Looking for tips on buying second-hand gear? Check out this video that gives a great in-depth look into how to buy a used mountain bike: Field Trip: How to Buy a Used Mountain Bike!
Buying a used mountain bike can be a great way to save money, but it’s important to do your homework before making any payments.
Read below for some other tips on buying a used bike:
If you’re buying a bike online and aren’t able to meet the seller in person, be sure to ask for as many high-quality photographs as possible. Ask if the bike has any dents or cracks that you should know about, and in the photographs pay attention to the head tube, bottom bracket, and chainstay area. Look for worn/chipped paint and any visible damage.
Assessing the Bike's History
Ask when the suspension was last serviced, as well as what kind of maintenance the bike has had over its lifespan. Speaking of lifespan, it’s also worth seeing if the seller has a rough estimate of how many miles the bike has on it, or at least how many years it was used for. Unlike cars, the mileage isn’t as much of an indicator as is the the condition of the bike. Some riders can absolutely punish a bike in just a few hundred miles, while others are much gentler on their equipment.
Once you have the bike in front of you, whether that’s after unpacking and assembling it, or if you’re meeting someone in person, here are a few things to look for:
Frame: Look over the frame for any obvious damage. Pay close attention to the head tube, bottom bracket, and chainstay areas, as these are zones where cracks are more likely to occur. Also look at the downtube, since flying rocks or the bike hitting a tailgate during shuttling can cause damage in this area.
On a full suspension frame, cycle the suspension. Are there any loud cracking or creaking noises? Does it move through its travel smoothly? Pull the wheels side to side, checking for play in the frame as well as in the hubs.
Wheels: Spin the wheels - are they mostly round, free of any massive hops or wobbles? Are the spokes evenly tensioned, or are there very, very loose spokes, or even broken / missing ones?
Drivetrain: Does the bike shift through its gears smoothly? Drivetrain wear can be hard to assess, but it’s worth asking the seller when they last replaced the chain, cassette or chainring.
Brakes: Squeeze the brakes - do they feel solid, as opposed to spongy? Spin the wheels - are the rotors relatively straight? Brake pads are easy to replace, but it’s worth looking to see how worn they are.
Dropper post: Actuate the post a few times. Does it reach full extension easily? Is it sag-free at full extension? How much side to side play is there? A little is okay, a lot, probably not so much.
Tires, seat, grips: These are essentially wear items, and it’s pretty normal to need to swap them out on a used bike, but looking them over can be a good indicator of what type of life a bike has had.- Payment & Logistics: Consider bringing the bike to your local bike shop for a professional check before finalizing the deal.
- Stolen Bikes: Always check the bike's serial number against a database like bikeindex.org to make sure it's not registered as stolen.