Our complete guide to buying a second-hand ebike.
If you’re in the market for a new bike, or ebike, then you’ll know just how difficult it is to get your hands on a nice new shiny ride. Local bike shops are struggling to secure stock and manufacturers can’t get the parts they need due to supply chain issues. Throw in a pandemic and the rising cost of logistics and us mountain bikers have a serious problem on our hands.
But whereas bike shops are running dry, classifieds and second-hand marketplaces are teaming with ebikes for sale, but the question is ‘should you buy a second-hand ebike?’.
In the past, buying a second hand or used mountain bike was a breeze, as long as the frame, components and suspension were all in good condition and everything worked, there really was nothing to worry about, but ebikes bring with them many new and potentially expensive unknowns.
Below we’re going to run through a few areas to inspect on a prospective second-hand ebike purchase, give you tips on where you should search for a used emtb and the potential pitfalls of a second-hand ebike purchase.
As always though, our comments section remains open and if you have anything to add from your own experience we ask you to get involved and have your say.
10 things to check before buying a second-hand ebike
1. Check the condition of the ebike
We’re going to start with a basic visual look around the bike to see if there are any signs of wear and tear, or any potential problems on the horizon. Check the wear on the cassette, chain and chainring, an emtb has much more torque than a normal mountain bike and these items might need replacing. Ask the owner if they have been replaced in the past and check the quality of the new parts. Keep in mind you can use worn parts as a bargaining chip, but also keep in mind that spare parts aren’t easy to come by at this time.
Due to the weight of an ebike you should also check the wheels for dents in the rims, loose spokes, and also ensure the hubs are running smoothly. Also, ensure there is plenty of tread on the tires and there are no cracks or tears in the rubber.
There are a few signs to look at that will give you a good indication if the ebike has been well looked after. For example, if the frame is covered in a protective film and it was done when new, the chances are it will look like new beneath. Also, are the tyres high-quality models with a good rubber compound and strong construction? High-quality tires are not cheap and would suggest the owner has spared no expense maintaining their ebike.
2. Check for recalls
Ebikes contain a lot of technology not limited to the motor, and battery. You also need to consider the wiring harness, charging ports, connections, power button and display (if one is fitted). Earlier ebikes may have been affected by a recall so it would be wise to search the model and brand of bike you’re looking at and see if there have been any issued. Don’t worry too much if a recall has appeared, just ensure the necessary work was carried out when it was carried out, where (an official dealer) and check if there is any additional warranty from the manufacturer for that recall work.
3. Condition of the motor and battery
Like above, an ebike is a complicated piece of kit with many more components making the sum of its parts. For example, there can be as many parts in the motor alone as there is on a traditional bicycle and any one item could cause it to stop working. Whatsmore, some brands of the motor are NOT serviceable. Motors like the Shimano E8000 are not designed to be serviced and if there is an issue or a repair is needed a replacement motor might be the only option. It’s possible that the motor might already have been replaced so it’s worth checking, finding out where and who carried out the world and how many miles have been put on the new motor. The same applies for the battery.
If you’re looking at a bike with the original motor and battery then check to dashboard odometer to see how many miles have been put on the bike. Keep in mind though that some systems can easily be reset, so use your judgement and the condition of the bike to determine if you think the reading is accurate or not.
4. Connect to the bike via the application
Shimano, Specialized and other motor brands have a dedicated application that can be downloaded onto a smart device and then allows a connection to the ebike’s system. Some applications will be able to give you additional information about the ebike system, the health of the battery, and if the firmware is up to date. It’s also worth connecting to the bike to ensure you know the Bluetooth password, you don’t want to buy a bike to find you can’t connect to it once you get home.
5. Check you have a local service centre
Many ebikes will have either come from online stores or direct from manufacturers meaning if you do have a problem then it might not be very straightforward getting your eMTB serviced or repaired. It’s a good idea to fully understand the system that your ebike has and that there is a local specialist nearby who can help you if you ever need it.
Large mainstream brands such as Trek, Specialized or Giant will probably have an authorised store in most major cities. Even if your bike comes from a buy direct brand like Canyon then you don’t need to worry too much as any Shimano Service centre should be able to accommodate you.
However, it becomes more difficult when brands mix and match components (Bosch doesn’t allow this so Bosch fans need not worry). For example, the YT Decoy and Orbea Rise are easy widely thought of as Shimano powered ebikes, but the batteries used in these bikes are not Shimano units. This means if you were to have an issue with your battery a Shimano Service centre might not be able to assist you.
6. Read the forums
There are plenty of savvy ebike riders on the web it’s well worth joining a few forums or even Facebook groups so that you can fully educate yourself before purchasing a second-hand ebike. These groups will have frank and open discussions about possible issues, and even ways to remedy them.
Forums and groups are also a great place to find potential second-hand ebikes for sale. If it’s a riding club even better as fellow riders can point you in the right direction of a purchase and even inform you of a bikes history.
7. If it’s too good to be true walk away
This old saying can be used for almost anything that seems like to perfect a bargain. Unless you know and fully trust the seller then be wary of ebikes going very cheap or just seem a little fishy. Of course, we all want to pick up a bargain but you don’t want to be lumbered with a dodgy ebike or something that was potentially stolen.
Speaking of which, if you do come across a bike that you do think might have been stolen it is worth again checking on social media to see if anyone has reported anything. Some websites are used to report and relocate stolen bikes, you never know there might even be a reward.
8. Check for corrosion and rust
Corrosion and rust can build up on the drivetrain if a bike hasn’t been well maintained or if it’s simply been left in a damp shed. However, it’s also worth looking at rusty bolt heads, or any corrosion around the motor or power inputs. Staining in these areas might suggest a bike has been cleaned with a pressure washer on a regular basis and as we all know, water and electricity don’t mix.
If you’re able to, open the battery compartment and remove the battery to check the connections. Check on the battery and on the inside of the frame. Also, if the seller is willing to, see if you can drop the motor and check the connections there too, on some bikes this is much more difficult than others.
9. Keys and accessories
Earlier ebikes were shipped with keys to lock the battery in place, ensure that the seller of your bike has at least 1 of those keys otherwise you will not be able to remove the battery for cleaning, storage or replacement.
Also don’t forget the charge, and additional cable and inspect their condition. Before paying also see if you can check that the battery charges correctly when the charge is connected and there are no flashing lights or warnings.
10. Price
If you have checked all of the above and are happy with the bike then it all comes down to the price. Second-hand ebike prices are very high at the moment and the continued shortage of parts and bikes means those prices are likely to stick around for some time but use the information above to haggle and get yourself a bargain.
We hope these 10 tips help you with your second-hand ebike buying decision, if you have anything to add them please let us know in the comments below.
