and brake pads.

How To Check Where Your Forme Was Made

If you already own a Forme, or you are eyeing up a used one, you can find clues about its origin without digging through old catalogues.

Read The Frame Stickers

Most bikes carry a small label near the bottom bracket or rear triangle with a country stamp. On older Forme models that usually lists Taiwan, matching what trade interviews said about early production, while newer kids models may point to the UK as the build location.

Ask The Retailer Or Leasing Service

If a shop still lists a Forme, ask where frames and final assembly take place. Staff may not know every detail, yet they should be able to confirm whether a bike uses a Bosch drive unit, a common frame platform, or a special run for their store.

Check Official And Trade Sources

The current Forme site gives a clear picture of the brand’s Derbyshire base and kids bike focus, while long running trade outlets explain the use of Taiwanese frame partners and an Italian assembly plant for e-bikes. Reading both types of source gives you a balanced view of how the label on your downtube connects to real workshops and workers.

Aspect	Benefit For Riders	Point To Check
British Design Base	Geometry and spec tuned for steep UK hills and rough lanes.	Look for details such as mudguard mounts and practical gear ranges.
Taiwanese Frame Plants	Modern welding, repeatable quality, and wide material choice.	Ask which frame material and grade you are getting for the price.
European Assembly Sites	Shorter shipping legs for finished bikes heading to UK and EU riders.	Check that brake setup, tyres, and controls suit local rules and roads.
Kids Bikes Built In UK	Final checks done near the riders and terrain they are meant for.	Confirm weight, stand over height, and reach are child friendly.
Shared Parts With Other Brands	Easy access to replacements from mainstream component makers.	Make sure any rare items, such as shock hardware, can still be sourced.
Second Hand Market	Plenty of used bikes at reachable prices for new riders.	Inspect frames carefully and budget for a safety check at a good workshop.
E-Bike Supply Chain	Bosch systems mean strong dealer networks for motors and batteries.	Check battery age, software updates, and charger condition before buying.

What This Means When You Buy A Forme

For most riders the mix of UK design, Asian frame building, and UK or European assembly brings more upside than downside. You get a bike shaped by riders who know British hills, built in factories that produce for global brands, and finished in plants close enough that shipping times and aftercare stay reasonable.

If you like the ride, the fit, and the spec, the passport stamps on the frame matter less than the hours you will spend on local roads and paths. When you hear someone ask where are forme bikes made? you can now give a clear answer that runs from Derbyshire sketch to finished bike.