Used Market Opinions and Experience (entire bikes)

Currently looking at getting a Propain Hugene, the spring sale from Propain (30% off) makes used bikes almost as expensive as a new one... 

Had no issues selling cheap frames recently (under 150€ hardtails, was trying to clear up space more than make money), but nothing except a hard lowball for a Polygon Siskiu T8 frame with shock and fork. I'm going to build it back into a full bike to try to sell it quicker.

Damn most of the people selling used bikes around me have them priced fairly high. My guess is most of them bought expensive bikes during the covid peak and now think they can get some money out of them.

 I've been looking at hardtails for about a year now, mostly used, but just pulled the trigger on a new 2023 Roscoe today that was nearly $900 off the original price and overall felt like a better value than anything I was seeing used. I've been a promoter of used bikes and their relative value forever and my last brand new bike was in 2007, but at the moment with the squeeze the bike companies are in the deals on new aren't bad. 

I could see things changing with the tariffs though, used bikes should get more valuable and I'm not sure what other choice retailers will have but to raise prices at least some. 

So update picked up this rig, plus 15% off accessories after purchase for basically what bros are charging used. I'm not a fan of the fork and I knew that going in so I have a lyrik from jenson that was 80% off that is going on it. I've always advocated used but damn some new deals are hot right now.

It’s all survivorship bias tho.  Your just seeing the turds left floating in the bowl and not the bikes that actually sold.  That said I have a gen 1 privateer that I need to sell but am too scared to post.

Great buy. I was able to rent a Roscoe on a trip recently and had a blast on it. Obviously the stock Recon Silver fork is underwhelming, but if you were able to pick up a Lyrik for cheap you're looking at a great rig. Sounds like you got a steal.

Just wanted to post here since I have some meaningful feedback on the used market.  In the last 2 weeks I've sold 3 bikes and I have 2 more listed that I am in the process of selling.  Two of these were mine, the other 3 I'm selling for friends.

-19' Megatower 1 - XL - CC - Great shape, decent build (x01 mechanical w/gx cassette, fox 36 w/push acs3 othwerise typical stuff) - Listed for 2,300, sold for 2k

-22' Specialized Levo Carbon Comp - Large - Completely Stock, 750 miles - $3,500

-21' Orbea Rise M10 - XL - 3,500 miles w/range extender - $2,600

Still have a XL Transition Relay Carbon PNW and a Medium Norco Fluid VLT.  It seems the break points are pedal bikes at ~2k and emtb's ~4k.  Above either of those benchmarks is difficult because of the new product that remains in the market at sale prices.  My process is to always strip the bikes I'm selling down with the cheapest build kits as possible from my parts collection.  That way I can fire sale them and not be overly invested in the last 200-400 dollars of negotiation.  

Thanks, I got the Lyrik on it and it feels great took the bike to the local flow trails and it shreds. Not to derail but would definitely recommend a Roscoe for a bike spanning the xc to jumpy hardtail type of riders. I have a remedy 8 as well and this bike really compliments it. 

On the topic of used bikes, definitely a few people trying to sell at more realistic prices locally all wild sizes though. The New pipeline isn't as lucrative as it was even a week or two ago either though.

Anyone bought a used bike off Craigslist recently? I’m thinking about going that route, but you never really know what you’re getting until you check it out in person.

There have been a couple really decent looking bikes in my extended-local Facebook Marketplace. I'm always watching for a few components so I see some completes show up.

I'm not in the market for a complete so I'm never looking into them further. I'd definitely want to check them out in-person before purchase...but I'd do the same thing if buying from a bike shop, too.

It was said before, but I'll say it again as we're going into fall and bike sales drop off a cliff: if you're looking to sell a used bike and can't get what you want, find a bike co-op that's a non-profit and donate it for the tax refund. Obviously depends on your tax burden but could easily get you what you wanted and put a bike in someones hands that would otherwise never get it. 

I recently went through my tire pile/SPD shoe collection and got a $1000 tax deduction that would have cost me $2000 in time to actually sell ("hmmmm, this tire looks like it has more than one ride, would you take $.37?")

Not saying this isn’t a good plan to get rid of stuff that is a pain to sell but a $1000 tax deduction for a donation reduces your taxable income by $1000, it’s not a credit.  So you save 20-30% of that $1000 off your tax bill depending on your effective tax rate.  

If you purchased at a steep discount this might not be worth it, but if you bought at full price or close to full price...now I think of it might be a great deal to do it as a donation, and you don't need to spend time arguing with all the lowballers and idiots. Sounds like a win.