How to buy a used VAE and bike?

You set your sights on a bike? All right, all right, all right. It is now time to go to the rendezvous to verify the condition of the beast. A very important piece of advice: take your time! , but also in the frame rods on all suspended bikes (the method is similar, except that you should not feel any side play between the different elements of the frame), analyse the condition of the sprockets and the chain …. Don't worry too much about things like tires or saddles, they're minor and secondary.

Unfortunately, some smart kids Don't clean the bike precisely to hide misery: refuse to buy a bike that is too dirty and impossible to examine. It's as good as a car!

Once the first step has been validated, climb on it, take a small turn and pass all gears to check that there are no hitches, derailments or suspicious noises. Also test the brakes (this can always be used …) : they must bite fast enough, without having to pull too hard on the lever.

This small part of the crank is crucial: in addition to identifying possible problems while driving, it is also an opportunity to check whether the bike is … At your height. Do you feel good on it? If it is always possible to compensate a frame for a hair that is too short (by the length of the gallows, for example), the opposite is impossible: a frame too large will penalize you and you will not be able to do anything about it.

Once all these steps have been validated, make a second round of the owner, covering the secondary elements: hanger, grips (handles), cosmetic state of the devices (pedals, brake levers). You can use any traces of wear to negotiate a few euros off.

Finally, do not hesitate to ask the owner questions: if it is an ATV, did he use it in "bike Park" (sometimes very demanding mountain trails)? How long has he been riding the bike? Why is he selling it? Does he have any particular remarks? Investigate.

All the instructions mentioned above apply to the purchase of a used electric bike. The problem is that there is no really reliable solution to quickly check the condition of the battery on the bike. At Bosch, for example, there is a "capacity tester" that details its wear and tear … If you see significant marks at these locations, chances are that the battery has been dismantled / reassembled a lot of times, and therefore often charged. Keep in mind that a new battery is worth between 400 and 800 €on average.

Payment

Before paying and leaving with the bike, make sure it's not stolen. Since January 1, 2021, bicycles sold new must have a marking on them. In order to do this, there are several solutions: since 1 January 2021, new bicycles must be marked. This identification number makes it possible to verify that the seller is the owner (of course, the information must be updated if the bike has been sold several times since then). Otherwise, in the case of an electric bike, if you see that the seller is unable to provide you with the key to unlock and take out the battery ("sorry, I can't find them!") … Run.

The last step is in sight. The bike is good for you, you've agreed with the salesman, but how do you pay? Liquid is always a solution, but not all individuals will accept it. Then there remains the traditional bank cheque (for amounts that are beginning to be large), or the payment by secure application, such as Obvy, or the secure payment from Lebondoin (to name but a few). These make it possible to secure the funds for the seller and, for the buyer, to validate the transaction and the transfer of money live and instantly at the time of the visit of the bike. A simple QR code is to be flashed by the seller, on the buyer's phone, in order to validate the sale and recover the funds. In passing, the application takes a fee that varies according to the amount of the transaction.