Are 2nd hand ebikes pretty much worthless?!

[steve_sordy]

Just sold my 4-year old Santa Cruz Bullit X01 AXS RSV for €4500. I originally paid €10400 for it, so it depreciated €1475 per year. Based on this I would say it costs next to nothing to ride a high-end ebike - atleast if you buy a desirable brand.

Don't forget the cost of the €10400. Even if you paid cash, the cash could have been earning interest somewhere, let's say 5%
€10400 x 5% =€520/year

A loan would cost double or treble that.

I prefer to think of the bike as written off the day I buy it. Anything I get back after years of use is a bonus. The last thing I want to do is to work out how much it is costing me for my pastime.

 

[irie]

Don't forget the cost of the €10400. Even if you paid cash, the cash could have been earning interest somewhere, let's say 5%
€10400 x 5% =€520/year

A loan would cost double or treble that.

I prefer to think of the bike as written off the day I buy it. Anything I get back after years of use is a bonus. The last thing I want to do is to work out how much it is costing me for my pastime.

€10,400 compounded at 5% over 4 years is about €12,640

 

[Weeksy]

Lol I spend more on fuel per year that the depreciation of my bikes

 

[Stihldog]

Thank gawd I’ve never been accused of making rational decisions …otherwise I’d have the burden of owning 6-10 different homes at the same time. (Whew …dodged a bullet there )

Imagine all the fun I might have missed out on, but my time left on this planet has helped change my priorities.

 

[B1rdie]

If i intended to put it to numbers, it would be the ratio of (money)/(time) spent on the bike that would matter.
The first parameter will always be never spend more than $ 5,000 on a bycicle, only spend more on upgrades when I am sure they will improve the joy of riding. Over the years I have spent much more on travelling with the bikes than on the gear.

 

[Tooks]

Once discounted cash flow analysis becomes the key element of a bike purchase decision, I’m out!

 

[steve_sordy]

......................., only spend more on upgrades when I am sure they will improve the joy of riding. ......................

100% agree with that.
I always have a reason why I spend money on "upgrades".
It is never a casual thing, or fashion come to that matter.
But I confess that I never thought of "joy" as one of my decision criteria.

 

[blisteringblue]

I notice ebay have stopped private 2nd hand ebike sales which is interesting, you can still list in the normal cycle section for now though. I've bought a 4 year old e-ST900 for £750 (from ebay but we managed to get off platform for an in person deal), it had done 98 miles so literally new, battery good for 5 hours (tested) and still life in it. Worth a punt at that price (got £350 back selling my chinese drop ship monstrosity ), and more than doubled the mileage in 6 weeks. Stock tyres aren't great so that's about the only thing I need to replace. I know I want full suspension now but this will do me for 2025.

Just bought the wife the womens version brand new as its £800 off currently.