We all want to have the latest version of the mountain bike we love, don’t we? However, sometimes our bank account doesn’t allow us to do so. Sometimes we want to learn the art of mountain biking, but we don’t want to spend too much just learning. Most people use used mountain bikes for such reasons. But is it safe to buy a used mountain bike? Because compromising on the quality of a mountain bike might cost you something as precious as your life.
You should buy a used bike if you are on a tight budget. However, it would be best if you were careful while buying a used bike. Used mountain bikes can be a hit or miss depending on the quality and price. It is an excellent option for beginners who want to test the MTB sport before committing to a more expensive mountain bike. So, if you know all the factors to look into while buying a used bike, you’re good to go. It all depends on the amount of research you do while buying a used product.
As cost-effective and easy as buying a used mountain bike sound, it’s not. In this article, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of buying a used mountain bike. We’ll also discuss a few critical factors that you should look into while buying a used mountain bike.
Pros and cons of buying a used mountain bike:
To help you make your decision about buying a used bike, we have listed below a few advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages:
There are various benefits of buying a used bike. Let’s have a look at a few of them:
- They are very cost-effective:
- Buying a used bike can prove to be cost-effective for you. They entertain you with all the functions and facilities without you having to spend thousands of dollars. For example, buying a new bike migth range from $2000 to $15,000 dollars or more.
- You can buy the same bike in used condition for half the price. Or buy a bike with more advanced functions for the same price. You can buy an advanced mountain bike with better suspensions, brakes, wheels, and other unique features at a lower cost. If you are a bit low on the budget, buying a used mountain bike can be a really smart approach.
- It’s easier to use them.
- Whenever you buy a new car, it isn’t easy to understand all their functions and get used to them. You are extra careful because everything is new. The same applies to a used mountain bike. With a used bike you tend to be a little rougher.
- Buying a used mountain bike gives you the privilege of going on rougher trails without worrying too much about the scratches and damages.
- It’s the best option for beginners:
- If you are a beginner who wants to try out MTB, using a used mountain bike might be the best option for you. You would not be waisting thousand of dollars in a sport that migth not be for you. money if you damage it while trying to learn as a beginner.
- It is perfect for you to buy a used bike so you can learn to practice freely without having to worry about losing your money.
- You can have it all without spending all your money:
- If you are a regular biker, you always crave the updated version of your mountain bike. Buying the new and latest version can be extremely expensive. This is where used bikes come in to save the day. You can buy the latest and most updated version of your mountain bike, which has already been used a bit. This will cost almost half the cost of purchasing a new one. You can enjoy all the perks of a newer version without spending all of your savings.
Disadvantages:
As beneficial and effective as it sounds like buying a used mountain bike, it also has some downfalls. Let’s have a look at some of the disadvantages that you might face after purchasing a used bike:
- It comes without any warranty:
- While buying a new mountain bike, you do not have to worry about the damages due to the warranty provided by the manufacturers. However, if you go for a preloved option, you might have to worry about many things like your brakes might fail just after a single use, your tires must burst within the first fifteen minutes of your trail, or any other problem. There’s no one you can blame for this damage, unlike new bikes where you can blame the company and have your cost reimbursed.
- It might have hidden problems that you do not know about:
- Since the bike you are buying is already used by someone, it might have some hidden faults that you do not know about, or the seller hides them effectively from you. You have to be extra careful while buying a used bike because it has one or two hidden faults that the seller never discloses.
- The seller might be a scam, or the bike might be stolen:
- The most important thing you need to take care of while buying a used mountain bike is checking the seller’s profiles. There are a lot of scammers out there ready to steal your hard-earned money. Check if the bike has a registered number plate and it’s not stolen or if the seller is not a scam seller. It would be best if you saw the bike and the seller in person first before buying it.
Important factors that you should take into consideration before buying a used mountain bike:
There are some essential things that you need to check in the used bike that you are buying. This will save you from buying a damaged product and protect you from the loss of your money. Listed below are a few factors that you should take into consideration before buying a used mountain bike:
Check the bodywork properly:
Carefully check the bike’s framework for any hidden damages, scratches, or dents that might affect the functioning of your bike. You can start by inspecting the frame. Look for loose parts or components that might break loose in the future.
Do not forget to check the spokes, brakes, and gears. If you find any marks or defects that were not described already by the seller, do not trust that seller. There might be more hidden faults in that bike.
Take it for a test ride.
Do you ever buy a used car without taking it for a test drive? You don’t. The same principle applies when you are buying a used mountain bike. The importance of taking your soon-to-be bike for a test ride can never be enough. You need to ride it first to check if there are any hidden faults.
Scrutinize the tires:
Tires are the most essential part of your mountain biking. Tires are the one factor that makes your ride smooth and allows you to enjoy it, and they are also the one factor that can sabotage your speed and safety. So you must check the tires before buying a used mountain bike. It’s completely okay for the tires of a used bike to be worn out, but it’s not okay for them to have holes and hidden punctures. You can have the tires checked by any tire specialist for any hidden puncture. Or you can also put the tires in water to see if there are any holes in them.
After that, check if the wheels are straight and there aren’t any damages on the rims. Hold the center of the wheel in your hand and spin the wheel; if it spins appropriately, the wheels are straight. Deterioration in the rims can shorten the lives of your tires, so make sure they are not damaged or broken.
Check if brakes, gears, and all other essential parts are functioning correctly or not:
Firstly, you should always start with suspensions. Inspect the suspensions carefully to see if there’s any damage or not. You can do that by moving the front and back suspension in an up/down motion. If it moves smoothly without any creaking noises, you are good to go.
Secondly, inspect if the brakes are working correctly and they are not too loose. You cannot afford loose brakes during mountain biking, this could be very dangerous. So, your brakes must be tight and not spongy. Check all the other essential parts to see if they are functioning correctly or not.
You should always know the number of previous owners:
It would be best to ask the seller about the number of previous owners of the bike you are buying. It would be best if you prefer buying a second-hand mountain bike rather than going for a bike that more than two users already use. The more the number of users, the merrier the chances of hidden damage and bad quality. Machines and vehicles are always good when used by one user. Everyone handles bikes differently. Some might be too soft on the breaks, while some might go too hard on the clutches. This is the main reason you should buy a bike that’s only used by one or a maximum of two users.
Try negotiating:
Since you are not buying from a manufacturer or company where you have to pay the listed price, you can always enjoy the benefit of negotiating while buying a preloved bike. Try to see if you can have the seller go down a bit on the price. This will save you some extra cash that you can, later on, spend on your mountain biking gears.
Conclusion:
Buying a used bike is an extremely cost-effective approach to enjoy your next mountain biking trip without burdening yourself too much with the cost. However, it would be best if you were very skeptical while buying a used mountain bike. If you find any slight discrepancy, do not scare to walk away. Your money matters but your safety matters the most. So before buying any used mountain bike, look into all the factors mentioned above so you can save yourself from damages and scammers.
Buying a used mountain bike is always great to save your hard-earned money. Personally, if I were in your place, I’d always prefer an advanced bike with better and effective functions rather than buying a new bike with fewer functions at the same price. Just be careful about the factors mentioned above and the disadvantages associated with a used mountain bike. Once you have checked everything carefully, you are perfect to go for your next mountain biking trip with your best friends or family.
