BuyingMay 22, 2026 · 5 min read

New vs used: how much do you really save?

The case for buying used is obvious until you start counting what you give up. Here is the actual math, from ~6,000 live listings, plus the things the math leaves out.

The headline number: about 24%

Across the 94 models where we track both new-retail and used pricing, a used bike sells for roughly 76% of its new price — an average saving of 24%. On a $6,000 bike, that is about $1,440 kept in your pocket for being the second owner.

But 24% is the average first step. Buy a three-to-five-year- old bike instead of a near-new one and the discount widens substantially — a five-year-old model trades around 64% of current-year used value, which is a deep discount off original retail once you stack it on the new-to-used drop.

Where used wins clearly

You want more bike for the money. A used high-tier build from a few years ago routinely costs what a new mid-tier bike costs. Same budget, better frame, better groupset, better wheels.
The standards have settled. Disc brakes, 12-speed, wide tire clearance, electronic shifting — these are mature. A 2021–2023 bike is not meaningfully behind a 2026 one for most riders.
You can inspect and fit properly. If you know what to check and the size is right, the second-owner discount is close to free money.

Where new still makes sense

Buying used is not automatically the smart move. New wins when:

Your size or spec is rare. If the used market never has your frame size in the build you want, waiting for one can cost more in months than you would save in dollars.
The warranty matters to you. A manufacturer crash- replacement and frame warranty has real value, and it usually does not transfer to a second owner. On an expensive carbon frame, that is genuine peace of mind.
You do not want to inspect anything. A new bike has no history to verify, no worn drivetrain to price in, no crash-damage question. You pay the 24% for certainty.
End-of-season pricing closes the gap. A new previous-model-year bike discounted by a shop can land close to used pricing — with the warranty intact. Always check that before assuming used wins.

The honest summary

Used saves roughly a quarter off new on a recent bike, and far more on a bike a few years older. That saving is real — but it is payment for taking on inspection, fit-hunting, and a lapsed warranty. If you are comfortable with those, used is the better value almost every time. If you are not, the 24% is a fair price for not having to think about any of it.

Check the gap for a specific bike

The 24% average is a starting point, not your answer. Every Paceline model page shows the used-market valuation alongside new-retail context where we have it, so you can see the real gap for the exact bike you are considering — and decide whether the saving is worth what it costs you.