Got a new ride..well almost new.

cgres123

I only have a Tri Bike and the reason is I never thought to get into biking because it never interested me as a stand alone sport.

 

So here I am quite a few years in the sport of Tri's and I really don't have anything on the table this year for racing and thought to get me a road bike.

 

I found thousands of used bikes on EBay and picked out a few to " watch ". I ended up bidding on a 2009 Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL2. I won the bid. Looks like I'm going to play roadie for awhile this season.

 

Anyone have an opinion about that bike ?

John Withrow

I've heard it's a great bike! And any new bike is a great bike, right? What groupo does it have? Can't wait to see pics when it arrives...

cgres123

SRAM force I just looked that up got a tracking number from UPS she is on the way.

Coach Rich

David,

Congrats on the bike! What was your experience with buying a used bike in Ebay? I'd like to get a mountain bike and maybe upgrade my road bike (10yr old Calfee) but just can't get myself to pull the trigger on a new bike...sooooooo much money!!

John Withrow

Rich-- FWIW, I've bought either for myself or for many different friends (since I seem to have become the local expert) over 10+ bikes on eBay in the past 2 yrs. I have had a good experience every single time. The bikes have all come in various conditions, but rarely different than described. I usually try to buy from people with high feedback scores (50+) and only buy from those with low scores if I'm getting a really good deal and am willing to put up with a small headache if it arises. I've also learned to search for things MANY different ways and don't forget to look at the bottom of the page when you're looking at a bike for "see what other prople are watching". I've found the best deals on things that weren't tagged properly so very few people were actually watching or bidding on them. I also wait until the last 45 seconds of any auction and bid whatever number I'm willing to pay (considering shipping cost) and bid that number regardless of wherever the last bid happens to be before you bid. You might miss a lot of items, but you will get a good deal on the things you win. Remember you will win at the cover bid + 1 standard bid increment, even if your max bid was $1,000 higher. I actually bid $1,852.37 on my first bike and won it for $1,250 because only 2 other guys bid in the last couple of minutes.

Coach Rich

Thanks for the tips. What's the general savings on buying used vs new? I'm sure it varies but, generally, how much will a $5k bike, new, go for on Ebay used?

Related: I have a former client, good friend who started a high-end bike rental business in Santa Barbara by buying good used bikes on Ebay. Think about it: rent out a $3k bike, bought for ~$1500 at about $100+ a day and it's basically all gravy after 15 rentals. Very, very little upkeep and maintenance.

cgres123

@ Rich, There are so many bikes on EBay like thousands. I went through a few hundred picked about 5 to watch as the bidding was still underway. I received notifications from EBay as the time was ending on the bike auctions. That allowed me time to research each bike I was looking at and make a decision as to which bike I wanted. I waited until the last 5 min of the bid and threw my name in the hat, I won the bid and the bike is on the way. Yes way to much cash for a new one so as someone wants a bump up on their ride , I got me a newer one too.
My ride new was 7000.00 + , I got it for 1950.00 albeit it not New but a few years older is ok in my book.

John Withrow

Rich- the fall-off really depends on the yr and the brand. I don't know anything about mountain bikes, but for Road and Tri bikes there is a really efficient market for Cervelo's for instance, but not so much for a smaller brand like Blue. Usually a 1yr old bike will cost about 50-75% of a new bike cost (exception for new model stuff like a Trek SC 9.9 or a new Shiv). A 2yr old bike will be about 40-50% and a 3yr old bike will be 25-40% of a new one. The compression of between component sets also happens pretty quickly. When you buy a new bike, it cost about $1k extra to upgrade to D/A components. On a relatively newer used bike this is an extra 300-500, even less for an older bike. Most bikes only change the paint job from yr to yr and the components only change every couple of yr's. Bikes depreciate a lot more than cars the second you drive off the lot as far as sales price, but the reality is a well maintained 1-2 yr old bike is nearly identical to a brand spanking new bike. And just about anyone who drops between 3-6 grand on a new bike is not going to abuse it. This is not a $300 bmx that some 12 yr old boy was riding. I recently bought for a new by friend a 3 yr old Planet-X tri bike full carbon fiber, full D/A for ~$1,000. I bought an '09 Cervelo P2 with Ultegra for $1,250. On the upper end, I bought a 2010 Felt B2 with full SRAM Red and a pretty decent wheel set for $2,300, bike showed up as if it had never been ridden, even the cassette was brand new. In my mind it's a no brained, you can walk into your LBS and get a shiny new low end Carbon tri-bike with SRAM Apex/Rival mix for around $2,000. Or you can get a 1yr old bike with Red or D/A components for the same price. Or better yet, get a 2yr old bike with and older paint job but Ultegra components and save 500-600 bucks that you could then use to buy a used Powertap... It's even more dramatic when you move up to 6,000 bikes. Instead of saving 500 bucks and getting upgraded components, you get the same bike with the same components and save 2-3 grand. Lots of fun toys you can buy with 2-3 grand!

cgres123

@ John, Wow.... good stuff. I knew with cars the loss of driving off the lots is crazy high and come to think of it , now that you mentioned it, bikes are the same. I do run with power and plan to change cassette to 11- 25 or 27 . I want to be able to change rear wheels quickly. You are right about changing things up on the bike too personalize it too why not.

Coach Rich

David and John,

You guys want a job as EN Ebay, used bike brokers? The prices you're talking about are very, very doable. As I've said elsewhere, my motorcycle hobby has really skewed my sense of value in the bicycle world, which is why even though I can expense 100% of the cost of anything I do, I'm still riding a 10yo road bike and plain Hed Belgium wheels while all of my training partners are on flash wheels and bikes.

John Withrow

Haha Rich... I don't want a job. But I'd be happy to help you or any other EN'er (within reason) find a sweet bike at a decent price. Now that my wife is on EN I might get into trouble for offering myself out for stuff like this. She rolls her eyes with me when we're sitting on the couch a night eating dinner and I have the laptop out looking at bikes or PowerTap's on eBay... She rolls her eyes at me even harder anytime a new bike box shows up at the front door, because she knows quite well it's not for me or her. It actually is one of the hobbies that relaxes me. I totally get into sitting on my 45 minute train ride home every day searching eBay on my ipad and reading up on bikes and all types of bike gear. Yes, I'm a dork, but it helps me release from my real job. My wife reads US weekly to unwind, I search eBay...



My rules on buying a bike are to start with exactly how much you're willing to pay for a bike (including shipping, etc). Then figure out what size and type of bike you need (i.e. tall stack or short stack, etc.) Then buy the best damn bike you can find for that price. Some people are brand snobs, some are not. How much time you have will dictate how good of a deal you get. If you need it in 1 week, well you're gonna find the bike and pay what it costs. If you need it in 1 month, you could/should watch dozens of bikes and bid on 4 or 5 of them before you win the right bike at the right price. Just my 2 cents.

Rob

x2 on buying used. For a lot of people, a bike is like any other piece of sporting equipment. It gets used a few times then just takes up space.

I've had really good luck with craigslist. It's all local, so you can go see the bike before you buy. The people selling are trying to avoid the hassle of negotiating over the internet and then trying to figure out how to ship the bike. So, you have less buyers competing against you and typically a seller that is willing to negotiate so they walk away from the meeting with cash versus the bike. I bought my first bike on craigslist, used it for a year then sold it for $100 more than I paid and kept the Cyclops trainer that came with it.

Like John said, once you know what you want, just wait for it to come up at the right price. Sometime a seller starts high then reposts at lower prices.

Examples for Rich:
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/bik/2985033450.html
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/bik/2975776154.html

cgres123

Good point.

Coach Rich

Thanks for the tips. One of my friends is really pushing for me to get a mtn bike and I have to admit that my road routes around here have gotten pretty stale. I'm definitely looking for something different, especially a hobby that compliments my dirt biking experience and knowledge of California.

morpheus

Only one downside, tho -

the warranty. Bought my Cervelo S2 from all3sports in Feb of 2010. HUGE upgrade from the 'road' bike that I rode in the off seasons. A couple of weeks ago, I noticed a hairline defect running along the ridge of the top tube. Looked like clear coat. Turned out to be carbon.

New S2 on the way, no questions asked.

I had been considering that my next bike (upgrading from my old 2006 P2sl) would be used so that I could buy more bike for the dollar, especially since I'll be shopping for frame only. But after this carbon crack...I'm not so sure.


I would expect that the odds are in our favor if we do our due diligence on the purchase. I like the craigslist idea so that the bike can be inspected. And, probably, a reputable ebay seller would allow you to send the bike back if you got it and noticed something.

BTW, my dad gave me an entry level Giant 29er with super basic level SRAM components and it really is alot of fun. I had never ridden anything like it. I plan on doing some more offroading during my gaps in the plans this year. Like you said, it's a great mental break.

Coach Rich

The flip side to the crack issue is that Calfee does a very good business repairing cracked or broken frames for other manufacturers. It would certainly suck to get a used bike in the mail with a crack in it, but I wouldn't let the lack of a warranty stop me from saving $$$$, given that a carbon repair is about $250-500 (I think).

cgres123

@ Chris , now you got me thinking. Bike is in the LBS getting ready for a fit tomorrow.

@ Rich , thx good to know cause this bike is ALL carbon.

cgres123

Well here she is all cleaned up and ready for my first long ride tomorrow.

John Withrow

Mmmmmmm. Drooooool.... Nice ride! Congrats!

John Withrow

@Rich-- I just pulled the trigger last night on a Mtn Bike on eBay and remembered this thread... I think I got a pretty good deal so if I only use it a handful of times this winter, then use it at our campground with our kids in the summer, no big deal... But I also think I got a nice enough ride to not be embarrassed of it if I go out with the mechanics from my LBS who beat me up about not having a mountain bike every single time I go in there. I wanted a 29er, I wanted at least decent components, I wanted a hardtail, and I wanted AL in case I beat it up since I've never ridden a mtn bike before, and I wanted to spend less than $1,200. I accomplished all of those after about a month of searching...

Here's what I got: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Specialized-Stumpjumper-Comp-29er-HT-/170949652079?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&nma=true&si=UdEWMIxof5E9vXxtpWB4Z3ldIvI=&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

Joe Matchette

Sweet ride there Withrow!

Coach Rich

JW, you have me thinking! I sorta forgot about the used market.

I know you have mad Ebay skillz. Interested in a gig as a buying agent?

John Withrow

haha. I have actually been a buying agent in an "unofficial" capacity for many folks on EN already... and for about 12 people on Team ReserveAid last yr. So I'm always happy to help. It's kind of my side hobby (in addition to all this triathlon stuff), much to the dismay of my wife!

Let me know if you want me to help you (or anyone) find something in particular.

wareagledusty

some really great tips here John! I have just recently found ebay for bikes and bought a new Shiv Pro for about 1/2 the retail price. Though now my problem is that I have been drooling over the Blue Triad SL Limited Edition bike since they came out at the end of last year. All3Sports had those frames marked down 33% and I was lucky enough to get the last one in my size.... It's in a box, in my shop... I found on the components individually on ebay and will end up with a full SRAM Red/Black kit on the bike for less than what the frame was selling for up until a month ago. Now I just have to convince my wife that I really need two tri bikes...

I like tinkering in my shop so building a bike up from the frame is a fun project for me. Though I think I am getting to be addicted to ebay...