Collecting a used b...
 

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[Closed] Collecting a used bike and wanting to ride it straight away

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So I'm collecting a 2 year old full susser that is (appartently) in good nick. Given the drive - I am tempted to stop off at a trail centre on the return and give try it out for a few hours.

Parts wise - apart from my regular saddle - what parts / backup etc / do you think I need to bring with me to cover the inevitable niggles? I'll have my multitool, co2, tube: but what's likely to give me gip?


 
Posted : 01/09/2019 10:25 pm
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Shock pump


 
Posted : 01/09/2019 10:27 pm
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Cheers! That's so obvious I hadn't even considered it. Which prompts me to add to list :cable ties.


 
Posted : 01/09/2019 10:31 pm
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Pedals, probably


 
Posted : 01/09/2019 10:56 pm
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Cheers: that's a good point: the listing includes flats, but some folk just presume a sale doesn't include pedals.


 
Posted : 01/09/2019 10:59 pm
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I'd take some proper allen keys/torx for the set up of brake/shift levers rather than just a multitool.

Trackpump, plus the above, shockpump and pedals.

Oh and chain lube.


 
Posted : 01/09/2019 11:01 pm
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New grips. Last owner might have touched his widgie and not washed his hands.


 
Posted : 01/09/2019 11:02 pm
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Brake pads. Tube. Toray 700 weave. Resin. Acetylene torch. Brazing tank. Anodising tanks. Bread maker.


 
Posted : 01/09/2019 11:08 pm
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Spare bike?


 
Posted : 01/09/2019 11:11 pm
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Take it home first and give it a once over. Previous owner may have neglected it and it may be dangerous. Check all the main bolts like bars and stem etc and the quick releases.


 
Posted : 01/09/2019 11:13 pm
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I can see your thinking, if your travelling to pick the bike up you might aswell make the most of the journey.
I'm always very wary when buying a used bike and usually do a loop local to home to check all is well. If you do a trail centre on the way home just make sure you are well tooled up. If the centre has a skills loop near the carpark I'd spend 30 minutes in there just to check the bike is ok.


 
Posted : 01/09/2019 11:25 pm
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I had this urge once and it led to me riding my new BMX into the back of my own car


 
Posted : 01/09/2019 11:30 pm
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I recently caught the train to collect a 10yrs-old used hardtail then rode it 35 miles home. Took water, wallet and my keys in a Lobo bag, along with pump, multitool and puncture kit.

Can often tell quite a bit about any likely bike issues by talking to the seller


 
Posted : 02/09/2019 2:18 am
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Just because you don't really know what you are getting until you actually get your hands on it, I think I'd probably be taking my "main" toolbox, and a workstand, so that I can do a full check on everything in the carpark before I set off.

I assume you are collecting by car, so why not just throw it in?


 
Posted : 02/09/2019 3:23 am
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Wow ... i'd just wing it. That way even if it all turns to shnitzel at least you had an adventure.

... maybe a helmet.


 
Posted : 02/09/2019 7:44 am
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My recently bought Anthem which was in "excellent condition" needed the brakes bleeding and all the shock bolts doing up before I could ride it.


 
Posted : 02/09/2019 7:54 am
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Cheers! I think I will go for decent allen keys & tools for some car park fettling. And the bread maker obviously 😀


 
Posted : 02/09/2019 8:30 am
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Pedals.


 
Posted : 02/09/2019 8:31 am
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Gear cable inner


 
Posted : 02/09/2019 11:05 am
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Honestly, no way I would.
Even a brand new bike will get an hour on the stand making sure all is well. A second hand bike would likely get a full strip down before riding.
But they may be me being overly sensitive to set-up and overly worried about something breaking.


 
Posted : 02/09/2019 11:09 am
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Shock bushes/sus bearings will be knackered.

Wheel bearings too.

Above seems about normal for "good nick".

Oh, if it has pedals, they will have knackered bearings/ bushes too.👍😁

EDIT: Forgot, lower headset bearings will be rusty.


 
Posted : 02/09/2019 11:14 am
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New grips. Last owner might have touched his widgie and not washed his hands.

We can go on about people being nice to each other on here all we want, but it is material like this that really makes this place.

🙂


 
Posted : 02/09/2019 11:17 am
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I took a multitool and a tube. If it was to knackered to ride I wouldnt buy it!


 
Posted : 02/09/2019 11:20 am
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Shock bushes/sus bearings will be knackered.

Wheel bearings too.

Above seems about normal for “good nick”.

Oh, if it had petals, they will have knackered bearings/ bush too.👍😁

EDIT: Forgot, lower headset bearings will be rusty.

Probably not far off.

Honestly, no way I would.
Even a brand new bike will get an hour on the stand making sure all is well. A second hand bike would likely get a full strip down before riding.
But they may be me being overly sensitive to set-up and overly worried about something breaking.

This was my reaction to start with. But then I thought why not? But ride accordingly - don't start leaping off stuff on your first 500m on the bike. A decent shake down ride might be much better at letting you know what's actually wrong with the bike the a workstand. You then know what to start with when it's on the stand 🙂 None of the stuff Poopscoop listed is really a reason to stop you riding it if it's already been ridden like that for a while anyway.


 
Posted : 02/09/2019 11:22 am
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Maybe some chain connectors?? I never used to bother until the other day when I went one way and my chain the other


 
Posted : 02/09/2019 12:24 pm
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I live in Warwickshire and went to collect a used fatbike from East Sussex.

I test rode it in the Surrey hills on the way home and it ended up in a tree.

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/5078/30083676892_9d70e7fcb3_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/5078/30083676892_9d70e7fcb3_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/MQoH3m ]Calibre dune. Surrey hills[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/79912681@N06/ ]blackteaonesugar[/url], on Flickr

Makes you think...


 
Posted : 02/09/2019 1:09 pm
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there isn't much to go wrong with a rigid fatbike and that looks pretty new as well.


 
Posted : 02/09/2019 1:36 pm
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So the correct answer was - bring your own bike or a working seatpost for the new one! And a decent spoke key.

The show stopper with the new one was a Reverb that woulnt stay up - or down. Apparently it had never happened before! It was a decent haggling point though. Bearing etc all good. Rear wheel was a bit of a pringle too.


 
Posted : 06/09/2019 10:55 pm
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You happy though yeah?


 
Posted : 07/09/2019 7:11 am
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I knew getting to ride it on the way back was a bit of a gamble. Apart from the above issues everything else seems in great condition = very happy! (hopefully tomorrow's post won't be about how to fix X,Y and Z ).


 
Posted : 07/09/2019 7:26 am

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