Here at Peak Five Collective, we quite often get asked about the term OEM. What does OEM mean? Are the items we sell genuine name-brand products? Where did we get these items? And if they're brand new, why don't they come in the original packaging?
All are valid questions, and we appreciate that our customers take the time to understand the nature of our offerings. Rest assured, Peak Five only stocks genuine name-brand products. We have never—and will never—sell any knockoff or counterfeit parts. With that in mind, we wanted to dedicate a blog post to explaining the term OEM, as it plays a very important role in the bike industry.

OEM stands for “original equipment manufacturer.” OEM parts are manufactured in the same facilities as retail components but are intended to be purchased by bike brands rather than individual customers. There’s no reason for companies like SRAM and Shimano to individually package the thousands of components they ship to large bike manufacturers every year. Since these parts are installed directly onto complete bikes, it saves the component brands money, saves the bike brands time, and significantly reduces unnecessary packaging waste.

Forecasting for a model year is an immensely complex process. Brands must consider production lead times, evolving frame designs, and ongoing development from both bike and component manufacturers. These factors often result in brands ending up with components they cannot use for their current model-year frames. At Peak Five, we’ve identified a niche where we can help both brands and consumers: we source these unused components and offer them to riders who need them. Manufacturers free up warehouse space, and riders get slightly older—but still completely relevant and brand-new—components at a fraction of the standard retail price.

So which of the components we stock are OEM? Almost all of them. That’s why, when you buy a SRAM Force Brake set or a Shimano XT crankset from us, it may come without retail packaging.

So that’s what OEM means! We hope this clears up the unique origins of the products we carry and reassures you of their authenticity and quality. At Peak Five, we’re committed to giving riders access to trusted components at great prices while helping reduce waste in the industry. If you ever have questions about a product, how we source our inventory, or what OEM means for your specific build, we’re always here to help. Ride confidently—your gear is the real deal.