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

[ChrisF]

All valid points ....  Fact is that a new bike does not hold its value.  Nor will you get your money back when doing major upgrades.  

 

 

I ended up with a 26" bike that has done minimal milage, bought December 2019, and by the time the world opened up again Maritz had outgrown the bike.  

 

The realistic bike value is less than the parts on it, which I can use on our other bikes .... so the bike is in the rafters awaiting its date to become a donor.

 

 

@NotSoBigBen sadly I used the original parts to help a friend (who sold his revamped bike a few weeks later) .... else I would have swopped it back to original speck.  Lesson learnt.

[Spoke n Bean]

I've had similar experiences, at one point I ended up giving away a used bike to a mate as a gift, I just couldn't get rid of the thing, new drivetrain, fork, dropper, bars, wheels, the works.

Pre 2020, I was the guy who was able to sell my bikes for close to 80% of what I paid, but that changed when I went up a few price classes. The sub 10k category is still quite strong in mtb/gravel, but the 30-50k segment is under pressure.

I mostly buy used and hold my bikes 2-3 few years while doing subtle upgrades on the used market. But that makes me need an upgrade every 3-4 years as the bike is usually 2 or so years old when I get into it. The depreciation felt by keeping it after that gets a bit much.

My current top fuel 7 has upgraded rims, drivetrain, fork, bars, etc, and I know I'll never see that money again.
When I sell it, I'll make it stock again and take the new bits and sell on the side. Next guy gets a good bike with low km's on the original parts.
That's where one needs to decide about keeping something for enjoyment over resale value, same with motorcycles back in the day, we'd modify and upgrade based on OUR enjoyment and not necessarily resale value for the next Piet.

One man here noted here that prices overseas are worse, he's not wrong. Seth from the Berm peak YouTube channel noted this on his flip bike series. He ended up making very little and losing out often, but that was flipping, not riding and selling.
On that note, I think the days of flipping bikes are gone in S.A, I've been stung trying to build and sell bikes as well. Road bikes are literally impossible to move for a good price as well.
Everyone wants a 11-12 speed carbon race bike for 10k because that 'one guy' was selling his for cheap.

To add complexity, my personal household budget pivot table shows that the my base cost of staying alive has gone up 62% since 2020 (base*1.62), that's literally just food, clothing, fuel, insurance etc.
I can't imagine most people in the country are able to absorb the cost of living increases with the measly 6% most corporate companies give at best per year.

The middle class is under pressure, and the upper middle class will most likely end up buying new anyway. Add to that, the cost of new bikes have become cheap enough that most newbies can get on a decent enough bike for under 50k, why spend 40 on a used one?
Specialized chisel, trek top fuel, merida one twenty, titan cypher, just to name a few.
Cheap enough, and good enough to make a middle class person think twice on buying used.

I think the trick is to buy smart, if one knows what to look for, then one can get great deals and have a good bike under you for longer. But selling that deal you bought will come at a cost to you as well down the road.

In the end, hobbies like cycling are luxury spends, despite them adding value to life, most times you're selling to a guy who's using some of what he has left after feeding his family.

Those making money in this field are making the money on the buy stage of the process, and rarely the sell stage. They're buying low and selling slightly higher if lucky.

[Nick]

It just so happens that we recently published our Q2 2025 report on the measurable trends in the Classifieds. From what we can see, the demand is still there.

https://bikehub.co.za/news/quarter-turn-bike-hub-q2-2025-report/

[Kom]

48 minutes ago, Nick said:

It just so happens that we recently published our Q2 2025 report on the measurable trends in the Classifieds. From what we can see, the demand is still there.

https://bikehub.co.za/news/quarter-turn-bike-hub-q2-2025-report/

Interest and queries are one thing, confirmed sales, or marked as sold?

not questioning these numbers, my recent experience just doesnt relate.

[SSCC]

39 minutes ago, Nick said:

It just so happens that we recently published our Q2 2025 report on the measurable trends in the Classifieds. From what we can see, the demand is still there.

https://bikehub.co.za/news/quarter-turn-bike-hub-q2-2025-report/

It's a hell of a leap to say that an increase in ad enquires means an increase in sales. How many of those enquires are reseller accounts making low ball offers? How many enquiries actually turn into sales and at what discount to asking price?

Quote

"Enquiries on Dual Suspension Mountain Bikes are up an impressive 29.9% in Q2 2025 compared to Q2 2024. As a staple of South African cycling, this is an excellent indicator of market health, both in our marketplace and the industry in general"

Ask any retail store owner if their dual sus bikes sales are up an impressive amount. If sales are so strong why are Specialized and Trek and others offering new Mtb's as discounted prices. It's not only SA. In Europe Mountain Bike sales have fallen off a cliff (except for eMTb's).

[BuffsVintageBikes]

I just sold my old hardtail 29er for R3K. You can barely buy a decent set of MTB tires for that price. Granted it was too a friend but the market is beyond dead at the moment.

Suck it up and move on if you want to compete with the Jones's.

[David Marshall]

The industry standard is a whopping 40% loss off purchase price after one year and then roughly a further 5 to 7% per year for the next 4 years.  After that the sales value tends to flatline. 

This can be brand dependent and also significantly influenced by technological advances eg the shift from 26"to 29".

Upgrades do not significantly affect the selling price, especially as time passes.

 

[Headshot]

I've only bought a second hand MTB once, for my wife, and keep my bikes for years for years and years. If you're an experienced rider and tinker a bit, you'll know what to look for and the 26" Zula I got for R10k for my wife is still going strong after a few mods and upgrades over the years.

I have bought second hand road bikes which are easier and cheaper to repair than most MTB's but then again, I am not talking expensive carbon disc brake road bikes as I'm happy to ride older aluminium bikes. 

 

[Loose cog]

I hear what everyone is saying about it being a difficult sellers market but I can assure you it is as difficult trying to buy a second hand MTB at the moment. I am looking for a XS/S MTB for my wife and there is limited options available. 

 

[sboschnoob]

My recent anecdotal experience:
Been road cycling for a few years, wanted to get into MTBing (more like succumbing to peer pressure). I have no experience when it came to type of MTBs but was aiming for more XC style frames and I wanted at least something from 2021+ish. I looked at the classifieds for about 3 weeks, I went to go look at 2 bikes.

I realized after 3 weeks I have no idea what I am looking at, or how to judge the condition of the bikes.

In the end I decided I would rather just add about 15% to my budget and buy a new bike with a known history, but with the tradeoff of having a bit more 'entry level' components.

I am sure there was probably a nice deal out there to find, but I could not do it and after 3 weeks of looking at ads I just wanted to get on a bike and start riding.

Edited July 14, 2025 by sboschnoob

[MORNE]

50 minutes ago, Loose cog said:

I hear what everyone is saying about it being a difficult sellers market but I can assure you it is as difficult trying to buy a second hand MTB at the moment. I am looking for a XS/S MTB for my wife and there is limited options available. 

 

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/dual-suspension-mountain-bike-frames/800339/pyga-tig-dc-frame
 

Obviously dont know your budget but i think this is a steal

[RocknRolla]

By the replies on this thread, the OP did not reach his target market.

I'd like to see some opposing views from the folk who does not think twice about dropping whatever the asking price is for the latest bicycle model marketing blurb.

These folk I assume also would be happy to recover whatever they can on the previous bike, no matter the "perceived fairness or unfairness" of the OP. 
 

I do agree that the cost of new bikes means that I'll not be buying a new bike ever. 

[hansolo]

@LukeForce, if you think it's hard to sell a second hand Mountain Bike try selling an old "new" Mountain Bike... Some suppliers sit with old stock for premium brands and they are perhaps worse off. Those sales Trek, Specialized etc. had was really good and was at least the "current" (at the time) bikes, some of these "new" bikes is a few years old by now and even got some upgrades to make them more current.

I usually try to buy a new previous season bike, ride it for very long with few upgrades along the way and just accept it will have very little second hand value in the end. I also think people "over value" their second hand bikes (actually most second hand items...) and it usually just ends up selling for what the market is willing to pay for it.

 

 

[Matthew Van Der Walt]

South African's are extremely tech driven, we NEED the bleeding edge tech becaue:
A. makes you feel faster
B. The bragging rights

The 'others' out there stick to what they have and upgrade us much as possible - and try buy new on special. 

TBH if you know bikes, 2nd hand is often an expensive option as you find out after te fact how worn parts are and what really could do with replacing... And parts are pricey... And can work out close to or even more than 2nd hand asking prices.

I have a few 'project' bikes and asit is finding the parts is a complete and uttle labour of love. Rim brake wheels, 26" stuff etc. The parts are not easy to come by new - so you are forced esp. in smaller markets like SA into at least relatively modern components and even bikes. Try find decent wheel sets which arn't through axel and even then some 'standards' are a difficult find... 

Used to irritate the K out of me. I'd scrounge the finances to buy a new bike. And almost with in the month some new standard has come out and my shiney new steed is now a 26er instead of 29er or 3x10 and not a 1x11, no dropper post routing, non-tapered stearer. 

I remember discussing with a friend who works at one of the bigger SA distributors and its always a battle for them. Bring a container of X is and they sell like hot cakes. So bring another of the same and the stock sits - the market is already saturated... And to throw salt in the wound the proprietory standards (or close too) all these manufacturers are running.

Edited July 14, 2025 by Matthew Van Der Walt

[OVERDRIVE]

On 7/13/2025 at 8:29 AM, LukeForce said:

Ever noticed how tough it is to sell your mountain bike second-hand? You spend R60 000 or more on a decent bike, and a year or two later you’re lucky if someone offers you half of that. Most buyers want to pay next to nothing, and the shops? They won’t even consider a trade-in.

It feels like bike dealerships could boost sales if they accepted trade-ins or created a certified pre-owned program. But they don’t—probably because they also struggle to sell second-hand bikes. So now, you’re stuck with a great bike, well looked after, but no one wants to pay what it’s worth.

Then you get one or two companies that buy used bikes—but they offer you up to 60% less than what you’re asking. That stings.

So it raises the question:

Is mountain biking only for people who can afford to buy new bikes every year and take a massive financial knock when selling the old ones?

In South Africa, where the economy’s tight and many riders save up for years to get a good setup, it just doesn’t make sense. Yet, the second-hand market feels broken.

Sad, but the buyer commends the price. I've seen stuff go from here less than 60% of value 

On 7/13/2025 at 10:37 AM, eddy said:

Nope, it is also for people who know it is not the bike holding them back, who don't care what others think of their ride and who buy a year old bike at half the price of the current model.

Cold but true 

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.

Facts. 

[michaelbiker]

I’ll bite. Cycling to me is a hobby. Yes it can be expensive but I love my hobby. I couldn’t care less if others think I’m cool but I have no problem dropping some cash to ride something I want which is fun and new. The new stuff does ride really nicely…Granted I’m lucky enough to have a well paying job, no debt, no kids and the freedom to work from anywhere (I’m currently in France) but those decisions were all mine and intentional.

I do however, agree with the sentiment on this thread when it comes to cars, I’d rather spend my money on bikes than my car and I can categorically say I’ve spent more on my bikes than my car in the past 10 years.