Second-hand downhill bike: what to check and how much to pay

A downhill bike lives a hard life: jumps, roots, rocks and whole days at the bike park. So if you are looking for a second-hand downhill bike, you can get a great deal or end up in a money pit. The difference lies in what you check before paying. Here is what to look at, part by part, and how much people are asking today for a used mountain bike on bicis.net.

The suspension: the first thing to look at

On a downhill bike the suspension is the most expensive part to maintain. If it is in bad shape, the price of the bike has to drop a lot.

The dual-crown fork

• Stanchions: clean them and look against the light. Any scratch you can feel with your fingernail will end up wrecking the seals and letting oil through.
• Seals: compress the fork several times and run a finger round the base of the stanchions. A ring of oil or stuck-on dirt means they need replacing.
• Play: pull the front brake and rock the bike back and forth. If you feel a dull knock, it could be the headset or the fork bushings.
• Crowns: check that they have no marks from hitting the frame and that the bolts are not stripped.

The shock

• Ask when it was last serviced and ask for the workshop receipt if there is one.
• Sit on the bike and compress the rear hard: it should go down and come back up smoothly, without noises, without leaking oil and without uncontrolled bouncing.
• Look at the shaft: like the stanchions, it should have no scratches or marks.

Linkages, bearings and frame

Linkages and bearings

Let the air out or remove the spring if they let you, or lift the rear wheel and move it from side to side. Any play in the swingarm is a worn bearing. Turn the linkages by hand: if you feel rough spots or they creak, they need changing. It is not a serious fault, but it means money and workshop time that you should take off the price.

The frame and knocks

• Wash the bike or ask to see it clean. Check in good light the underside of the down tube, the stays and the areas around the head tube and bottom bracket.
• On carbon, look for fine cracks in the paint and tap gently with a coin: a dull sound may mean a damaged area.
• On aluminium, look at the welds and check there are no dents.
• Ask for the serial number, which is usually under the bottom bracket, and the receipt. That way you know the bike belongs to the seller.

Wheels, brakes and drivetrain

Wheels and rims

Spin each wheel and look at the rim from the front and from the side: it should not wobble. Look for dents on the edge, especially on the rear, which takes the most punishment. Check the spoke tension by squeezing them in pairs and that the hubs have no play.

Four-piston brakes

• Squeeze the levers: the feel should be firm and they should not reach the grip.
• Check the thickness of the pads and that the rotors are not bent or blued by heat.
• Make sure there is no oil on the callipers or the hoses.

Drivetrain

Downhill bikes usually have a short-range drivetrain and a chain guide. Check the wear on the chain and the cassette, that the derailleur is not bent by a knock and that the guide and its bash guard are intact.

Size and wheel size

In downhill, size matters a lot for controlling the bike on fast descents. Ask for the exact size and, if you can, get on it somewhere with a bit of slope to see if you are comfortable standing on the pedals.

Look at the wheels too: there are bikes with two 27.5-inch wheels, with two 29s and with a mullet setup (29 at the front and 27.5 at the rear). Each one rides in its own way; choose the one you like and check that the wheels fitted are the right ones for that frame and that fork.

How much to pay for a used downhill bike

There are not enough downhill listings on bicis.net to give a median of their own, so the best reference is that of all mountain bikes. It is what sellers ask, not the final price.

Source: Ciclismo en cifras, 101 active mountain bike listings, data as of 4 November 2026.

A downhill bike with high-end, serviced suspension is usually at the top of that range. If the fork, shock and bearings are due a service, take it off the price. To fine-tune it for its brand, model and year, run it through the bike valuation tool, which is free.

You can see the ones for sale now in second-hand mountain bikes and go over the basics in the guide to buying a second-hand mountain bike.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a second-hand downhill bike cost?

There are not enough downhill listings for a median of their own. As a reference, a used mountain bike on bicis.net asks a median of €850 (101 listings, data as of 4 November 2026), and one in four asks more than €1,400.

What is the most important thing when checking a used downhill bike?

The suspension: stanchions without scratches, seals without oil, a shock without leaks and with its last service done. Then, linkages and bearings without play and a frame without cracks.

Is a downhill bike better with 29, 27.5 or mullet wheels?

It depends on how you ride down and on your size. What matters on a second-hand bike is that the wheels are the right ones for its frame and fork.

How do I know if the frame has a crack?

Wash the bike and look at it in good light, especially underneath and around the head tube and bottom bracket. On carbon, a dull sound when you tap it with a coin may mean a damaged area.