Viewing 13 posts - 1 through 13 (of 13 total)
  • Buying second hand…
  • Bushwacked
    Free Member

    Worth doing? Talking bikes and frames here rather than anything else.

    Any pitfalls to avoid?

    RealMan
    Free Member

    If they have spelt anything wrong in the advert, run away.

    Countless pitfalls, first rule is check it as thorouglhy as you can once it arrives and use feebay if possible or go view it, that way you can make a claim if you have to or walk away.

    Is it a full sus or hardtail bike?

    Bushwacked
    Free Member

    Full sus

    joolsburger
    Free Member

    collect only and caveat emptor.

    stuartlangwilson
    Free Member

    As long as you don't pay over the odds 2nd hand frames are well worth a punt in my experience, shocks and bearings can be fixed.

    hooja
    Free Member

    had some bad experiences with ebay bikes/frames but buy off here and have a chat with the seller first. You can get a good impression of how genuine they are fairly quick. Worth checking their post history too, make sure they are genuine site users.
    I bought a gem of a bike off here not long ago, well chuffed! and i have just bought a frame off someone else today, not got it yet though, obviously

    Northwind
    Full Member

    A lot of my kit is second hand, all my forks have been other than the rigids, most of my wheels etc… It doesn't bother me too much but then I'm the sort of bloodyminded sod that'll do everything in his power to destroy anyone who tries to rip me off so it concerns me less than it might do. Ebay offers more protection than most people think provided you're prepared to jump through the hoops to use it- they make it deliberately difficult to do but get it right and things tend to go well.

    mike_p
    Free Member

    Wot Northwind says, similar experiences (and attitude!) here

    You have to be prepared to take the rough with the smooth though, only a fool would expect all 2nd hand buys to work out

    markcdo
    Free Member

    Like northwind I use a lot of second hand kit and would also get fairly medieval on people who try to rip me off, if it's expensive kit (ie a frame) try to view it and inspect thoroughly – you'll soon be able to tell if the guys a muppet or not. There are good deals to be had but like the others say if the ad is ropey and they do not know their arse from their elbow leave well alone.

    Bushwacked
    Free Member

    Cheers- looks like I'll check out some second hand stuff then 🙂

    roblerner
    Free Member

    From experience I'd avoid wheels and forks (unless you can get a good look inside them before buying), other than that fill your boots! Almost everything bike related I have is second hand.

    namastebuzz
    Free Member

    Buy from someone who's bought an expensive bike "to get fit".

    If you turn up and a fat person answers the door – you're on to a winner coz they won't have ridden it and it'll be in top condition.

    Look in local classifieds and on Gumtree.

Viewing 13 posts - 1 through 13 (of 13 total)

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