Items19The creator’s order
  1. 1Run the Serial Number Through a Stolen Bike RegisterRun the Serial Number Through a Stolen Bike RegisterDo this first, because no mechanical bargain survives the discovery that the bike is stolen. Most serial numbers are engraved under the bottom bracket, so turn the bike over and photograph it. Bike Index is a free nonprofit register, and its search also shows registered bikes with similar serials,…0
  2. 2Ask for Proof of Ownership and a Daylight ViewingAsk for Proof of Ownership and a Daylight ViewingA receipt, service records or the original owner's paperwork make a story harder to fake, and an honest seller rarely minds being asked. Arrange to see the bike in daylight with time for a short ride, because dim garages and evening parking lots hide cracks, rust and a tired drivetrain. A seller…0
  3. 3Inspect the Frame for Cracks, Dents and Deep RustInspect the Frame for Cracks, Dents and Deep RustFrame damage is the one fault that can make a bike worthless, so give the frame the most time. Work around it in good light, with a flashlight for the shadows, paying closest attention to the head tube, the bottom bracket, the seat stays and every weld. Paint that has bubbled, lifted or cracked in…0
  4. 4Check Carbon Frames and Forks for Hidden DamageCheck Carbon Frames and Forks for Hidden DamageCarbon fails differently from metal: an impact can leave damage below the surface that the eye can't see. Look closely at the top and down tubes, where car and roof rack clamps can crush carbon, and at the seatpost clamp slot, where a small crack can turn and run horizontally around the tube. Lift…0
  5. 5Sight Down the Rear Derailleur HangerSight Down the Rear Derailleur HangerStand behind the bike and look along the rear derailleur. The cage should hang vertical and parallel to the cogs; if it leans in toward the spokes, the hanger is probably bent. Hangers are designed to bend easily, so a crash or a fall on the drive side often shows up here first. A bent hanger can…0
  6. 6Measure the Chain with a Chain CheckerMeasure the Chain with a Chain CheckerA chain elongates as its pins and rollers wear, and a worn chain quietly grinds down the cassette and chainrings with it. A go/no-go gauge such as Park Tool's CC-3.2 drops into the links in seconds and settles the question without guesswork. On 5- to 10-speed drivetrains, replace the chain at or…0
  7. 7Look at the Cassette and Chainring TeethLook at the Cassette and Chainring TeethWorn teeth confirm what the chain checker suggests. Healthy teeth are evenly shaped; worn ones turn hooked and pointed into a shark-fin profile as the chain eats into one face. Check the cogs that get ridden most, and the chainring teeth all the way around. Watch for a shiny new chain running over…0
  8. 8Spin Each Wheel for True and Smooth BearingsSpin Each Wheel for True and Smooth BearingsLift each end of the bike and spin the wheel, watching the rim pass a brake pad or the frame. A slight side-to-side wobble can be trued by a shop for little money; a big buckle or a flat spot points to a bent rim and possibly a new wheel. Feel and listen while it spins, too. The hub should turn…0
  9. 9Rock the Wheels for Hub PlayRock the Wheels for Hub PlayHold the top of each tire and push it firmly side to side against the frame or fork. Obvious movement means the hub bearings are loose or worn. Some hubs simply need adjusting, but if the bearing surfaces are damaged the honest answer may be a replacement wheel, which changes what the bike is worth…0
  10. 10Check Rims and Disc Rotors for Brake WearCheck Rims and Disc Rotors for Brake WearBraking slowly wears away metal, and on rim brakes that metal is part of the wheel. Lay a straight edge across each rim's braking surface: if the track is obviously concave, curved inward, the rim is worn out and the wheel needs replacing. On disc brakes, measure each rotor where the pads touch…0