Buying a Used Bike

Before I address topics related to buying a used bike I think that it would be helpful to answer the question of whether or not you SHOULD buy a used bike.  Buying a used bike isn't rocket scientist but as with all pre-owned merchandise an extra measure of caution and thought is in order.

In my opinion, there are four things to consider to determine if buying used is the right path for you.

• Are you willing to do some research?
  
  I frequently get questions from friends and relatives who ask me general questions like "Is this a good bike?" or "Is this a good deal?"  Almost always these are questions where the only real answer I can provide is "Well, it depends."  Not that I'm not willing to have a conversation but there are several things like age, condition, size, etc. that need to be assessed before answering those questions.  These are all variables that I don't know and, as a buyer, you need to be willing to research.  The internet is your friend and you can usually find a lot of information about most makes and models.
  
  
• Are you willing to look and be patient?
  
  Depending on the market you live in, it may take some time for the "right" bike to come along and so you need to be willing to scrounge the typical used postings and have the patience to walk away from deals that are not right for you.  Larger population centers are going to have a wider array of used bikes to choose from but many smaller markets have quite limited selections.
  
  
• Do you understand proper bike sizing?
  
  I'm not going to go into the method(s) for determining size but I will say that getting the correct size is vital.  Do your research on this topic and know what size you need.  Go watch the YouTube videos.
  
  
• Can you recognize problems and make repairs?
  
  You DO NOT need to be a master bicycle mechanic to feel comfortable buying a used bike.  However, if the thought of changing a flat tire or changing the hand grips gives you an anxiety attack, you should think twice about buying used.  The majority of bikes that I have bought used have required at least some amount of maintenance to make them safe and rideable.  There are some used bikes that are rideable AS-IS but just like used cars, used bikes are more than likely to have some imperfections.  Some common consumables are tires/tubes, brake pads, saddle and hand grips.  These are parts that are expected to wear out over time and may need to be replaced.  These are also items that can add up in cost.  New tires can easily cost over $50.  It is very possible that a used bike make require a tune up from the local bike shop before it is ready to ride.
  

I don't want to scare anyone away from buying a used bike because there are so many good bikes out there just sitting around unused.  However, whenever I review the questions listed above with others, they will frequently think twice about what they are doing.