Used bike – this is what you need to look out for when buying

Legally it is important that they are no stolen wheel let it turn on. Incidentally, you cannot acquire ownership of a stolen bike. If the rightful owner complains about the bike, you have to return it. You should therefore have all documents and receipts handed over to you. If they are not available, this is a knockout criterion for a newer and more valuable bike. With very old bikes, garage finds and heirlooms, you cannot expect any receipt. You have to get an idea of ​​the credibility of the seller. In any case, sign a contract and have them show you the personal papers. Sample contracts for download are available from.

Guarantee

A used bike usually has no guarantee. In the best case, they get a guarantee. A dealer cannot shake this off when buying a used vehicle. The warranty does not apply to every damage that occurs in the next two years, it only states that the bike was handed over without defects. A professional dealer only has to answer for defects that already existed at the time of purchase. A private seller will exclude any warranty if a model contract is concluded. And: Even a dealer can only act as an intermediary, sellers are then the previous owners. Regardless of the legal nuances, if you buy a used bike from a local specialist shop, you are more likely to be on the safe side. The dealers are professionals and don’t just sell junk. As a rule, the bikes previously belonged to customers who bought a new bike.

What can you save?

If you want to save money above all, buying a used one is not necessarily worthwhile. If it is not about technical features, these price thresholds apply to new purchases: For 800 to 1000 euros you can get city or trekking bikes in specialist shops that have nothing to complain about. Usable bikes cost from around 500 euros in specialist shops. At the discounter or in the hardware store, you can get bikes for less than 300 euros that also drive, have a functional gearshift and lighting system and a two-year guarantee. Such prices are hard to beat, even used. When the bikes are much cheaper, they often have quirks.

Young wheels

Buying a second-hand is worthwhile if the bikes have not been used much. This is the case with children’s bikes, which the little ones quickly outgrow. Here you can often buy good bikes with low mileage at half the new price. Another advantage: these bikes have usually not been in the cellar for years.

The same applies to very sporty and expensive bikes. There are always athletes who change their fleet practically every season. Some always want the latest and greatest, others turn the sponsor’s wheels into tinkling coins. The same applies to bad purchases from failed relationships. In this segment, which is still expensive when used, you can find real bargains.

In general, the more expensive the bike was, the greater the drop in price. “Normal” bikes are unfortunately very stable in price. A trekking bike that previously cost 700 euros is still available for 350 euros even after seven years. The purchase is not really worth it.

Older bikes

When you inspect an “almost new” sporty bike, it is usually in a condition like it was in the store, but caution is advised with older objects. Remember: If you want to shop cheaply, the bike must not be taken to the workshop afterwards. Working hours and materials are too expensive for that. If you are not a passionate do-it-yourself enthusiast, you should only buy a bike that looks neat and has been used at least until recently.

What do you have to pay attention to?

Sense

The wheel shouldn’t have rusted. If it is made of aluminum, the metal should not be dull and tarnished. The dull appearance is actually not a problem. But something like this happens when a bike has been parked outdoors for years, but then there are usually problems in hidden places.

tire

Check the tires. Rubber also ages if the wheel has not been moved. You test the rubber as follows: First you let some air out of the tire, then you knead the jacket, then you inflate the tire until it is tight. If there are cracks in the rubber, the jackets are over and probably the hoses and the sealing tape are too. Do-it-yourself replacement costs around 60 euros; in the workshop, 100 euros are due.

Trains

The next problem is the cables for brakes and gears. Are the pods cracked? Can the wire pulls be operated easily and easily? If the sleeves are brittle and the metal cables are stiff due to rust, they must be replaced. A fiddly job that only experienced screwdrivers should do. The cost is similar to changing tires.

Saddle and handles

The saddle and handles are also a good indicator of the general condition of the bike – here, too, the material becomes brittle and unusable.

Brake pads

Brake pads should still be present. Changing the topping is relatively easy and cheap to do. Brake pads are a consumable item, if they are down it doesn’t mean the bike is through.

circuit

It gets complicated with the circuit. A hub gear must engage and engage in all gears. Even under load, checking while standing alone is of no use. If a gear slips, it is possible that the gearshift is just dirty and needs to be readjusted. But it is also possible that their inner workings are over – then nothing can be saved.

A derailleur must shift smoothly and engage in all gears. Here, too, the gears can only be set incorrectly, but it is likely that the chain and sprocket are simply worn out. A chain can only be tested with a special gauge. The spikes on the pinions show wear and tear with the naked eyes.

If the rear derailleur, sprocket cassette and chain are badly rusted, the chain and cassette usually have to be replaced.

Radlauf

It is relatively easy to determine that the wheels are running correctly. If the bike is upside down, you can determine whether the rims are deflecting to the sides. When driving, you have to pay attention to whether the tires “buckle”. The spokes must fit tight, no individual spokes may be loose. If a wheel is unbalanced, a layperson cannot fix it. Tensioning spokes looks easy, but without professional equipment you need a lot of experience and instinct.

Storage

Make sure that the bearings work cleanly and without crunching. Bearings are built into the hubs of the wheels, the handlebars and the bottom bracket. If a bearing is damaged by sand or rust, it quickly breaks as soon as the wheel is moved. Special tools are required for the exchange.

Lighting system

The lighting system has to work. You can replace the front or rear headlights relatively easily and cheaply. If there are problems with the hub dynamo, the entire front wheel usually has to be replaced. Be careful if the wiring is defective. On newer bikes, some of the power cables are laid in the frame. To replace them, the wheel has to be partially dismantled, and that too is a very fiddly job.

Conclusion

If you are not a passionate hobbyist or restaurateur, you should keep your hands off worn-out wheels. Even if the bike is very cheap, it will be expensive to repair it in the workshop. The bike should look neat and have been in use recently. Even if the bike is otherwise in perfect condition, long idle times mean that tires, cables and plastic parts have to be replaced. If individual components look shabby at first glance, remember that a bicycle is an overall system. It is therefore very unlikely that some parts are completely broken, but the rest are in top condition.

Electric wheels

Buying a used electric bike is even trickier than buying a muscle bike. There are two additional problems here. The first is progress: electric motors, control by the controller and the batteries are getting noticeably better from generation to generation. A five-year-old bike, even if it is in perfect condition, is technically significantly worse than a current model. Then there is the wear and tear. The battery will lose performance over the years, even if handled properly. Incidentally, the loading bar does not show this loss. The display of 100 percent on a five-year-old bike does not correspond to 100 percent on a new bike. If the battery is not handled properly, it can even lose a large part of its capacity very quickly.

A replacement battery costs from 500 euros. If it is needed, buying a used e-bike is often unattractive. The engines and the gears built into them also suffer from wear. In the previous generations, it was very strong. We would therefore advise against buying an older e-bike. Exceptions can only be made with a good branded bike at a dumping price. We don’t think much of buying a used hardware store bike with China equipment either. Fortunately, there are a large number of e-bikes available for hire that have only been used for one season. The price discount of over 30 percent is an attractive argument here.

Also read:

Bicycle service – this is how you get your bike ready for spring

Advice on buying a bike – good bikes are also available for little money

Bicycles from bulky waste – this is how you get a good and cheap bike

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