Purchasing a bike can be daunting on the best of days if you’re not a pro cyclist. With all the bikes that are sitting around collecting dust on balconies, rusting in backyards and having become permanent fixtures on bike posts, it’s a wonder that people purchase bikes at all anymore. Here are some quick tips for buying a used bike.
If you want to purchase a bicycle at a good price and you don’t mind getting one second hand, searching an online classifieds site can be a great place to start. You can find quality bikes at bargain pricing, often right in your own neighbourhood. With more than 12,000 bike-related ads currently on Kijiji in the GTA, you’re sure to find the perfect one for you. If you’re lucky, you can score a top quality bike that at retail might go for $4000 at less than half that price.
To help you find a new set of wheels, we asked the Kijiji buy and sell expert to give us the top tips for purchasing a used bike:
1. Set your budget – With so many bikes available, setting a budget is essential to help you narrow your search. Bike prices vary greatly depending on make and features, so focusing on what you want and what you can afford can help streamline your search.
2. Find your riding style –When it comes to selecting the type of bike you want, consider what kind of riding you’ll likely be doing. Do you want a laid-back cruiser for occasional weekend rides, a road bike for zipping around town to run errands, or a mountain bike for off-road cycling adventures?
3. Shop around – Once you have picked your style and set your budget, browse a variety of ads on Kijiji to gauge the current market price and to get a sense of what’s available in your price range. Once you have a few bikes in mind, research them to find reviews from other users to help inform your decision.
With over 12,000 bike ads on Kijiji alone, you’re bound to find the wheels that are right for you.
4. Take a test drive – To ensure that it’s in working order, take the bike for a ride. Test gears and breaks and most importantly, see if the bike is the right size for you and you feel comfortable riding it. If the body is solid but the tires need replacing, that’s a cheap fix. However, if the breaks are shoddy or the gears are worn, you may need to invest in more maintenance to get the bike into safe working order, so consider this when negotiating the price of the bike. Don’t be afraid to ask the seller questions if you need more information before making a decision.
5. Transact locally and in cash – When buying (or selling), you should meet in-person to see the product and exchange funds. Meet in a public place with many people around, such as a coffee shop. When exchanging funds, deal in cash. Don’t send money, including mailing a cheque or using payment services.
*BONUS TIP*
6. Use common sense – If the deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Check out the Kijiji blog for more helpful tips, from finding the right bike for your lifestyle to a guide on restoring an old bike. For people looking to sell a bike, take a look at this helpful video that illustrates how to post an ad on Kijiji in five easy steps: http://youtu.be/lkWqrW7dDZU
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