Buying a used Onewheel can be an incredible deal.
The purpose of this guide is to walk you through everything you should consider before pulling the trigger and buying a used Onewheel.
Let’s jump into it.
Why Buy A Used Onewheel
Used Onewheels are cheaper
If you check my used Onewheel marketplace or any other marketplace for used Onewheels you’ll see deals and price reductions.
Cheaper doesn’t always mean broken or low quality either, but we’ll get into that later.
Onewheel’s are durable and built to last
Anyone who has ever ridden a Onewheel can attest to how insanely durable they are.
I’ve let many friends and family members ride my boards and tell everyone to bail early and bail often because the board will be fine, but you won’t be.
My dad even jokes that when I first told him that Onewheel’s are built like tanks he didn’t believe me, but after beating mine up like crazy it still works like brand new and he was amazed.
The Onewheel aftermarket it pretty awesome
Now I wouldn’t recommend going too deep into the aftermarket unless you’re prepared to void your manufacturer warranty, but with that disclaimer out of the way, the aftermarket is awesome.
There are hundreds of local skate shops, tinkers and makers all dedicated to either working directly with Future Motion or guys like The Float Life who make all sorts of aftermarket toys for your board.
Buying from repair, rental and skate shops is always safer
Repair, rental and skate shops see a lot of boards and their revenue is based on successful rentals, repairs and purchases, so when one of these shops offers used boards its a safe bet.
I am personally aware of a few places that I think are very safe places to buy used:
Onewheel Utah Used Onewheel Market
It’s easy to make a used Onewheel feel new
Because there are so many accessories, from Future Motion and aftermarket vendors, you can make a used Onewheel feel brand new fairly cheap.
I have a Onewheel Pint with over 500 miles on it, so I went to my local skate shop (shout out to Salty Peaks in Salt Lake) and bought some new bumpers, rail guards and a fender, it took my old scratched up board from meh to awesome for under $200 bucks and an hour’s worth up adjustments.
Are You Buying A Stolen Onewheel?
Has the board you’re looking been stolen?
The worst thing you can do is buy a stolen Onewheel for a few reasons.
First, if you find out it’s been stolen you might have to return it to the owner and you’ll be out however much you paid for it.
Second, you don’t know anything about the board, because if the person who stole it is trying to get rid of it quick, they likely don’t know much either and they’ll just lie to you about the info, so you could be in real trouble.
How do I make sure the Used Onewheel I’m buying is not a stolen Onewheel?
It’s hard to know for sure, but there are a few things to look out for that might put up some red flags.
First, does the deal seem to good to be true?
It might be.
How much does the seller actually know about the board?
Are there a lot of long pauses or uhs..
The seller should probably know quite a bit about the board, they don’t need to be experts but they should able to answer some questions about their experience with this board, more on that later.
Check the serial number
There are a few places where you can check a serial number.
In fact I see this issue as so important that I’ve created a place where you can register your Onewheel serial number on this site and you can report a lost or stolen Onewheel.
By adding your serial number to this database, I can check when people try to sell used Onewheels and make sure that serial number doesn’t belong to someone else.
I don’t really get any benefit out of knowing your board serial number, I truly just want to provide a resource to this awesome community to help catch thieves and stop board theft.
Does the seller have the original charger?
A seller having the original charger is a very good sign, if a board gets stolen its likely in the wild.
It doesn’t mean they won’t steal the charger, but that’s less likely.
If someone is stealing an iPhone they probably don’t also steal the charger, right?
Does the seller have any proof of purchase?
A receipt, the original box, even a screenshot of a bank statement where they spent that money will absolutely help validate the seller.
What type of payment is the seller asking?
I think we’ve all seen the eBay and Craigslist scams where people ask for cashier’s checks or cash.
Now asking for that type of payment isn’t inherently bad, but it’s very difficult to get that money back, so someone using a legit payment processor definitely helps validate the seller.
Check with the OnewheelUtah lost and stolen Onewheel database
I mentioned it above and I’ll say it again, the more visible your serial number the better.
To my knowledge other people knowing your Onewheel serial number has no downsides, so register it safely with people who want to help.
Other Factors To Consider When Buying A Used Onewheel
Assuming you can validate that the board has not been stolen, you’ll want to run through a series of checks to make sure the board is in good shape and a good purchase.
Consider the following:
Is it in good shape?
Any bumps and bruises that are pretty bad?
Ask the seller how rough the ride is, and make sure you try it yourself.
Check mileage
Just like on a car, mileage matters.
The good news is, almost everything on a Onewheel can be replaced, so even if the board has high mileage, you can do some work to get it into good shape again, but make sure the price you pay is reflective of the work needed to get the board to tip top condition again, or just be ok buying what you buy.
Check the tire
How many miles does the tire have on it?
Any leaks or obvious signs of wear and tear?
A Onewheel tire should be replaced every 1000 miles or so or as needed depending on riding style.
Bumps and dents
Are there any bumps or dents that look really bad?
Can the seller explain how they got there?
Are they purely cosmetic or does it affect the functionality?
Lastly to find a good deal look for motivated sellers
Motivated sellers spent a lot of money on their Onewheel and maybe just decided it wasn’t for them or the learning curve was more than they expected.
Onewheel’s aren’t for everyone, no judgement.
These sellers likely just want to recoup some of the cost they paid, so the prices they offer will be lower and the mileage is also likely lower.
Oneradwheel has a really good post about finding motivated sellers and how to get a good deal.
Where Can You Buy A Used Onewheel?
There are actually more places than you might think, but here are a few I found:
PEV Marketplace – I just launched this marketplace and we’re adding new boards slow but surely every day. Check back often for updates.
Facebook marketplace – You can always find stuff there, create alerts and keep an eye out for good deals.
Craigslist – Same as FB marketplace, good deals abound, just be diligent, set up alerts.
Reddit – The community has a place where users can post details about boards they’re selling, buyer beware of course, but I doubt many thieves are active on the Onewheel subreddit, so if they seem active that’s a good sign.
eBay – You’ll definitely find Onewheels here, it can be a little more tricky though because you’ll likely want a thorough inspection but won’t be able to get it here.
Local Onewheel Buying Tips
Buying local or from reliable shops is always the best option.
When meeting with someone to potentially buy their used Onewheel, you’ll want to check a few things to make sure everything is on the up and up.
I put together a short checklist of things to ask when doing your in person (or zoom) inspection.
What To Ask The Seller Of A Used Onewheel
Are you the original owner?
Did you buy the Onewheel new?
Who did you buy it from?
Why are you selling it?
What’s the mileage?
What condition is it in?
Do you have any proof of purchase?
When did you buy it? (The onewheel and it’s parts have a 6-12 month warranty)
Do you still have the original box?
Do you have the original charger?
Ever been in water, snow, sand?
Any issues you know about?
Willing to lower price?
Any accessories?
What kind of payment?
General Tips For Buying A Used Onewheel
Use marketplaces to find local sellers and test the board yourself.
If you’re going to have someone ship you the board, jump on a video call and go through these checklists.
Ask them “can you hop on a zoom call and show me the board and that it works?”
Testing the board in person when possible.
Meet in a public place with lots of foot traffic, be safe people.
Bring a friend, an extra pair of eyes helps for a lot of reasons.
Do a visual (gut check) inspection.
Let them do the talking and pay attention to what they say and don’t say.
Download the Onewheel app before hand and connect to look at the stats and specs to make sure everything the seller says lines up.
Used Onewheel Inspection Checklist
How’s the overall condition?
Are the footpads in good shape? Grip tape and edges?
Does the footpad sensor engage? Get off and on repeatedly to make sure.
Are the rails in good shape? Have they been replaced recently?
How’s the wheel? How many miles on it? Any leaks or damage?
How scraped up is the underside of board? Some damage is normal, and bumpers can be replaced, but deep gashes can be a sign that the insides might have been rattled more than their fair share.
Bumper condition, look new or really beat up?
Is the wheel rim scraped, bent or damaged in any way? This is one of the most crucial parts because the only way to get this repaired is via Future Motion and it is not cheap
How many miles does the engine have? How many miles does the tire have?
Any cracks from over-tightening screws or hard crashes?
Any visible water damage? Does the seller know of any water damage?
Any missing or loose screws?
Does the board power on? Several times?
Does it charge?
Does the tire hold pressure? Any leaks?
Any rattling when you shake, move or ride the board? (When my hall effect sensor broke it rattled when I rode, so be wary).
Lights and LEDs are working?
Board can accelerate and decelerate without problem or weird noises.
Was board registered with future motion? Do you have proof?
The Wrap Up
Look at the end of the day buying a used Onewheel can be a total win.
I would do it in a heartbeat for the right deal and after a thorough inspection.
I think the overall moral of the story is, look for good deals and beware fraud and scam sellers, but overall if you’re wise and cautious you’ll be glad you were and enjoy a great outdoor toy.
Happy riding!
