Issue link: http://trailridermagazine.uberflip.com/i/280528
36 Trail Rider BUYiNG A USED BiKE? A re you in the market for new ride? Maybe you are new to the sport and contemplating purchasing a new, or new-to-you bike? Not everyone can afford a new bike and if you are just starting out, there really is no reason to spend that kind of cash, unless you wipe your counter with Benjamin's. Assuming you are new to the sport and have already identified the bike you want to look at, what do you look for when checking out a used bike? There's a long list of potential problem areas but we'll stick to the ba- sics. Never Raced! Who cares, so what! Some sellers go to great lengths to drive home the point that their bike was never raced. I am not sure that it matters if a bike was raced or not. A serious racer will always take good care of a bike and maintain it religiously. If the bike has been raced and looks to be in good condition, it likely is. But here are a few tips on how to evaluate what kind of condition the bike is in. What's the general appearance of the bike? Has all the plastic been replaced or does it look like it's been dragged behind a truck? If it looks like it's been dragged behind a truck, it may have been. Anyway, you can start by putting the bike up on a stand. Once on the stand, try and move the wheels side to side. If they wobble, they need bearings - or the axel nut is loose! Bearings will cost you about 25 dollars for the cheap aftermarket brands. Check out the rims, too. Are they bent? Cracked? What about the spokes, are they loose? If the spokes are loose, how long have they been loose for? Spokes Story and Photos by Kevin Novello www.TrailRider.com