So I am in the market for a used road bike - I am ready to lay down the cash. Anyone have some tips on how to inspect a bike in about 5-10 minutes (That’s about all the time I’m going to have for the bike I intend on purchasing)? Of course there are the obvious things like frame condition, wheels true, cleanliness. I’m looking for the real key things - like how I can determine whether the bottom bracket is in good condition, or that the frame still has integrity (i.e. it hasn’t been spilled and rides down the road like a 1980 Pinto).
Any thoughts?
Better yet, I am not sold on the bike I intend to buy yet. If you are in the market to sell a premium road bike with DA 10-speed, size 57-59cm, aluminum and/or carbon frame - let me know.
Did you check WWW.PREOWNEDBIKES.COM? They warranty the used bikes they sell, and should have something in your size.
First, be iron clad positive the fit is prefect. If you have to replace items such as stem, seatpost, cranks and saddle to get the appropriate fit, facotr that into the cost. I adds up fast.
Second, find out if has been car-racked or crashed. If it has been car racked, I would pass on it. Car racks do incredibly damaging things to bikes that are expensive to fix: Bad headsets, ruined fork dropouts, ruined bottom brackets. Think about this- If the bike were powerwashed with filty water and road film at 70mph and then wiped off, would you still want it? That means, at best, a headset, hub and bottom bracket rebuild/replacement and new cables and housing.
Are the cables affected by the Shimano recall?
How is the wear on the tires? $100 to replace a nice set of tires. They come with a new bike.
Finally, be sure about the fit. Check and re-check. If it doesn’t fit perfectly- look elsewhere. A used bike can rapidly become a sucking hole of money- good after bad. Check it out:
**Change required** **Cost** **Reason** New, shorter aerobars $119.99 Aerobars too long New, narrower base bars $59.99 Base bars too wide New, shorter stem $59.99 Stem too long New cables due to cockpit
Length change $21.00 Cables too long Bar tape $11.99 Old tape ruined New cranks $149.99 Cranks too long Center mount seat post $89.99 Was too far back New saddle $159.99 Old saddle uncomfortable New 12-23 cogset $49.99 Original 11-21 “too hard” Labor for fit $150.00 Labor for mechanicals $80.00 Total finished cost $1010.09
and this: http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/editorials/0000053.shtml