This rating is based on customer reviews, inventory size, pricing, and service quality
Based on recent feedback, Recycle-A-Bicycle in Brooklyn, NY earns a generally positive but uneven reputation. Shoppers praise welcoming, patient staff, quick triage on simple fixes, fair pricing on used bikes and parts, and organized parts bins that make finding bits easy; selection changes often. Several note e‑bike know‑how and community vibes. Complaints cluster around pricey tune‑ups, long or shifting wait times/limited hours, and inconsistent repair quality—missed issues, returns, and rare rude interactions. Best for bargains, basics, and parts; complex overhauls feel hit‑or‑miss. Overall: 80/100.
Nonprofit shop providing refurbished donated bikes & new accessories, plus full-service repairs.
Hours not specified
What clients say about Recycle-A-Bicycle in Brooklyn (NY)
Recycle a bike is a rip off, to expensive, you can go to a real bike shop for better cheaper price, just for a tune up is all they do for the prices they charge, not happening
I went in yesterday when the crank fell off on way to a gig. The guy behind the counter said they were busy but he could probably knock it out. He lept over the counter, grabbed a used crank from the used parts box, and replaced it with one hand, while twirling his moustache with the other. I was out of there lickety split. This is why I come here again and again.
Customer Service very rude & vague. Quite dismissive & arrogant. There where two guys there (on a Saturday), kind of tall guy with long hair only acknowledged me when I told him that I had a donation bike. Now he opens up & pretends to be professional, bad for the community (did not deserve my re$ource).
Gone way downhill in quality and customer service.
$250 for a tuneup that: - Took 3 weeks - Was completed 5 days after estimate - Was lied to about timeline twice - Over tightened rear wheel break - Didn’t even pump up the tires - No explanation of services rendered upon pickup without my asking
Thought I found a go-to neighborhood shop but that’s clearly not the case. Won’t be returning.
The tire went flat again a few days after service here. It had been sitting in the bike room, so I found it very strange that it went flat so soon. I had to push my bike from home to the store in hot weather. When I arrived, the staff member said he could check it, but then took care of a customer who came in after me. After I waited patiently for 7 minutes, I reminded him that I was there first and needed to leave soon. He said, “Well, I told you it will take 15 minutes.” I explained I was first, but he just ignored my request. Eventually I decided to leave and go to another shop because the energy felt bad and I lost trust.
It turned out, there was glass still in the tire—meaning it probably hadn’t been properly examined last week when the new tube was installed.
Because of this carelessness, I had to pay for another new tube and fee, and deal with the extra hassle in the heat, wasted time, plus the cold attitude. Truly not a great overall experience.
I hope this review helps your business raise awareness in improving staff training, customer service, and attention to detail in the future.
Fantastic experience. Josh helped problem solve a unique issue on my bike in a way that was focused on ultimately saving me money and getting me back on the bike asap. Would absolutely return in the future.
went in to get my vintage racehorse an overdue tune up and exceeded all expectations! was initially hesitant after being quoted a price higher than i expected , but these guys know what they're doing - the quality of work was 100% worth it - my baby rides better than ever ! will be coming back :)
A wonderful shop. I was greeted and helped by Tom, who put me on multiple bikes to try. He was attentive to what I was looking for in a bike, and we found multiple in the shop that fit my rather limiting criteria. I had the opportunity to take them both for text rides down the street. All the staff were friendly and patient. I had a fantastic time finding the right bike and would come here in a heartbeat for any of the bike maintenance classes or to pick up a second bike!
Very informative, knowledgeable staff and very fair prices. From used bikes, to free bike repair classes, these guys are my one stop shop for anything i need for my bike. Usually very fast service too. Great spot.
I had to get my e-bike repaired which may not be the easiest thing to do. Many traditional bike stores won’t work on them and your average e-bike repair shop works on those delivery/moped types only. Shane over at Recycle-A-Bicycle explained my bikes issues with clarity and professionalism. I knew his diagnosis on my bikes issues were on point! The price was reasonable and the turn over was ridiculously quick. I highly recommend this shop, for both electric bikes and traditional.
I’ve been here a couple of times and everyone who works there is genuine, informative, and friendly. If I came about a year apart their whole selection has changed. Haven’t had too much luck with something “for me” yet, but highly recommend to get a reliable and not crazy expensive bike.
Many thanks to the staff for their professionalism and patience! I did not like the tires that I chose. They went to meet me and replaced the tires with others, as aesthetics is very important to me. Now I’m so happy!
Helped me find a rack for an 80s Ross women's touring bike -- not easy to do compatibility wise! Not to mention they didn't ask much for it, and they even measured and made a shim for it on the spot for me in minutes. Highly recommend for kind and practical service!
Went looking for a bike to carry up my fifth floor walkup. They showed me a few, but ultimately gave me really good advice to look elsewhere as there weren’t any light single speed hybrids in stock. I appreciate the very solid advice and that the guys were super helpful without trying to sell you something.
This place is the best. I'm so happy I found it. The folks working here are really helpful and patient. I love the mission and model of what they're doing. It will be my go-to spot for all things repairs, parts and whatever the hell else. Big love!
Super happy with the service here. Shane took time from what he was doing to sort out my chain skipping issue. In about 5 minutes he replaced my cassette while also helping 2 other customers. My bike rides so much better now. Thank you!
Weird Review. I experienced NO JUDGEMENT for the first time in my life. It was weird. I'm a 6'3", 300lbs, Black guy and I walked into the store and was completely treated like something I've witnessed but have NEVER experienced in my 60 years on this planet. I BROWSED. They didn't rush to me with the panicked, "May I help you?" that usually means hurry up and get out of my store and please don't hurt us. I LOVE THIS PLACE. I am coming back to buy the Barbie bicycle for my granddaughter or anything to do my part to keep them in business.
Great experience, professional and cordial staff at Recycle-A-Bicycle center today—they checked chains, brakes, and overall functionality of my bike I requested for a service inspection of my bicycle. They reassured me it's good to go, all without any service charge. That was lovely.
Only bike shop I go to in brooklyn! I've been multiple times for tuneups/ minor fixes and everytime it gets done in no time and for a very reasonable price. One time it was a super quick and easy fix and they didn't even charge me. The employees are all very nice and never act condescending like I've experienced at other bike shops in brooklyn. Also they always have a selection of used bikes and if I ever need a new one I will for sure buy from them.
Buying used bikes, great. Buying used parts, also great! Basic repair, great. Complicated repairs and tune ups...not so good. They're very nice but some of the less experienced mechanics miss things, important things. I dropped off a used bike I got off the internet for a safety check and tune up. Long story short, I came back twice because I kept finding things that were -seriously- wrong. After the third time they declared the bike done, I came by and it still wasn't. I did not have the heart or the patience to have them work on it a third time. So I just paid the bill and considered it a charitable donation.
This bike shop was great! I brought my bike in for some squeaky brakes. It was done in just a few hours and they even condensed the charges so the price was beyond reasonable. Everyone I spoke to was so kind and helpful. Definitely coming here for all my bike repair needs!
Just got a great deal on a recycled bike from here. Way better than brand new with all new bearings/gears. It’s lightweight and is a smooth quiet ride! Don’t get a new bike, it will only be stolen. New bikes are for fancy people. The rest of us should recycle bikes. If you’re shopping here you may need to check back in from time to time to see what they’ve made recently but I would also bet they’d custom build something for you if you wanted to search out a frame/bars/seat of your own. They’re nice guys and they do solid work.
Bought a bike and the chain broke halfway home. Had to walk the bike all the way back. Store opening hours say open 9am Sunday including a flyer on the store front. Arrived at 9am on the dot to pick up my bike that was never meant to be broken. Three people have been standing outside for 35 MINUTES and counting. Huge waste of time for paying $500 for a used bike that broke on me and having to schlep early on a Sunday and no idea whether I'll have to leave and come back for the third time.
Took a used bike here for a tune up ($140) and a bunch of things weren’t great (including losing my tires and charging me for a new pair - I did get a refund in the end but that was really frustrating) BUT the thing that is leading me to write this review is the fact that they missed how bent the front fork was AND that there was a pretty significant crack in the stem upon further inspection since the fork was so bent. The headset was also really loose and I didn’t know enough to know how much better the handling could be if that was tighter. And the chain they put on is the was the wrong size - it’s manageable, but the shifting could be better and I’ve been advised to replace it. Luckily I took the bike to another shop after I had trouble putting the front wheel back on after transporting it and the other shop help me replace parts and make it safe to ride. I think there’s some wonderful people that work here, but they are so busy and overwhelmed they can’t provide a level of service that’s both a good customer experience AND also safe.
This is a really great bike shop. Limited hours are the reason for not a five star review. The staff is super knowledgeable. They have a bunch of second hand parts that are high quality if you are looking to save some money. They always are willing to explain the work and are very friendly. No annoying bike shop vibes here. I wish them all the best and will go to them for all my repairs. You can trust them with any level bike repair.
Could not recommend this space enough! After spending the day visiting different bike shops in Brooklyn with a lot of helpful bike sellers but with exclusively expensive options, I stumbled on this NYC nonprofit with a commitment to sustainability. This location has a wide variety of donated bikes restored and upgraded sold at half the msrp providing plenty of cheap and extensive options. All bikes are available to test before you buy and all employees are extremely helpful. I frequently visited until I found a road bike I was interested in, and everytime I entered I was met with an abundance of patience and helpful tips on maintaining the bike. I specifically want to shout out Mohammad who was always helpful and happy to speak to anyone at length about their future purchase if they have any general questions and was even nice enough to make bike adjustments on the spot.
If a simple visit alone does not convince customers to return, the shop also offers a free tune up a month after purchase and 15% off accessories after a bike purchase. It is a shame that some bike education programs were paused due to covid, becuase I can easily see how helpful this resource can be to the rest of the community after recommending this place to family and friends and hearing about their experience. They do take covid very seriously, and have plenty of precautions to keep customers safe. If that frustrates you enough to leave a 1 star review, you either weren't in the city in Spring of 2020, or you're an imbecile who doesn't care about their community/fellow New Yorker anyway.
If this space is close enough to you, a simple visit is in your best interest, and the great people will make it worth the 30 minutes you take out of your day. Best Bike Shop in Brooklyn
I crashed my bike way worse than I realized. Handle bars got snagged coming over the bridge and sent me straight into the wall. I was fine but my front fork was not. Got recommend to come in RAB as they have ‘the biggest selection of parts in the 5 boroughs’ They lived up ⬆ to the hype. Hank and Muhammad helped me out. Found an old fork that matched my bike and tunes it up. Nice two tone didn’t turn out so bad. Will return if i crash again, lol. No, hopefully just for a tune up.
I’ve brought bikes in for simple tune ups to entire SS conversions and every time I have been greeted warmly and helped thoroughly and given the option for new or new-to-me parts. I added a before-and-after of my trek-conversion-Bike.
One of the best bike repair shops in NYC. By far the most competent and affordable and accessible. They don't sell new bikes and they're a non-profit so you are not going to get a hard sell for anything. ALSO if you're a DIY tinkerer they have milk crates full of used basic parts that you can pick through: Hubs, brakes, shifters, stems, pedals, seatpost, etc. And it all goes for a good cause.
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