Cycle prices are going through the roof - there have been multiple cases of bhpians jumping from <20k priced MTBs/hybrids to even 1L - 2.5L priced bikes (examples
here,
here and many more on and off the forum). And they are not alone; the cycle industry prices is seeing astronomical rises across the globe and not only just in India. A few years ago, bikes priced 1L were not that common (atleast in India), but now it seems to be 'acceptable' to be quoted such prices when one heads to a reputed cycle store.
In such a market, the
pre-owned route becomes all the more relevant. Especially for someone who doesn't want to plonk a huge sum of money on a hobby that might not be their cup of tea in the longer run. And trust me, there's a healthy pre-owned cycle market in India as much as there is overseas (US/UK/etc.). The core principles across all countries remain more or less same
1. Search, search, search. Keep a constant lookout, across multiple channels (FB marketplace, Olx, cycle-specific sites/forums like Cyclops, cycling whatsapp groups, etc.; the list is as much as you can figure out). Good bikes do keep popping up and get lapped up quite fast.
2. Be clear on what you are looking for but be flexible on some of the parameters (price, brand, components, year of manufacturer, condition and so on). Confusing? Let me explain. Say you start out with a budget of 20k and 2-3 year-old options from generic brands; but you might find a >5 year old well kept hybrid of a reputed brand for similar prices. Or you find a cheaper well kept bike with Sora components while you were hunting for one with 105 components. Still give it a trial and go for it if you find it fulfilling your requirement.
3. Get your support network ready. Go with a cyclist friend to have a second opinion on the cycle. Better if you can get an expert. Two opinions are much better than one. Especially if if there's some part that seems doubtful/problematic, which is quite common when looking at used options.
4. Bargain depending on the situation. There isn't a clear pricing data for used cycles so every case is unique. Don't be too stuck up on the price you were looking for.
5. Be ready to walk away from the deal. The second person at hand would be useful in this - one of two should play the devil's advocate.
There are other factors which have been detailed sufficiently in informative threads like
these and
these, so I won't go into details of those.
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My intent of this thread with my past experiences is to showcase that it's not rocket science. I purchased my first pre-owned cycle with barely any knowledge other than the bare / basic information I had gained from friends and fellow cyclists. My first cycle was a leap of faith and luckily it turned out good. Post that I made sure to have my knowledge stocked up or go with a friend to help me on the purchase. And I have similarly been able to do that to several of my friends in the past for their first pre-owned cycle purchase. So far I have been able to buy around ~10 pre-owned cycles for myself, family and friends and none of them have been a negative experience for any of us. Those 10 cycles have come after walking away/avoiding more than double or triple number of options in the market.
So for all those staying on the fence because of stock unavailability and/or extremely high prices of new cycles, head over to the pre-owned route and give it a shot.
The best part of it? You can walk away from this if it doesn't work out for you. I have been able to sell most of my pre-owned cycles easily with negligible depreciation. As long as you have kept the cycle in a decent condition, it will sell. Especially in this market with a huge influx of cycling enthusiasts.