Used mountain bikes: the ultimate buyers guide

Buying used mountain bikes can be a big pain. I mean trying to find the right one,or not knowing what to look for is not fun at all.

Well, I hope to ease your pain a bit with this guide.

I hope to help you find that the perfect bike for you.

Ready to go?

Let’s talk bike frames

To find out what frame is right for you, we need to know how tall you are. Now, there are many different sizes of frames out there, and you need to make sure you get the right one.

To help you get the right frame for the right person I have put together this chart to help you make a decision.

Here is a mountain bike size chart to help you find the right bike.

Another aspect to think about is whether you want suspension or not. If you are looking for used mountain bikes, your options may be a bit limited, but not impossible.

If you are looking for suspension, you should think about whether you want front suspension or full suspension(front and back). That may change the price slightly. The better the suspension, the more expensive the bike will be.

For most beginners and casual bikers, front suspension may be just the right thing for you. The suspension will absorb most of the bumps that you encounter while biking.

For more serious bikers, you may want to look at full suspension options. They will provide you with the full benefit of comfort while riding off-road.

The buyers checklist for used mountain bikes

Because we are buying used mountain bikes, you need to make sure that what you are buying is ok to ride. I’ve provided you with this checklist to make sure that you get a good product when buying used mountain bikes.

• no rust on frame
• the bike wheelsets are still good
• rims straight and all the spokes present
• check to make sure wheels turn freely
• check chain to make sure it isn’t loose and works properly
• frame and front forks not bent
• the bike shocks are still functional
• no excessive bike tire wear
• brakes work
• changes gears
• tires holding air
• seat can be adjusted
• take bike for test ride if possible and pay special attention to gear shifts and brakes

Top 5 mountain bikes

There are many bikes out there that you can buy, but what are the best bikes. I’ve compiled a list of some of the top bikes that are easily accessible.

Note: these are affiliate links and I will make a commission should you choose to buy one, but it will not cost you any extra money.

1. [editor's choice] Diamondback 2013 Overdrive V 29′er Mountain Bike with 29-Inch Wheels
2. Mongoose Women’s Woodland Bicycle (White)
   
3. Schwinn Protocol 1.0 Men’s Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike (26-Inch Wheels, Red)
   
4. Pacific Stratus Men’s Mountain Bike (26-Inch Wheels)
   
5. Schwinn Women’s SX2000 Bicycle (Purple) 

These are the top 5 you can find on Amazon. The reason why I point these ones out is because you can buy them used from Amazon when someone puts one up.

Are you always going to be able to find them used no, but it gives you a great starting point.

There are also some other common brands out there that you might find such as Huffy, Schwinn, and Mongoose.

You can find these bikes easily as most of them are sold at Walmart. Keep in mind that not all of these bikes are suitable for hardcore off-road biking, but for getting you to and from work. They will do just fine.

Some of the higher brands bikes are: Norco, Trek, GT and Kona.

These type of bikes can be found for much higher prices, but you tend to get higher quality as well.

Best places to buy used mountain bikes

There are tons of places where you can buy bikes. If you’re looking to buy a used bike, there are a couple of places you’ve got to check out.

• Yard sales
• Flea markets
• Repair shops

If you’re buying a bike from one of these places, thoroughly check out the bike to make sure that it works. The reason why I suggest doing this is because they don’t have a return policy.

One of the nice things about buying from a person directly, is that you can get deals on mountain bikes if you bargain. You might be able to get the bike for a bit cheaper than what the listed price is.

If you have time and space, be sure to test ride the bike out.

Best places to buy online

If you don’t want to look all over the place for a deal in person, there is always online. One of the advantages of buying online is that you can check out a ton of places very quickly without having to travel to them.

One of the disadvantages is that you can’t check out the bikes personally, well not at first.

Here are the best places to find bikes online.

• Kijiji
• Ebay
• Amazon

I put Amazon one there because people can put their used goods on Amazon as well although it isn’t as common. Most of the time people buy new from Amazon.

Another thing to note with buying online, is that there are plenty of scams out there, so be sure to talk to someone before you buy.

Also, many retailers sell their bikes online as well, so make sure you know you’re dealing with.

Don’t be afraid to try bargain with the person you’re buying the bike from. Many times if you talk them politely, you can negotiate a lower price.

How much is a used bike

Depending on what you are looking for a used, you could spend anywhere from $25 to 600+.

On the lower end of the spectrum you would be able to get a bike for your everyday travels to and from work most likely. But if you want to use the bike on the trails, you’ll have to take it a bit easier on the bike depending on the durability of the bike.

If you’re willing to spend a bit more, you can can get a decent bike for $250.

Keep in mind that you could get some low-end new bikes for that price though. So think about it before you buy. Ask yourself, “is worth it”?

Generally, you’ll find cheaper bikes at flea markets and yard sales.

It really boils down to what you want to use the bike for.

Top mountain bike buying guide

Still need more information?

Well I have compiled a list of places that you might also find helpful.

• Before you buy a mountain bike
• Trail mountain bike guide
• Beginners guide to buying a bike
• Buyers guide to moutain bikes

Final thoughts

Used mountain bikes are all over the place. You just need to know where to look.

As I mentioned, online is a great place to find bikes. Don’t be afraid to bargain with people, and search for a while to find the right bike for you.

Also, check out yard sales and flea markets for some really good deals, but be ready for a search to find the right bike for you.

Now go out there and find the right bike for you.