Top Tips For Second Hand Bike Buyers

Posted on 17. Jan, 2010 by Fitness Trainer in Sports And Fitness

A relatively uncomplex design has meant that push bikes have been embraced in every country of the world. In practice this means that parts are easy to build and can be replaced with relative ease should they go wrong. That said, not all bike parts are cheap and when buying a bike second hand, you can get stung for quite a bit of money if you’re not careful. Let’s take a look at 3 of the most important areas to pay attention to when purchasing a second hand bike.

Deep Frame Rust. First and foremost you should inspect the condition of the frame thoroughly. The frame forms the structure of the bike and if it is weakened, the whole bike in compromised. Dissimilar to snowboards and surfboards that are often coated with strong waterproof layers, bikes are often only given a coat of paint to protect them from moisture. The result of this is quite quick corrosion once the paint barrier is breached due to damage or flaking. Inspect every last inch of the frame to look for bad rust and if you see any rust holes, walk away.

Front and Rear Suspension. Bikes are still being made that do not have suspension, but as their are millions of bikes that do it is worth commenting on. Get on the bike and give the suspension a bit of a work out to see if everything is in order. If there is any jarring or the suspension is very hard or soft, make sure the settings are correct, and then get an expert to check it out if the problems persist. Also, when suspension seals fail there is usually fluid leak or a hissing noise upon compression, so look out for these as the seals may need replacing. Really the seller is the one who should have this done, unless of course they take the cost off the bike’s asking price.

Wheel Strength. Whilst the wheels might not be the most expensive part to replace on second hand bikes, you’ll find that a problem effecting one wheel, will almost always effect the other. Spend some time testing the strength of the rims and looking for serious rust, as well as inspecting the spokes. If they are broken or bent it could be a sign that the whole set needs replacing.

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