Buy your bicycle second-hand without fear of being scammed

Pancho is your virtual assistant for buying used bicycles. He will review the bicycle with you step by step so you don't get fooled.

Why you should inspect a bicycle before buying it

A used bicycle might look fine at first glance, but frame cracks, worn drivetrains and dodgy brakes can be easy to miss — especially on carbon or high-end aluminium frames where damage can be invisible.

Bicycles suffer from wear that's hard to spot in photos or a quick test ride. A stretched chain slowly destroys your cassette and chainrings, worn brake pads compromise safety, and a cracked frame can fail without warning.

That bicycle that seems like a bargain could need new components worth more than what you paid for it.

Pancho is like going to see the bicycle with a friend who works at a bike shop. You show him photos, answer a few simple questions and in 15 minutes he tells you if what you see is what they're selling you. All from your phone, no appointment needed.

25%

Of used bicycles sold online have undisclosed mechanical issues

€150-600

Average cost of replacing a worn drivetrain on a mid-range bicycle

1 in 5

Carbon frames sold second-hand have hidden cracks or damage

15 min

Is all it takes to inspect your bicycle with Pancho

Inspect with Pancho and avoid surprises

Pancho helps you inspect second-hand products in just 3 simple steps. Don't get fooled!

STEP 01

Start your inspection

Tell Pancho what you are going to inspect

✓Make and model
✓Year of manufacture
✓Main features
✓Approximate general condition
"With this data, Pancho will be prepared to guide you step by step through the inspection. No useless generic questions!
Start your inspection
STEP 02

Answer questions and upload photos

Pancho will guide you with simple questions and ask for specific photos to analyze the real condition:

✓Questions adapted to the model and year
✓Clear instructions for taking the right photos
✓Simple explanations (you don't need to be an expert!)
✓You can skip questions if you can't answer them
"Pancho explains exactly what photos he needs and how to take them. It's like carrying an expert in your pocket!
Answer questions and upload photos
STEP 03

Receive Pancho's expert opinion

Once the inspection is completed, Pancho analyzes all the information and delivers a complete report:

✓Overall score (from 0 to 10)
✓Detailed assessment of each important aspect
✓Detection of possible hidden problems
✓Personalized recommendations
✓Report you can share or save
"Pancho tells you exactly what you need to know: if it's in good condition, if there's something suspicious, or if you should keep looking. No jargon or complications!
Receive Pancho's expert opinion

Choose your package

Select the package that best suits your needs

Car
5€
5€/inspection
12€7.99€
1.6€/inspection
24€13.99€
0.93€/inspection
Bicycles
3€
3€/inspection
9€3.99€
0.8€/inspection
18€6.99€
0.47€/inspection

Inspections are counted upon completion

For the 15 and 30 day packages, the validity period starts from the beginning of the first inspection

Frequently asked questions about inspecting a used bicycle

Before buying a used bike, check seven visible areas: frame (head tube junctions, bottom bracket shell, chainstays and seatstays free of cracks, dents or suspicious resprays); drivetrain (chain, cassette and chainrings without extreme wear); brakes (pads and rotors with margin); wheels true and hubs free of play; tires without sidewall cracks; headset and seatpost without creaks; and a clearly legible serial number. On a carbon frame, any crack, soft spot, delamination or deep scratch is a reason to walk away: a carbon failure can be catastrophic, so have any doubt checked by a carbon specialist before riding it. AskPancho guides you through these points with specific photos in 15 minutes.
The best way to avoid buying a stolen bike is to combine three checks: serial number, original receipt and context of the sale. Ask for the frame serial number (usually stamped under the bottom bracket shell) and photograph it. Ask for the original purchase receipt in the seller's name. If you have doubts, check the local police department's stolen-property database through official channels. If the price is well below market, there's no receipt, the seller is in a rush, won't meet at a fixed address, or insists on cash only, treat it as a red flag and walk away.
Always ask for: the original purchase receipt in the seller's name, a clearly legible frame serial number (photograph it), receipts for any major component swaps (drivetrain, wheels, motor or battery on eBikes), shop service history if any, and for eBikes, the battery state of health shown in the motor manufacturer's official app. If the seller can't document where the bike came from, that alone is a reason not to buy.
Be wary if you notice: a serial number that's been ground off or covered with a sticker; no original receipt; a seller who won't meet at a fixed address or their own home; a price well below market; dents, cracks or soft spots on the frame, especially on carbon; recently resprayed areas with no explanation; mismatched or poorly installed components; play in the headset or hubs; or extreme wear on drivetrain and brakes. On an eBike, a swollen battery or corrosion on the contacts is reason enough not to buy.
Ask directly: do you have the original receipt in your name?, what's the serial number and why are you selling it?, has it taken any hard crash or been resprayed?, which components have been replaced and do you have the receipts?, can I take a test ride through every gear and brake hard?, for an eBike, can you show me the battery state of health in the official app and how many charge cycles it has done? Clear, consistent answers are the best sign of trust.
AskPancho analyzes your photos and answers to detect visible signs of wear, impacts, surface cracks, worn-out components and inconsistent paperwork. It doesn't replace tests that need instruments or a specialist: it can't detect internal carbon delamination, micro-cracks hidden under paint, the real state of sealed bearings, the exact health of an eBike battery beyond what the app shows, or how the bike behaves under load. The report is orientative and doesn't replace a professional check at a specialized bike shop, especially for carbon frames and eBikes. Use it as a first expert opinion to decide whether the bike is worth a test ride.

Going to see a used bicycle?

Inspect it with Pancho before you decide. It takes less than 15 minutes and can save you a lot of money.

How to inspect a used bicycle before buying | Ask Pancho