What to Look for in a Used Bicycle

Hey, times are tough. Not everyone has an extra hundy to go and blow on a Wal-Mart bike for their kid or themselves. So, we look around for a good used one. The problem is, sometimes you get an abused lemon. There are a few things to look for, though, which the normal buyer may not be aware of.

Check the dropouts closely. The dropouts are what hold the wheels on. They can be found on the forks and at the rear of the bike. If the bike has been ridden hard or abused, those are common places for cracks to appear.

Check the seat tube. Another common area for cracks is at the seat tube, where the seat post slides into the frame itself. Some folks over-tighten the seat clamp to the point the frame cracks. This may or may not be a big deal to you, depending on the severity of the damage.

Inspect the wheels. Of course, they should spin freely, but they should also be in decent shape. Look at the axles for ruined threads, look around the hoop for cracks, check for bent or broken spokes. Obviously, a bike with bad wheels isn't going to last very long.

Inspect the head tube and crank area. For a bike that sees a lot of hard riding, these are high-stress areas that can develop cracks over time. Many times, they can be re-welded, but if you have to weld cracks in the frame, it may not be such a good deal in the first place.

Most other things like brakes, handle grips, tires, chains, and the like can be repaired or purchased very cheaply, so aren't really factors for most buyers. Also, common-sense comes into play; if you plan on jumping or doing tricks, department store bikes aren't going to hold up as well as the big name brands like DK, GT, Haro, Fit, etcetera.