| Lets start with a goal to Buy-A Used-Bike
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| | a used bike in Brand New Condition. If it
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| Cheap First you need to become very
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| | is beat up or rusty I would move on.
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| knowledgeable about what you want.
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| | There are a lot of nearly new used bikes
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| Looking at New Bicycles will educate you
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| | for sale cheap. Many people will try to
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| about what type of bike you want and what
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| | sell a used bike for way more than it is
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| is available. Test ride and learn as much
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| | worth.
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| as you can about new bikes to help you
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| | Negotiations! Make them commit. Be
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| Buy-A Used-Bike cheaply.
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| | friendly but make them tell you what they
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| Visit Bicycle Shops and look at New bikes
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| | want for it. I have been blown away
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| If you get the opportunity to visit a
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| | sometimes as to how little or how much
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| couple of shops this will definitely add
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| | people want. If they are wanting way to
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| to your knowledge. Then when you test
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| | much be friendly but say thank you I am
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| ride a used bike you will know if it
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| | not able to pay that much. Give them
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| rides like it should. This will also help
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| | your card or write your name and phone
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| you to judge value.
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| | number. Tell them you would be willing
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| The Bicycle industry is broken into
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| | to give it a nice home but this is more
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| several Main Brands and then also several
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| | the range I am looking to pay. The key
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| second Tier brands. The Top Tier Brands
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| | here is to not alienate them. Be Nice.
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| in my opinion:
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| | Bicycles are one of those items that
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| Trek, Gary Fisher, Giant, Specialized,
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| | people just have to get rid of sometimes.
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| Cannondale, Raleigh, Diamond Back. These
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| | Sometimes you will get a call. I have a
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| Brands tend to hold their value a little
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| | friend who got a beautiful old Porsche
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| better in the used bike Market. From
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| | 911 for half what it was worth using this
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| testing bikes at your local bicycle shop
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| | exact technique. I bought a bike last
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| you will find what they sell. The bikes
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| | month for $200 and sold it last week for
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| sold by the local dealers will probably
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| | $450. He who speaks first is at the
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| have a little more local value.
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| | mercy of the negotiator.
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| Depreciating Factors Age and Condition
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| | Remember we are looking for a Great deal
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| Was it a $600 bike or was it a $1500 bike
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| | on a used bike. If you pay much more than
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| when it was new. How old is the bike? A
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| | 1/2 of new price you are probably better
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| ten year old $1200 used bike in like new
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| | off buying from a Bike shop because they
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| condition is still probably worth only
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| | usually have a good warrantee and free
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| $200-$400. The person selling the used
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| | tune-ups that go along with the new bike.
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| bike will often inflate what they paid
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| | Stolen Bikes. You need to be very
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| for it. Ask to look at the purchase
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| | careful you are not buying a stolen bike.
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| receipt if they still have it. The
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| | If the seller has his original
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| receipt will also tell you the age.
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| | papers--awesome. Ask to see his sales
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| What Condition is the Used Bike in? The
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| | receipt. I will not buy any used bike I
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| first thing I check on a used bike is the
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| | am not certain is not stolen.
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| overall look. Does the bike look like it
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| | Happy searching.
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| has been stored outside? Is it rusty?
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| | Used Bikes on EBAY Ebay is a whole new
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| What condition is the chain in? What
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| | can of honey/worms. Yes there are many
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| condition are the tires in? Are there
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| | good deals on Ebay. It is the best venue
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| bald or near bald spots and or cracks
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| | for selling and or buying for the
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| from aging? Has the bike been ridden
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| | educated buyer. BE CAREFUL!! There are
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| hard? Yes to any of these questions and
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| | many items described as like new that
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| I'm moving on.
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| | have been ridden hard. A friend of mine
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| There are a lot of bikes that are
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| | spent a lot of money on a bike that
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| purchased and ridden for a summer or two
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| | needed several hundred dollars worth of
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| and then left in the basement or garage.
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| | work to get ride able. It was a Yeti and
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| What we are looking for is a really nice
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| | he checked the new price on the bike and
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| condition bike---Search and you will
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| | the new price for all the components. It
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| find.
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| | added up to over $2500. He got the bike
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| What Condition are the Wheels in? See if
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| | and all the parts were what they said
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| the wheels are round and true. Pick up
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| | they were but the bike had been ridden
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| the back of the bike and slowly spin the
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| | really hard. He paid $1100 for it and it
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| wheel forward. Pay attention to how it
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| | never worked right.
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| spins--does it rub the brakes? Does the
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| | Also the shipping cost on a bike can be
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| rim have any flat spots in it? How easy
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| | high because they ship as oversize 2 by
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| does it roll? Now do this with the front
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| | UPS. Many bikes get damaged during
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| wheel. While we are playing with the
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| | shipping. You must be getting a SUPER
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| wheels check to see that the brakes are
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| | deal to buy through Ebay and still risk
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| working well. How warn are the brake
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| | not having seen and checked the
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| shoes?
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| | condition. Be sure to get the price to
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| What Condition is the Drive Train in? Now
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| | ship the bike before you bid on it.
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| lets check out the drive train. I would
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| | EBAY Feedback Good Feedback is the key to
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| slowly spin the cranks backwards and look
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| | Ebay. If the seller has at least 20
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| for bends or a wobble in the cranks and
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| | positives and great overall rating you
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| chain rings. Is the crank bearing loose?
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| | can probably trust them. I have sold
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| Now lets take a test ride. Check the tire
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| | thousands of items on Ebay and sometimes
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| pressure before you ride it. Do the
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| | I have done real well and sometimes my
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| shifters work properly. Does the chain
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| | buyer has done real well. The higher the
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| rub in high gear? Does the shifter shift
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| | price of the item I am buying the higher
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| down to low gear? Does the bike ride as
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| | the number of positive feedback I want.
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| well as the new one you test rode? Under
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| | If the item is over $600 I want at least
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| heavy acceleration do the cranks creak?
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| | 50 positives.
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| Is there a click in the drive train?
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| | How to Buy a Used Bike Summary. Start
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| Does the Bike Fit You? From testing new
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| | by figuring out what kind of bike you
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| bikes you should know what bike size
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| | want. Check out new Bikes to be able to
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| range fits you for the type of riding you
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| | better gauge value and figure what size
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| are looking to do.
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| | you should ride. Rust, bent wheels,
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| Lets Talk Value. You have to determine
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| | clicking drive trains, loose bearings,
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| the approximate original Retail price of
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| | tire rot, any kind of abuse move on.
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| the bike. I would start by dividing that
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| | Screaming deals are out there if you
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| by 2. That is the maximum I would pay for
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| | persist. Negotiate.
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