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What to look out for in 2nd hand bikes
NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.
Hi all,
I'm looking at upgrading to a dualie, though with budget constraints it will be 2nd hand. So just wanted to know what I should be looking out for on a 2nd hand bike. I've got the checking the welds for cracks but as for suspension and the rest I get a bit lost, so any advice would be great.
cheers
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is to make sure it fits you. If it doesn't fit, it doesn't matter how cheap it is or what bling it has on it, it's a bad deal.
So that means you need to know what Horizontal Top Tube length you need. Your current bike is a good start, if you are comfortable on it, and bikes that are +/- 10mm of that could be looked at.
Leave a bit in the budget to play with stems and bars to fine-tune the fit.
You might want to check for any king of sloppiness/play in the rear triangle (try to rock it from side to side) and also on the shock bushings (compress and lift the rear end using the seat).
Take a good look at the drive-train as well checking if chain rings and cassette look good (can be quite expensive to replace).
Regarding fit, take a look at Competitive Cyclist fit calculator as it really helped me with my latest bike and was pretty much spot on.
http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=FI...
Cheers