Determining the Value of Your Used Bicycle

If you’re looking to sell your previously owned bike, it can be challenging to determine a reasonable asking price without being familiar with the secondhand bike market. Luckily, calculating the value of your bike is a simple task as long as you’re willing to put in some effort.

The Most Effective Method for Determining a Bike’s Worth is Through Comparisons

In order to accurately determine the value of a bike, comps are essential. To find comparable listings, search for your bike’s make and model on various platforms such as Ebay, Craigslist, and local bike forums.

Goodbye Cycle can also be helpful in this scenario. If you complete the “sell us your bike” link. We will research the comps for you. Tell you what we think it will sell for and send you a cash offer. Having a cash offer is a sure sign of the value of the bike.

Accuracy of Bicycle Blue Book

The bicycle valuations provided by Bicycle Blue Book are typically reliable and can serve as useful references for buyers and sellers. While generally accurate, there are some areas where it may fall short.

Based on our observation, the website fails to accurately factor in regional differences in the prices of second-hand bicycles and does not fully take into account the effects of upgrades or customizations. Although these problems are to be expected due to the intricacies of the used bike industry, they can result in occasional inaccuracies in the website’s evaluations.

One issue to consider is the limited real-time tracking of prices. The market trends are constantly changing, and it is uncertain how quickly Bicycle Blue Book updates its database to reflect these changes. There have been cases where bikes were overvalued on Bicycle Blue Book because it was not informed of the sudden depreciation caused by shifts in popularity or industry standards.

In general, the values given by Bicycle Blue Book should be approached with caution. It is important to compare them to the average prices found in local comparisons, especially if there are comparable bikes that have been sold successfully.

Obtain an Expert Evaluation

Goodbye Cycle may purchase bicycles. However, this does not obligate you to sell your bike to us. If you simply want to explore the possibility of our offer for your bike, you can use our Sell Your Bike link portal to submit it and receive a quote within 48 hours. The process only requires basic details and one picture.

Not every bike will receive an offer from us, however, if you do receive one, you are not obligated to sell. This information can be used to determine the price of your bike for a personal sale.

Variables That Affect the Worth of a Bicycle

There are various elements that contribute to the higher retention of value for specific bicycles, as discussed in this article on bike depreciation factors. Below are some important factors that can either raise or lower the worth of your bike.

Value Enhancement (positive):

With a bike less than 3-5 years old, its depreciation will only increase over time. To receive a higher return, it is best to sell sooner rather than later.
Bikes that are commonly sized and fit a wider range of riders will have a higher demand. Sizes such as S, M, and L typically sell for more than XS or XL sizes.
The better the condition of your bike, the more valuable it will be. Regular maintenance, replacing small parts like grips and saddles, and protecting the frame and components from damage will increase the overall value of your bike.
Certain bike models and brands are more sought after, resulting in a higher value. To see which bikes hold their value the best, refer to our sales data in our article about bike depreciation factors.

Value decreases (negative):

Outdated technology or non-standard specifications
Unconventional upgrades -The closer to “standard” specifications, the greater the value
Lower original retail price -Manufacturers can reduce prices bringing the value of your used bike down