Guide
Find, buy and insure a used bike.
A used bike is often a bargain, but that doesn't make it cheap. Here you'll read where to look, what to check when you buy and what to do afterwards.
Updated September 2026
In short
Look where you can check
Marketplaces have the biggest choice, shops have bikes that have already been looked over.
Check the frame and brakes
Take a test ride, look at the frame, brakes and tyres and ask about the last service.
Get a proof of purchase
A purchase contract with the frame number protects you, and you'll need it for the insurance.
Used bikes can be insured
With Karl, your purchase price is the sum insured, with the same cover as for a new bike.
Where to look
Where to find good bikes.
willhaben
Austria's biggest marketplace for second-hand goods, with a huge choice of bikes.
Bikeflip
Refurbished e-bikes with a warranty.
buycycle
A marketplace for used road, gravel and mountain bikes.
Fahrradkeller
A used-bike shop in Vienna: selling, buying, trading and repairs.
IG Fahrrad
A bike shop in Vienna with a workshop and refurbished, road-legal used bikes.
Reanimated Bikes
Restores discarded bikes in Vienna's Neubau district and sells them ready to ride.
Cooperative Fahrrad
A bike shop and workshop in Vienna, with used bikes too.
WUK bike flea market
A regular bike flea market at the WUK in Vienna: buy and sell, straight from private sellers.
Your bike shop
Many shops take bikes in part exchange and sell them on once they've been looked over. Just ask.
When buying
What to check when you buy.
1.Take a test ride
Ride a few laps, uphill and downhill, and shift through all the gears. The bike has to suit you and the way you ride.
2.Check brakes, lights and tyres
Brakes and lights have to work. Cracked or worn tyres will need replacing soon, so factor them into the price.
3.Look closely at the frame
Look for cracks, dents and rust, especially at the welds, the head tube and the rear dropouts.
4.Ask about warranty and service
Some makers give a frame warranty that also applies to second owners. A service record shows how well the bike has been looked after.
5.Make a purchase contract
Write down names, addresses, frame number, price, date and condition, and both of you sign. You'll also need the contract for the insurance.
6.Compare the frame number
It's usually under the bottom bracket. Compare it with the previous owner's invoice. If it's missing or ground off, walk away.
Frame size
Which size fits?
A rule of thumb for city and trekking bikes. Road and mountain bikes are measured differently; if in doubt, the test ride decides.
| Your height | Frame in inches | Frame in cm |
|---|---|---|
| 150–160 cm | 16,5–19" | 42–48 cm |
| 160–170 cm | 19–20,5" | 48–52 cm |
| 170–175 cm | 20,5–21,5" | 52–55 cm |
| 175–180 cm | 21,5–22,5" | 55–57 cm |
| 180–185 cm | 22,5–23" | 57–60 cm |
| 185–190 cm | 23–24" | 60–62 cm |
| 190–195 cm | 24–25" | 62–64 cm |
By type
What to check for each bike.
City bike
City bikes are the most common used bikes and often the best bargains. Look for a frame without cracks, working hub gears (Shimano Nexus or Alfine last a long time) and working lights, ideally with a hub dynamo.
Typical used prices: €150–500.
Road bike
On a road bike, the frame and wheels matter most. Check the frame for hairline cracks, especially at the dropouts and the head tube. Carbon can have damage you can't see; if in doubt, let a workshop take a look.
Wear parts like the chain, cassette and brake pads are cheap to replace, so don't let them put you off. Typical used prices: €400–2,000.
Mountain bike
Mountain bikes have a hard life. Pay special attention to the suspension fork and shock: a service soon costs €150–300. Check the bearings at the headset, bottom bracket and rear triangle for play by wiggling the bike.
Full-suspension bikes need more care than hardtails. Typical used prices: €300–1,500.
E-bike
With a used e-bike, the battery decides. Ask about its age and charge cycles: after 500 to 1,000 cycles the capacity drops noticeably, and a new battery costs €400–800.
Check that the motor runs without error messages and the software is up to date. The original invoice shows age and origin; for Karl, your own purchase contract is enough. Typical used prices: €800–3,000.
After buying
Your bike is here. Now what?
Have it looked over
A service at a workshop finds what you missed when you bought it.
A workshop near youGet a good lock
A U-lock, folding lock or heavy chain. For Karl it must have cost at least €29, €45 or €69, depending on your bike's value.
Which lock suits youCheck lights and reflectors
Your bike always needs reflectors, and front and rear lights when it's dark or visibility is poor.
The rules for your bikeInsure it
What you paid is insured, with the same cover as for a new bike. Online in a few minutes.
How to insure a used bike
Insurance
Insured just as well.
What applies to your used bike
- Your purchase price is insured, not what it cost new back then.
- A purchase contract or an invoice is enough. You don't need the receipt from the first sale.
- The same cover as for a new bike: theft, crashes and vandalism, worldwide and with no excess.
- The years count from your purchase: up to 100% of the sum insured in the first year, up to 80% in the second, up to 70% from the third.
What to keep in mind
- Anything already broken before your cover starts isn't insured. That's why you confirm your bike's condition when you sign up.
- Lock your bike to a fixed object with a suitable lock. Cable and spiral locks don't count.
- Report a claim right away, within 72 hours of finding out at the latest.
Protect your bike
Bought second-hand? Then insure it right away.
What you paid is insured. Signed up online in a few minutes.