General Cycling Discussion - Should I buy a Stolen bike?

I never had a road bike and here's my chance to get a Trek 1000 for $350.00. It's not like I'm needy and I'm thinking of getting a Bianchi road bike in the near future. The owner states it's three months old and he put a "Bad Paint Job" on it recently and is ready to move and can't take it with him.

You know this is all BS. Why would an owner of a new Trek that's three months old put a bad paint job on and now wants to sell it for $350.00? Seems like the bike was stolen and he painted it to conceal the fact that it's stolen.

I don't know. What do you think. Trek sells the 1000 for about $700.00 so I'll be saving $400.00.

Should I buy or just say bye bye?

Steve.

IMHO buying stolen is just as bad as stealing the item yourself. Stay away from it.

no, i would not buy it. You dont know anything about it besides the fact that its stolen. Plus, if you do buy it, it has a sh*tty paint job on it. I paided $750 for my bike, and its the best investment i have EVER made. If it seems like a lot, it is, and if you dont have that kind of money its worth waiting for. Get a job, or another one, budget your money well and it will all fall into place.

-Ross

Dude,

Where is your head at. Did you really have to ask that question? I suspect since you did, you know the answer.

Stay far away, put yourself in the shoes of the person it was tolen from and report the bike to the police immediatly, do it discreetly though. Or go to the guys house late at night and steal it from him to pay him back for what he did. I was just kidding about the second part.

Do not buy a stolen bike. Notify the police.

What if it was your bike?

Man up and report the guy.

what if it were your bike you mean ehenz?

I'd also make a phone call to my local cop shop. The next bike he rips off could be that Bianchi you buy.

Receiving stolen property is a crime, even if you're morals allow you to buy it you could get fined go to jail for possessing it.

First of all DON'T say something is stolen unless you have PROOF! Second a trek 1000 can be bought all day for $500 US brand new. A used bike is generally worth half $250, a painted bike is only worth commuter value $100. that's $50 more than he'd get from a pawn shop. Maybe he painted it because he's an idiot or lives in high crime area. Don't buy it because it's way overpriced.

Alright....

I stated the situation incorrectly. I should have said, should I buy a potentially stolen bicycle?

I don't really know if the bike was stolen since the owner never admitted it during our emails. In New York City, most bikes sporting poor paint jobs are stolen for that very reason.

Furthermore, all the clues during our conversation point to a stolen bike. Yet. It's possible that an owner of a three month Trek 1000 would put a poor paint job and sell it at half price because of a relocation. It is possible. Isn't it?

Steve.

Hmmm, if its not stolen, the owner has nothing to worry about, does he?

well lets see, NYC, poor paint job, owner moving.
Doesn't sound too good to me.
However, think about this.
New bike, potential for thieves, paint bike to disguise it.
How many times have we heard that advice? (no sarcasm here)

Ask him for the serial number of the bike, and that you
want to run the numbers. If its not stolen, no problem he
gives you the number and you check it out.
If he balks, says he can't find the number, its painted over
so he can't read it, walk away.
Also ask him for original bill of sale, I'm
not saying that it he has to have it, but if he ever
wanted warranty work on it he would.

Personally, I wouldn't buy a bike I was sure was stolen,
it only reinforces stealing bikes (no demand, no theft?).

Marty

Lotek hit it right on! Any time you buy stolen anything, you're providing a market for low lifes stealing other peoples' property. Stay away from it. Remember, if the price it too good to be true, it probably is!

I agree with Lotek... but I also wouldn't buy it because I'd be worried about what the dodgy paint job was hiding e.g. badly repaired frame damage, filled dents etc.

NONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONO

Alright...Alright... . I give in. I'm going to buy it.. OOOPS.. I mean, I'm not going to buy it. :)

The poor paint job might be hiding cracks or damage sustained while riding if he did really buy it new. No one on his right mind would take a can of paint and spray a brand new bike. That's insane.

I just saw a brand new Trek 1000 online for $549.00. What a deal. That's just $200.00 dollars more and comes with a warranty! I think I'll wait and keep saving for my Bianchi.

You're right about the reinforcing stealing aspect. I can just imagine this same person trying to rip-off my sad looking Pacific Toy Store bike. OH NO.. I better check to see if it's still there!

i wasnt going to respond, but changed my mind. this has to be the dumbest question ive ever seen.
first off your contimplating buying a stolen bike on a public forum of folks who are passionate about cycling. do a search on stolen bikes and see how terrible people feels when it happens to them.
i dont see a difference between this and saying, "hey i really want to get a road bike, i've got this awsome pair of bolt cutters, what kind of bike should i steal?"

Originally posted by shaharidan
i dont see a difference between this and saying, "hey i really want to get a road bike, i've got this awsome pair of bolt cutters, what kind of bike should i steal?"

The statement is true for a stolen bike, but this isn't definitely a stolen bike. Just a dodgy situation, and potentially a dodgy bike, and *maybe* a stolen one. In all fairness, the price is probably too high if he did put a crappy paint job on a near-new bike for no reason.

Good decision to steer clear of it - quality and warranty are big concerns, and in the long run it might not save you any money. Plus you'll be riding a crappy-looking bike!! Save up for the Bianchi - you'll be there before you know it! :beer:

That cat sure looks familiar booya ;)

I barely like buying used, I couldn't see myself risking to buy a stolen bike.

Think of the bad Kharma , what goes around comes around , but its your choice to make, ok :(

You are setting yourself up for many face-plants!!!!!!!!!!!

Since the bike is supposedly only three months old, the seller should be able to tell you where he purchased the bike. Have him tell you the serial number and then call the LBS and ask if they can confirm the seller's name as the purchaser of that bike. If you don't get a straight answer from the seller, then assume it's stolen and move on.

If you suspect it's stolen, then treat it as if it is.

Guilty if proven innocent, Guilty by accusation, Guilty by rumor, I'm proud to be an American.

well, i have to comment here...

on day riding home from work a few years ago, i pass some guy on a pretty decent MTB (i think a pretty new Specialized Rockhopper or something)... anyway, i had been looking for a new commuter bike as well as a bike for a girlfriend...

he stops me and asks if i want to buy a bike... i ask for how much and says like $50... on the one hand i was like "wow, what a perfect bike for $50"... but then it hit me: hmm... the guy looks a little strung out and that is simply TOO good to be true. i said "no thanks" and rode off.

anyway, i guess my points are:
1) don't buy stolen property b/c that rewards theft. in a larger sense it creates a market and encourages theft in general. do you want to contribute to that?
2) on the other hand, i understand the basic desire of: wow i could have THAT bike NOW

anyway, since it's not outrageously cheap (like under $100) it could be legitimate. any way to check if it's stolen? i.e. tell the guy you want to service history or want to know about warranty and get the serial number and run some checks? no idea, but maybe?

Well let's take a good look at this deal. A three month old bike for about 1/2 the price of a new one. I would expect that the components alone are worth $350. An offer way below market rate is cause for concern.

Now, what about the reason for selling the bike? The seller states he is moving and can't take the bike. I have to wonder where the guy is moving that he cannot take a bike with him. For the loss he is looking at, he could easily ship the bike UPS. And unless he's going to prison, I can't imagine too many places where he cannot keep the bike.

All together, this deals stinks like week old fish.

Originally posted by diamondback
a painted bike is only worth commuter value $100. that's $50 more than he'd get from a pawn shop. Maybe he painted it because he's an idiot or lives in high crime area. Don't buy it because it's way overpriced.

Diamondback is too generous. A repainted used bike would be hard to sell for more than $50.00 (unless, of course, it was professionally painted).

What you could say to the fellow is I'll take the serial number to the police and check to see if it has been registered stolen cause the police would know Immediately..but then If it does check out has a stolen bicycle the police may not tell you everything they may just play along till you lead them to the crook?So This can be a good plan on one hand and it can also back fire on the other hand.
One thing nice about buying your bicycle new is a good feeling knowing that the serial is yours and is a good one.What ya say?;)

Dont buy it.Can i have his phone number?

Holy Cow! I had no idea this thread was going to generate 29 responses! I hope it doesn't become another "Landrider" thread that developes a life of it's own.

Well. Anyway. I emailed the seller and told him I had a "change of heart". He's reposted the bike on Craig's list where I found out many crooks are listing stolen cycles! Craigs List is small and you can just imagine how many stolen bikes are getting posted on Ebay!

I went to the police station and they had a room full of stolen bikes lined up against the wall! There were so many that the bikes were pressed together so tight, you could barely move'em to take a closer inspection.

Considering it is bad enough, buy it and the karma will kill you.

Stay away.