The difference between refurbished and pre-owned

You may have already noticed that we often use the word "refurbished" when talking about the used bikes you'll find in our Wheel Savers stores. And maybe you've also wondered why we don't just say used.

Refurbished, isn't that just the exact same thing as used, but a little hipper?

Well, no!

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Secondhand

Of course, a refurbished bike is second-hand to begin with, but it doesn't end there. When you buy a used bike somewhere online or in real life, that's also what you get: a bike that has already belonged to someone else. The bike will certainly still be able to ride, but you have no idea what happened to it, and whether it has been properly maintained. After all, you are buying the bike in the condition it is in. Often there are parts to the bike that will actually need replacing soon due to long term use. It is even possible that the bike has been hit before, causing damage to the bike frame that is no longer reliable. Only a very practiced eye sees this immediately on a bicycle. So there is a real chance that you yourself will have to incur additional costs on the bike shortly after the purchase to have parts replaced.

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Don't get us wrong: adopting a used bike is always a good idea! You'll help reduce waste and it's good for your fitness, footprint and wallet!

Refurbished

But you can also opt for a refurbished used bicycle. In short, the difference with a regular used bike is that you will largely avoid the additional costs afterwards and you can be sure of the reliability of your bike.

This is because when orphaned bikes arrive at our bike workshop, we not only check to see if the bike is still running. We also look at the condition of the parts, paying special attention to those that are very prone to wear and tear. The tires are carefully checked, the bike chain, the brakes, the saddle, the headset, the gears.... When the tires no longer have enough relief, the chain is too old, the brakes are worn down, or any other defect that could be a problem in the future, we replace this part. So often the bikes in our stores are fitted with completely new outer tubes, brakes, bike chains and saddles. The frame of the bicycle is also critically examined. If we suspect that the bicycle has had an accident, we reject the frame. We then try to recycle the good parts to refurbish other bicycles.

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So, you can rest assured that your refurbished bike is completely fine and reliable. What's more, you also get a one-year warranty* on your bike. So if a hidden defect does crop up within the year, we'll be happy to fix it for you!

Our offer

Be sure to already take a look at the refurbished bikes here on our website. About every fourteen days we add new bikes to our offerings. You will also see bikes that are not yet on display in the store. If you are interested in a bike, it is best to give us a call in advance. We will then be happy to pick it up from our warehouse and reserve it for you.

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*The warranty applies to hidden defects, not to damage that occurs due to your use of the bike, such as flat tires.

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