A mountain biker standing with a full-suspension bike on a rocky outcrop above a lake, autumn hills behind

What we check

  • When a private seller gives a frame number, we check it against a stolen-bike registry and the theft reports filed with us before the advert goes live.
  • An advert whose frame number matches a theft report is hidden until the seller shows the bike is theirs.
  • Every message is checked for signs of a scam, such as asking you to pay before you collect or a link that hides where it goes. If a message shows one, you see a warning with it.

Every price on Cyclesite comes from real UK market listings and sold prices, never RRP. That is what powers our valuations, price guides and stolen-bike checks.

Help shape Cyclesite

We’re a small team and we build what riders ask for.

Spotted a bug or missing a feature? Post it in the feedback area and it goes straight to the team.

Cyclesite is more than a marketplace. It’s somewhere to ask other UK riders, and the people building the site, about buying and selling bikes.

Share feedback with the team, vote on ideas for new features, or chat with fellow cyclists about a bike you’re eyeing up, a build you’re proud of, or what sold in a few days. Every post reaches the team and we read all of them.

Second-hand bike FAQs

Search our FAQs or browse by topic

A good-quality second-hand road bike in the UK costs between £300 and £1,500 depending on brand, age, and condition. Entry-level aluminium bikes from brands like Triban or Btwin start around £200, mid-range carbon bikes from Giant, Trek, or Specialized sit at £800 to £2,000, and high-end frames from Pinarello, Cervélo, or Canyon can reach £5,000+. Cyclesite shows real market prices so you can check what any model actually sells for before you buy.

Before buying a used bike, always: 1) Check the frame serial number against an international stolen-bike registry. Cyclesite checks every listing with a frame number against a stolen-bike registry and rider-filed theft reports. 2) Inspect the frame for cracks, dents, or repair marks. 3) Spin the wheels to check they run true. 4) Test brakes and gears through all positions. 5) Check the chain for stretch using a chain checker or ruler. 6) Verify the frame size matches your height. 7) Ask for proof of purchase or service history.

Buying a bike online is safe when the platform verifies listings. On Cyclesite, every listing with a frame number is checked against a stolen-bike registry and rider-filed theft reports before the listing goes live. Sellers are asked for the frame serial number, and you can message sellers securely through the platform. For extra peace of mind, arrange to view the bike in person before paying.

As a general guide: riders 5ft 2in to 5ft 6in suit a small or 50-52cm frame, 5ft 6in to 5ft 10in suit a medium or 54-56cm, and 5ft 10in to 6ft 2in suit a large or 58-60cm. Mountain bike sizing uses S/M/L labels. Stand-over height, reach, and stack all matter, so test-ride where possible. On Cyclesite, every listing shows frame size so you can filter by size before contacting the seller.

The main options for selling a bike in the UK are specialist marketplaces like Cyclesite, eBay, Facebook Marketplace and local bike shops. Cyclesite is a UK bike-only marketplace that is free to list, with automatic stolen-bike checks on every frame number supplied. eBay is free to list for private sellers in most categories, but it is a general marketplace with no UK stolen-bike verification and no bike-specific filters. Facebook Marketplace is free, and its Purchase Protection only applies to shipped orders paid through Facebook Checkout. Local bike shops offer instant trade-in, typically 25% to 35% below private sale value because the shop carries refurbishment and retail overhead.

Your bike’s value depends on brand, model, age, condition, and current market demand. A 3-year-old carbon road bike from a major brand typically retains 40-60% of its original price. Cyclesite offers a free bike valuation tool based on real UK market prices, so you can see exactly what similar bikes have recently sold for.

Selling on Cyclesite takes about five minutes. Create a free account, upload photos of your bike, enter the frame serial number, and we draft the listing description for you. Listing is free, pass the automatic stolen bike check, and your listing goes live. For private classified sales you deal directly with the buyer. Buyer Protection with secure delivery is coming soon.

It depends on the bike and the asking price far more than on any average, so we do not quote one. Our selling-time tool answers from comparable bikes that have actually sold, and says so when there are too few to give an honest figure. Clear photos, an accurate description and a price checked against our market data are the parts you control.

To check if a bike is stolen, enter its frame serial number into a UK stolen-bike database. The frame number is usually stamped under the bottom bracket or on the seat tube. On Cyclesite, every listing with a frame number is automatically checked against a stolen-bike registry and rider-filed theft reports before it goes live, and any match is flagged for our Trust and Safety team to review.

The serial number on most bike frames is stamped on the underside of the bottom bracket shell, the part of the frame where the pedal cranks attach. Some brands stamp it on the rear dropout, head tube, or seat tube instead. The number is typically 6-12 characters long, containing letters and numbers. You may need to clean the area to read it clearly.

If you suspect a bike is stolen, do not buy it. Run the frame serial number against a stolen-bike registry and rider-filed theft reports. Report the listing to the platform it appears on. Contact your local police on 101 with the frame number and listing details. On Cyclesite, you can flag any listing and our team will investigate and remove it if necessary.

Cyclesite is free to list. For private classified sales (where you deal directly with the buyer, typically collection in person), there is no listing fee at all. Full pricing details are on our pricing page.

Cyclesite is the UK’s bike-only marketplace for buying and selling second-hand bikes. Every listing with a frame number is checked against a stolen-bike registry and rider-filed theft reports before it goes live. Sellers advertise free, with no commission on classified sales. Buyers browse for free, filter by category, brand, size, and location, and contact sellers directly through secure messaging.

Browsing, searching and messaging sellers on Cyclesite is completely free. There are no sign-up fees or buyer premiums just to use the site. Buyers pay the seller directly, typically on collection in person, and Cyclesite adds nothing on top.

Cyclesite is built specifically for bikes. Key differences: 1) Every listing with a frame number is automatically checked against a stolen-bike registry and rider-filed theft reports before it goes live. 2) Free to list, with no commission on classified sales. 3) Real UK market-price data shows what any bike model actually sells for. 4) Bike-specific filters like frame size, wheel size and groupset. 5) Frame serial numbers captured on the listing form, and stolen-checked when supplied.

Cyclesite covers all types of bicycles: road bikes, mountain bikes, electric bikes, gravel bikes, hybrid bikes, folding bikes, BMX, kids bikes, tandem bikes, cargo bikes, and city bikes. From budget commuters under £100 to full carbon race bikes over £10,000. We list all types of used bikes, provided they pass the stolen bike check.

Second-Hand Bikes for Sale in the UK

Your trusted bike marketplace. Frame numbers checked against a stolen-bike registry and rider-filed theft reports. Simple, safe, made for cyclists.

Buy and Sell Used Bikes UK | Frame Numbers Stolen-Checked