Buying a Second Hand Bike in Warsaw

You might be interested to buy a bicycle for commuting, or maybe to make some Bike Packing trip.

I was feeling overwhelmed by the amount of information on the internet telling which bike you need.

The truth? Having a confortable bike that suits your needs won’t break your piggy bank.

How much I need for Bike Packing?

It will require some effort. Yet you will wonder why you havent done this before. Get to Know what it takes!

BikePacking? I just want a bycicle to enjoy

The common thing is that you don’t need to spend a fortune to have a bicycle nowadays.

It can’t be luck if for me it worked more than once, right?

Tallin and its surroundings. The end of my Baltic Bike Packing Trip.

: Purchasing a second-hand bicycle in Warsaw can be a rewarding experience if you know where to look and how to approach the process. This worked for me:

Use Online Platforms: Start your search on places lile OLX, a popular online marketplace in Poland. You can find a wide variety of bicycles listed by private sellers.

Be Patient: Finding the perfect bicycle may take some time. Check the listings regularly and be patient to wait for the right deal to come along.

Engage with Sellers: When you find a bicycle that interests you, chat with the owner to learn more about the bike's history and condition. This can also help you gauge the seller's reliability.

Negotiate for a Discount: Don't hesitate to negotiate the price. After building a rapport with the seller, kindly ask if they are willing to offer a discount.

Inspect Before Buying: Always inspect the bicycle in person before finalizing the purchase. Check for any signs of wear and tear, and ensure all parts are in good working condition.

Check for Stolen Bikes: Be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true. Verify the bike's serial number to ensure it is not stolen.

By following these tips, you can increase your chances of finding a second-hand bicycle that suits your needs and budget in Warsaw and most likely across the world!

For 2023 summer, I wanted to make another part of my Cycling Through Europe journey, this time around the Baltics area.

My initial idea was to start in Finland, to buy (a new) mountain bike in there and then cross to tallin and make my way towards Vilnius.

But the logistic seemed a little bit complex:

Will there be the model that I want, the day that I need it?
Will it be a good idea to start a 600km+ journey in 5 days in a new bike that im not used to?
Is it worth expending ~1000$ on a bike?

Well, i rejected that idea after having a look to 2nd hand options in Warsaw.

I was confident enought to go and visit him on a public bike (thinking that I would seal the deal)

We closed the deal for 300pln ~70$ (but now with the bike i came to see)

Oh, which one I got in the end?

Once again a model that I was not going for in the first place.

After testing it for few days for small commuting trips in the city, I decided that it was good enough to just change my pedals:

And…that was all. The bicycle stayed as I bought it (and I took the original pedals to change them before giving it away in Tallin)

The yellow one was already on a ‘round trip’ - I brought it back from Budapest on a Flixbus

Cycling from Bielsko-Biala (Poland) Through Slovakia to get to Budapest.

I was lucky enough to find this KTM for 200 pln ~ 50$

It was a gloomy autumn morning.

As I did not count that the transaction could be that easy, I went on my bike instead of walking:

But I needed to walk back with the two of them:

By the way, those walls are the limits of the Powazki Cemetery in Warsaw

When the winter passed, the KTM is ready to use:

This is how the KTM Libero (~1985) blends with today’s Warsaw City Center

And If you got your bicycle already, these routes are waiting for you:

My Top 5 Cycling Routes to Start from Warsaw - You can combine them with other outdoors alternatives like Kayaking / WakeSurf.

Looking somwhere further? You can make longer one way trips from Warsaw with the trains:

How to bring your own bicycle in Polish Trains. A convenient way to explore further!