How to Buy a Bike Part 3: Buying 2nd Hand

Words: Mike Blewitt

HOW TO BUY A BIKE PART 1: BIKE SHOP

HOW TO BUY A BIKE PART 2: BUYING A BIKE ONLINE

In Australia, the value available in the second hard bike market has historically been pretty good, although it will always be impacted by supply and demand. It is not uncommon to be able to pick up a really good deal on a second hand mountain bike. With a current shortage of new bikes, prices are a little higher, but there are still good second hand buys out there. However, buying second hand is rife with traps and suits an experienced and savvy buyer – or someone willing to do their homework.
 
While it is one thing to buy a bike off your mate when he upgrades, or from a bike shop staff member who is selling their pride and joy, normally buying a bike second hand involves a whole lot of unknowns. And we aren't talking about reading the ads in the Trading Post here, many buyers look at options across the country thanks to Gumtree, Ebay, Rotorburn and of course the expanding amounts of buy and sell pages on Facebook. There are some important points to consider when looking at second hand bikes.

 
What condition is the bike in?
 
A can of Mr Sheen and an old t-shirt can do wonders to a pretty tatty looking bike, so even if the photos look great, it's worth asking for some detailed images. Ask for detailed shots on some specific areas that could give a true indication of wear. Near the drivetrain, around welds, along the main tubes and of course the drive train and suspension items. Replacing some worn brake pads, a chain or tyres isn't a big deal, but trashed wheels, a damaged frame or abused suspension should set off alarm bells. Better yet – get a video walk around of the bike, if it's a video call you can even ask to see some parts being used.
 
There will be some immaculate bikes for sale as well, you just need to use your judgement.
 
Does the seller own the bike?
 
Bike theft is a major problem, and while many stolen bikes will never appear again some do surface on buy and sell pages. It shouldn't be unreasonable to ask to see a proof of purchase and serial number if the seller claims to be the original owner. Could you sleep at night if you knew you bought someone else's stolen rig?

Can I test ride it?
 
If you spent hours cleaning and detailing your bike to sell it, would you let someone go take it out for the weekend? No, I didn't think so. When you buy second hand you can't expect the services afforded to you by a bike shop. There are no test rides, no demo programmes, no service plans and no fit ups. If you are picking a bike up in person, then sure you might be able to do a driveway spin. But don't be surprised if the owner wants to hold onto your car keys, wallet or both. Bikes have been stolen this very same way.
 
How do I know it suits what I need?
 
This is up to your own research. You have the world at your finger tips to search for reviews and input via riders from forums, but read widely. Anyone can post their opinion on a forum or Facebook page. We might be biased, but it does take a little more experience to put a review in a mountain biking magazine or on a trusted mountain bike website. Go to the bike brand's website and make sure the bike you are looking at is designed for what you want to do with it.

What about warranty and returns?
 
Your chance to get your money back ends once it has landed in the owner's hands or bank account. The vast majority of warranties on bikes are not transferrable, with a few exceptions from brands who allow a warranty to be transferred, but usually with a diminshed time frame. Do your research, don't just trust the sales speech. Interestingly, a handful of components have transferrable warranties, such as Nextie carbon rims. But the safest bet is do your research on the bike, the parts and the seller.

 
Using buy and sell pages
 
So you're browsing buy and sell pages and you see a bike that is exactly what you're after. But it's in another state. The seller can box and ship the bike if you pay for the courier. What do you do? On a site like Rotorburn there is an option to use the iTrader system where other users can report good and bad sales. But really, this is about going through some of the above tips to verify the condition of the bike. Many people aren't certain a seller will ship the goods after a bank transfer, and for that reason some people will only use PayPal. The risks involved around items' condition, postage and even whether the price is right for buyers and sellers has created a unique opportunity, and some people offer services as a bike broker. They're a go between person.
 
On the one hand, this adds another person into the mix to trust. On the other, you are likely dealing with someone passionate about bikes, who is making selling them easier for people low on time, for a small commission or set price.

But beware, this is still a second hand private sale. If you have a friend who knows plenty about bikes, get them to take a good look with you for a bike that suits.

The bottom line

You might find exactly what you need when looking for a second hand bike, but you need to equip yourself with the information about what you need, what a fair market value is, and what condition the bike is in. Be very open with your communication with the seller, and if anything sounds too good to be true – it probably is. That said, buying and selling second hand is a great way to pick up a good deal, or move on some of your gear to someone else – and maybe meet some other mountain bikers at the same time.