Black Friday bikes: before buying new, check second-hand and sell yours

You search for «black friday bikes» and it's all red price tags. It might work out well, but you could also end up with a bike that isn't your size, that you didn't need or that costs more than an almost identical used one. Before you hit the buy button, stop for five minutes: check what people are asking for used bikes and what yours is worth.

That's what this guide is about: how to buy without rushing, when a second-hand bike beats a discount and how to sell the one you already have so it pays for part of the next.

Before Black Friday: three questions so you don't buy in a hurry

Deals push you with countdowns and «last units». You're in no hurry: a bike is for years. Answer these before you look at prices.

What are you going to do with it?

Commuting, weekend rides on tracks, climbing mountain passes or riding with your club's group all call for different bikes. If you're torn between mountain and gravel, or between road and e-bike, decide on the use first and then look for a price. A good deal on the wrong bike is still a bad buy.

What's your size?

It's what goes wrong most often when people buy in a hurry. Measure your height and inseam and compare them with the manufacturer's chart before you buy. In the bike size guide you'll find how to measure yourself step by step. If you fall between two sizes, don't buy blind: try it or ask at a shop near you.

How much do the extras cost?

Pedals, helmet, lights, tool bag, the first adjustment at the workshop. Add it all up before comparing. A discounted new bike without pedals may end up closer than it seems to a used one that comes fully equipped.

When a used bike beats a discount

A bike loses a good chunk of its value as soon as it leaves the shop. That's why a lightly used bike usually asks quite a bit less than the same bike new, even on sale. These are the prices being asked today in the bicis.net second-hand section:

Data as of 4 November 2026, based on 222 active «For sale» listings on bicis.net. This is what sellers ask, not the final price, and only categories with 8 or more listings are counted. Source: bicis.net, «Ciclismo en cifras: España y Andorra».

The used bike usually wins when:

• You're after a mid or high-end model. The price drop shows most in carbon frames, good groupsets and quality suspension.
• You're starting out in a discipline. If you're not sure whether gravel or mountain biking will hook you, a used bike lets you try without risking as much. And if it doesn't win you over, you sell it again.
• You want an e-bike for getting around town or easy rides. Check the battery (charge cycles, real range) and you'll get the same assistance for less.

The new bike usually wins when you want a long warranty without worrying, when the size you need hardly ever comes up second-hand or when the discount is genuine on a model you'd already chosen before Black Friday.

What to check if you go for a used one

A good second-hand buy is made calmly and with the bike in front of you. The basics:

• Frame: cracks, dents and chipped paint on the stays, the head tube and the welds.
• Drivetrain: wear on the chain, cassette and chainrings. If all three need replacing, take it off the price.
• Brakes and wheels: pads, rotors and wheels that spin true with no play in the hubs.
• Suspension: oil leaks, play and when it was last serviced.
• Paperwork: an invoice or something that proves it's theirs, and the frame serial number.

To go deeper, there's the guide to buying a second-hand mountain bike and the one on the used gravel bike, with what to check on each part. And if you already know what you're after, take a look at the second-hand mountain bikes for sale.

Sell yours before you buy

If you're changing bikes, the best Black Friday deal may be the one already in your garage. Selling it first gives you money for the next one and frees up space.

Know what it's worth

Start with the bike valuation tool: tell it the brand, model, year and condition, and it gives you a price range in a minute, for free. Then compare with the medians in the table for your category. If you're asking much more than the median, explain why in the listing (upgraded components, little use, recent service).

A listing that sells

• Photos in daylight: the whole bike side-on, the drivetrain, the brakes, the wheels and any knocks. Whatever you don't show, the buyer assumes is bad.
• Clear details: brand, model, year, size and what you've changed on it.
• A price with a small margin: buyers in these weeks compare a lot.

In the «Second-hand» section of bicis.net, posting your listing is free, and anyone searching in your area sees it on the map.

When to list it

Sooner rather than later. In the Black Friday weeks lots of people compare new with used, and your listing will already be there when they search. If you wait until January, you'll be competing with all the bikes others swapped at Christmas.

Frequently asked questions

Is it worth buying a bike on Black Friday?

Yes, if you'd already chosen the model and size and the discount is real. If not, compare with second-hand first: on bicis.net a used mountain bike has a median asking price of €850 (101 listings, data as of 4 November 2026).

How much does a second-hand road bike cost?

On bicis.net, the median asking price for a used road bike is €1,100, and half of the listings ask between €665 and €2,825 (43 listings, data as of 4 November 2026).

And a used e-bike?

The median asking price is €2,160, with half of the listings between €1,500 and €2,975 (47 listings, data as of 4 November 2026). Always check the battery before you buy.

How do I know what my bike is worth to sell it?

Use the bicis.net bike valuation tool, which is free, and compare the result with the median for your category. Adjust for condition and anything you've changed on it.