Pro tip: Look for bikes with the stock tires still on them. (Usually white Maxxis logos are a good indication) Then you’ll be getting a bike with very little wear, that shouldn’t need much maintenance to get you out on the trail.
I have to say my two favorite lines in the video "to be honest, I wanna help people out..." and "enjoy what you have...". Those two phrases right there go way beyond biking. This is why you are one of the few YT bikers I watch.
Thanks Josh I picked up my ride for $200 and put another 300 bucks into it and now its decent. Yeah its nothing compared to what you and most of the other youtubers ride but it works and lets me hit the trails! Its definitely difficult I overlooked a few things on mine but its been good to me now with my upgrades.
I got my 2012 Santa Cruz Nomad C off craigslist for $1200. The price he wanted to sell it for was $1500. We talked him down to 1200, and he accepted it. This is another reason used bikes are great! You can always make the price go down! I’ve been enjoying my bike for over a year, and I don’t regret getting a used bike.
Patience!!! Stay patient!!! I've been hunting dirt jumpers for close to 3 month on eBay pink bike and Craigslist! Finally yesterday I snatched up a 2011 airbourne wingman that was only ridden 5 times! Scored it for 175 bones!
Awesome work Josh! I'd love to see a follow up on red flags for people to look for. The #1 reason I'm hesitant to recommend used bikes to a new rider is they may not have a lot of wrenching time on a bike and do t know what's a cheap repair and what could end up being $100(+) job.
On the maintenance and negotiating step... I look at it like a car, I'm going to ask you to take into a shop and have an estimate put together for any repairs or necessary maintenance. This will give everyone involved a fair understanding of what's actually on the table.
My latest bike is an evil wreckoning that i got from my local bike shop They had a fleet of evil demo bikes that they replace each year so got an awesome bike with not much use fully serviced and after winter getting another free full service all for £3000 not bad for a £6500 build and 2 services 🤘
Another top bid J-Dog... 🤣 I just bought a Giant Trance 2014 27.5 4 for the equivalent of $785 after negotiating down and spent $43 on a new freehub, sealant and spray paint for cranks. Did a full rebuild with the better parts off my hardtail incl fork. Now other than for a very basic rear Giant shock it's a great bike. You can always negotiate and learn how to do basic to intermediate maintenance yourself.
@@lachlanbrunton5941 I hear you. Although here in South Africa it would be more expensive than that and I was specifically looking for Maestro Suspension too. You guys get way better value for your dollars there. Here a relatively decent new bike is like 1500 dollars at least
Great video as always Josh. Even though I don't have unlimited money to spend I usually go for a new bike, because nothing is more awesome than opening that new bike box and assembling the bike and you don't have to worry about any maintenance things. Your videos are just so good, I'm always excited when I see a new video from you!!
sometimes you still might need to do some thing,s brakes might have too little fluid, I got brakes replaced under warranty but the new brakes had too little fluid in rear brake, also check every bolt, so it's not overtightened or too loose, I have experienced both. I got Trek, but hope they improved their quality control and factory assembly, cus it's unacceptable, I know Canyon use torque wrench. something might get smashed under shipping, even housing can be cut, or leaking, spokes can be snapped, I have been researching bikes so much I have seen a lot of bad stuff. but most people don't get those issues.
@@mtbboy1993 Yeah of course, those are a must. It always takes several hours to get everything just right. I also always go through every bolt with a Torque wrench and set up tyres tubeless and such. I've never had a problem of a bike being damaged in the shipping.
5:06 super true i Just bought my very First bike (used) and it took me months for the perfect bike at the perfect cost and after STRAIGHT DAYS looking on different sites i got a beatifull specialized pitch pro 2008 with some great components for Just more than 400€ (euro becouse im fron Italy) so do your research
I buyed a 80/90's single speed steel MTB here in Argentina, my country, to use it in the city and for work. The bike was in a garage for years but still works. It cost me 1500 pesos ($16 dolars). With the repairs I made on it, I only paid $34. I'm very happy with it 💜 (I have another MTB from the 2005 I think, but I didn't want to use it for anything different that ride in trails, and works pretty well. I give them both the care they need. Maybe some day i'll buy a more actual bike, but for now they all work for me).
Great tips! I also sort the results on the date they were put online, because usually really good deals get snatched up pretty quickly (especially when you're buying at the beginning of the season). When you've done your research and know what you want, you can check new offers every day and when a great deal comes by you can immediately respond to it! Worked for me and a lot of friends :)
Another useful tool is "Bicycle Bluebook". This will tell you what the retail price for a three year old bike should be so you don't overpay. Many sellers think that since they shelled out four or five grand 4 to 5 years ago the bike should still be worth close to the same price but that's not necessarily the case.
Bikes for sure lose value really dang fast, and upgrades don't help the value as much as many would think. Just like a car, mods/upgrades don't help value as much as good maintenance does. I've found that the blue book can be pretty pessimistic on pricing. Doesn't take into account the season, your area (Yeti's are HUGE in Colorado), and hype on that bike. I'd look at similar models listed on eBay, pinkbike, and craigslist to get a more broad picture of the bike's street value.
Ive found bluebook vastly underestimates prices in the area that i live. Better to check for the same bike you're looking at on pinkbike and ebay to get price expectations
When I’ve looked at used bikes, I eliminated bikes that were technically in my price range, but would need upgrades like 1x or droppers, buying a bike with those already on it save a lot of money! I also was very patient and was ready to go when the right deal came along, and as a result I was able to get a 1.5 year old full suspension with nice features like a Pike, upgraded dropper, upgraded wheel set, and 1x, all of which had been serviced recently, echoing Josh’s point of factoring in maintenance costs. Good tips Josh!
This video has got me inspired to inspire my friends to get into mountain biking, It's just such an amazing thing to be able to, similar to when i got a kayak and I was just blown away by the fact that water isnt off limits anymore, cheers for the video
one thing that will benefit you a lot is to take your time when looking at a bike. dont feel rushed, take time, check everything carefully. check wheel true, measure chain wear if you have a chain tool, check bearing tension, check the head tube for cracks, take your time and you'll save yourself some surprises later when you discover issues at home.
Whenever I look at decent bikes on craigslist they seem super overpriced. Then you also have to factor in that you're getting no warranty on a used bike and it seems like a better choice to go with an internet direct brand than to get something like a used santa cruz bike that you pay a similar price to an ID brand for the build kit but get none of the new buyer perks. But yeah, with enough time, effort and negotiating I'm sure there are good deals to be had, it's just a lot of work and risk involved.
Thanks Josh...I appreciate that your channel considers the newer rider and how to appreciate the sport on a budget. Many of us can not buy the latest and greatest Yeti . Growth of the sport needs to come from the bottom up. Thanx
I can highly recommend end of season sales at your LBS I scored a 2018 Bronson Carbon for 50% off retail purely because the 2019 frame had come out a month before. Top of the line bike with great components and a full lifetime warranty on the frame, for £3000
check evry thing, the suspension, inspect very closely, the stanchions, check for play, check for noises, and don't assume the forks are straight, check that too, forks can be twisted a little bit, check if wheels go in and out of frame and fork easily. I could go on and on about what to checked, but check every thing you can think op, plus more, so touch every thing wiggle everything, do all the qwird stuff.
I picked up my 2011 Fuji Outland for about $300. It’s 26” 120mm up front and 125mm out back. Only downside was the 3x drivetrain and QR wheels, but I really haven’t had too much trouble with it and prices are coming down on 1x conversions. It’s been fantastic! And I actually just upgraded the fork! Love the hell outta my bike!
My DH bike is a 2008 Ironhorse Sunday I bought for 800NZD. I've upgraded parts like the brakes, cranks, cassette etc, and got it repainted. It is a sweet bike and cost me 1500NZD (about 1000USD). It might be old and heavy but it's more bike than I'll ever need and is so fun to kick around on.
I actually like buying during the off/mid season. There are less people looking for bikes and the person selling is either selling because they don’t use it or because they bought/want something else and need the $. I sell my bikes at the beginning of the season and buy off. Also use bicycle blue book a lot to compare values especially on the higher end stuff. It’s also great to look up a bikes recommended maintenance and see if the seller knows and has done those things. This is a good indicator of how well they cared for a bike
I bought my then dream hardtail in July. I got my Santa Cruz Chameleon in July with very low use over a year at a super discounted price. I spent 9 months searching and a year saving
about that enjoyment on your bike, my mechanic always states: this bike is not used as intended and i always respond proudly: yes, but boy oh boy how much fun i’m having ;-)
I picked up my road bike on Craigslist when I was first giving road riding a shot. It was a great deal and came with some awesome upgraded parts. Definetly recommend the used bike market if you're looking to try a new discipline of riding before shelling out some big money on a nice bike!
The other side of negotiation around your price point is to look at what comes extra. and service records. Assuming the reason for buying used is financial then consider the cost of bleed kits, bearings and fork and shock services. Also what parts is the seller throwing in, a set of seals, spare mech hangar, chain or bearings etc. (that are probably of no use to them). Even drifts for the shock bearings all cost money and their new frame might use different bearings, they might have upgraded to an extra gear so a spare chain is useless etc. This is usually a sign of a well maintained bike as well. Either way budget for these, if you don’t have a bleed kit you’ll need to buy one, if you don’t have seals you’ll need to buy unless you send it to a shop for service then you need to factor that in. If the fork or shock has service records these can also indicate areas that might go wrong like a scratched damper etc.
Quick tip: Most local bike shops will do a repair estimate for free and that can help with the purchase. Good for you so you don't buy a clapped-out bike, and the LBS wants to do it so you don't get screwed and they might get some service work.
Back in 2012 when I was shopping for my first "real" MTB, I fell in love with the GT Sensor Expert 29er that was at Performance Bikes. However, I couldn't justify the $2800 they wanted for it so I settled on a 2011 GT Avalanche 2.0 26er that they had on sale for $400. Skip forward to 2019, and I saw someone selling the 2012 Sensor Expert 29er in my size on Ebay for $450. The bike was definitely used (and a bit abused) but I bought it and after putting about $200 more into replacing the cassette, grips and shock, plus doing some long overdue maintenance on the BB & I-Drive I now have my old "Dream Bike" all sorted out and riding beautifully.
Another tip! Look around your local MTB community and just ask on forums and facebook group that you are looking to buy. You will not only be buying from people who know what they are talking about and a lot of people have bikes they are considering selling but haven't gotten around to putting an add up. And you'll also get a lot of really good advice :)
Yeah I watched that one with stem , grips etc , maybe do a extended one on like high engagement rear hub , better crank and chain ring and the benefits of it . Or do a hardtail Urban mobbin video , like showing the average riders can go ride local jumps, drops and gaps all around their local town . Showing you don’t have to be at whistler to have fun
I have that exact trance 2. It's a beast. I've definitely ridden it hard and it takes a beating. I changed the whole drivetrain to XT and what a difference. I destroyed my rear rim, the stock ones are kinda terrible. I had like 12 bends in the rim lol. Running a raceface rim now with maxxis dhf dd in the back and dhf exo in the front. A fox 36 would be my next upgrade.
Sometimes it's a lot better to buy a used bike. You lose that dealer depreciation when it rolls off the showroom floor and if it comes with a few scratches already at won't bother you as much when you add one. Great video Josh.
I’ve got a Rocky Mountain flow one for $150 CAD and a giant faith 3 for $200 CAD sure I needed to do some maintenance on them but after putting $200 into them I have 2 awesome bikes. Just wait and good things will come
Yessir, used is a wise choice if you have the patience. Research is paramount. An older bike in great shape for low $ seems like a great idea... until you go to replace something on the bike. *quality* Forks with straight steer tubes are getting hard to find, everything in 26" is already hard to find... Like you said, research! I recommend researching every major component on the bike as if you were going to upgrade that component right off the bat. This way you can catch things like an outdated shock that you can no longer buy seals for or wacky proprietary components that will be hard to deal with (cannondale Lefty, Specialized Brain Shock etc). Also, watch out for guys that have purchased a bike, swapped out all of the components with lower spec stuff and are trying to flip a "new" ish looking bike. I have seen this in the SF bay area on Craigslist at least a dozen times.
Thanks for the video and the good points that people should definitely consider. I haven't had a ton of bikes in my life but now that I think of it, I believe they were all used! Take care
Bro, you're lucky. Here in Hawaii we don't have alot of choices. My feeling is everybody is trying to get big bucks for craps bikes. Others buy bikes then try to flip them for profit. I just bought a BRAND NEW bike for cheaper than used! One more thing. If you do go for used, make very sure it's a Legal bike. Police auction is also good place to look, although it usually happens once a year. Love your videos! Gotta suit up for a ride, thanks. Aloha
I'm considering getting a used bike since for the price of a Walmart bike I can actually get something good. Usually from someone who went on RUclips and looked up the best bike for under $500 and ended up quitting after they realized they don't really like cycling. Not to mention there are plenty of free bikes in decent condition for sale that you can just pick up and sell to get even more money for the bike you actually want
I got a 2018 voodoo hoodoo for £200 last December 2018 that's practically brandnew and has never been ridden except from Halfords to his flat. Its original price was £550-£600. The seller sold it for that low because he was skint and needed to buy his gf a xmas gift.
Use checkaflip to see what other people have paid for the bike you are looking at buying. Also show in another how to check for some common problems when actually looking at the bike. Are the wheel bearings loose, is the headset loose, how do the crank bearings feel, is the suspension moving well, and look at the frame and rims for cracks.
my country is not so rich and its small.. our budget is small and we dont have like page for used bikes!! we got like bike shop but is with bad bikes with coil suspensions and they are like 300€ but is not worth it! we have fb page about used bikes and only has 1000 members and like 2-3 of them have a mtb! from other country for me is so expensive..we work about 8 hours and they give us 200€
İ just picked up a bike then brought it to my local bike shop and they tought it was stolen 😔 only bec im Turkish and i live in the Netherlands!!, then one of them started to ask me questions about parts to make sure im an experienced mtb’er, 🤮 racism is really disgusting. #notoraciscm Edit: btw this happens allmost all the time 3/5 times this happens to me. Big respect to you you make really good educating videos keep it up i really like them👍🤘 #rideyourbikeeveryday
This is pretty obvious but know that you’ll save more money the more you know how to work on bikes. Many many many bikes are out there that are used but just dirty. They’re in perfect condition and just need a little cleaning and adjusting. Take advantage and learn the most you can about fixing bikes.
thanks for the video, I’m actually going to be renting a bike when I go to Whistler in June and I heard that if you like the bike they’ll give you an option to buy the bike from them at a discounted rate, and if I do like mountain biking enough I might do that next season.
Just got a 2018 Pivot Switchblade with Reynold Carbon wheels and xtr drivetrain for 4k....brand new that bike was north of $8500 lol. The guy rode it less than 200 miles.
I'm a thirteen-year-old and i've been saving my money and working around my house for the last nine months or so. I've gotten a little bit of money for my birthday and Christmas, and have about one thousand dollars saved up. I have a decent xc hardtail, but i am ready to upgrade to a full-suspension trail bike that i can ride on my local xc trails, but still be able to bring it my local downhill park. I have a few questions that i would love answered: Should i go within range of pick up or shipment? Should i keep saving and get a newer model, maybe even brand new? What should i expect to get for 1000 dollars? Is a 1x11, full suspension 29er reasonable?
You could possibly find a used 1x11 full suspension for $1000 but if you're buying a brand new bike then you should look for a hardtail at that budget.
I got a large specialized 29 er (2017) for 2000 with an extra set of stans flow wheels. I can’t tell if that was a good deal or not. What do you think?
Pro tip: Look for bikes with the stock tires still on them. (Usually white Maxxis logos are a good indication) Then you’ll be getting a bike with very little wear, that shouldn’t need much maintenance to get you out on the trail.
That's a great tip Ryan! That shows how much they've ridden it and that they're not a tinker-er
That’s a great tip!
Nah, a friend rolled his icons for like 2+ years
Thx for that
Either that or you will get a bike that has been neglected and not maintenanced properly
I have to say my two favorite lines in the video "to be honest, I wanna help people out..." and "enjoy what you have...". Those two phrases right there go way beyond biking. This is why you are one of the few YT bikers I watch.
Thanks so much Josh! That means more than you know!
@@DailyMTBRider can a person find black Friday discounts
Thanks Josh I picked up my ride for $200 and put another 300 bucks into it and now its decent. Yeah its nothing compared to what you and most of the other youtubers ride but it works and lets me hit the trails! Its definitely difficult I overlooked a few things on mine but its been good to me now with my upgrades.
Don't worry, no matter what bike you have, you are not any less of a mountain biker!
@@th_js true that
Hey what bike are you riding?
What bike is it ?
I got my 2012 Santa Cruz Nomad C off craigslist for $1200. The price he wanted to sell it for was $1500. We talked him down to 1200, and he accepted it. This is another reason used bikes are great! You can always make the price go down! I’ve been enjoying my bike for over a year, and I don’t regret getting a used bike.
Awesome man! Great to hear more people have found great bikes on the used market!
that's sick dude. I got a 2013 Stumpjumper Evo fsr on pinkbike buysell for 1200 and the thing was mint.
How do you like it? I saw a same year and model on sell for $1200. I'm 5'8" but the frame is L so idk how that's gonna fit
Patience!!! Stay patient!!! I've been hunting dirt jumpers for close to 3 month on eBay pink bike and Craigslist! Finally yesterday I snatched up a 2011 airbourne wingman that was only ridden 5 times! Scored it for 175 bones!
26 ain't dead ya same I got a 2013 redline D26 for 300
I literally just bought a used carbon bike yesterday this video would have been more useful earlier!
Oh no! Sorry man! But I hope you got a great deal!
Awesome work Josh! I'd love to see a follow up on red flags for people to look for. The #1 reason I'm hesitant to recommend used bikes to a new rider is they may not have a lot of wrenching time on a bike and do t know what's a cheap repair and what could end up being $100(+) job.
Great idea Joseph - I'll for sure make a follow up video about red flags - I'll probably chat with you through my ideas too!
Great suggestion, a topic like this needs both sides covering I think :)
On the maintenance and negotiating step... I look at it like a car, I'm going to ask you to take into a shop and have an estimate put together for any repairs or necessary maintenance. This will give everyone involved a fair understanding of what's actually on the table.
That's a great idea! Taking it to a bike shop to give it a once over is a great way to feel comfortable buying a bike!
My latest bike is an evil wreckoning that i got from my local bike shop
They had a fleet of evil demo bikes that they replace each year so got an awesome bike with not much use fully serviced and after winter getting another free full service all for £3000 not bad for a £6500 build and 2 services 🤘
26 ain't dead on craigslist!
True.... but it's getting there.... haha!
Yeah my buddy has a 26” Kona with some amazing parts on it that he bought last April
kids/small persons bikes still use 26er.
I'm alive and well
I still ride a 26” it’s perfect for me so no need to get a bigger one
Another top bid J-Dog... 🤣 I just bought a Giant Trance 2014 27.5 4 for the equivalent of $785 after negotiating down and spent $43 on a new freehub, sealant and spray paint for cranks. Did a full rebuild with the better parts off my hardtail incl fork. Now other than for a very basic rear Giant shock it's a great bike. You can always negotiate and learn how to do basic to intermediate maintenance yourself.
Shane Starita I bought a brand new giant stance 2 2018 last year for 1100 u probably should’ve just bought knew one
@@lachlanbrunton5941 I hear you. Although here in South Africa it would be more expensive than that and I was specifically looking for Maestro Suspension too. You guys get way better value for your dollars there. Here a relatively decent new bike is like 1500 dollars at least
My friend bought a used Atroz 2 2018 for $600 with upgraded tires, fork, rear shock, bars, brakes and shifter. The bike worked fine to no problems
I'm currently selling a Niner Rip 9 on EBAY, excellent condition per High Gear bike shop. Was $4,000.00 selling for $1,600..
Great video as always Josh. Even though I don't have unlimited money to spend I usually go for a new bike, because nothing is more awesome than opening that new bike box and assembling the bike and you don't have to worry about any maintenance things. Your videos are just so good, I'm always excited when I see a new video from you!!
Tomi Saaranen I agree tomi!
sometimes you still might need to do some thing,s brakes might have too little fluid, I got brakes replaced under warranty but the new brakes had too little fluid in rear brake, also check every bolt, so it's not overtightened or too loose, I have experienced both. I got Trek, but hope they improved their quality control and factory assembly, cus it's unacceptable, I know Canyon use torque wrench.
something might get smashed under shipping, even housing can be cut, or leaking, spokes can be snapped, I have been researching bikes so much I have seen a lot of bad stuff. but most people don't get those issues.
@@mtbboy1993 Yeah of course, those are a must. It always takes several hours to get everything just right. I also always go through every bolt with a Torque wrench and set up tyres tubeless and such. I've never had a problem of a bike being damaged in the shipping.
5:06 super true i Just bought my very First bike (used) and it took me months for the perfect bike at the perfect cost and after STRAIGHT DAYS looking on different sites i got a beatifull specialized pitch pro 2008 with some great components for Just more than 400€ (euro becouse im fron Italy) so do your research
I buyed a 80/90's single speed steel MTB here in Argentina, my country, to use it in the city and for work. The bike was in a garage for years but still works. It cost me 1500 pesos ($16 dolars). With the repairs I made on it, I only paid $34. I'm very happy with it 💜 (I have another MTB from the 2005 I think, but I didn't want to use it for anything different that ride in trails, and works pretty well. I give them both the care they need. Maybe some day i'll buy a more actual bike, but for now they all work for me).
Great tips! I also sort the results on the date they were put online, because usually really good deals get snatched up pretty quickly (especially when you're buying at the beginning of the season). When you've done your research and know what you want, you can check new offers every day and when a great deal comes by you can immediately respond to it! Worked for me and a lot of friends :)
Another useful tool is "Bicycle Bluebook". This will tell you what the retail price for a three year old bike should be so you don't overpay. Many sellers think that since they shelled out four or five grand 4 to 5 years ago the bike should still be worth close to the same price but that's not necessarily the case.
I'm not the biggest fan of bicycle blue book - but that could just be me. It's a starting point more than an ending point
Bikes for sure lose value really dang fast, and upgrades don't help the value as much as many would think. Just like a car, mods/upgrades don't help value as much as good maintenance does.
I've found that the blue book can be pretty pessimistic on pricing. Doesn't take into account the season, your area (Yeti's are HUGE in Colorado), and hype on that bike. I'd look at similar models listed on eBay, pinkbike, and craigslist to get a more broad picture of the bike's street value.
Ive found bluebook vastly underestimates prices in the area that i live. Better to check for the same bike you're looking at on pinkbike and ebay to get price expectations
When I’ve looked at used bikes, I eliminated bikes that were technically in my price range, but would need upgrades like 1x or droppers, buying a bike with those already on it save a lot of money! I also was very patient and was ready to go when the right deal came along, and as a result I was able to get a 1.5 year old full suspension with nice features like a Pike, upgraded dropper, upgraded wheel set, and 1x, all of which had been serviced recently, echoing Josh’s point of factoring in maintenance costs. Good tips Josh!
That's awesome Ben! You mention a great point of taking your time during the process! It takes a while to find a good bike!
This video has got me inspired to inspire my friends to get into mountain biking, It's just such an amazing thing to be able to, similar to when i got a kayak and I was just blown away by the fact that water isnt off limits anymore, cheers for the video
one thing that will benefit you a lot is to take your time when looking at a bike. dont feel rushed, take time, check everything carefully. check wheel true, measure chain wear if you have a chain tool, check bearing tension, check the head tube for cracks, take your time and you'll save yourself some surprises later when you discover issues at home.
Whenever I look at decent bikes on craigslist they seem super overpriced. Then you also have to factor in that you're getting no warranty on a used bike and it seems like a better choice to go with an internet direct brand than to get something like a used santa cruz bike that you pay a similar price to an ID brand for the build kit but get none of the new buyer perks. But yeah, with enough time, effort and negotiating I'm sure there are good deals to be had, it's just a lot of work and risk involved.
use pinkbike not Craigslist
Thanks Josh...I appreciate that your channel considers the newer rider and how to appreciate the sport on a budget. Many of us can not buy the latest and greatest Yeti . Growth of the sport needs to come from the bottom up. Thanx
Thank you man! I'm all about making videos that help everyone to get out there and shred!
I can highly recommend end of season sales at your LBS I scored a 2018 Bronson Carbon for 50% off retail purely because the 2019 frame had come out a month before. Top of the line bike with great components and a full lifetime warranty on the frame, for £3000
Jeff here, thanks Josh for the help finding the trance and tuning it up for me. Rides like a dream!
I got a custom specialized demo worth 8 grand but got it for $2700(2018 model) because he got sponserd by a moto X brand
Great advice Josh. Well said... Enjoy what you have!
check evry thing, the suspension, inspect very closely, the stanchions, check for play, check for noises, and don't assume the forks are straight, check that too, forks can be twisted a little bit, check if wheels go in and out of frame and fork easily. I could go on and on about what to checked, but check every thing you can think op, plus more, so touch every thing wiggle everything, do all the qwird stuff.
Some of my bikes i bought used, but you can get some nice new custom build bike with 1-2 years old component for around 40% off at some bike shops.
Great advice as always Josh!
Thanks Toogy - stoked you enjoyed it!
I was able to score a 2006 Transition Preston for cheap a few months ago. I absolutely adore that thing.
I picked up my 2011 Fuji Outland for about $300.
It’s 26” 120mm up front and 125mm out back.
Only downside was the 3x drivetrain and QR wheels, but I really haven’t had too much trouble with it and prices are coming down on 1x conversions.
It’s been fantastic! And I actually just upgraded the fork!
Love the hell outta my bike!
My DH bike is a 2008 Ironhorse Sunday I bought for 800NZD. I've upgraded parts like the brakes, cranks, cassette etc, and got it repainted. It is a sweet bike and cost me 1500NZD (about 1000USD). It might be old and heavy but it's more bike than I'll ever need and is so fun to kick around on.
I actually like buying during the off/mid season. There are less people looking for bikes and the person selling is either selling because they don’t use it or because they bought/want something else and need the $. I sell my bikes at the beginning of the season and buy off. Also use bicycle blue book a lot to compare values especially on the higher end stuff.
It’s also great to look up a bikes recommended maintenance and see if the seller knows and has done those things. This is a good indicator of how well they cared for a bike
I bought my then dream hardtail in July. I got my Santa Cruz Chameleon in July with very low use over a year at a super discounted price. I spent 9 months searching and a year saving
about that enjoyment on your bike, my mechanic always states: this bike is not used as intended and i always respond proudly: yes, but boy oh boy how much fun i’m having ;-)
I picked up my road bike on Craigslist when I was first giving road riding a shot. It was a great deal and came with some awesome upgraded parts.
Definetly recommend the used bike market if you're looking to try a new discipline of riding before shelling out some big money on a nice bike!
The other side of negotiation around your price point is to look at what comes extra. and service records. Assuming the reason for buying used is financial then consider the cost of bleed kits, bearings and fork and shock services. Also what parts is the seller throwing in, a set of seals, spare mech hangar, chain or bearings etc. (that are probably of no use to them). Even drifts for the shock bearings all cost money and their new frame might use different bearings, they might have upgraded to an extra gear so a spare chain is useless etc.
This is usually a sign of a well maintained bike as well.
Either way budget for these, if you don’t have a bleed kit you’ll need to buy one, if you don’t have seals you’ll need to buy unless you send it to a shop for service then you need to factor that in.
If the fork or shock has service records these can also indicate areas that might go wrong like a scratched damper etc.
I got a diamondback trace for 350 then put 200 into a new fork and have been upgrading it scince
Quick tip: Most local bike shops will do a repair estimate for free and that can help with the purchase. Good for you so you don't buy a clapped-out bike, and the LBS wants to do it so you don't get screwed and they might get some service work.
Back in 2012 when I was shopping for my first "real" MTB, I fell in love with the GT Sensor Expert 29er that was at Performance Bikes. However, I couldn't justify the $2800 they wanted for it so I settled on a 2011 GT Avalanche 2.0 26er that they had on sale for $400.
Skip forward to 2019, and I saw someone selling the 2012 Sensor Expert 29er in my size on Ebay for $450. The bike was definitely used (and a bit abused) but I bought it and after putting about $200 more into replacing the cassette, grips and shock, plus doing some long overdue maintenance on the BB & I-Drive I now have my old "Dream Bike" all sorted out and riding beautifully.
Nah man, just message ever single expensive bike and offer them all your budget, then they will all respond and hopefully one of them will say yes.
Haha - that takes a lot of work - but if you get one to bite, then it's worth it!
Hey, it worked for me. I got a bike worth 2k for 1200 bucks by using that method.
George Soukup cash speaks volumes bud!
Another tip!
Look around your local MTB community and just ask on forums and facebook group that you are looking to buy. You will not only be buying from people who know what they are talking about and a lot of people have bikes they are considering selling but haven't gotten around to putting an add up. And you'll also get a lot of really good advice :)
Got my Jamis Komodo expert 27.5+(hadn't even seen dirt) for 900 and my wife's Santa Cruz superlight for 400. An amazing steal! Great video!
2:20 3 huned man i wish i lived there here where i live that would be like 1400€
Same
DO A VIDEO ON SIMPLE UPGRADES TO A HARDTAIL THAT MAKE BIG DIFFERENCES
I kind of did, but will think about doing it more!
Yeah I watched that one with stem , grips etc , maybe do a extended one on like high engagement rear hub , better crank and chain ring and the benefits of it .
Or do a hardtail Urban mobbin video , like showing the average riders can go ride local jumps, drops and gaps all around their local town . Showing you don’t have to be at whistler to have fun
I have that exact trance 2. It's a beast. I've definitely ridden it hard and it takes a beating. I changed the whole drivetrain to XT and what a difference. I destroyed my rear rim, the stock ones are kinda terrible. I had like 12 bends in the rim lol. Running a raceface rim now with maxxis dhf dd in the back and dhf exo in the front. A fox 36 would be my next upgrade.
Sometimes it's a lot better to buy a used bike. You lose that dealer depreciation when it rolls off the showroom floor and if it comes with a few scratches already at won't bother you as much when you add one. Great video Josh.
What an awesome time for you to post this! Currently debating on new vs used bike for my wife. Perfect timing!
I picked up a 26er giant talon 0 2012 which has a rockshox xc32, decent geometry and a 3x9 slx for 225 bucks. It was 1200 new!
I’ve got a Rocky Mountain flow one for $150 CAD and a giant faith 3 for $200 CAD sure I needed to do some maintenance on them but after putting $200 into them I have 2 awesome bikes. Just wait and good things will come
Waiting is a key part of buying used!
Yessir, used is a wise choice if you have the patience. Research is paramount. An older bike in great shape for low $ seems like a great idea... until you go to replace something on the bike. *quality* Forks with straight steer tubes are getting hard to find, everything in 26" is already hard to find... Like you said, research! I recommend researching every major component on the bike as if you were going to upgrade that component right off the bat. This way you can catch things like an outdated shock that you can no longer buy seals for or wacky proprietary components that will be hard to deal with (cannondale Lefty, Specialized Brain Shock etc).
Also, watch out for guys that have purchased a bike, swapped out all of the components with lower spec stuff and are trying to flip a "new" ish looking bike. I have seen this in the SF bay area on Craigslist at least a dozen times.
Thanks for the video and the good points that people should definitely consider. I haven't had a ton of bikes in my life but now that I think of it, I believe they were all used! Take care
Yep! Enjoy what you have....!
Bro, you're lucky. Here in Hawaii we don't have alot of choices. My feeling is everybody is trying to get big bucks for craps bikes. Others buy bikes then try to flip them for profit. I just bought a BRAND NEW bike for cheaper than used! One more thing. If you do go for used, make very sure it's a Legal bike. Police auction is also good place to look, although it usually happens once a year. Love your videos! Gotta suit up for a ride, thanks. Aloha
I'm considering getting a used bike since for the price of a Walmart bike I can actually get something good. Usually from someone who went on RUclips and looked up the best bike for under $500 and ended up quitting after they realized they don't really like cycling. Not to mention there are plenty of free bikes in decent condition for sale that you can just pick up and sell to get even more money for the bike you actually want
Thanks for the video! I’m about to buy a used Evil following! Wish me luck!
Man in covid bikes have gone way up in price
I got a 2018 voodoo hoodoo for £200 last December 2018 that's practically brandnew and has never been ridden except from Halfords to his flat. Its original price was £550-£600. The seller sold it for that low because he was skint and needed to buy his gf a xmas gift.
Got a "used" lapierre zesty with 50 miles on it. 1k less then mspr. Right place right time. Just keep looking!
How bout tips on selling em! I've got two I need to sell before me wifey will let me buy another! Lol
Use checkaflip to see what other people have paid for the bike you are looking at buying. Also show in another how to check for some common problems when actually looking at the bike. Are the wheel bearings loose, is the headset loose, how do the crank bearings feel, is the suspension moving well, and look at the frame and rims for cracks.
I bought a trek fuel ex6 for €500 full sus and love it its in perfect condition
my country is not so rich and its small..
our budget is small and we dont have like page for used bikes!!
we got like bike shop but is with bad bikes with coil suspensions and they are like 300€ but is not worth it!
we have fb page about used bikes and only has 1000 members and like 2-3 of them have a mtb!
from other country for me is so expensive..we work about 8 hours and they give us 200€
İ just picked up a bike then brought it to my local bike shop and they tought it was stolen 😔 only bec im Turkish and i live in the Netherlands!!, then one of them started to ask me questions about parts to make sure im an experienced mtb’er, 🤮 racism is really disgusting. #notoraciscm
Edit: btw this happens allmost all the time 3/5 times this happens to me. Big respect to you you make really good educating videos keep it up i really like them👍🤘 #rideyourbikeeveryday
3× still got there place.
It all about what you need.
I use 3× because I get the lowest gear ratio. And still got good high sleep too
This is pretty obvious but know that you’ll save more money the more you know how to work on bikes. Many many many bikes are out there that are used but just dirty. They’re in perfect condition and just need a little cleaning and adjusting. Take advantage and learn the most you can about fixing bikes.
I’m buying a Norco Range c 7.1 2016 in a few weeks used for 2,700 I can’t wait
Great tips... just picked up my new "used" 2018 Santa Cruz Chameleon 27.5+ with a 60% discount :-) Love used bikes (prices)
Nice dude! Those Chameleon's are sick!
I just picked up my first DH bike used for a pretty good deal.
Great info Josh
Last year i bought a 2016 carbon norco range with a tonne of Upgrades for £1500. Used is the way
I managed to get a 800$ Giant hardtail for 300$ last week. Best purchase I've made in years
Damn talk about timing I'm looking at buying a used bike this weekend 🙏🙏🙏
Great video! Maybe you could show where to look for cracks in the frame too. Sometimes it might get missed on a quick inspection.
Good info for future buyers. 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽
Would you recommend buying from someone who has to ship it to you (like you found their listing on pinkbike but they're in a different state)?
thanks for all the info Dude !!
Thanks man this info was very useful keep up good videos
thanks for the video, I’m actually going to be renting a bike when I go to Whistler in June and I heard that if you like the bike they’ll give you an option to buy the bike from them at a discounted rate, and if I do like mountain biking enough I might do that next season.
Include pinkbike! It makes it so much easier to find bikes and narrow down!
Just got a 2018 Pivot Switchblade with Reynold Carbon wheels and xtr drivetrain for 4k....brand new that bike was north of $8500 lol. The guy rode it less than 200 miles.
Make sure its not stolen... dont buy if seller doesn't have receipt...if u do buy, make sure u get that receipt for when u sell!
Issac berschauer says, “that’s a good idea”
Great tips! Now someone buy my used bikes and gear!!!
Only if they buy me some too - 😂
Thanks I picked up an old Marin quake al7 with lots of upgraded parts for only £350
I'm a thirteen-year-old and i've been saving my money and working around my house for the last nine months or so. I've gotten a little bit of money for my birthday and Christmas, and have about one thousand dollars saved up. I have a decent xc hardtail, but i am ready to upgrade to a full-suspension trail bike that i can ride on my local xc trails, but still be able to bring it my local downhill park. I have a few questions that i would love answered:
Should i go within range of pick up or shipment?
Should i keep saving and get a newer model, maybe even brand new?
What should i expect to get for 1000 dollars? Is a 1x11, full suspension 29er reasonable?
Avery Mahon for 1000 I think you could get something like a full sus 27.5 trail bike or something like a high end hardtail
But if you’re spending 1000 and it hasn’t got a 1x drivetrain then it’s a horrible deal for 1000 you should get a 1x drivetrain
@@connor4011 Thanks!
You could possibly find a used 1x11 full suspension for $1000 but if you're buying a brand new bike then you should look for a hardtail at that budget.
Thanks for the tips.
No problem man! Thanks for watching!
Nice video, great advice
Good Advise. Thanks Bro.
awesome video josh this really helped
Thank you.
This was a fun watch, thanks!
lol. The thing is, my current dream bike is the 2019 Canyon Strive. Or the 2019 DB Sync'r, but in the 2017 color.
I think you can find some great bikes much older
Btw you can make Simeone Paint It even tho It costs
Great content Josh! =)
Nice vid just bought a sweet 26inch giant glory DH for 900
What was the first used full suspension bike?
Check Bicycle Blue bike for approximated values of any bike!
Personally, i think is bad advice. Bicycle blue book is based on percentages of sold bikes, not actual value.
I got a large specialized 29 er (2017) for 2000 with an extra set of stans flow wheels. I can’t tell if that was a good deal or not. What do you think?
I managed to get a trance 2 2020 for 1200£ I got a absolute steal