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Used bike defects


Scottboy's picture

By Scottboy - Posted on 18 August 2009

Bought a bike of a nobmob user didn't have much time to check it over , the owner said all was good running order . So far replaced both disc pads, got told the chain that was on was too long the outer cable on rear derailer is too long . The rear hub needs a overhaul or better still cheaper to replace & last not least chain is bent.

muvro's picture

Not too sure what you're asking. But how did you know these things were wrong with the bike? Did you take it to a shop to have it checked out? Or is this your own observation?

Pads, What one person says needs replacing, another person may think they have a couple more months left in them.

Chain, It may not have been optimum, but is it really a defect of the bike or personal preference? Or are you refering to the chain being stretched/worn?

Outer cable, It depends on how much longer it really was. If it was an inch or so, that's really not a massive problem, I wouldn't have thought. 6" too long, probably noticably too long, but I still don' think it's a defective problem. It would just mean, a slightly longer cable meaning slightly more stretch.

Tark Smiling

hawkeye's picture

... That you didn't check is not sellers fault. Sorry, there's no way to sugar coat that.

Pads are a consumable - you can do a set (actually, several) in one wet race, the chain being too long is probably how it came from the shop or factory (has been the case with *every* bike I've ever bought) and what may be a dodgy rear hub to one man is acceptable to another, as they don't all stay grumble-free forever. I have one that's a shocker when you spin the axle with your fingers, but it's still quite OK to ride on.

Rear shifter cable being too long is solved in about 30 seconds with a pair of cable cutters.

This is all stuff I expect to deal with on a used bike. If this is a shop that's in your ear, be aware that their agenda is to encourage you to buy new and lose half what you paid as soon as you roll your new toy out their shop door.

From what you've said I don't see that it's been inaccurately described. It seems to me you've had inaccurate expectations.

It's not like he's actually hidden a fault from you - that would be a different matter and you would have a right to be aggrieved then.

Carlgroover's picture

Sounds like a 2nd hand bike to me. Also lower end bikes are sold with cheap hubs to keep the costs down and they are due for an overhaul or replacement quite soon, it's to make you spend more money on your next bike.
John.

HeezaGeeza's picture

You're also assuming the seller had more knowledge than you and should have pointed out these things. As others have said, none seem necessarily obvious 'defects' and more day to day wear that someone may or may not have noticed. Once you take it to a shop (read - professional mechanic) it is likely they will see things that the owner had not noticed. Happens to me and I consider myself of intermediate skill with bike maintenance.

Sometimes shops can be over zealous as well on pointing out faults that might not need repairing for a while (of course it's always better to address early having said that).

To anyone else reading the thread considering buying or selling a second hand bike, you should always be able to ask the history of the bike, any major crashes, frame defects / replacements and known faults - however the rule of buying second hand always applies - 'let the buyer beware'!

Flynny's picture

Also a simple "can you get it checked over at the shop and get a reciept?" before the sale goes through is always a good idea

Scottboy's picture

The bike shop checked it out because when I was riding it on my weekly pathway ride it was changing thru the gears without me touching them . The rear cassette was unreadable due to the over use of oil on Chain & cassette, I didn't think the chain was silver till I cleaned it . The outer casing on the rear derailer was too long & was kinked . The pads were worn down to metal on the rear as u can see the rivot

Flynny's picture

Big Russ, not sure what you expected in handing over cash for a secondhand bike without thoroughly inspecting it but it looks like you've learnt the lesson the hard way.

It's buyer be ware. Maybe the seller knew all that was wrong but as others have pointed out if you didn't notice maybe he didn't either. Have you tried contacting the seller directly and politely asking for money back as it was not as advertised or help in paying for repairs. If I sold a secondhand bike and the buyer found a defect I hadn't known about, so long as I thought he was being genuine I'd offer to pay half the repair bill.

Mind you if it wasn't brought up straight way or the buyer had a public dumby spit on a web forum before contacting me about it I'd be less inclined to do so.

Chitts's picture

Mate, I am a mechanical moron who can do almost nothing on my bike, but if I went to look at a second hand bike and gave it a 5 minute test ride and the gears were changing automatically, the drivetrain was greasy/oily and filthy, and the brakes were not working (and if they were worn to the metal, they would not be working properly), then I like to think that I would have the intelligence to draw a few conclusions such as:
1) The bike has not been looked after well
2) The owner probably has no mechanical/bike maintenance knowledge and therfore his diagnostic ability should not be relied on
3) There will be costs associated with getting these issues fixed

If you did not test ride or look at the bike, or if you did, but these issues did not occur to you, then you deserve what you got!

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