Should You Buy a Used Bike?

I'm a very practical person and I like to save money wherever possible. I squeeze the last bit of use out of everything I buy. I buy used cars, occasionally pre-worn clothes, and sometimes, I buy used bikes. I'm not talking about collectable vintage bicycles, I mean everyday riders.

Bikes have started to become incredibly expensive these days. You get a lot for your money, but I can't justify spending $5,000 - $10,000 on a bike and I can't understand why anyone who doesn't race for a living can. I started riding bikes seriously when you could buy a handmade Campagnolo or Dura Ace equipped bike for about $1200. That was a lot of money in the early 80's, but even with inflation, I don't think that would equate to anywhere near $5000 today.

One of the great things about the old steel framed bikes is they were made by hand. A framebuilder put a handful of tubes into a jig, brazed them together, and then filed the joints to clean them up. A lot of the great names in bike building were literally a few people working in a small shop, making a few hundred frames a year.

Steel frames can often be repaired and if necessary, a damaged tube can be replaced with a new one. Minor dents can be filled with brazing and a twisted frame can be realigned. A carbon fiber frame will only bend so far and then it breaks. A steel frame can last forever as long as it's kept dry. The adhesives that hold a carbon fiber frame together can break down over time.

So, getting back to the original question - should you buy a used bike? Absolutely! There have always been people who need to buy a new bike every year or two. There are also lots of people who decide to get into cycling, spend a fortune on gear, and then discover that riding a bike isn't really their thing. Their bike either ends up being an expensive laundry rack, or they sell it, often for far less than they paid for it.

The want ads are full of great bikes that have been hardly used, priced at a fraction of the new price. Unlike cars, bikes are pretty simple and it's easy to tell if a bike is damaged or worn out. If you're not an experienced cyclist, take someone who is with you when you look at a used bike. Examine the bike for obvious damage. Look for marks on the pedals and brake levers because they'll often show if the bike has been crashed. If the bike has a steel or aluminum frame, you can easily check the frame alignment with a piece of string (there are videos on YouTube that show how to do this). I take a chain check tool with me when I look at a used bike. If the seller says he only rode the bike a few times but the chain checker indicates a heavily worn chain, he may be stretching the truth (and the chain) a bit. If there's a computer on the bike, look for the total mileage. It's not guaranteed, but if the computer shows 10,000 km, it could mean that the bike was used much more than the seller admits. Check the chainrings and cogs for wear. If the bike has been used a lot, the teeth on the chainrings could be worn to points, and the teeth on the cogs, especially the first, second, and third largest could have a little hook worn into the back edge. Check the rear derailleur hanger to make sure it hasn't been bent in a crash. If the seller brags about being a racer, I might be a bit leery about buying a bike from them because racing puts a lot of stress on a bike and hard crashes are a common occurrence.

Check the frame carefully for signs of cracks around the bottom bracket because a lot of stress and flexing happens there. On steel or aluminum frames, look for wrinkles in the paint, especially where the fork legs meet the crown and where the down tube meets the head tube. In a front end crash, for example, when someone hits a parked car, the paint can crack or wrinkle in these areas. Rotate the handlebars and look for signs of looseness or brinelling (it feels like the steering is "ratcheting"). Old style headsets can be replaced easily but the integrated headsets found on most new bikes can be difficult to replace. If there's an obvious problem with the headset, find out if it can be replaced on the bike you are considering, or have the bike checked out by someone who knows headsets. Component manufacturer Chris King is an outspoken critic of integrated headsets and explains his concerns on his website (http://www.chrisking.com).

Check the wheels for wobbles and especially flat spots. Wobbles are usually easy to fix but flat spots are more difficult. Wheels on high end bikes can be easily worth $1500 or more so make sure that they are in good shape.

Finally, take the bike out for a ride. Take some basic tools along with you so you can make the necessary height adjustments. It's hard to tell if a bike is right for you if it's not set up properly. Ride with no hands if you can because if the frame isn't aligned properly, it will probably veer to one side. Make sure that the bike feels "right." Different bike makes and models have different geometries and ergonomics, and each has its own feel. Does the bike feel lively? Does it feel like it wants to surge ahead when you pedal hard or does it feel like dead weight? Not all bikes are created equal and just because a frame is made out of carbon fiber doesn't mean it's well made. When you stand up and pedal hard, does the frame flex?

So, if it's time for a new bike, but you can't afford the bike of your dreams, if you're patient and do your homework, you may just be able to find your dream bike for a fraction of what it cost new. Take your time, check a used bike over carefully and if it looks good, take the plunge and potentially save yourself hundreds, or even thousands of dollars.

If you want to buy a new bike but you're scared off by the high prices on high end bikes, why don't you consider buying a used bike? The classifieds are full of high end bikes that have been hardly used, and the asking price is often hundreds or even thousands of dollars less than new. Follow the few basic rules of thumb outlined in this article, and you can buy a great used bike with confidence, and save yourself a ton of money.