The difference between “refurbished”, “serviced” and “serviced”

Reading time approx. 8 min

If you don't have enough money for a new bike right now, which happens in the best families in times of inflation, you will think about a used bike. We are not talking about cheap bikes from the hardware store or mail order companies. These are often no longer usable after only a short period of use. In this article we are talking about bikes in the middle and upper price segment, i.e. new prices of more than 800 - 1000 euros.

What are the advantages of buying a used "better" bike? Why not buy a new bike for the same price? It's all about the individual parts that make up the bike. The components of high-quality bikes generally last longer than those of cheap bikes.

Example of a crank: These are the large front gears with the pedals. The difference between good and bad: With a bad crank, the chainrings are made of steel, punched out of sheet metal, and the individual chainrings are riveted together. These rings tear. And if a gear is worn out, the entire crank has to be replaced. The good crank is made of aluminum and is therefore lighter. The chainrings are also made of aluminum and can be replaced. This comparison can be continued for all parts of the bike.

A cheap crank, model FC-MT101 from Shimano. The chainrings are made of steel and riveted. Retail price: approx. 20 - 30 euros. Weight: 1040 grams. Doesn't last long. If a gear is worn out, the entire component has to be replaced. Not a sustainable solution. ( Image source: Shimano Germany)

The better crank, the Impact model from Stronglight. The whole thing is made of aluminum. The chainrings can be replaced individually. Compared to the cheap crank, it is 270 grams lighter. Retail price: approx. 100 to 150 euros. ( Image source: Stronglight France)

This does not mean that a more expensive bike will last forever. Here too, care and maintenance are necessary. So after a certain time, the wearing parts have to be replaced, which depends on the mileage, ie how much the bike has been ridden.

What are wearing parts?
These are the parts that wear out with use. First and foremost are the brake pads. When buying a used bike, you should make sure that they are new. This is the least that can be expected from the seller. If the brake pads have not been replaced, the first thing you should do is deduct at least 30 euros from the selling price.

Secondly, the tires, tubes and rims. Old tires have small cracks on the side. You can see them. These tires won't last much longer. This is also an indication of the condition of the tubes. They are probably just as old as the tires. If you see cracks, you can safely deduct 50 euros from the sales price for both wheels together.

Third is the drive train. This includes the chain, rear pinion, and front chainrings. On racing bikes, you can look at the individual teeth on the gears. If they are pointed or short, the gear is broken. Often the smallest gear at the back is worn out. You can tell because the chain jumps in the big gears or it makes a strange cracking noise. With hub gears, the problem is smaller. Here it is usually just the chain. Replacing the drive train on a racing bike costs at least 100 euros. So if the gears are not working properly, you should not think that it is just a matter of adjustment. The individual parts may be at the point of wear. Here is an overview of the terms. What is what?

Review
The lowest level of repair is "checked". What is done here? The seller examines the bike, adjusts the gears and brakes, pumps up the tires and, with a bit of luck, he also cleans it. As a rule, no parts are replaced here, but existing parts are adjusted. The bike is safe to use afterwards, but: tires and tubes are old. The brakes may be close to the wear limit. The gears work, but the chain may be worn out. In summary: the bike just about works. The costs for the private seller? Just the labor. For a commercial dealer, there is an additional labor charge of around 40 euros.

Repair
The boundaries of inspection are fluid. However, in the case of repairs, it is assumed that worn parts may be replaced. That would be the tires and tubes. The chain. Perhaps the handlebar grips or handlebar tape. The brake rubbers or brake pads. A rusty brake cable. What are the costs for the seller? Private sellers invest 100 euros for the parts, and the repair shop adds 50 euros for labor, making a total of 150 euros.

Refurbished
The highest level of repair - for newer bikes. The product is restored to almost new condition. Of course there are still scratches in the paint, but the wearing parts have been replaced. The term "refurbished" is only used for very new items, ie products that are no older than 2-3 years. In the bicycle sector, these are usually leased returns or almost new rental bikes.

A concrete example from rebike.com. An electric gravel bike that costs 2200 euros refurbished. The new price was 3000 euros. It is stated there that the following parts were replaced: chain, pedals, cassette, charger, handlebars, disc brakes. The calculated costs including labor are around 600 - 700 euros. The mileage of the bikes sold is low.

An electric bike from Ridley (Belgian manufacturer), offered by rebike.com. Approximately 1 year old, refurbished, only driven 100 km according to the information. New price 4300 euros, now for 2700 euros. Saved: 1600 euros. Disadvantages? None apparent. ( Image source: Rebike.com)

Restored
If the bike is older than perhaps 5 years, the term "refurbished" is rather misleading, as it is assumed that the bike is newer. In this case, one would say that the bike has been "restored to new condition". If it is older than around 20 years, one could speak of a restoration. However, there are different schools of thought here. One faction speaks of restored if the device looks as if it has just come out of the shop. The other faction insists that an original visual impression (with signs of wear) is retained and only the technology is restored to a usable and reliable condition.

How much does this cost? An example: A 30-year-old Scott MTB. The condition before restoration: The wheels: Broken. The drive train too. All the cables are gone. The pedals are barely there. Tires and tubes? Let's not talk about that. The restoration cost 500 euros. This does not include the purchase price of the original wreck. If you want the bike - perhaps because you had one at the time - you have to expect to pay at least 600 euros. But the bike is as good as new, minus the scratches on the paint. This price is a dealer's price. If you buy it privately, you cannot assume that such extensive work has been done. It will then cost less than half, but is usually scrap.

A restored Scott MTB from 1990. In new condition. The cost for parts and labor: 500 euros. ( Image source: Preussler)

Conclusion
If you are a layman, it is safest to buy from a dealer with a workshop or a service guarantee. They know what they are talking about and also give a guarantee on the bike, which is usually not the case with private purchases despite legal requirements. Talk to the seller and ask what has been done to the bike. Buy mainstream, and nothing super special. Mainstream means security in maintenance and security in case you want to sell it again. And: trust your gut feeling.

(Christoph Preussler)