Read This Before Buying Used Bicycle Wheelsets

Buying second-hand or used bicycle wheels may seem like a really good option for anyone trying to upgrade their metal steed on a budget, but is it?

There are bargains to be had out there on eBay and the like. But before you start crawling the Interbike for used bicycle wheelsets, make sure you know what to look for before you hand over your credit card details. As many articles on the Interbike will tell you, including mine, buying a new wheelset for your bike is one the smartest moves you can make.

As I’ve said before, buying a brand-new bike that costs roughly the same or a little bit more than your current steed probably isn’t going to help you go any faster. All you are essentially doing, within reason, is just buying the same class of metal steed again.

So, if you want to go faster for longer, climb hills quicker, be more comfortable, and have more control over the bike between your legs, it is time for a wheel upgrade.

Has Your Budget Increased?

Unless of course, your budget has doubled since your bought your last bike. I mean obviously, if you’re buying a new bike, and are looking to spend two or three times what the last one cost, then that will probably make a huge difference. Of course it will, it stands to reason.

But not everyone has that kind of spare money just kicking about to make that sort of upgrade. I surely don’t. Even if I did, I don’t know if I could justify that kind of purchase or expense. Buying a new front or rear wheel though, for a multitude of reasons is one thing you will probably not regret.

If you are thinking about buying used bicycle wheelsets then the best advice I can give you is to be really aware of what you’re doing and be super aware of what you are buying. And I mean that again, most seriously.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t buy second-hand wheels for your bike, especially if you are on a budget, as I permanently seem to be living the life of a professional writer; every $ count, trust me.

Familiar Sellers Make It Easier

It’s easier to get your money back if you know the seller, or know where they live. I mean, I might happily buy a used bicycle wheelset from a friend or family member, or someone I actually knew. I would, however, based on my own experiences, urge you to really do your research before you buy from someplace like Craigslist, or eBay.

I’d also especially be suspect if the seller said they were a millionaire Nigerian prince with liquidity problems. If I thought he was legit, then maybe. It would depend on how much money I had going spare.

Used Wheelset On Ebay?

You are probably wondering But I’ve seen a used bicycle wheelset on Ebay that looks really good and legit, and the seller doesn’t want me to post nudes first. What should I do?

I’m not saying there aren’t bargains to be had, of course, there are, but forewarned is forearmed, as the old adage goes.

You Can Get Incredible bargains

I once got my hands on a cracking set of second-hand 26” mountain bike wheels for my old Kona Shred. They were awesome. They were light and super strong, and I got them for the equivalent of $50. I was also lucky. I was young, and I didn’t really know what I was doing.

I originally only bought them off eBay because the rim color was red. It was only several months later I discovered that brand new, the things retailed for close to $500. It was the steal of my life and quite possibly the century.

Poor Purchase

But you can also be totally screwed buying used bicycle wheelsets as well. On the flip side, I also once bought a used wheelset from a European equivalent of CraigsList. They cost me around $300 and ended up being heavier than the wheels my Boardman bike came with as standard.

There were also some quite serious dents and scratches on the rims that the seller had uniquely managed to hide in the pictures he’d posted. Also, no matter what I did the wheel wobbled and rubbed against the brakes.

Did I get a refund? No, I did not. And if ever find them again, boy, am I going to be giving him/her a good talking to, the severity depending on how much smaller/larger they are than me. What I am saying in a really roundabout way is this:

A Hit-And-Miss

Buying used wheelsets is always going to be a bit hit-and-miss. I’m not trying to dissuade you, (see wheels for the Shred, above,) but at the same time what I am saying you need to know what to look for and what to check for before you do. (See wheels for the Boardman, also above)

So with that said….here’s the rough guide you originally clicked on the link to read.

Buying Used Bicycle Wheelset

Secondly, while most people in the road and mountain bike world tend to be better, more intelligent, and nicer people, say, everyone else in the world, they are still trying to sell their used products. Therefore you have to take whatever they say about the wheels with a pinch of salt. I’m currently on a no-salt diet, so I’m using broccoli.

The chances are as well, that the seller isn’t going to reveal all the unpleasant experiences the wheels have gone through whilst in their possession. Yes, buying a set of wheels from some guy who claims they’ve been using them to race on for the last two seasons and that they are really fast and light wheels could very well be true.

What they might be omitting is the fact that they have seen thousands of miles of road surface and been ridden at their limits for two whole years. It’s just something to think about.

And with the above in mind, always check the age of the wheels before you buy. If the seller isn’t sure, then maybe consider not buying them. Most rims will be made of aluminum. This is a metal that while strong, is also light.

In general, terms, try not to buy wheels that are more than a few years old. Under light or normal use, a general truism in the biking world is that a maximum of five years of use should be allowed for aluminum parts under stress. If the wheels have been used for racing, that acceptable lifetime shortens to around two years. (see the point above this point.)

One of the forgiving aspects of aluminum wheels is the fact they can take some pretty hard blows and keep on going. This is especially true of cheaper wheels. Yes, they are not as light as say a pair of $500 rims, but they tend to be able to soak up a bit more abuse.

That said as well though, it’s hard to hide damage to aluminum wheelsets, unlike carbon rims, so any damage should be visible to the naked eye. If at all possible, insist on seeing high-quality pictures of the front and rear wheels. If buying in person, try running your fingers along the rim to feel for variations in the surface. They should be smooth.

Secondly, while most people in the road and mountain bike world tend to be better, more intelligent, and nicer people, say, everyone else in the world, they are still trying to sell their used products. Therefore you have to take whatever they say about the wheels with a pinch of salt. I’m currently on a no-salt diet, so I’m using broccoli.

The chances are as well, that the seller isn’t going to reveal all the unpleasant experiences the wheels have gone through whilst in their possession. Yes, buying a set of wheels from some guy who claims they’ve been using them to race on for the last two seasons and that they are really fast and light wheels could very well be true. What they might be omitting is the fact that they have seen thousands of miles of road surface and been ridden at their limits for two whole years. It’s just something to think about.

And with the above in mind, always check the age of the wheels before you buy. If the seller isn’t sure, then maybe consider not buying them. Most rims will be made of aluminum. This is a metal that while strong, is also light.

In general, terms, try not to buy wheels that are more than a few years old. Under light or normal use, a general truism in the biking world is that a maximum of five years of use should be allowed for aluminum parts under stress. If the wheels have been used for racing, that acceptable lifetime shortens to around two years. (see the point above this point.)

One of the forgiving aspects of aluminum wheels is the fact they can take some pretty hard blows and keep on going. This is especially true of cheaper wheels. Yes, they are not as light as say a pair of $500 rims, but they tend to be able to soak up a bit more abuse.

That said as well though, it’s hard to hide damage to aluminum wheelsets, unlike carbon rims, so any damage should be visible to the naked eye. If at all possible, insist on seeing high-quality pictures of the front and rear wheels. If buying in person, try running your fingers along the rim to feel for variations in the surface. They should be smooth.

Tips To Help Select The Perfect Used Wheels

Here are a few things to keep in mind when you are going to buy a used wheelset. These tips will help you select the best that you can get.

Check The Rims For Damage

Do check the rims for damage caused by the brakes. A brake type can cause damage to the rims. Running on a rougher braking surface can cause brake shoes to wear out, the resultant damage may have cut grooves into the rims, and that doesn’t say much for the care and attention of the current owner. This leads directly to the next point

Make Sure The Wheels Are True

Do Make sure that the wheels are true: This is so important. (see the wobbly wheel, above). Essentially, this means that the wheel spins without wobbling or vibrating. Buying in person, it’s quite easy to check if a wheel is true and rotates smoothly.

Get down on your knees, get close (relatively) to the wheel and roughly gauge the distance between the brake shoe and the rim and then slowly spin the wheel.

You should be able to spot any issues within a few turns and look like a pro while doing it. Of course, buying online means it will be harder to check for this, and for the next point as well.

Check The Inside Edge

Ask to see the inside edge of the wheels in detail, without the tires. It’s much easier to see if there’s damage or rust inside the wheel cavity. (This was a new one for me, but it makes a lot of sense.)

Steer Clear Of The Rubber

Do remember it’s not the tire you are buying, it’s the rims, the actual wheels themselves. Don’t allow yourself to wonder at the fact the sellers have mounted some expensive rubber around them.

No amount of rubber can protect you from bad wheels. Remember it’s not the rubber tires or the inner tube you are inspecting, it’s the metal bits.

Look For Evidence

Do look for evidence of rust around the spoke holes. Check the spokes are tight, and don’t look like they’ve been straightened with a pair of pliers.

Busted and damaged spokes can affect the strength and integrity of the wheel. Again, easier to do if you are physically there. 

Beware Of The Grainy Pictures

Don’t buy used wheels based on grainy pictures from the likes of Craiglist or eBay, or if they are stock pictures scraped from another website. You just don’t know what you’re getting.

This is your money, after all, so the least the seller could do is upload several high-quality depth pictures.

Same Wheel Size

Do make sure the wheelset is actually the same size as your current wheels. Yes, most road bike wheels are in the main, all the same size, but it’s a good idea to double-check before you buy.

Also, if you can, check to see that the free hub works properly too. Simply holding the wheel in your hands and spinning them will tell you if they are in good condition or not.

Cassette Eligibility

Do check as well that your bike will accept the cassette you are planning to use or already have on your bike. Shimano for instance has a different setup from other companies.

Google It

Do check that the new used wheelset you are buying is actually worth it. Google them to see that you are not being short-changed. Lots of riders have perfectly valid reasons for selling.

But then you want to be sure that you are not replacing your rims with something that is literally the exact same. If you can weigh your own wheelset do so. Are the wheels you are thinking about buying heavier? If so, do you really want to ‘upgrade’ to them?

Be Wary Of Bargains

Finally, if nothing else, do be very wary of ‘bargains,’ or deals that seem too good to be true. This is as true for used bicycle wheelsets as it is for laptops, as it is for cars, as it is for well, pretty much anything. If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is; that is with the exception of that awesome set of 26” wheels I got for my Shred that time. That one time.

Read A Review

And finally, finally, why not find and read a review of the wheel before buying the bike? There have been some terrible wheels released over the years, and many more that have been and are for all intents and purposes, decidedly average.

Just Buy New Wheels Instead?

I don’t have much to add. Except for this:

Before you consider buying used, consider buying new quality wheels instead. For one thing, you will absolutely know what you’re purchasing, and for another, you have options if the wheels have defects or fall apart after one ride. Not that they will. But if they were to, you have statutory rights, etc.

Another thing about wheel upgrades is that might be surprised just how affordable a really decent set of rims can be. Yes, you may end up paying a bit more, but they will be brand new and shiny. And to be honest, I’d rather spend another $50-100 on a model or grade below that being sold second hand, if it meant getting some still shrink-wrapped rims. It’s something to think about.

So, in conclusion, all I am really saying is that before buying a used bicycle wheelset, make sure you’ve done your research. That advice stands for new wheelsets as well. But if you have the choice, buy new if you can. It just so happens, that Icebike.org have a full and wide range of quality wheels not just for road bikes, but mountain bikes as well, and our prices are really competitive.

Related: How To Install New Bike Tires? Tips and Tricks

Recap

And that’s me done, I’m out of here. It’s Friday night and somewhat ironically I have to go research running shoes so I can make an informed choice about what ones I’m going to buy. Like an idiot, I signed up for a triathlon earlier in the year, and now I have to start training. So there goes the rest of my night. OK, hope whatever and wherever you are when you read this, you are doing OK.

We’d also appreciate any help or tips you’ve found yourself over the years. What success or horror stories can you share? Have you ever bought used bicycle wheelsets online before and ended up with an absolute belter of a bargain as I did? Or did you ever buy a set that was not as stated as I also did? Feel free to tell me in the comments section below.

Also Read

• How To Install Hybrid Tires On A Mountain Bike: Can You Actually Use Them?
• Tubeless Bike Tires — Are They Worth The Change?
• How to Choose the Best Road Bike Tires and Rims
• Why Do Bike Tires Keep Losing Air? Everything You Need To Know About Pressure Loss