Every Bike Has a Lifespan

Many people do not know this, but all bikes, including carbon and aluminum, have fatigue cycles and will eventually fail with time. Purchasing a 10-year-old bike to ride hard at the downhill park is generally a rotten idea–chances are, that bike will break, and Murphy’s Law dictates that you will be on it at the worst possible moment when it does (especially if someone is filming you). There is nothing wrong with purchasing older bikes, but keep in mind that all bikes break eventually when ridden hard enough, and be willing to accept that risk. There are plenty of trusty used bikes out there, but all the more reason to inspect them carefully.

All bikes, no matter the material, have the potential to fail. Do things like remove the seat collar--in this case, there is a crack and the entire frame needs to be replaced. It was otherwise hidden from view — All bikes, no matter the material, have the potential to fail. Do things like remove the seat collar–in this case, there is a crack, and the entire frame needs to be replaced. It was otherwise hidden from view

Don’t be Afraid to Haggle

So you’re ready to throw down some mullah after you find what you’ve been looking for. There is no better feeling than getting a great deal on a bike or parts, so don’t be coy about what you are willing to spend.

When dealing with sites like eBay, there are basically two styles of auctions: fixed and timed. Often these have a “Buy it Now” price, which actually may be what you are willing to pay. If so, grab it. However, some sellers also post “Make an Offer,” which allows you to give them a number… any number. Give them a fair price. You can lowball them all day long, but typically they won’t bite until you arrive at the lowest price they’ve already settled on in their mind.

You can definitely get some great deals on Craiglist, but you have to be patient. Items change daily, and you may have to meet a lot of sellers before you land on the right one

In person, Craigslist purchases can be easier to negotiate: you can offer up cash, trades, other incentives, or simply plead a case as to why this bike isn’t worth what they are asking. Lowballing rarely works until you meet them face-to-face, but if you aren’t willing to pay more than a certain price, let the seller know so you don’t waste your time or theirs. Meeting someone to inspect the bike and point out things that may devaluate it is your opportunity to get the price down. Remember, though: most people are trying to sell their bikes to buy a new one or because they really need the money, so exercise good karma and don’t try to take advantage of them. Be a good cycling steward, because what goes around comes around, and you’ll probably be selling that bike one day too… unless someone steals it and does it for you.

In case you are wondering, eBay and other commerce sites typically do not charge fees to the buyer, only the seller, so don’t let someone tell you otherwise–do expect that some sellers may jack up the price to compensate for their loss in fees (it’s 8-10%).

Bring tools to inspect a bike. Make sure forks and shocks hold air, and the stanchions are the correct length. This one is not, indicating fork failure.

Know How to “Win” a Bid on eBay

Back in the day, all it took to win an eBay bid was waiting around until the last 10 seconds of an auction with two screens open, hitting refresh on one, then entering your absolute max bid on the other, hoping you would win the auction for significantly less. Times have changed. You can still get away with this sometimes, but the popularity of eBay has increased visibility and prices, and it is harder to get a steal of a deal.

Moreover, people have developed programs, such as “bid bots,” that do automatic bidding for them, faster than you can. You can research all of these and try to use them (eBay has invested resources to block many of them to keep things fair), but you don’t need them to win a bid. What you really need is a good idea of what you are willing to spend, and don’t go over that. You also need a working knowledge of what a used bike is worth, so utilize the “completed listings” and “sold listings” boxes when searching for a bike model, to get an idea of what things are selling for. You’ll quickly realize that good deals come and go, and that some things might sell for far less than what you originally intended to pay. Keep that in mind, be patient with your research, and find the right bike in the right condition, and go for it with a set price in mind. If you don’t win the auction, wait and try again… unless you are willing to pay any amount for a particular bike (ex. Niner’s annual IMBA-themed bikes).

This is a sure sign of a crash and in this case, a deep enough gouge that the handlebar is unsafe. If you are still interested in a bike with some damage, use this knowledge to haggle the price way down

Special Considerations

Beware of “Pro Bikes” — Pros often get rid of their bikes after a single season, and it may be tempting to purchase bikes or parts from pros you may admire. eBay occasionally advertises auctions off bikes ridden by top riders, sometimes for charity. Bikes that are ridden professionally, however, tend to see a lot of wear and abuse in competition, and generally may not be a good value even if they were maintained by pro mechanics throughout their service course. You may want to purchase an item simply for sentimental value or light use, but be cautious about buying a bike from a pro if you want to ride it hard.
Be Able to Spot Phony Deals — If something seems too good to be true, it usually is. Many thieves use sites like eBay and Craigslist to unload lifted bikes and merchandise, but there are also scammers out there too who may be preying on you in a variety of ways (like identity theft). Be careful about putting your personal information online or giving it to Craiglist sellers (phone number, personal email, etc….). I would also strongly advise that you not give strangers your address or go to theirs. If possible, meet in a well-trafficked, well-lit, public place where you can inspect and try out the bike. Take a friend if you can. Report suspected theft to local authorities.
Be Careful Who You Buy From — Buying a bike from a friend can be both a blessing and a curse. If you know someone well, and know they take care of their stuff, then you can usually bet that your buddy will be straight-up about the bike. I’ve seen people sell their friends junk, though, and in that case, the friendship is over. Be as objective about buying a bike from a friend as you would from a stranger, and give them as fair a price as you can.

Choose a safe place to conduct your transaction. Whatever you do, don't deal with lego characters: they cannot be trusted — Choose a safe place to conduct your transaction. Whatever you do, don’t deal with Lego or minature plastic characters: they cannot be trusted. Photo: flicker commons

Final Thoughts

Many of us would love to get a shiny new bike every season, but there is merit to getting a good used bike by recycling it from another owner, and keeping it long enough to know it well. Buying a used bike online can be easy if you are careful in how you select, examine, and negotiate for one, and it can make the process fun and memorable. Good luck!

How about you? Have you ever purchased a bike via eBay or from another buyer on a site like Craigslist? We’d love to hear about your interesting experiences!!