Buying a used bike

[Maxwell90]

Hi all!

Recently made a thread about getting an all mountain and got some great advice and decided on a nukeproof mega am. This one in particular:

2014 NUKEPROOF MEGA AM 275 CUSTOM Size large

Frame is in great condition, this was my spare bike from the past 2014 season. It's setup with world level enduro racing in mind.

Rockshox Pike 160mm
Rockshox monarch air shock
Hope team only green straight pull pro 2 evo hubs on Stans Flow EX rims (front brand new)
Hope tech 3 levers on E4 callipers also in team only green. 183mm discs
Brand new Hope grips
Hope 35mm stem
Hope headset
Nukeproof Warhead bar, 20mm rise 760mm wide
Rockshox Reverb seat post
MRP AM 9 chain device
Sram descendant cranks with hope thick/thin 34T chain ring
Sram X9 type 2 mech, with sram chain (10 speed)
Continental tyres (comes with a brand new spare)
Mudhugger mud guard

I went to see one today and looked good! Only gripe was there was some wear on the rear swing arm (front was brand new due to a failed headset damaging the frame) and chips out the paint on the crown of the forks. Stantions were fine. Is this easy to repaint? I also done some digging and it seems the seller well known and is sponsored by nukeproof and has probably had a hard life? He did say it was his spare bike but, I'm not sure. Could mean that its been well looked after.

How do you tell if the wheels are okay? There wasn't any damage to them as far as I could see but when I rode it the wheels looked buckled if that makes sense. He did say it was the tyres.

Anything else to look for in particular?

Agreed on a price and I should be collecting on Friday but, just want another opinion as I'm not clued up on bikes as I used to be. Don't want to end up with loads of problems with it because its been well used.

Any advice would be really appreciated

Edited by Maxwell90 on Monday 3rd November 00:11

Edited by Maxwell90 on Monday 3rd November 10:49

[anonymous-user]

To be honest, if you have agreed a price you have bought it, dont back out and waste his time. The issues you mention arent really issues, dont try to repaint it because you wont do a good enough job without lots of prep, a good airprush and a steady hand and even then you probably wont end up with a perfect colour match. I wouldnt worry about potentially buckled wheels either, it could be the perception of running wide tyres but its small things that are easily resolved by a trip to a good shop and wont cost more than £50 to get fixed. If he was sponsored it may have had a hard life but it will also have been well looked after as a result. Sounds like a good bike, enjoy it.

[Maxwell90]

pablo said:

To be honest, if you have agreed a price you have bought it, dont back out and waste his time. The issues you mention arent really issues, dont try to repaint it because you wont do a good enough job without lots of prep, a good airprush and a steady hand and even then you probably wont end up with a perfect colour match. I wouldnt worry about potentially buckled wheels either, it could be the perception of running wide tyres but its small things that are easily resolved by a trip to a good shop and wont cost more than £50 to get fixed. If he was sponsored it may have had a hard life but it will also have been well looked after as a result. Sounds like a good bike, enjoy it.

Yeah, I don't want to be wasting his time and would send him a couple some money for his trouble if that was the case but, I do really like the bike. It was just when he described it as his spare bike and it looks as if it wasn't. Was looking at some of his pictures and he seems to travel a lot and does enduro racing. I just get a bit nervous handing over all that cash for something to go wrong.

[hornetrider]

Maxwell90 said:

Only gripe was there was some wear on the rear swing arm (front was brand new due to a failed headset damaging the frame) and chips out the paint on the crown of the forks. Stantions were fine. Is this easy to repaint?

Why would you repaint, you are buying a used bike. More hassle than it's worth.

Maxwell90 said:

I also done some digging and it seems the seller well known and is sponsored by nukeproof and has probably had a hard life? He did say it was his spare bike but, I'm not sure. Could mean that its been well looked after.

Pinch of salt, mind you any second hand bike will have been used.

Maxwell90 said:

How do you tell if the wheels are okay? There wasn't any damage to them as far as I could see but when I rode it the wheels looked buckled if that makes sense. He did say it was the tyres.

Turn bike upside down. Spin wheels whilst holding your finger against the rim (not the tyre).

[Maxwell90]

hornetrider said:

Maxwell90 said:

Only gripe was there was some wear on the rear swing arm (front was brand new due to a failed headset damaging the frame) and chips out the paint on the crown of the forks. Stantions were fine. Is this easy to repaint?

Why would you repaint, you are buying a used bike. More hassle than it's worth.

It was just to keep it in good condition, especially when I come to sell it on. Saying that It will pick some marks when I fall off. Which will be a lot ha ha.

Maxwell90 said:

I also done some digging and it seems the seller well known and is sponsored by nukeproof and has probably had a hard life? He did say it was his spare bike but, I'm not sure. Could mean that its been well looked after.

Pinch of salt, mind you any second hand bike will have been used.

That's a given, some more than others. The way I kind of see it is that he will be smoother on jumps and half the bits have probably been replaced anyway.

Maxwell90 said:

How do you tell if the wheels are okay? There wasn't any damage to them as far as I could see but when I rode it the wheels looked buckled if that makes sense. He did say it was the tyres.

Turn bike upside down. Spin wheels whilst holding your finger against the rim (not the tyre).

Thanks, I'll double check when I'm picking it up.