While it’s true that buying a used bicycle for your child may be a great economical choice, it may not be the right one for safety reasons. Simply put, you really don’t know the condition of a used kid's bike, even after it has been looked over. Like any other vehicle, things such as frame damage or wear and tear on the gearing may lead to early retirement for the bike, or worse yet, injury to your child.
In most cases, buying a new kid's bike, or one that is still under warranty is a better option if you can afford it.
But if you do choose to buy a used bike for your child, be sure to have it inspected by a reputable professional bike shop or bike repairer prior to making the purchase. These places and people see bikes from all rides of life and can often spot potential problems before they become big disasters. Yes, it might cost you a little bit of money for the inspection, say twenty to fifty dollars, but it can be well worth the investment considering the cost of the bike overall.