just seen a claude butler 14 speed light weight for sale close to me for £145 what do you's think
Buying second hand (i assume it's second hand) can get you a bargain, it can also get you a pig in a poke.
If i were buying second hand, here's what i'd be looking at when i went to see the bike. I'm going to get basic, apologies if i'm stating the obvious..
Wheel play. Hold the bike and 'waggle' the wheel sideways, see if there's any play. That'd indicate hub wear which may mean adjustment is needed (relatively simple), it may indicate the hubs are shot.
A little play can be adjusted , sloppy play indicates possible serious wear. Spin the wheels, do they run smoothly and freely, no wobbling. New budget wheels could cost £70 (just ball park figures)
Chainrings. Look at the teeth on the front chainrings, look for sharks teething of the teeth which indicate the chain, chainrings and cassette may want replacing. This could cost you circa £50 to £100 to replace.
Wheelrims. Some have brake wear indicators machined into the braking surface. Once its gone, the wheels want replacing. Only trouble is, some wheels dont have that indicator. In any case, look for depressions or scouring in the braking surfaces.
Chain, has it been looked after and oiled. new chain will cost £10 to £25 ish.
Grab a crankarm and see if there's any play. New BB would be circa £20.
Look at the frame, see if there's any rust, holes or deep dents.
Lightly hold the handlebars and sweep them one side to the other, feel for deadspots or notchiness. this indicates the headsets worn, new headset...circa £20
Most importantly, is it the right size ? If the seatpost wants raising, see if you can, Siezed seatpots are a nightmare to fix and it does happen.
Best still, ride it. Do all the gears change correctly, does it steer straight.
You can get a bargain, you can spend a lot of money putting a bike right, more if you rely on your LBS to put it right.
