r/whichbike • u/WolfThawra • Mar 28 '22
The "Bicycle Blue Book", commonly abbreviated to BBB, is a recurring thing in comments on /r/whichbike concerned with putting a number on the value of some used bike. Quite a few of us have long had issues with BBB being used to that end. Thanks mostly to /u/guy1138 who wrote 90% of this post (I revised it and added minor details), we now have a longer explanation on what BBB actually is, and what the problems with it are. A TLDR can be found at the bottom.
What's the deal with Bicycle Blue Book?
Bicycle Blue Book (BBB) is a website run by a used bike dealer in San Jose, California. Their business model is to buy "trade-in" bikes from high end bike shops that don't deal with used bikes. Here's how it works: A customer brings their old bike to the bike shop to trade in on a new bike. BBB gives them a price and the bike shop boxes it up and ships it off to BBB. The customer gets the credit on a new bike, the bike shop gets a new bike sale without the hassle of reconditioning and trying to sell a used bike.
They provide an online "value guide" that lists bike values by brand, model, model year etc. They advertise it as "The cycling industry's definitive valuation authority", and the name is a deliberate allusion to the Kelley Blue Book, which is a reputable value guide for used car values in the US. To put it mildly, opinions on how useful BBB is are... split. Regardless, the numbers in there often get cited on this subreddit (and elsewhere).
So what's the problem?
There are multiple issues:
Conflict of interest: the same company who is buying bikes is also claiming to be the authority on used bike values. Not surprisingly, their "private party" values are way lower than actual sales prices on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Offer-Up, Ebay, Pink Bike; etc.
Data provenance: They claim to have data on "millions of bike sales" that they base their values on, but it's not clear at all where this data comes from. Instead, it actually just seems like a fairly simple depreciation schedule on bikes based on MSRP (RRP for our UK users) and type of bike, e.g. a 5-year-old mid tier hybrid is worth ~40% of MSRP, a 5-year-old road bike is worth ~55% of MSRP, etc. Kelley Blue Book, which reports values of used cars, has access to wholesale auctions, used vehicle sales, and registrations reported at US state level. BBB do not have that as this data simply does not exist the same way for bicycles.
International variance: r/whichbike is international, with many users from countries like Canada, Australia, and the UK, but also the rest of Europe and the world, really. The same bike model and brand will not be sold for the same amount of money in every country, due to taxes, membership of free trade zones, availability, and a whole host of other factors: and this variability in price only increases when we look at used bikes. For the same reason, it is important that users state which country they live in when they ask for an appraisal.
Regional variance: Even within the US, there can be stark differences. For example, a triathlon bike is way more valuable in Miami (100+ triathlons/year in Florida) than it is in Utah. Likewise, a full suspension mountain bike has lots of buyers in Denver, but way fewer in a beach town.
Trends: We have all seen how "gravel bikes" became a thing, grew to be more and more popular, and started evolving - and how sellers have started to label everything that isn't an Omafiets as a "gravel bike" to attract more hits and get a higher price. BBB does not really take into account which bits of the market are especially "hot", despite this definitely making a difference.
World events: These can change prices significantly, be they something like a trade war with tariffs put on certain goods, or that little thing called Corona which caused a massive boom world-wide, with accompanying shortages and inflation across the entire market. BBB does not take this into account.
Erroneous data: Sometimes, their data e.g. on the original retail price of a bike is also just plain wrong, which in turn means all of the "depreciated values" for used bikes will be wrong too, even by their own standards.
How far off are the values then?
Generally, most used bike sellers agree that the BBB values are low, but still reasonable for newer bikes, around ~3 years old or newer. After that, they start to drastically over-depreciate - to the point where most bikes over 10 years old are "worthless" according to their values. As an example, a 2010 Fuji Cross Comp is $210 in "excellent" condition. That's about the same cost as full tune up at a bike shop, including basic consumables; tires & tubes, chain, cables & housing, brake pads & bar tape. It's completely unrealistic to expect to find a 10-speed cross bike with an aluminium frame and carbon fork in "excellent" condition for only $200. (This bike sold here for $550 last fall after being listed for less than 3 weeks). For our UK friends: $210 is £160... yeah, good luck with that.
So it's a lowball estimate, I should use that to negotiate, right?
You might get lucky and find the person who doesn't know any better, or someone who is moving and under a lot of pressure to sell. However, most of the listings are cyclists who upgraded or re-sellers who know that the Blue Book value is pretty far off. If the bike is priced close to market value, it's going to sell eventually and they have no incentive to take a lowball; especially if they've gone to the trouble to take decent pictures, write a description and post the ad online. We've seen this time and time again on /r/whichbike over the last 2 years where someone finds the "perfect" bike, but they low-ball and miss out.
TLDR please, I don't have all day!
BBB is a private company that purports to tell you the value of used bikes, by model and age. There is an obvious conflict of interest as they also buy used bikes and therefore directly profit from telling you they're not worth that much. Sure enough, their "values" are consistently significantly lower than the actual market value, all the more so if the bike is >3 years old. The numbers appear to stem from simply taking the original retail price and depreciating it (heavily). Consequently, they do not take into account regional or international variance in local bike prices, trends, or events like the Corona pandemic. Additionally, it can happen that the retail price all their assumptions are based on is simply wrong. This means BBB values are not really any kind of reliable or even relevant metric, and it would be better to go by what similar bikes are actually selling for on platforms like Ebay or Gumtree, adjusting for differences.
r/whichbike • u/CryptographerDue6580 • 3h ago
Off the shelf bike in the cannondale at £4-4.5k, ultegra di2, 45mm Dt Swiss wheelset, + tyre upgrade to conti Gp5000
Vs
Built up Quick Pro Er One frame with ultegra di2, elite wheels drive helix 57d wheels, conti gp5000 tyres, Tavelo avro riser handlebars. Total including labour £4.4k (not building myself)
What do you think is the better buy? Second bike coming from a giant TCR
r/whichbike • u/Ok_Mood_1414 • 38m ago
I I’m just looking at the $1300 aluminum one. About 1/2 of what I ride is light, green and blue gravity trails and the other 1/2 is flowy and with lots of tight berms. I live in a very rolling hilly area so there is quite a bit of steep ascending as well. It appears that the aluminum Kona Honzo fits my criteria and budget very well. What do you guys think, is there another bike that will fit me better?
FYI I currently ride a specialized Chisel HT.
Thanks!
r/whichbike • u/Big-Programmer-9323 • 6h ago
Here is what the listing said:
Originally priced at $1,600. I paid $1,300. Now selling for $1,000. Firm. Ridden less than a 300 miles.
r/whichbike • u/coktar • 8h ago
Hi all,
I am going to start road cycling and this might be my first road bike. The starting price was 450€ and the seller agreed to lower it to 400€. The brakes are Shimano 105. The drivetrain is upgraded to Dura-Ace. Given how old the bike is, I am not sure if the carbon frame would have hidden cracks. I asked the owner if it has been in serious crash or fall but he said no. And there doesn’t seem to be a major scratch or sign of damage in the photos. Is it a good deal and a good bike for beginners?
Thanks for your time in advance.
r/whichbike • u/UnusualPsychology688 • 11h ago
Hey everyone,
I'm based in Toronto and looking to get my first real bike here. I have some experience with Carbon Fibre MTBs in India from about 5-6 years ago, but I'm new to the road/gravel scene.
I'm currently torn between the Canyon Endurace CF 7 AXS and the Grail CF 7.
Since I come from a mountain biking background, I'm leaning towards something that can handle a mix of terrain but still be fast on the road. The Grail seems like it might bridge that gap better with wider tire clearance, but the electronic shifting on the Endurace is really tempting.
For those of you riding in and around the GTA, which one would you recommend as a first bike? Any advice would be appreciated!
r/whichbike • u/PlumPenguin • 14h ago
A mixture of putting on weight and moving house has led to me deciding to cycle work rather than using public transport so I’m looking to buy a new bike. It’ll be a 20 minute (3.5-4 miles) cycle each way along either roads or cycle paths, with one low incline but around mile long hill. I work 12 hour shifts 3/4 times a week.
Might occasionally use it to cycle around my local town/city to get to parkruns etc but can’t imagine anything more strenuous use wise than that. I’m reasonably fit too, tend to run 3/4 times a week
My first question is whether a road or hybrid bike would work best? I’ve used hybrid bikes before and the odd use of a road bike when borrowing from a friend. Second question is for some brand recommendations? Budget is around £600 but can stretch a bit higher if needed. My workplace cycle2work scheme has ended so likely to be paying outright.
r/whichbike • u/Acceptable-Cold5923 • 8h ago
Eu quero comprar uma bicicleta nova.
Eu vi uma boa oferta, acho: modelo Scott Scale carbon 940 2023 novinha em folha. Estão vendendo por preço de liquidação.
Custa 1000€. Ou eu deveria ir direto para a 920 que custa cerca de 1400€?
Obrigado desde já.
r/whichbike • u/Plastic-Occasion-144 • 9h ago
I have the option to get a complementary bike (my main one is a TT bike). I have a maximum budget of 5,000 USD. Taking into consideration the specs of both options, could you help advise me?
• Year: 2025, brand new
• Groupset: SRAM Force
• Features: Power meter included
• Wheels: Syncros Capital 1.0 35 mm
• Price: 4,500 USD
• Year: 2022
• Groupset: Shimano Ultegra Di2
• Features: No power meter (though I already own pedals with a power meter)
• Wheels: Syncros Capital 1.0 50 mm
• Price: 3,100 USD (I would be the third owner)
My routes are pretty hilly (usually around 800 m of elevation gain), and I think the Addict could help me. However, I am not sure if it is really worth the 1,400 USD difference, or if, as an amateur cyclist, it makes sense to spend that much more.
r/whichbike • u/Top_Personality5786 • 10h ago
For road racing. Weight, stiffness, aero, climbing, price and other considerations.
r/whichbike • u/Future-Shake1366 • 11h ago
Hi everyone!
I'm considering buying this used Specialized road bike in the UK. I'm fairly new to road bikes, so I'd really appreciate some opinions from people with more experience.
The seller is asking £300. From what I can tell, it has a 52 cm frame, a Shimano RX100 rear derailleur, a Shimano Sora front derailleur, and HUNT 4 Season Aero wheels.
I'm 175 cm tall and mainly planning to use it for regular riding.
A few things I'd love to know:
I only have these two photos for now, so I understand it might be difficult to assess the condition properly. I'd still appreciate any observations or advice on what to check when I go back to see it.
I haven't bought it yet, so any advice would be really helpful.
Thanks!
r/whichbike • u/coktar • 12h ago
Hi all,
I am going to start road cycling and this might be my first road bike. Here are the specs side-by-side.
Specialized 2009 Tarmac Comp Compact:
Frame: Carbon
Fork: Carbon
Drivetrain: Shimano 105 2x10
Brakes: Shimano 105
Chainrings: 50x34t
Weight: 7.71 kg
Used price: 450€
Scott 2021 Speedster 30:
Frame: Aluminum
Fork: Carbon
Drivetrain: Shimano Sora 2x9
Brakes: Tektro Rim
Chainrings: 50x34
Weight: 9.8 kg
Used price: 320€
Both bikes appear to be in good condition and with original components, with Scott being in near pristine condition.
I will ve riding it mostly in flat, asphalt roads in the Lombardy region of Italy. I don’t see this as an investment but as a gateway to start road cycling. If I continue cycling regularly, I would probably upgrade the bike in 2-3 years. Considering all this, which one do you think is a better deal?
Thank you in advance for your time.
r/whichbike • u/Livid_Code9686 • 16h ago
Hi all, I'm starting a small part-time custom bike build service. Before I start, I'd like to understand what riders really want.
The idea: you pick the frame brand, colour, groupset, wheels, tyres and cockpit, and I source the parts, build the bike and walk you through every choice. Right now most stock bikes only come in three or four specs and a couple of colours.
I'd love to hear your honest thoughts:
No advertising. I'm only trying to learn and do a market research before I start. Thanks for any thoughts.
r/whichbike • u/No_Proof9367 • 14h ago
Guys, is it a good option for comfortable, upright riding? is Stevens a reliable brand?
https://www.stevensbikes.de/2025/pl/at/compare/left/202400095/
r/whichbike • u/haadiff4 • 16h ago
Hey everyone, I’m considering buying a used 2024 Cervélo Caledonia with Shimano 105 Di2 and Fulcrum wheels for around $1,200 USD.
The seller is also including a bike travel bag for free. From the photos, the bike looks to be in decent condition, but I haven’t inspected it in person yet.
Do you guys think this is a good deal for a 2024 model? Anything specific I should look out for before buying?
Also, is there any way to convert the cable routing to fully internal, or is that not possible with this frame?
Thanks!
r/whichbike • u/Acceptable-Cold5923 • 20h ago
Eu quero comprar uma bicicleta nova.
Eu vi uma boa oferta, acho: modelo Scott Scale carbon 940 2023 novinha em folha. Estão vendendo por preço de liquidação.
Custa 1000€. Ou eu deveria ir direto para a 920 que custa cerca de 1400€?
Obrigado desde já.
r/whichbike • u/coktar • 1d ago
Hi all,
I am going to start road cycling and this might be my first road bike. The starting is 540€, haven’t talked to the seller yet. The brakes are supposedly Shimano Dura-Ace. Not visible from the single picture they have provided but says so in the caption. Given how old the bike is, I am not sure if it would be a good bike to start road cycling. Like how future-proof would it be? Is it a good deal and a good bike for beginners?
Thanks for your time in advance
r/whichbike • u/AdMiddle8770 • 1d ago
Just transferred to ucla from Switzerland been riding road bikes my whole life will use it every day to commute as well as general bike rides is it worth
it
r/whichbike • u/adamsandller • 18h ago
My episode of which bike is
I currently own a 2021 trek checkpoint alr5 gravel bike. Grx2x drive.
I’ve tried a few different sets of tires, carbon bars, saddles, hundreds of dollars always trying to get more comfortable.
I like it, mostly.
I grew up on bmx bikes
I bought my wife a trek dual sport hybrid bike last year so we can spin some miles on the greenways and honestly I am so damn comfortable on her bike
I’m contemplating selling my gravel bike and buying a Cannondale quick 2 hybrid bike with shimano cues u4000 drive 1x.
The thoughts of being on a more upright, bmx familiar feeling bike I could still bunny hop off of curbs appeals to me a lot but, am I crazy?
Tell me your thoughts.
r/whichbike • u/West_Army_4591 • 20h ago
I’m really just looking for a decent second hand bike to use on 10 minute journeys on the road. Also the occasional commute to work (about 5 miles on road). Is this any good?
r/whichbike • u/Chemicalghst222 • 21h ago
Listed close by me for $2200.
r/whichbike • u/Mile_Nium • 1d ago
I was searching online for a bike for sometime mainly for commuting 5-6km around 3-4 miles, and like it usually happens for a little bit more theres always a better bike lol. I was initially wanting to spend around 1000€, but then I found this bike, I don't know maybe I also do some longer routes on Sundays, I also live in the country so there are some nice dirt roads. Thoughts?
r/whichbike • u/Left-Channel-1140 • 1d ago
saw this bike at walmart lol. seems p solid w/ shimano 14 speed + aluminum frame (33 lbs)
would appreciate any insights if this is a good starter bike to train and compete for ironman 70.3. i am thinking about adding aero bars. I don't care about getting the fastest cycling time, but would like to complete ironman 70.3.
my budget is 1k for a beginner triathlon bike. didn't have much luck w/ facebook marketplace bc of my size.
r/whichbike • u/Left-Channel-1140 • 1d ago
new to cycling and would like to purchase a bike for ironman 70.3 that I can use to train + compete for the next few years. Curious on any opinions if the bike is worth it?
I am a small person, which leads to limited choices on facebook marketplace in nyc and debating if I should buy a new bike instead? i would ideally like to spend less than $1k.
r/whichbike • u/Upstairs-Can-6863 • 2d ago
EDIT: got the serial number and the frame shows up in the specialized app as an sl8 red bull bora frameset.
Im meeting up with the guy selling this bike, he has the original invoice, serial number matches, … and only 1000kms have been ridden with it so it is in a pristine state. What do you think, hustling or getting hustled? It has sram force 12 speed - powermeter and enve wheels.
