Morning all, I am coming to the end of my c2w scheme on my 2022 H30 Orbea Rise. Was thinking of selling it and getting a new one, on a new scheme. But watching a few bikes on FB marketplace, nothing appears to be selling. There is Rise the same as mine, but with hardly any miles (300 or something), and some tasteful upgrades (XT 4 pot brakes). They can't seem to get £2400 for it, it looks new! Mine is in great condition, but must be worth barely £1500 on that basis (2500 miles, will go up). That's a £2500 loss in 2 years! Has anyone else noticed 2nd hand ebikes are hard to sell / very low re-sale value?
Are 2nd hand ebikes pretty much worthless?!
- Thread starter kevtp19
- Start date
johnnystorm
Active member
I've noticed that a fair number of the bikes in the classifieds here, and on eBay don't seem to have been checked against what they now cost new. Some very optimistic pricing!
For your example, the H30 is £3k here new. https://www.jejamescycles.com/produ...wT6PChxpnvg-Qe8otnntWF8C-325FK-RoCYscQAvD_BwE
Mountain bikes have never been a sound investment and ebikes only add more risks to a second hand purchase. With 0% finance paying a bit more for peace of mind is a no brainer for some wanting an easy life.
C2W is also a factor, when new bikes have at least 25% off you'll need to save a chunk more to make buying used worth it.
For your example, the H30 is £3k here new. https://www.jejamescycles.com/produ...wT6PChxpnvg-Qe8otnntWF8C-325FK-RoCYscQAvD_BwE
Mountain bikes have never been a sound investment and ebikes only add more risks to a second hand purchase. With 0% finance paying a bit more for peace of mind is a no brainer for some wanting an easy life.
C2W is also a factor, when new bikes have at least 25% off you'll need to save a chunk more to make buying used worth it.
- Thread starter
- #3
Crikey didn't know you could find brand new @ £3k. I must admit I would not buy a 2nd hand ebike. To have any chance of it lasting, you are trusting the previous owner has treated it / charged it / stored it correctly, not ridden through rivers etc... The warranty is golden on ebikes, without that it makes sense they are worth significantly less tbh. A new motor & battery will cost more than it is worth. As much as I love them, I will have to accept they are an expensive luxury item.
If I was hyperthetically to buy a 2nd hand ebike (>1 year old) I'd be factoring in the price of a new battery from the very beginning (assuming availability) and motor costs in the near to middle future.
Ebikes do not hold their value. It's probably best to buy something reliable as possible and ride it for years rather than selling after 2, unless you're blessed with bountiful financial resources.
Particularly at the moment, new bike prices are relatively low, especially on last year's model, meaning unless you set the price extremely low there's no incentive for potential buyers to risk 2nd hand instead of buying new.
Ebikes do not hold their value. It's probably best to buy something reliable as possible and ride it for years rather than selling after 2, unless you're blessed with bountiful financial resources.
Particularly at the moment, new bike prices are relatively low, especially on last year's model, meaning unless you set the price extremely low there's no incentive for potential buyers to risk 2nd hand instead of buying new.
Which says to me it's hardly been ridden so the battery has been lying around flat and will need replacing straight away, and it's never been taken in to a bikeshop for a service. The brakes will probably need bleeding, maybe some other minor maintenance is needed. It also hasn't been ridden enough to discover any problems, but now there's no warranty.
A very quick Google (not shopping around) shows this bike available brand new (I.e. with 2 year warranty) at 4000€, about £3600, as "end of line model".
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johnnystorm
Active member
My link up there is for a 2023 model for £3000/€3500!
A healthy quality battery will last for over 12 months before it would be anywhere near flat, so it wouldn’t need replacing.
Also, a new factory battery will still have its passivation layer from when it was manufactured, this doesn’t migrate away from the cathodes and anodes until it starts being used. It’s effectively dormant at its storage charge. Without that ability to sit and not be used, every battery would have to be made to order and that isn’t the case.
Going completely flat, left for a long period at 100% and of course cycles will kill/wear out a battery.
All this is for quality cells of course, I can’t say the same for a no name cheap cell manufactured goodness knows when or where.
Of all the things to worry about on an e-bike, the motor is number 1 on my list, and they usually need a workshop visit to setup properly even if you obtain a new one. At least a new battery can just be installed/connected and you’re up and running again.
Sold my Levo last spring, 3 years old, motor replaced previous autumn, ridden less than 4000km`s. The battery died soon after I have sold it. Never had single problems with battery. I dodge the bullet but sorry for the buyer 
Dirtstache
New Member
Yea I was kind of in the same boat with an Aventon Adventure I bought in '21. I've moved to a real eMTB and it was taking up garage space. After paying $2500 I would have been lucky to get $500 for it and that's after dealing with Marketplace Shenanigans so I ended up just giving it to my sister's family to ride around the neighborhood.
Pricing to sell I would add the cost of a new battery then compare to the price of new bikes and set expectations from there. Anyone buying 2nd hand should expect to need a new battery, however I do not recommend buying a new battery before selling to "sweeten the deal" as the buyer most likely won't believe you.
When selling motorcycles or anything else like that I also take the aftermarket stuff off and put the stock parts back on, buyers don't want to pay a penny extra for better parts even if it doubles the value of the bike and will often pay more for a "stock" bike assuming you didn't ride it as hard.
Pricing to sell I would add the cost of a new battery then compare to the price of new bikes and set expectations from there. Anyone buying 2nd hand should expect to need a new battery, however I do not recommend buying a new battery before selling to "sweeten the deal" as the buyer most likely won't believe you.
When selling motorcycles or anything else like that I also take the aftermarket stuff off and put the stock parts back on, buyers don't want to pay a penny extra for better parts even if it doubles the value of the bike and will often pay more for a "stock" bike assuming you didn't ride it as hard.
It is a gamble honestly, some brand only guarantee first buyer, seller usually sell it too high to be fair.
I you can have a new one for 6k low-medium tier vs the 2 year used one but high tier spec, I do not think people will ever buy your bike, make no sense. Better take the new, send it and upgrade along the way.
NB: this is real with Specialized and high end brand.
This also mean that people should grasp that buying an ebike 10k and hoping to sell it 2 years later at 6k will go void. Some people might buy it but unlikely. We are very very far from -20% per year, especially on ebike wear battery wear to death and motor can just die without reason.
Meaning you could buy a used bike and within a month having to pay to fix it and have literally nearly reach the price of a brand new one.
It is hard as hell to sell bike currently, market is just crashing more and more. Current price trend will not last.
I you can have a new one for 6k low-medium tier vs the 2 year used one but high tier spec, I do not think people will ever buy your bike, make no sense. Better take the new, send it and upgrade along the way.
NB: this is real with Specialized and high end brand.
This also mean that people should grasp that buying an ebike 10k and hoping to sell it 2 years later at 6k will go void. Some people might buy it but unlikely. We are very very far from -20% per year, especially on ebike wear battery wear to death and motor can just die without reason.
Meaning you could buy a used bike and within a month having to pay to fix it and have literally nearly reach the price of a brand new one.
It is hard as hell to sell bike currently, market is just crashing more and more. Current price trend will not last.
This ^^^
Buy a new bike, look after it but run it until it's worn out, strip the good bits off, buy a new bike and fit the good bits ... repeat
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