How to Buy a Used Bike at ASU (Without Getting Ripped Off)

Why a Bike Makes Sense at ASU

If you've spent more than one week at the Tempe campus, you already know: a bike changes everything. The walk from Lot 59 to your 8 AM class on the other side of campus is brutal in August. A bike cuts that to five minutes. A skateboard works too, but a bike gives you more options — grocery runs to Fry's on Rural, off-campus rides to Tempe Town Lake, and getting to the light rail without sprinting.

The problem is buying one without getting burned. New bikes from REI or Target can run $200–$600, which feels like a lot when you're also paying rent at Vela or Vista del Sol. The used market is the move — but only if you know what to look for.

Where ASU Students Actually Sell Bikes

The main spots to look:

ASU List — a free student marketplace specifically for ASU. Usually has a solid selection of campus bikes, especially around December and May when people are moving out.
Facebook Marketplace — tons of listings in Tempe and Mesa. Prices vary wildly so compare before committing.
Craigslist Phoenix — older crowd, sometimes better prices, but also more random inventory.
Reddit r/tempe or r/ASU — occasional posts, usually honest sellers.

Around move-out time (late April through early May, and mid-December), listings explode. Sellers are desperate to not move a bike home. This is the best time to buy — people will often drop $80–$120 bikes to $40–$50 just to get rid of them before loading the U-Haul.

What to Actually Spend

For a campus commuter bike, here's what's realistic in the Tempe student market:

Under $50: Beater territory. Expect rust, sketchy brakes, and a seat that might detach. Can work if you're handy.
$50–$100: Sweet spot for a functional campus bike. Look for something in this range that just needs a tire pump and maybe new brake pads.
$100–$200: Should be a solid bike. If someone's asking $180 for a basic cruiser, push back or walk away.
Over $200: Better be a name-brand road or mountain bike with receipts or documentation.

The Inspection Checklist (Do This Every Time)

Never buy without seeing the bike in person. Meet somewhere with good lighting — the bike racks near the MU or outside Hayden Library work fine. Here's what to check:

Frame: Look for cracks or bends, especially around the welds near the handlebars and seat tube. A bent frame is a dealbreaker — it affects handling and can't really be fixed cheaply.

Wheels: Spin them and watch for wobble. A slight wobble is fixable (a bike shop can true a wheel for $15–$20). A major wobble means a potentially bent rim.

Brakes: Squeeze both levers hard. The wheel should lock immediately. If the lever pulls all the way to the handlebar, the cables need replacing — a $10–$20 fix but use it as negotiation leverage.

Chain: Lift the rear of the bike and pedal by hand. The chain should run smoothly. If it skips or grinds, budget another $15–$25 for a new chain.

Tires: Check for dry rot (cracking along the sidewall) and obvious flats. A new tube is $7 at Walmart if needed.

Gears (if applicable): Run through every gear. Skipping or refusing to shift usually means cable stretch — adjustable with a barrel adjuster and takes two minutes to fix.

A Quick Note on Stolen Bikes

It's an unfortunate reality: some bikes in the student market are stolen. This isn't unique to ASU — it's every college town. To protect yourself:

Check the serial number (usually under the bottom bracket where the pedals attach) against Bike Index at bikeindex.org — it's free.
If a seller can't tell you where they bought it or seems evasive, that's a red flag.
If the price seems impossibly low for the bike's apparent quality, trust your gut.

After You Buy: Lock It Right

ASU's bike theft rate is real. A $10 cable lock is not enough. Minimum: a U-lock through the frame and rear wheel, attached to a fixed rack. Kryptonite and OnGuard both make solid U-locks for $30–$50. Double-lock with a cable for the front wheel if the bike cost you more than $100.

Register your bike with ASU Bike Registration (it's free through Parking & Transit Services) — it makes recovery easier if it does get stolen.

The Bottom Line

A $60–$80 used bike from a fellow ASU student, inspected properly and locked correctly, will serve you better than a $300 Target bike you leave unlocked outside Brickyard. Take your time, check a few listings, and don't be afraid to negotiate — especially in May when everyone's moving out.