Buying a Used Mountain Bike

So it's finally time to upgrade your "ride" or maybe it's time to get your first mountain bike and you aren't sure if you want to (or are able to) buy a new one off the showroom floor. Plus there are so many makes, models and styles to choose from that you don't want to spend thousands of dollars on something that you don't know will really be the bike for you.

This is where buying a used bike comes in handy. When you buy a used bike you can save a ton of money and still get something relatively recent with the latest and greatest features. Bikes are like cars and when you drive them off the lot or ride them out of the bike shop they depreciate right away. And as the next generation of bikes come out with even more advanced features they lose even more value. It almost seems like people replace their bikes about every 3 years budget permitting.

But just like buying a used car you have to be careful when buying a used bike and you need to look for issues and components that may need to be replaced. Fixing up a used bike can start to cost as much as a new one if you let it get out of hand. If you don't know what to look for it might even be a good idea to see if you can take it to a bike shop for an inspection.

There are the usual serviceable items to check for such as brake pads and rotor wear. Also make sure the brake levers are not "spongy" because that can mean they need to be bled which is no big deal but can also mean there are bad seals which may mean a rebuild or replacement of the brakes. Then of course there is tire wear so look for that and keep in mind that a decent mountain bike tire can cost you $60 or more.

Give the bike a good ride and go through every gear up and down and make sure it shifts smooth otherwise it can be something as simple as a derailleur adjustment, something a little more involved like a cable replacement or stretched chain or something more involved like a worn cassette or faulty derailleur itself. Also listen for any strange noises such as crunchy\dirty sounds coming from the hubs which might indicate they need a rebuild. You can also move the wheels side to side to check for any play and give them a spin and see if they wobble to see if the wheel needs to be trued.

Play with the suspension knobs on the fork and shock to make sure they all work and actually make a difference in the way the suspension feels when you do things such as set the modes to climb and downhill etc. Also ask to see any records about servicing and rebuilds for the fork and shock since that needs to be done on a regular basis. Look for any scrapes or nicks on the stanchions as well because they can affect the seals as the suspension cycles.

You should also give the frame and wheels a once over to look for any cracks or other issues. If the frames is cracked you need to walk away because fixing it is not a real option. If the bike has carbon wheels look for cracks there as well. For aluminum wheels a little dent here and there most likely won't affect anything.

Buying a bike online sight unseen is a way many people get a used bike. Just make sure it's from someone you can trust and there are plenty of pictures that you can look at. Be sure to ask as many questions as you can about all the components and service history to make sure you are getting the bike you think you are getting. If you can, try and stick with someone local so you can go see it in person otherwise you are taking your chances. If you do buy a bike online and have it shipped to you make sure to use something like PayPal (not friends and family) to get some type of protection on your purchase. And try to stick to reputable sites such as pinkbike.com rather than Craigslist since the people on Pinkbike are bike people to begin with. Also check to see what other people are selling the same or similar bike for so you don't get ripped off. So do your homework and buying a used bike will pay off with big savings and a great "new" bike.

Posted by Preston Mason