Online ebike ?

Should i buy a Bosch powered Canyon ebike, currently on sale – for circa half the price of a slightly high spec local shop bought bike ?

Yes

Not sure what the Canyon situation is with UK support… is there somewhere in the UK you can take the bike if/when it needs some work done on it?

This.

I wouldn’t buy an Eeb unless there was local support you really don’t want to be posting one.

Should i buy a Bosch powered Canyon ebike, currently on sale – for circa half the price of a slightly high spec local shop bought bike ?

Yes, the bosch warranty is global, so can be taken into any bosch dealer not just the one you bought from. I bought a bosch bike from Germany (not canyon), after a few months the motor broke, so I took it to a local bosch ebike dealer, they liaised with bosch and got a new motor sorted under warranty.

if it seems too good to be true?  guarantee is critical with ebikes

Canyon specifically have specialist service centres dotted all over the UK, so actually I think they might be one of the least risky online purchase as in person support can be had.

FWIW, seems there have been a few issues with battery latches on Canyon bikes causing power to cut out, but this has now been sorted.

Sounds good. Buying online, but with access to in person support sounds a good combination.