Find a business that has been selling ebikes for a considerable time. Can they offer genuine ebikes across multiple brands and electric power systems.
See if the eBike Shop offer any guarantees on the used electric bike. Have you got peace of mind if something goes awry?
See how many kilometres the bike has done, check it against any built in odometers or diagnostics reports. Ebikes can be tampered with.
Check the ebike’s history
Why is it being sold second hand? Numerous times it is because of a fault or loss of charge ability in the battery. Ask yourself: If this bike is so good, why is it being sold. If an electric battery powered bike is being sold due to lack of use, you may need to check that the battery is still in good working order and holding it’s charge. A battery that has been sitting unused for sometime can corrode.
When was the bike last serviced? What was carried out? Where do they get the bike serviced?
Are replacement Parts & Batteries readily available.
As ebikes age the models can become obsolete and replacement parts can be difficult to obtain. You could also find that if an ebike system is not widely used it may be very expensive to find parts as a company may have a monopoly on the product’s service items.
Inspect the bike thoroughly
Never buy an ebike with a cracked or scratched battery case. You never know what lies beneath, and it is most likely to be a sign of misuse or accident. Lithium batteries are especially volatile when damaged and if they alight cannot be extinguished easily.
Standard used bicycle things to check.
Check tyres for wear or degradation
Check wheels spin freely and are not buckled or damaged
Check hubs for play
Check pedals for play and rims for wear
Check Bottom bracket for play
Check Headset for play
Check frame weld joins for cracks
Check brake block wear
Check chain wear
Check cables for rust
Check cables move freely and gears/brakes engage correctly
Check accessories fitted to bike are safe and will not interfere with riding
Check electrical cables running into frame or components
Check the battery charger works
Check the battery works and delivers power
If you get a test ride, cycle over a few bumps and see if power stays steady.
Test all power modes.
Check handlebars are tight & safe
Check brake levers are not scratched or bent (sign bike has fallen over)
Check the gear changers and side of pedals for grazes (another sign bike has fallen over or been in a crash)
CHECK THAT THERE ARE NO FAULT LIGHTS SHOWING
THE FIRST THING YOU SHOULD DO WITH A SECOND HAND EBIKE IS GET IT SERVICED AT YOUR LOCAL E-BIKE SHOP!
