What to look for in a used foldable exercise bike

Buying any second-hand equipment is like gambling. So, it helps to know what to look for before making the important decision of parting with your hard-earned cash. This article offers a guide as to what to look for when buying a second-hand folding exercise bike.

Choosing a brand

The first and most important thing to keep in mind when purchasing used exercise bikes is the brand. Always buy a trusted and reputable brand such as York, Body Sculpture and Ketler. These are all used in gyms and have a highly proven success rate in terms of reliability and high quality throughout their products. Research on the more expensive models and go for one of them. Something that was expensive a few years ago will be in better mechanical condition than a cheap exercise bike. Even if it has had years of use, it will still stand up for many years than a cheaper alternative. Look at the exercise bikes' reviews before purchasing it. Many bikes are available on sites like Exercise-bike-review.co.uk which offer important information about the performance of many bikes, as well as the benefits of the particular model.

Mechanical faults and extras

The most common fault in bike exercise equipment is resistance failing. This is only a problem in the newer bikes that use electromagnetic parts. If the bike does not need plugging in, then this should be of no concern. However, if it does need a power supply, always check every level of resistance as it should get harder to pedal with every change. If there is no notable difference, then the bike is about to break or has already broken. Foldable bikes always come with some form of clips or knobs to allow easy folding and assembly. Always check these for damage, as it is unsafe to use folding exercise bikes with damaged fittings. Many bikes come with a calorie counter or resistance display. Sometimes, these are run on batteries. During other times, they are run by the energy created by the user. In either case, check the accuracy of these and whether they actually work. With the folding and storage process, many
time-wires become trapped or knocked, deeming the computer useless and needing repair. If possible, ask for the bike's original manual. This will indicate any missing parts and also give the new owner a better idea of how to operate the machine. Some manufacturers offer a guarantee on the bike. So, having the paper work will be an advantage if it should ever develop a fault.