When I bought my first used ride in 1995 there weren’t nearly as many mountain bikes for sale as there are today.  It was a beautiful hardtail, Specialized Stumpjumper with an M2 frame.  It was about two years old when I bought it.  I picked it up for about 30% of what the guy had paid full-price for.  It was quick, well-equipped, and very fun to ride.  I enjoyed that used Stumpjumper for nearly 10 years and successfully turned around and sold it for almost as much money as I bought it for.  I was fortunate. I found a good mountain bike for sale.  However, I was lucky to lock down great bike and a low price without doing too much research or due-diligence before I bought it.  Today, the used bike marketplace is full of great deals for those that know how to find them.

Why Used Bikes

Mountain bikes for sale come in basically two forms:  Used and new.  I’ve bought new.  There are advantages to picking up a new bicycle.  Namely, no history abuse and a warranty against defect.  Personally, I buy used mountain bikes for sale because their cheap and typically function as well as any new bike.  More then ever, the dollar is buying less and less.  Not unlike a new car driven off the lot, a mountain bike’s value depreciates considerably despite being one of the most durable pieces of recreational equipment ever created. To find the right bike one should follow a few simple guidelines to increase the likelihood that you ride away with the right bike at a great price.

The Simple Guide to Buying Used Mountain Bikes for Sale

Recommendation #1—Don’t Buy too Old

In my personal opinion, I suggest buying used bikes that are no older then two or three years old.  Although mountain bikes are extremely rugged and their components are engineered to last, there is still a shelf life to shifters, disc brakes, rims, derailleurs, and especially shocks.  Very few riders will wear out these components in a two to three year period of time.  A mountain biker has to be riding a lot to actually retire a quality shock in less then two years.  In fact, if they are riding that often they are probably cycling through quite a few bikes to find their ideal match.  This can give the would-be buyer additional confidence that the bike hasn’t been abused too much.

Recommendation #2—Stick to the Quality Brands

There is a reason why you don’t find a Specialized, Trek, Giant, or Cannondale on the racks at Walmart.  Simply put, the higher-end mountain bikes for sale are designed to last longer and perform well under rougher conditions.  The lower-end bikes you find at Walmart or Target are, in my opinion, disposable.  They are the ugly step-children of the mountain biking community.  I recommend that you never buy a used (or new) mountain bike from a mass-produced bike manufacturer.  Yes, they serve a purpose, but it is definitely not on the mountain or single-track.

Recommendation #3—Do Your Research

If you are starting to ride more seriously and looking to invest in a quality mountain bike you’re like starting to become familiar with the right brands.  Even though your plan may be to buy used it doesn’t hurt to drop into a local bike shop and ask the dealer about your brands of choice.  If you like Trek bikes, but plan to buy used, visit a Trek dealer or at least the Trek website to get the insight and education you need about components, service needs, and most of all, buyer satisfaction.  Visiting the review sites like MTBR.com can give you candid information about the bikes you’re interested in.  There are also a lot of mountain biking communities that offer riders a chance to connect and share info about bikes and trails.  Do your research on the bike you want to buy.  Doing so will dramatically increase the likelihood that you ride away with a bike you love.

Recommendation #4—Inspect the Bike

If you are buying used mountain bikes for sale through the classifieds or Craigslist this is easy.  However, if you are buying on eBay (which is a great option) this can be more challenging, but not impossible.  Evaluating the wear and tear of a second hand bike for sale can be easier if you ask the seller the right questions.  Ask the seller how often they rode the bike?  How frequently was the bike serviced?  Is their any frame damage?  Is the seller the first owner? Or second?  Or third?  Where was the bike ridden?  Why is the mountain bike for sale?  Asking these questions lays the foundation for discussion and even negotiation should the answers not be acceptable to you as the buyer.  If you can’t actually test-drive the buy you should ask for a full suite of pictures.   Ask for close-up photos of the rear derailleur, the hanger, handle bar-ends, and the even the seat.  If the bike has taken a bad tumble it will show up in a gouge on the seat or bent hanger.  The last bike I bought on eBay had close to 20 pictures that I reviewed meticulously before I bid and won the mountain bike for sale.

If you can ride the bike before buying it, check out the chain ring or sprocket teeth.  If the sprocket teeth are sharp the bike has been ridden a lot, perhaps, too much.  If the bike has disc brakes, you should make sure the rim and wheel is true and not grinding.   Don’t hesitate to test the bike on the off-road, especially a hill.  Settle into the commonly used gears and evaluate whether they are sluggish or whether the gears are ‘slipping’ in between pedal-pumps.

The key here is to avoid as many issues as possible.  Problems with a second-hand bike can wipe out any savings if you end up taking your bike to the shop for a complete overhaul.  Test ride the bike if you can.  If that isn’t possible, quiz down the seller and ask for a lot of pictures.

Recommendation #5—Shop the Used Bike Mecca…eBay

Some might suggest that buying used mountain bikes for sale on eBay is something to approach cautiously.  Although I agree to be cautious, I would recommend embracing eBay as the best place to research, find, and buy used mountain bikes for sale.  However, having bought and sold several bikes on eBay, I would suggest a few things before laying out your cash.  Remember to EDUCATE yourself on the bikes you have interest it.  Be PATIENT after you’ve decided which model you want. Remember to use eBay’s ‘watch’ tool to track your bike of interest completely through the auction cycle before you buy.  Don’t get too emotionally attached to any specific bike until you’ve won the auction.  Sure, you can dream about your bike but not a ‘specific bike’.  Not becoming emotionally involved in the auction allows you to walk away sane if you lose the bid. AVOID ADDICTION.  I’ve seen guys buy two or three bikes and not use them all because they found a ‘great deal’.  How many bikes do you really need?  You can only ride one at a time.  Don’t get addicted to bidding on eBay.  Finally, as referenced above, ask the seller a lot of questions before you bid.  Ask for additional photos if you think there aren’t enough to illustrate the true condition of the mountain bike for sale.

In summary, there are a lot of great, used mountain bikes for sale.  If you do your research right, you’re patient, and shop the right places, you’ll probably ride away with a smoking deal and a lot of buyer’s satisfaction.  Ride hard.  Save money.  Ride often!