What Is My Bike Worth? How to Price It Correctly

Setting the right price on your used bike can be tricky — too high, and no one reaches out; too low, and you miss out on money. This guide gives you a simple method for finding a fair and realistic price.

1. Start with the original price

Find out what the bike cost new (or what a comparable new model costs today, if yours is older or discontinued). This gives you a starting point for calculating depreciation.

2. Use rules of thumb for depreciation

As a general guide, bikes typically lose value like this:

Age	Value vs. original price
0–1 year	70–85%
1–3 years	50–70%
3–5 years	35–50%
5+ years	15–35% (depends heavily on condition and brand)

Exceptions: E-bikes often depreciate faster due to battery aging, while quality bikes from well-known brands (e.g. in good condition with well-maintained components) can hold their value better than average.

3. Adjust for condition

Use these questions to assess whether to adjust the price up or down:

• Are there visible damages, rust, or dents? → Lower the price
• Have tires, chain, and brakes been recently replaced? → Can raise the price, since it saves the buyer an expense
• Do gears and brakes work smoothly? → Important for setting a price at the higher end
• Are accessories included (lights, basket, lock, bike computer)? → Can be added on top of the price

4. Check what similar bikes are actually selling for

The most reliable method is to see what comparable bikes are being sold for right now. Search for the same brand, model, and approximate age among used bikes for sale on PedalSwap, and use that as your real benchmark — not just theoretical rules of thumb.

5. E-bikes: remember the battery

For e-bikes, the battery's condition is often more important to the price than the bike's condition itself:

• A battery with high age or many charge cycles significantly reduces the value
• If the battery still holds good range, it's worth mentioning specifically in the listing — it justifies a higher price
• A battery that will need replacing soon should be reflected in a lower price, since replacement can cost several thousand kroner

6. Consider your timeline

• Need to sell quickly? Set the price at the lower end of the realistic range
• No rush? You can set the price a bit higher and adjust down if there's no interest after a couple of weeks

A simple formula to start with

Original price × depreciation percentage (by age) × condition factor (0.8–1.1) = your starting price

Then use comparable listings to fine-tune the final number.

Ready to sell?

Now that you have a realistic price estimate, you can create your listing and start selling — directly to a private buyer, with no middleman and no fees.