Any bike shops that do trade-in?

Think race co cycles do trade-ins.
Obviously depends on the bike but worth a call to them.

Seem to recall seeing 2nd hand listings on either Rutland's and/or leisure lakes website which would suggest that they do.

That's what prompted the question really, I've seen a few second hand bikes listed at some online shops.

I'm willing to take the financial hit and "trade down" spec-wise, or going from a carbon frame to alloy.

I suppose it just has to make fiscal sense for the shop to do it? I'm just deciding really before I put anymore miles on it or wear as it's only a few rides old.

One of my Local shops sells new and pre-owned bikes
Felltrax Cycles in Carlisle. They use Pinkbike to advertise their stock https://www.pinkbike.com/u/Felltraxcyclescumbria/

worth considering that you will have paid VAT on it, and when a shop resells it after a trade I think they will need to charge VAT on it, so this needs factored into your expectation on trade in value...

One of my Local shops sells new and pre-owned bikes
Felltrax Cycles in Carlisle. They use Pinkbike to advertise their stock https://www.pinkbike.com/u/Felltraxcyclescumbria//blockquote >

That's where i bought my Slayey, with them taking my Trek in PX.

 

Sussed Bicyles also do PX

https://www.pinkbike.com/u/marcow-b/buysell/

Berkshire Cycles?

When we were up at Inners for the Vallelujah last year we were looking for another 2022 Turbo Levo and to sell the old one on. The guy from The Bike Shop was interested in doing a deal but in the end we bought one off Pinkbike and had a phone call from a guy out of the blue who bought my old one

You probably know that if you have the bike registered on the Specialized Website and have a copy of the original receipt its very easy for the new owner to transfer the warranty

RaceCo are definitely worth speaking to.

Cheers all, there's a lot to think about there and plenty of shops too!

Tracey, I'm terrible with registering warranties and stuff so I'll sort all that out when I decide what I'm doing 🙂

Cycle Exchange do trade ins/px as wel las buy outright.

Traded in my old e-bike for a new one with Race-co, with the discount on the new bike and the trade in value, I was very happy.

I've had a look at Race Co and a couple of others on the list. I'm basically trying to swap without it costing me anymore money.

Original price on mine was £7400 and I'm looking to trade for something in the region of £5000. In anyone's opinion/experience, is this doable?

I just looked at the odo on the bike and it's done just under 75 miles lol. I've approached a couple of them with questions, I just don't want to waste anyone's time if I'm not being realistic with expectations.

Edit*
Cycle Exchange weren't interested in buying, but they said they might make an exception for a trade in. Problem is, they had no ebikes in stock looking at the site.

If getting complex, get it up on Pinkbike as a swap/trade... It's the sort of thing that should get interest.

As RaceCo are Spech dealers and Ebike specialists I'm sure Rich will be able to sort a deal out for you.

It’s got to be worth asking them for sure. The market is a bit weird for Kenevo SL’s though, they arn’t overly popular (hence why there was loads discounted recently) and there is an imminent new model dropping with the more powerful motor.

I got really lucky with getting shot of mine easily, but there are still the same bikes for sale, months later, which were similar to mine. A Levo Comp alloy is about that price, so at best you might get a swap for that?

I dont think this is really what you are looking for, and they will only offer on full rrp bikes in stock

TRADE-IN YOUR OLD WRECK FOR BIG SAVINGS! (wheelbase.co.uk)

I'll give Race Co a try too and see how I fare, PinkBike will be a last resort 🙂

@HobNob I honestly should have got a Levo Comp Alloy in the first place. My thinking at the time was my missus has a full fat and mine is a lower power, it'll be a gap closer on rides.... it's gone right the other way!

Plus I find the S5 feels massive compared to my S5 Stumpy that I've just sold. I thought they'd feel similar, but I think I'd be happy with smaller/shorter bike with all that travel.

Another Cumbrian one but not quite trade in.
Arragons in Penrith sold a bike for me when I ordered a new one. They did not charge at the time and I recall getting a good deal compared to selling via Ebay etc.

https://arragons.com/products/refurbished-bikes

It's a good idea, but I'd want something to ride while it was being sold. I can't afford to buy one in the meantime as I'm a skint self employed gardener waiting for the season to start hehe.

Spoke to Rich at Race Co about it and he was really helpful!

Gave me a rough price of what I can expect if I traded it in and offered a few options. The downside is my preferred swap for a Levo Comp alloy is just too expensive for me at the moment.

The other option was Haibike. I'll be honest, I've never really liked the look of them and every video of Sam Pilgrim riding one sounds like a bag of spanners and rubber ducks being chucked down the stairs!

Anyone ridden a modern one?

Leisure lakes Bury used to do trade-ins when Mark owned/ran it but I haven't but in for ages so don't know if that's still the case?

Ironically, that's where I originally bought the bike from 🙂

I'm currently looking into the Haibike route at the mo.

Can't imagine anyone will offer you £5000 for a second hand bike that cost £7400 unfortunately. When you consider they will need to factor in the price of discounted new bikes and any cut they need/want to make + VAT I'd be surprised if you were offered much more than half RRP. I could be wrong though.

If I were you I'd stick it on an ebay auction starting at your lowest you are prepared to accept and then see what the market will pay. Make sure you offer postage as well.

Pinkbike is fine and I've sold a few on there no worries but buyers tend to know what they are getting and will always want a decent deal which isn't ideal for you when you need to sell as high as possible. Oh, and I'd keep it until spring/summer too as everyone is skint after Christmas and worried about bills so it's a terrible time to sell.

I’m currently looking into the Haibike route at the mo.

Well, I suppose you can't really see the bike while you're on it at least 😉

Can’t imagine anyone will offer you £5000 for a second hand bike that cost £7400 unfortunately.

I had this dilemma a couple of years ago when I had a serious injury on my first ride on a brand new Orbea Wild. I knew i was going to be off the bike for at least a year based on doctors advice, so my friendly LBS, who had supplied it, agreed to pop it back on their shop floor, on the basis that any sale would be a private sale between me and the purchaser, with the shop just helping the process. That way I got a fair price for it, the purchaser didn't have the 2nd VAT levy etc and the warranty was transferred. A fellow forumite bought it and has had a ball with the bike, he's now selling it on after a couple of years of use.

On the Haibike thing, my mate has had a couple since before E-Bikes exploded and seems to like them. Reliable too as both his are still trucking without issue as far as I know.

I thought Lesley Bikes in Glenrothes did a Part Exchange thing - maybe not, but they do Specialised so might be able to offer a deal on a new bike, but as has been said, unlikely to be zero cash spend for you.

Daft question but what is a full fat ebike? Is it one with a massive battery and very powerful motor? Or is it something with 4" tyres on it?

Have you had your bike updated?

We have 4 KSL's in our group, one with the latest software update and it feels a fair bit faster up the hill (in the same mode) as the ones on the older software. Getting mine updated today and will be out at the weekend.

They do seem to be quite tyre sensitive, I run a DHR on the back all the time as its the best balance for grip/rolling resistance. Tried a cannibal, the grip was great, the drag terrible.

A KSL and a range extender will match a full fat eeb battery easily in trail mode, granted you have to put more effort in. I have 2 RE's and will pick up a third for Scotland trips, as it will let me run in a higher mode all day.

Reference the size, what height are you and have you changed the stem for something that isn't a tiller ?

I think Haibike look a little better in the flesh than they do in the pics, but they are quite divisive in the looks 🙂

Yeah, I see what some of you are saying but if I ended up selling private, there is no way I'd be posting. Had enough hassle and worry just posting a lightweight frame!

@DickBarton I usually class "full fat" as the ones with bigger batteries/higher output motors compared to the likes of the Orbea Rise/Specialized SL range that have smaller batteries and less powerful motors, but are lighter weight overall.

Once I get my van back from the garage, I'll decide what I should do. I like the idea of trading for a Haibike ALLMTN, but I'll see how it pans out.

I could just stop moaning and actually ride the damn thing! It's a big bike, but maybe I've just not had time to get used to it properly? 6'2" on an S5, could have probably got away with an S4 but then I'd run into dropper length issues.

If some one wants one they will be prepared to travel. Ebike or not. Sold quite a few bikes and they have always been collected from near home. I did meet one guy at East Midlands Airport Services with one.

We travelled to the Nevis Range to pick up my latest Turbo Levo and made a weekend of it to get in some riding whilst there.

Bought Kevin's latest Turbo Levo from Pinkbike whilst on holiday in Pila. Deposit paid and collected from down south, again getting some riding in whilst there.

I had a go on a Haibike and a few others in Finale, couldn't wait to get back on the Levo.

@Tracey glowing review of the Haibike there haha 🙂

I'm of the same mind when it comes to getting bikes and said the same thing to Nic. We're selling one of her bikes at the moment and it's very keenly priced for the spec.

We've had a few bites, but mostly from people down south (Kent and Devon). They were keen, but didn't know how to make it work logistically.

I literally drove to Edinburgh to drop a frame off at Pedals Bike Care last year for a bearing change. I was there for 30 mins and drove home 🙂

I've not bought or sold anything with them, but they were great to deal with when I put down a deposit on a bike that didn't turn up during the great bike drought. They buy and sell second hand bikes, and also sell new bikes:

https://projektride.co.uk/

Sorry but you did ask.

We do have a Levo SL in the garage and I prefer the ride of the Turbo Levo to that. It is an S4 so a tad too big for me.

I worked out that last year was the first time since 2017 that I rode the Levo more than my Enduro, probably 70/30. Must be getting old

With Abigale disappearing riding for a year hers will be sat in the garage but cant see us selling it.

Good luck with trying to sort it.

No, don't apologise I really appreciate the honesty!

Looking back at my bike history, I always end up going back to a Specialized of some sort due to how they ride. It just seems to suit me.

I started with me thinking aloud so I could hear some opinions and experience of what I was thinking. I'm always grateful for the candidness people always show on here.

A KSL and a range extender will match a full fat eeb battery easily in trail mode, granted you have to put more effort in. I have 2 RE’s and will pick up a third for Scotland trips, as it will let me run in a higher mode all day.

Maybe one with a 500wh battery 😝

The best I got out of my KSL with a range extender was 1676m of vert & that was Eco, set pretty low. To run it in Trail, that could match Eco on a Bosch bike, it wouldn’t even be close & thats running a DH22/34 combo. I can get nearly 1600m out of a Bosch 625wh battery in EMTB, in Eco, I’ve got close to 2500m.

I’d stick it up for sale & see what bites you get & go buy something else, just be specific and collection only/cash etc.

Then given the choice, i’d probably not buy a Levo anyway, there are better bikes out there (excluding the Brose motor issues).

@SirHC

Sorry I didn't see your reply earlier. I had it updated at Leisure Lakes a few months ago because it needed a new motor after the second ride due to a loose bushing making the cranks wobble.

I'm not sure if there's been a more recent update?

I've still not had a proper play with the power setting and how to get the best out of them and I've considered the range extender too, so maybe that will be something to consider?

I'm 6'2" on an S5 and did change the stem to a 42.5mm Unite, but I'm not convinced that short stems are always a good thing on long bikes.

My bikes have always got progressively longer as I've bought them (Large Aether 9, S5 Stumpy etc). I missed just how much longer the wheelbase is on the Kenevo SL compared to my Stumpy. Most of the geo is within a few mm, apart from the front centre and wheelbase.

I'm on the fence now whether to keep it, get a range extender and just ride it till I'm able to buy another in a few years. Or try to sell it now and get something else, but the market is awful for selling at the moment.

If you want a range extender, I haven’t got round to selling mine, literally used 4/5 times 😆

I feel for you having made more than a few expensive decisions on sizing and purpose...

I'd try a few things before getting shot of it given the market and depreciation. I've ridden both a Levo SL and full fat Levo and would suggest-

Tweaking the power/assistance settings improved my Levo SL's performance (I think I used the ones recommended by Flow as a starting point) also given the comments I'd also update the software.

Regarding the size as well as changing/tweaking the cockpit, have you played with the geo settings? there's a useful looking tool on Specialized's site. I appreciate that it won't change the size much but should change the way it rides.

You will never get the KSL to match a full fat bike uphill, but its a lot more fun downhill...

Cheers @HobNob I'll ask about it when work picks up again.

Bill for the van is at £460 so far though lol.

As an aside, what bike is it your missus has got? Can the motor/software be mapped to give a little less in each mode so that she’s not racing away all the time? Or can she be persuaded to use a lower assistance mode than she is currently?

I’m on an Orbea Rise, I have found against fitter mates on their Levo or Kevevo SL’s, the balance works well and neither of us are pulling away from each other on climbs. Similarly against riders who were less fit than myself (albeit a few months ago, not right now, but that’s another story), I have found the Rise just about has enough to keep up with those riders for 2-3 of hours or at least until battery life starts becoming the issue… I’m not saying get a Rise here (by all means do, it’s a good bike), I’m trying to highlight the customisation of power outputs and differences in performance/specs of motors needn’t be an issue really.

FWIW, 2 friends at 6ft2 on S4 KSL’s and they were on the cusp sizing wise, but decided to size down because they were used to much shorter bikes. They do look a little perched and cramped on them when riding though, so I’d be tempted to stick with the S5 in your shoes…

I’d say just get the range extender, map the modes for more assistance to take advantage of your 33% increase in battery capacity, and possibly knock a bit off the assistance in the modes on your missus’ bike if that’s possible too… Mechanical doping… It’s never been easier than with modern eBikes!

I did have a mess about with the geo settings and it rode worse than it did set up as standard (only tried the rear end flip chip though). I've also tweaked the power settings, but due to having no van over christmas and everything is flooded, I've not had chance to try it again yet.

@mboy thanks for the feedback too with your experience. I can't do that the missus, she's too addicted to the power now! 🙂

Hers is a Nukeproof Megawatt. I wanted the same bike originally, but there was no stock in my size when we bought. We should have both got light ebikes or full ebikes really, not one of each. I'm more tempted to stick with it and try an extender, more due to the money situation and having my suspicions confirmed regarding trade in value/marketplace.

I'm a lot shorter than you, at 5'9" and a bit and fit perfectly on a large (so S4) Levo SL. I'd have thought for someone at 6'2" it'd be really cramped. I did need to swop the post out for a 125 dropper for my short legs tho.. 🙂

@iainc I had a similar theory, but the Kenevo SL S4 is a lot bigger than the Levo SL large (as I now know).

I had a demo a couple of years ago on the first gen Levo SL (the one that looks like an orange fishing float) and they only had large available. Did a lap around the beast at coed y brenin and it felt really small. It wanted to tuck the front wheel over on steep corners because all my weight was far past the front wheel!

Apart from the size issue, I was quite impressed with it. Thing is, my missus was on the same demo so there was no advantage.