CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Questions/Support/Help

Best place to sell bike?

(9 posts)
  • Started 8 years ago by Neil
  • Latest reply from nevelbell
  • This topic is not resolved

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  1. Neil
    Member

    I'm thinking about selling my hybrid as I much prefer drop bars to flat bars since getting the road bike.

    Am I best to sell it privately (if so, where?) or to a shop (Soul Cycles and Pedal Forth are the two I know of)?

    It's a Ridgeback Velocity but the original wheels got dented on potholes and were replaced with Spa Cycles handbuilt LX hubs and Exal 17 rims. They're fantastic wheels, and in great condition, but I guess that will only make a difference to the value for the right person.

    Similarly, it has a better saddle on it than stock (sdg bel air) and I could sell it with either xt m780 spd pedals or the wellgo v12 flats it currently has on it. I have spare chain, spokes etc... that I guess could sweeten a private sale but that a shop prob wouldn't care about.

    I'd put funds raised towards a thrash around bike with drop bars or perhaps bullhorns...not really decided what yet....open to suggestions. I'm having deviant thoughts of a fixed gear.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  2. chdot
    Admin

    Eastside buys bikes too.

    'Simplest' is Gumtree in that it's free and effectively local.

    Meet someone, get cash.

    BUT depends on someone wanting what you have at/near price you advertise it for.

    Better wheels might attract a bit of a premium, but...

    Obviously you don't have to sell for less than you really want.

    Decent description and photos will help.

    You can always start it on here.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  3. Stickman
    Member

    I sold a couple of bikes via Gumtree recently.

    The MTB I sold quickly for the price I was looking for (the buyer put it up for sale almost immediately for £50 more than he paid for it!).

    My road bike took a lot longer to sell, despite being a better spec and condition. I took it to one of the second hand shops to get valued but they were offering less than half what I was looking for. I did eventually get what I was looking for on Gumtree.

    TL; DR: quick sale use a shop, but you'll get more privately.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  4. algo
    Member

    I sold my hybrid recently privately - it too had decent wheels and a few upgrades and was well looked after, and I got a reasonable price.

    Although I can see the wheels on yours are very good and it's obviously a really decent bike, unfortunately this won't be reflected in the price somewhere like Soul Cycles offer. This is really understandable from their point of view - they will probably argue that they need to put on a new chain and cassette for them to sell it - again understandably. For them to give you recompense for the good wheels they'd have to persuade a buyer of that, and I think that might be tough for them.

    So - just agreeing with Stickman really - you'll get a disappointing offer from a shop, but you might do ok privately.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  5. nevelbell
    Member

    @Smashfacethecat if you have the space, why not keep it. I recently turned my Giant Seek hybrid from a flat bar 24 speed to single speed with drops and it's great fun to ride. Would have only got £50 for it on Gumtree, so it's worth more being used.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  6. twq
    Member

    @Smashfacethecat I'm selling my large Charge Plug 2 if your deviant single speed thoughts pan out. £200 - got marathon plus tyres and new pedals (flat one side, SPD other). Only done 1000km so in very good nick.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  7. Neil
    Member

    Thanks everyone-

    @nevelbell I did wonder about modifying it but suspected it would quickly end up making more sense to sell it and get another bike. How did you go about converting yours? Mine has V brakes and a MTB groupset and I gather this would make the switch over to drops for e.g. more problematic. How much did it end up costing you if you don't mind me asking?

    I wondered about bar ends- but they'd be spaced quite far apart, and then I'd have to move my hands to brake/shift. Costs seemed to rack up quite quickly for very little return.

    @twq Thanks- I would need a medium I think though. I've been eyeing up the Dolan bikes

    If i went single speed I was thinking i'd probably err towards easier rather than macho gearing, for a low maintenance bike that would force me to take it easy :)

    Posted 8 years ago #

  8. Neil
    Member

    Having ridden it in to work this morning I'd say the bike's in excellent condition- I thought the head tube was seized but some GT85 sprayed in last night loosened it up so there are no issues with the bike at all.

    So.....~£400 hybrid (before adding rack, mudguards etc...) about 5 years old, with upgraded wheels and saddle- what's a reasonable price to try for- £200?

    Posted 8 years ago #

  9. nevelbell
    Member

    @smashfacethecat - I have a shed full of bike parts, so the only thing that cost me was a 17t chain ring from ebay as there is no way of adjusting the distance between the front and rear chainrings on the Seek. To put a price on the parts if bought new:

    Bars - £20
    Levers - £20
    Chainring - £10
    Bar Tape - £5

    Time which was about 4 hours.

    I don't have much experience with disc brakes, which the Seek has, so got in about them to see how they work.

    Posted 8 years ago #

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