How to Buy a Used Bike

Video Transcript

"Seven thousand dollars? I work at a bike shop and even I can't afford that. Let's be honest, buying a used bike is sometimes just a more affordable option for most people. I'm Mukie Maxwell from Gregg's Green Lake and these are a few tips on how to buy a used bike. When you find a bike that you're interested in, it's a good idea to look it over and make sure that it's in good condition. Get down close to the frame and look for any cracks in the frame, fractures, look at the chain, make sure the chain isn't rusty. Spin the wheels and make sure that they're running straight and not wobbling all over the place. And take it for a ride. See how it shifts. Make sure it goes into all the gears, make sure the brakes work. Most people will let you test ride the bike and you can just bring it to a shop nearby and just say "hey, how does this bike look? They're asking this much for it. Does that sound fair?" Get a second opinion. If you can buy a used bike from a bike shop, that's always a really good idea. You know that the bike's been checked out. You know that it's been serviced and it's running well. If you can find a used bike that you like, great. But one thing to keep in mind is new bikes really are a lot cheaper than you might think. And you know that you have a bike that was assembled by a professional, and you have all the warranties from the manufacturer backing it up. I'm Mukie from Gregg's in Seattle and these have been a few tips on how to find a used bike."