Buying Used Bicycles

Buying used bicycles is a great way to get a good used bicycle at a good price. Previously owned bicycles are often times sold for much less than retail. A great way to find these deals is regularly searching our online classified ads at http://www.thebiketraderonline.com, we strongly recommend following a few guidelines to ensure that you don't make a bad decision. Here are a few tips.

Inspect the Bicycle

Before considering any used bicycle, be sure to check for frame and fork damage. If these parts are flawed, you should probably pass on the bike because it can be costly to repair these problems and it often indicates that the bicycle was abused.To inspect a used bicycle, look from the side where the top and down tubes meet the head tube. If you spot bulges or dents in these areas, the frame was probably crashed. To tell if the forks are bent, look at the bike from the side. If the fork is good, an imaginary line bisecting the head tube will pass directly through the straight portion of the fork blade. For suspension forks, you may recognize damage sighting from the side. If the fork looks pushed back or overly extended, it could be bent. Also look for damage in the fork legs. Other signs of frame damage include bent seat and chain stays and dents or cracks in the tubing. You can run your hands along the frame tubes feeling for dents. Inspect all areas of the bicycle frame tube, be especially critical of the tube junctions.

While you're checking the bicycle frame be sure to note any corrosion problems. Rusted and corroded parts can be weakened beyond repair, which can make a bike dangerous and be expensive to repair.After the frame and fork, check the wheels. Just give them a spin and watch for wobbles and hops, which indicate damaged rims that will need adjustment or replacement. The wheels are free of corrosion too. Push and pull sideways at the top of the wheels to feel for play in the bearings, which might indicate broken axles or worn parts. To check for these problems, you'll need to remove the wheels and take a look at the hubs.If the frame, fork and wheels are okay go over the rest of the components looking for signs of heavy use or abuse. Look for items which are worn and may need replacement or repair before you can use the bicycle.

It's easy to overlook a potential problem. If you don't feel comfortable inspecting the bicycle, ask the seller’s permission to take the bike to a local bicycle shop for a professional inspection.