I took a break from the used marketplace for about a month due to a bicycle issue flaring up.
During that time, I've organized and am sharing what I've learned.
I apologize to those who find this post inconvenient.
Please understand that these are my personal criteria from my time away.
I didn't go into my break with a specific bike in mind,
so I only looked at listings with great value for money.
This won't work for those who've already decided they need to buy an S-Works Tarmac or similar.
■ Criteria for a great deal
Look at the used prices of drivetrain + wheelset.
If there are listings below that, it would be a great deal by my standards.
For example, a full Ultegra Di2 + a used 1 million won wheelset for 2.5 million won or less would be a great deal.
Frame/parts value??? For great deals, just look at it that way.
Flagship bikes have frame value so they don't come out like that,
but unpopular bikes often do.
■ Flagship bikes are more expensive
By the great deal criteria above, buying a complete bike and transplanting it to a flagship frame is cheaper.
Drivetrains/wheelsets on popular flagship bikes tend to carry a premium as well.
For unpopular brands, you can ignore the frame/parts entirely and just look at used prices for drivetrain/wheelset,
but with popular flagship complete bikes, it seems the overall price depreciates based on popularity/year.
If you buy a flagship complete bike that holds its value well and plan to ride it for a few years then resell, it seems like a good choice.
However, if we're only talking value for money, buying an unpopular complete bike and just transplanting the frame tends to be cheaper.
If I were to resell, I think I'd approach it that way.
■ Consider less popular flagship bikes too
Even flagship Dura Di2 full setups with around 2 million won used wheelsets and parts matching the flagship (ceramic this and that, Dura components),
as of the writing date, some bikes around 5.5 million won aren't selling.
If you ride it for a bit and it doesn't feel right, it seems you wouldn't lose money even if you get a frame set and do a bike change later.
■ Also check out frames from models that got attention a season or two ago
It seems many people buy for value, ride for a season or two, then get a frame for a bike change.
Used prices for frame brands that were noted for value 1-3 years ago are quite good.
Personally, I'm surprised that Chinese bike frames are more popular than Taiwan's own Giant/Merida,
but if you search you'll find good prices.
■ Recent drivetrain sold prices
Since I only like Shimano, I've only looked at Shimano Di2 standards.
For SRAM, search the marketplace by sold prices.
Unused items removed from complete bikes don't differ much from internet prices.
The depreciation speed of used items seems similar to the price drop speed of new items.
And there aren't many groupset listings on the used market. ㅎㅎ
Dura 12-speed 260, 300, 270
Ultegra 12-speed 140, 150, 170
Ultegra 11-speed 90, 80, 85, 70, 70
105 12-speed 130, 100, 75, 90, 60
I've tried to refrain from mentioning maker/brand names.
If anyone finds this inconvenient, please be understanding.
Since I've completed my bike change and thought it might help those succeeding me in long-term observations,
I'm sharing my standards.
※ As I was writing this, I noticed a shopping mall is selling a 2025 model new complete bike with Ultegra Di2 for 1.9 million won.
