How to Sell a Broken BMX Bike

A broken BMX bike is still worth selling — typically £12 to £62 at For Parts, against £50 to £250 in working order.

Can you sell a BMX 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 BMX bikes

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

High-tensile steel frames, which sell for far less
Cracked frames at the dropouts and welds
Bent forks and buckled wheels from hard use
Mismatched replacement parts

Grading it honestly

Fair covers something heavily used, or with a described fault or missing part: around £22 to £112. For Parts covers something not working or incomplete, sold as seen: roughly £12 to £62. 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:

Check the frame tubing sticker for chromoly or hi-ten
Inspect the dropouts and welds for cracks
List the exact brand and key components

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, drive side, against a plain background
The cranks and bottom bracket area
Both wheels and hubs close up
The head tube and dropouts, plus any crack, dent, weld repair or worn part

What to state in the listing

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

Wheel size and top tube length, which is how BMX frames are sized
Frame and fork material — chromoly or hi-tensile steel
Component list, noting upgrades and their brands
Whether the frame and forks are crack free, and any play in headset or bottom bracket

Brand, model and key specs: “[Brand] BMX Bike, 20in, Chromoly Frame, Upgraded Wheels”. Chromoly versus hi-ten steel is a genuine value distinction riders search for. List upgraded parts by name, because that is what the price is actually built from.

What buyers will ask

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

“What is the top tube length?”

Measure it and say. BMX is sized by top tube, not frame size, and riders know exactly what length they want.

“Is the frame chromoly?”

Check for a sticker or the weight and say what you find. Full chromoly is worth substantially more than hi-ten, and riders can tell.

“Has the frame ever cracked or been welded?”

Inspect around the head tube and dropouts and disclose any repair. A cracked BMX frame fails suddenly under load and is not something to leave for the buyer to find.

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:

Recognised BMX brands with a following
Chromoly frames over high-tensile steel
Sealed bearing wheels and hubs
Original parts rather than mixed replacements

If the work would cost more than the gap between £62 and what a sound one fetches, sell it as is broken and let the buyer decide.

When to list it

Lifts in spring and before Christmas. Well-specified bikes with named components sell within days; entry-level department store BMXs are slow and compete on price alone.

Getting it to the buyer

Collection is easiest. If posting, it needs a proper bike box with the bars, pedals and wheel removed — and quote the courier before agreeing a price, because bike carriage is expensive.

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 BMX bike selling guide if yours turns out to be sound.

Frequently asked questions

Is a broken BMX bike worth anything?

Yes — typically £12 to £62 at For Parts against £50 to £250 working. Repairers and people harvesting one component buy deliberately at this end. High-tensile steel frames, which sell for far less

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 recognised BMX brands with a following and a repair rarely restores those.

What do buyers ask about a faulty BMX bike?

The fault itself, in detail. Measure it and say. BMX is sized by top tube, not frame size, and riders know exactly what length they want. The listing that answers it before being asked is the one that sells.