How to Sell a Broken Kids Bike

A broken kids bike is still worth selling — typically £6 to £30 at For Parts, against £25 to £120 in working order.

Can you sell a kids bike that does not work?

Yes. Repairers, people replacing one component and buyers who want a project all shop deliberately at this end. None of them will accept a fault they discover after paying.

What actually goes wrong with kids bikes

These are the faults that move a kids bike down the grades, and the first things a buyer will ask about:

Rust from outdoor storage
Seized bearings and stiff steering
Heavy supermarket bikes children struggle to ride
Missing stabilisers on bikes for younger children

Grading it honestly

Fair covers something heavily used, or with a described fault or missing part: around £11 to £54. For Parts covers something not working or incomplete, sold as seen: roughly £6 to £30. Grades are seller-declared and nobody inspects them for you, so grading up does not raise what you get — it produces a buyer who arrives expecting something else. All five grades explained.

Working out what you actually have

Establish the fault properly rather than guessing at it:

State the wheel size in inches, which is how parents shop
Check both brakes work and are reachable
Spin the wheels and cranks for smooth bearings

Photographing the fault

Photograph the damage directly and in focus — it is the evidence that the rest of the description is honest:

The whole bike side on, clean, against a plain background
The wheels with the size marking on the tyre wall visible
Both brakes and the drivetrain
Any rust, scuff, torn saddle or missing part such as stabilisers

What to state in the listing

Alongside the fault itself, buyers of broken kids bikes want these confirmed:

Wheel diameter in inches, and the age or height range it suits
Brake type, and whether it has a coaster brake
Number of gears, if any
Whether stabilisers, mudguards or accessories are included

Wheel size and age range first: “16in Kids Bike, Age 5-7, with Stabilisers”. Wheel size in inches is the search. Say whether stabilisers are included, and name the brand if it is a known one — the better children’s brands hold value strongly.

What buyers will ask

Answer these in the listing rather than waiting to be asked:

“What age is it for?”

Give the wheel size and the height range rather than an age alone. Children of the same age vary enormously and inside leg is what actually decides fit.

“Can a child reach the brakes?”

Check the lever reach and say whether it is adjustable. Many adult-designed levers are too far for small hands and it is a real safety point.

“Are the stabilisers included?”

Say clearly. Parents buying a first bike usually need them, and matching aftermarket ones to a specific frame is fiddly.

Is it worth repairing first?

Usually not, unless it is cheap and you can evidence it. What lifts the price is condition and completeness, which a repair rarely restores:

Correct wheel size stated clearly
Recognised lightweight brands
Working brakes sized for small hands
Stabilisers and original accessories included

If the work would cost more than the gap between £30 and what a sound one fetches, sell it as is broken and let the buyer decide.

When to list it

Strongly seasonal: March to July is the main window, with a Christmas peak. A clean bike in a common wheel size listed in spring sells within days.

Getting it to the buyer

Collection, and most fit in a car with a wheel out or a seat down. Offer to let the child try it — it converts far better than any photograph.

WishThrift does not process payments, arrange delivery or hold funds. Confirm the money has cleared before the item leaves your hands, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed.

Ready to list it? Free to list, no commission, and neither side pays a buyer-protection fee — create a free account, or read the full kids bike selling guide if yours turns out to be sound.

Frequently asked questions

Is a broken kids bike worth anything?

Yes — typically £6 to £30 at For Parts against £25 to £120 working. Repairers and people harvesting one component buy deliberately at this end. Rust from outdoor storage

Should I repair it before selling?

Usually not, unless the repair is cheap and you can evidence it. The things that genuinely lift the price are correct wheel size stated clearly and a repair rarely restores those.

What do buyers ask about a faulty kids bike?

The fault itself, in detail. Give the wheel size and the height range rather than an age alone. Children of the same age vary enormously and inside leg is what actually decides fit. The listing that answers it before being asked is the one that sells.