How to Sell Your Old Bicycle on Craigslist (2024)

Tips for selling your old bicycle on Craiglist or other online classified websites.

How to Sell Your Old Bicycle on Craigslist (1)

There comes a time when you maybe ready to sell your trusty currentbike and purchase somethingbetter suited to your current cycling needs.

Most reputable used bike shops won’t buy used bikes–high rates of bike theft in cities makes it more of a hassle than it’s worth – so you’ll probably need to sell your bike yourself. Online classifieds, like Craigslist, are a great venue to connect with potential buyers.

Below, I will walk you through exactly what you need to do to sell your bike so that you and your buyer both get a fair deal. If you are unfamiliar with some of the terms used below, this handy bicycle part reference guide can help.

Define the Bicycle Style You are Selling

Mountain bikes have relaxed frame geometry, flat bars, and 26” wheels, and may also have front shocks or dual suspension. Road bikes have more aggressive frame geometry, drop bars, and either 700c or 27” wheels. Bikes with mixte frames also fit into the road bike category, though are sometimes called city bikes or cruisers. Hybrids meet in the middle–newer models often have 700c wheels and flat handlebars. City Bikes(known as cruisers in some areas, town bikes in others)have relaxed geometry, step-through or loop frames, and handlebars that sweep back toward the rider.

List the Frame Size

For all bikes, the frame measurement usually hinges on measuring the seat tube, which is often where sizingwill be posted unless the sticker has been removed. If there is no size displayed you canget an accurate measurementwith atape measure. Start at the the middle of the crankset and stretch the tape upwards to the top of the seat tube. Hold the tape measure out from the frame at the top of the seat tube to adjust for the distance the crankset has displaced the measure.

Make, Model, and Parts

Unless your bike has been repainted, or is quite old, you should be able to take a look at the frame and figure out the brand of the bike. The model name will also be included somewhere on the bike.

If the bike is a recent model, the brand’swebsite mayalso be a handy guide to help figure out some of the highlights of thebike. To attract buyers who know what they are looking for,be specific about the parts on your bike such as brakes, hubs, crankset, and derailleurs as well as fenders, racks, and chainguard. If this information isn’t available or you are uncertain of the part names, you can compromise by listing the type of parts and number of gears.

List the Bike’s Condition

It’s a good idea to take your bike in for an assessment before you sell it. Most bike shops will do an assessment for free. A community or co-op bike shop can assess your bike, recommend fixes, and walk you through what you need to do. Retail bikeshops also provide anassessment forfree, but the work will cost a bit more and you won’t get your hands dirty.

Ask the mechanic what work should be done right away, if any, to make sure the bike is in rideable shape for your buyer; take note of any additional recommended maintenance, and communicate this in your Craigslist posting.

Take Clear Photos

Aim to post around six photos thatallow potential buyers to see the full bike as well asclose-ups of the front and rear brakes, cranks, freewheel/cassette, brake levers, and shifters. Make sure the lighting is good and the pictures are clear, and try to take the pictures outdoors, or in front of a clean, light-colored wall.

List Your Asking Price

When pricing your bike, consider what you paid for the bike, the condition that it’s in, the demand for bikes in your area, and the relative popularity of the style of bike that you’re selling. Handsome old city bikesgenerally fetch an aesthetic premium, whereas a good-quality old mountain bike may fetchyou a little less.

Finally, as with all Craigslist interactions, only post a bike when you’ve got time to sell it, and be conscious of your safety. To make sure an enterprising Craigslister doesn’t just ride your bike away and never come back, you can ask to hold their jacket or their bag.

Andrea Bennett is a bike mechanic with four years of experience at community bike shops. She’s written for Maisonneuve, The Walrus, and The Atlantic.@akkabah |andreabennett.ca

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How to Sell Your Old Bicycle on Craigslist (2024)

FAQs

How to Sell Your Old Bicycle on Craigslist? ›

Include information about the bike's manufacturer, model, size, and condition in the title and description areas. Post images of the bicycle. Include contact details and your asking price.

How to sell my bicycle? ›

  1. Sell your bike online to TPC. ...
  2. Sell your bicycle to a pawn or used sporting goods shop. ...
  3. Sell your bike online via Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or another website. ...
  4. Sell your bike on PinkBike Marketplace or another website forum. ...
  5. Sell your bike on eBay.
Jun 25, 2024

Where can I sell an old road bike? ›

eBay is an established online marketplace that allows you to sell your used bike to a global audience. When you sell on eBay, you can set your own price and auction your bike off to the highest bidder.

What is the safest way to sell a bike? ›

The best place to sell your bike for cash is on local selling marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace or OfferUp. I've sold a bike on Facebook Marketplace in the past, and you can usually find local buyers in a few days and deal completely in cash. Pawn shops or hosting a garage sale can also work.

What to list when selling a bike? ›

It's also helpful to list any specifications about your item. For example, on a bicycle, you should list what brand and model the components and wheels are and any accessories you feel add value. Be sure to also point out any defects, missing parts or problems with your item.

How do I clean my bike to sell it? ›

Wash the bike frame: Use a bucket of warm soapy water and a brush to gently scrub off dirt and grime. Work from the top down, cleaning the handlebars, headset, top tube, seat post, seatstays, front fork and brakes. If you have disc brakes, try to keep soap away from the rotors and brake pads.

How do I find the value of an old bike? ›

The Bicycle Blue Book is a valuable tool for obtaining a quick, data-driven estimate of a bike's market value. While it does have its limitations, it provides a useful starting point for those seeking to buy or sell a used bicycle.

Where is the best place to sell used bikes? ›

Top 10 Best Sell Used Bike Near Los Angeles, California
  • The ReCYCLIST Bicycle Shop- Bicycle Sales, Service & Bike Rental. 4.1 (261 reviews) Bikes. ...
  • Cycle City Bicycles. 4.7 (35 reviews) Bikes. ...
  • The DropOut Cyclery. 4.8 (102 reviews) Bikes. ...
  • LA Golden Bicycle Shop. 4.3 (88 reviews) ...
  • 3 Brother's Bike Shop. 4.6 (105 reviews)

What can you do with old road bikes? ›

If it's still in working order or could easily be fixed up, donating it is the best option. Even if it can't be fully repaired, it could potentially be used for parts to help fix up other bikes. It's always best to see if your bike can be fixed or used in other ways before deciding to send it for recycling.

Which company bike resale value is best? ›

Top 10 Bikes with Best Resale Value in India
  • Hero Splendour. Hero Splendour is one of India's top-selling bikes, enjoying a cult following among bike lovers for over a decade. ...
  • Hero Passion Plus. ...
  • Hero HF Deluxe. ...
  • Hero Glamour. ...
  • Hero Super Splendour. ...
  • Hero Xtreme 160R. ...
  • Hero Xpulse 200. ...
  • Hero Maestro Edge.
Jun 3, 2024

Do bikes have resale value? ›

A well-maintained, newer bicycle in good condition will typically have a higher resale value than an older, poorly maintained bicycle in poor condition.

How do bikes not get stolen? ›

If you use a proper lock, and follow proper locking techniques, it is unlikely you will ever lose your bike to a thief. There are simply too many other unlocked or poorly locked bikes out there for a thief to waste time trying to steal your well-locked bike.

How to get rid of old bikes in NYC? ›

Put your bike out with your curbside bulk metal recyclables; you can find the Sanitation Department's pick-up schedule at https://tinyurl.com/y9zx2m5n. Bring the bike to a metal scrap recycling facility. List your bike on Craigslist or Freecycle.

Does NYC have bike share? ›

Citi Bike: NYC's Official Bike Sharing System.

How do you measure a bike to sell? ›

Adult bikes are measured by their frame size. Most manufacturers now measure the frame from the centre of the crank axle, to the top of the seat tube. Most road bikes are measured in centimetres (cm), whereas mountain bikes are generally measured using inches (in).

Can you sell a bike to cash converters? ›

Cash Converters buys outdoor gear, from tents and backpacks to flashlights and bikes.

Can you sell a bike on cycle to work? ›

The general rule of thumb is that you can sell your ex-cycle-to-work bike if you have completed your chosen ownership option. Please note, you cannot sell your cycle to work scheme bike if: You are in the initial Hire Period, or. If you are in an active Own it later agreement, or.

Can you sell a bike on finance? ›

Yes, it's common to sell bikes that still have finance outstanding. Ask your finance company for a settlement figure in writing and send it to WeWantYourMotorbike.com. Once your bike's sold, it'll pay off the finance company within four working days and deduct the settlement figure from the agreed sale price.

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