Second-Hand Bike Buying Tips
Purchasing a second-hand bike, be that a mountain bike or a road bike, can be a fantastic way to secure an excellent bike for under retail price - which is why we have introduced a trusted way of buying a used bike online for customers looking for a bike with big savings over its new price or a bike which has been built to their preferred specifications.
For those going out alone and buying a bike on the second-hand market, we have brought together some handy tips and tricks to ensure the process runs smoothly:
Use A Platform With Protection
Buying from platforms such as eBay, which have seller ratings and an element of buyer protection - is safer than simply responding to classified ads. On platforms such as eBay, sellers have to provide contact details and also have feedback from previous buyers. Platforms such as eBay are also linked to Paypal, which provides buyer protection - so if the item is not as described, you can get your money back.
View The Bike In Person
If you have found your dream bike, but it seems too far away to view in person - do not trust the seller to ship it to you. Although some sellers are trustworthy, it’s too difficult to identify damage to the bike in pictures and any problems with its performance. Another reason to view the bike in person is to ensure that the bike actually exists and is not a scam.
Research The Market
Many bike sellers will list their bikes for sale at what they think they are worth rather than what they are worth. The need for more specificity about the used price of bikes can make prices difficult to benchmark, so have a good look around and see what comparable models are selling for.
Price Negotiation
Feel free to negotiate around the price. Usually, private sellers of bikes will be happy to knock a little bit of money off for sale. If you do not achieve the price you want to pay, feel free to walk away.
Physically Check The Bike Over
The best way to examine the bike's condition is to get up close and personal with it! Look for cracks in the frame, that the tyres are pumped up, there is no rust on the components such as the drivetrain, the condition of the brake pads, the bike engages its gears - and the bearings found in the headset, wheels and bottom bracket move smoothly.
Check If The Bike Is Registered As Stolen
If the bike is priced too low, almost too good to be true! Then it’s a sure sign that it may be stolen or may not exist at all. It’s a good idea to always run the frame number of the bike through Bike Register Bikechecker - to see if the frame number has been reported stolen.
Check If The Bike Is Registered As Stolen
If the bike is priced too low, almost too good to be true! Then it’s a sure sign that it may be stolen or may not exist at all. It’s a good idea to always run the frame number of the bike through Bike Register Bikechecker - to see if the frame number has been reported stolen.
Check Available Bike Spares
One of the biggest challenges facing buyers of second-hand bikes is those bikes becoming obsolete in a fast-changing industry; this is especially true in the field of electric bikes. At Westbrook Cycles, we carry a massive range of bike spares, going back many different models and many different years.