Probably, after a house and a car, buying a bicycle is one of the most important and complicated decisions for a cyclist. It's not just about the price; many other factors come into play, such as the frame geometry, the components, the size, the type of use you will give it, and the routes available in the area where you live. Whether you are looking for mountain bikes for your adventures on trails and rough paths, or road bikes to ride long distances on asphalt, the choice is not simple. Furthermore, unlike other products, such as sunglasses or socks that you can easily replace if you don't like them, buying a bicycle is a long-term investment.
A cyclist usually buys a bicycle to use it regularly, often every weekend or even several times a week. For this reason, the selection process must be careful. Added to this are visits to different stores, comparing brands, models, and prices, which makes the purchase experience similar to buying a car. Bike stores usually have a limited selection, with only 2 or 3 brands available. For this reason, many cyclists turn to the Internet, where they can find a wide range of bikes—mountain bikes and road bikes, new or second-hand—at more competitive prices. However, buying a second-hand bike online adds complexity and several risks that are important to consider.
Main risks between individuals
Buying a second-hand bike online can be complicated and uncomfortable. If you decide to buy from a private seller, the process usually includes the need to travel many kilometers to see different models.
Additionally, if the seller is far away, you will have to coordinate shipping and payment. And even if they ship it to you, you will never know the real condition of the bike until you receive it and start using it.
One of the biggest concerns is knowing if the bike is stolen or if the seller is hiding some damage. Sometimes, the seller assures you that the bike is in perfect condition, but how can you really check that?
Also, if you send the money by bank transfer, what happens if the seller doesn't send you the bike? Or if the bike arrives, and you discover it has hidden damages? It's an uncomfortable and risky situation.
In many cases, the buyer has to trust the seller's word. Even if the seller is honest, they may not always know the real condition of the bike. Even bikes that seem to be in good condition can have hidden damage that only a specialized mechanic could detect.
Most second-hand websites and apps do not inspect the products they sell. This increases the likelihood that stolen bicycles, counterfeits, or components in poor condition are traded.
These platforms charge the seller to post the ad or to give it greater visibility, but they do not offer any inspection to guarantee the quality of the product. In case of problems with the transaction, the claims process can be complicated and unreliable.
That’s why, if you’re going to buy a second-hand bicycle online, we always recommend making sure you have some kind of guarantee regarding the condition of the bike. It’s similar to buying a car: even if everything seems fine at first glance, you’ll only have real reliability if a professional checks it.
At Tuvalum, we take care of the entire process so you can buy your used bike with complete security. We guarantee that you will receive a bike in good condition, without worries about payment, shipping, or product quality. We handle everything for you!
Tips for a Safe Purchase
If you are going to buy a second-hand bicycle online, the main recommendation is to have some kind of guarantee regarding the condition of the bike. It’s like buying a car: you can take a look and everything might seem fine, but in reality, you’ll never be 100% sure of its condition unless a mechanic checks it. And the last thing you want is to go out with your bike and after 10 kilometers you notice a strange noise when braking, the gears don’t shift smoothly, or the steering doesn’t turn properly.
1- Buy from sites that offer mechanical certification
The previous example is something that happens very often, which is why the main advice is to always buy a second-hand bicycle that has some type of mechanical certification to rule out hidden damage. That’s why at Tuvalum we check all used bikes to verify their condition, make sure they match the description given by the seller in their ad, and give them a general tune-up of the transmission and braking systems. This way, you have the guarantee that a professional mechanic has certified it for your peace of mind. That’s what sets us apart from other second-hand ad websites and mobile apps.
2- Make sure you are not buying a stolen bicycle
Many second-hand apps and websites do not physically inspect the products being sold, making it easy for stolen bicycles to be transacted. If you have no proof that this is not the case, after a few months you could end up having a problem with the police and the seller has disappeared. That’s why at Tuvalum, when we inspect a bicycle, we take note of the serial number. This way, we prevent the sale of stolen bicycles and counterfeits. Thanks to our system, we have helped recover stolen bicycles. If you buy a used bicycle on your own, make sure it has the serial number visible. This reference, equivalent to a car’s chassis number, is usually indicated on the lower part of the bottom bracket. If the serial number is erased or that sticker has been removed, it’s a sign not to trust it.
3- Don’t be seduced by the price
Although you buy a bicycle based on the budget you have, it’s important that your choice between one or another doesn’t depend exclusively on the price. We are often tempted by the possibility of having found a bargain in the second-hand market and forget that sometimes cheap can turn out expensive. When choosing which bicycle to buy, it’s important to consider the use you will give the bike and how much value it may lose over time. Maybe you’re looking for your first mountain bike and in 6 months you might discover that you no longer like mountain biking. Or you’ve improved your level so much in that time that you’ll need to change to a higher-end bike superior. In both cases, you’ll have to sell it and it’s good to buy now something you can recoup in 6, 12, or 18 months in case you need to resell it.
4- Don’t buy a bike with outdated components
Some second-hand bikes sold on the internet have components that are outdated or will be soon, and it’s very likely that in a few months it will be hard to recoup your investment if you want to resell it. At Tuvalum, we recommend that, unless you’re looking for a low-end bike, you don’t buy bikes with 10-speed cassettes or less. It’s better to spend a little more on an 11 or 12-speed rear derailleur, which is what the market demands most. In road cycling, it’s also preferable to buy a bike with a Shimano 105 or superior groupset, or its equivalent in SRAM or Campagnolo. Bikes with lower-end groupsets resell worse and lose more value over time. If in doubt, we also recommend choosing a bike with disc brakes instead of rim brakes. In mountain biking, it’s better to choose a bike with 29” wheels—unless you want to do enduro or downhill, where bikes with 27.5” wheels offer good performance. Don’t buy a bike with 26” wheels. If it fits your budget, choose a bike with a single chainring drivetrain.
5- Age is important if you might resell
If you are buying with a possible future resale of the bicycle in mind, we recommend buying a bike with less than 5 years of use if it is a mountain bike and less than 7 if it is a road bike. This way it will be easier for you to recover your investment in a future resale than if it is a bicycle that is 8, 9, or 10 years old. In addition, it will have more up-to-date components and its maintenance condition will probably also be better.
6- Take into account the type of routes you are going to do with the bicycle
You are going to buy a mountain bike and are undecided between two options with similar equipment levels: one costs 1,000 euros and the other 1,200 euros. Which one do you choose? This is a very common dilemma and often the mistake is made of resolving it based on price. It is very important that before going to the market you know very well what type of use you are going to make of the bike, because it is not the same to buy a mountain bike in an area where the routes are enduro as it is to buy one if you live in an area with quiet trails and few technical demands. Not all bikes are the same and within the same segment there are different modalities and frame geometries adapted to a specific type of use. If you buy a mountain bike, it is important to know if the routes you are going to do are cross-country, trail or enduro. If you buy a road bike you should also know the differences between a gran fondo, climber, or aero type bike. Remember that the bike you buy will be used every weekend for the next 12, 18, or 24 months.
7- Do not expose your personal data
When you buy online from an online store, such as Amazon, you have the security that your payment details, your personal contact information, or your address are processed securely. However, when you negotiate with a private seller on a forum or the chat of a website, you run the risk that this unknown seller will have access to your data: your email, your phone number, the account number from which you make the transfer payment, the address where the bike will be sent... On the Internet, every day we are exposed to scam attempts and offering our data to any stranger carries the risk that they may be used for phishing. That is why when you buy on Tuvalum you have the assurance that no private seller will have your personal data. Your shipping address will be confidential and only we and the transport agency will know it. And your payment data is encrypted by security protocols.
Basic checks you should do to a used bicycle before buying it
At Tuvalum we certify used bikes to check their condition and tune them up before sending them to the buyer. But if you are going to buy a bike on your own and prefer to meet the seller to see it in person, we recommend that you do some basic checks:
Visual inspection: check the bottom bracket and the seatpost
A visual inspection is essential to rule out the possibility that the frame has cracks, fractures, or impacts that may have damaged the structure and could compromise its safe use. Looking for cracks in a frame seems easy, but there are three areas that most buyers often forget to check, and it is important to look at them in detail, especially if you are going to buy a carbon bike. Make sure the bottom of the bottom bracket, especially the area where the cranks are installed, does not have any cracks or fractures, no matter how small. Also, pay attention to the clamp that secures the seat post to the frame; cracks often occur in that area of the frame due to overtightening this part. If the bike has a bottle cage, make sure the screws that attach this accessory to the frame have not caused a crack in the carbon.
Checking for play: wheels, steering, and bottom bracket
Check that the wheels spin evenly without wobbling; excessive play may indicate a problem with the bearings or the wheel hub and will mean extra repair costs if parts need to be replaced. Also, check that the handlebar turns smoothly without play in the steering. Play in the cranks is also common in the bottom bracket; sometimes, this issue can be fixed simply by greasing and retightening the cranks, but in other cases, it may be a sign of serious damage to the bottom bracket. And repairing a bottom bracket is not cheap.
Transmission check: shifts without jumps or jerks
It is important that all gears shift synchronously without skipping or jerking. If shifting causes jumps, it may be due to several factors: the derailleur may be misaligned, the chain may have reached the end of its useful life, the cables may be loose and need to be replaced, or a transmission part may need to be replaced.
Brake check: no noise or vibrations
Another mechanical system you should check is the brakes. Make sure that when you pull the brake lever, it does not go all the way to the end of its travel; if this happens, it is very likely that you need to change the brake fluid (if it has hydraulic disc brakes) or replace the cables (if they are mechanical or rim brakes). It is also important to check that the bike brakes effectively without making strange noises or vibrations. With a simple visual inspection, you can check if the brake pads have reached the end of their useful life or if the brake discs have grooves and have lost thickness, which means you will need to change the brake consumables.
Suspension check: locks in all positions
On a mountain bike, the suspension is one of the most sensitive mechanical elements, since repairing or replacing its parts involves significant expense. That is why it is important to check that the suspension fork is not leaking oil and that the stanchions are not scratched. You should also make sure that the suspension lockout works correctly in all positions.
Diagnosis of the motor and battery
If you are going to buy an electric bicycle, always ask for a diagnostic of the condition of the motor and the battery. It is important to check the number of charge cycles it has undergone. Make sure that the motor is not derestricted. In the European Union, electric bicycles cannot exceed 25 kilometers per hour using only motor assistance; otherwise, they would fall into the category of mopeds. Some bikers derestrict the motor so that the power delivered by the electric assistance exceeds this speed. By doing so, they considerably reduce the lifespan of the motor and the battery. If you buy an electric bicycle that has been tampered with to derestrict the motor, you run a higher risk of breakdown, and replacing a motor or a battery is not cheap. All these checks will help you rule out serious damage, although they do not prevent you from missing other hidden issues the bicycle may have. Just like when buying a car, to be 100% sure of its wear and usage, the bicycle should be inspected by a professional mechanic.
