Why is it hard to sell a Second Hand Mountain Bike in SA

[LazyTrailRider]

17 hours ago, Dicky DQ said:

Why would anyone expect more than 50% of the "New Price" when selling 2nd hand.
What is a MTB made up of?
Frame different between suppliers (but similar factory in China)
All the same forks to choose from
All the same shocks to choose from
All the same drivetrains to choose from.

after X riding hours they need to be serviced or replaced. That is where the cost lies. Now do I trust a guy/gal saying it was never ridden hard, they always cleaned the bike as it should be cleaned and never rode it in mud/water/whatever.

An MTB apart from the frame is a consumable item, so a 2nd hand buyer needs to estimate the ware on those parts. Damn 50% after a year is a good deal for the seller if the bike has been ridden.
 

There are some outliers in the market, I've sold several bikes I've had for 60% after 2 years, 70% after a year, but 1) those have been machines that have seen only a few hundred kilometres of use and 2) I don't treat my bikes like most people do, minor scuffs and scratches aren't "normal wear and tear" for me unless it's on a bike that I'm riding properly hard.

[Dansyl]

On 7/13/2025 at 9:44 PM, cadenceblur said:

People also succumb to peer pressure or keeping up with jones’es. 
I have a 2016 PYGA Stage well specced but sometimes ride with someone who is constantly trying to get me to change to a slacker more modern bike - eish very soon irritating 

Roadie is a rim brake Bianchi - again well specced and someone else always questions why I’m not on disc brakes ! 💁

Tell them that the maintenance of a disc brake bike is seven times more expensive than maintenance on a rim brake bike.

[Shebeen]

22 minutes ago, LazyTrailRider said:

There are some outliers in the market, I've sold several bikes I've had for 60% after 2 years, 70% after a year, but 1) those have been machines that have seen only a few hundred kilometres of use and 2) I don't treat my bikes like most people do, minor scuffs and scratches aren't "normal wear and tear" for me unless it's on a bike that I'm riding properly hard.

From your previous post you're an outlier. Bought a bike for R100k, rode it for about 400km and sold it for R60k. I only mention this because the sum was easy to do in my head: R100/km it cost to ride that bike - not judging, I just like real numbers when we get them!

This would actually reinforce the point the OP was making, you took a real haircut to shift this mint condition bike on. But we both agree it's an outlier so doesn't really change the argument. The real point that may or may not have been mentioned, is that a new bike has a warranty which (normally) has a tangible value to the first owner - this is thrown down the drain when the bike is sold 2nd hand - the seller takes the hit on this.

 

 

 

[DJR]

That original owners warranty is a very big factor, especially on mountain bikes. The peace of mind that you have with a new MTB - that if you do break the frame, the manufacturer will give you a new one - that is massive. It may well account for a good portion of the "discount" a seller of a second hand bike is forced to give the next owner.

[LazyTrailRider]

2 hours ago, Shebeen said:

R100/km it cost to ride that bike

Thanks for reminding me 🤪

[Dicky DQ]

3 hours ago, Shebeen said:

From your previous post you're an outlier. Bought a bike for R100k, rode it for about 400km and sold it for R60k. I only mention this because the sum was easy to do in my head: R100/km it cost to ride that bike - not judging, I just like real numbers when we get them!

This would actually reinforce the point the OP was making, you took a real haircut to shift this mint condition bike on. But we both agree it's an outlier so doesn't really change the argument. The real point that may or may not have been mentioned, is that a new bike has a warranty which (normally) has a tangible value to the first owner - this is thrown down the drain when the bike is sold 2nd hand - the seller takes the hit on this.

 

 

 

Noted, however, how would the buyer know that it only has 400km on it. In this case the loss is real and the buyer would have been happy, but if you were trying to get 80 or 90% if the purchase price that would have been a loooong wait to sell.

[RahulM]

On 7/13/2025 at 2:15 PM, DJR said:

The value of a second hand anything is what a willing buyer is prepared to pay for it. Nothing more complicated than that.

True however second hand market here seems dominated by shops (and not private sellers) and prices are just about 10-20% less than new ones. I suppose these shops can afford to keep these prices high for a long time. 

[RahulM]

On 7/18/2025 at 12:17 PM, The Ouzo said:

everybody wants 5 star treatment, fancy shiny dealerships that also offer aftersales service and qualified staff, but nobody wants any % of the cost of all of that to come from their purchase.

I am happy to buy from private sellers and compromise on aesthetics etc but private sellers also seem to take cue from shops & dealerships and keep similar price that dealerships have for 2nd hand bikes. Maybe it is just a question of time to find right price & seller. 🙂