Help wanted with boys bike

[shutterman]

Looking for advice/input/suggestions on which bike to buy my son next. Learnt the hard way buying from Halfords but now it's time for a proper bike (mtb)

Aged 8 (almost) and 132cm tall

any info MUCH appreciated, brands to avoid,links etc,etc

Thanks in advance

 

[kaytronika]

I believe Islabike are the company people normally recommend... Top quality bikes (but not overly cheap) built with kid sized components that maintain their resale value when you come to trade them in.

http://www.islabikes.co.uk/

 

[Tad]

+1 for Islabikes.

They're brilliantly thought out with short reach brake levers and such rather than adult ones on a small frame. Yes, they're not cheap but they hold their value so you can sell on when the time comes for something bigger.

 

[shutterman]

Thanks for the quick reply, i think at those prices (£700) i will think about saving up for the next step up.

Specialized still quality or not?

 

[cornholio's RC200]

Might be worth looking s/h for something. If I know an 8 year old it'll get dropped, left outside somewhere, stolen etc.

As for reasonable brands, any of the usuals do something a bit smaller. GT, Specialized, Kona might be the way to look.

 

[shutterman]

Don't mind going down the s/h route, more so given the rate he is growing!!

Checking ebay now, Am i correct i thinking the better brands will weigh much less than halfords crapola (weight being one of the main isssues) unless someone more learned than i can put me right

Again thanks for the input

 

[daj]

I STILL cannot work this out , We just picked up a new cube on the cycle scheme. Looking through there catalog they do junior bikes that look totally superb!! but they weigh the same as the adult bike :shock: these are not cheap ones either

 

[DeletedUser006]

For kids bikes I would strongly recommend some research, I have 2 boys age 7 and nearly 9, I started them off on a ridgeback mx16 as it has proper components and quality parts, none of those nasty bushes in the headset, hubs and bb,s that seems to be common place in kids bikes :roll: , for a year now they ride a Kona makena 20"wheels and a Carrera Blast 24" wheels, both are good quality bikes with decent parts especially the brakes . Both the Kona and Carrera were found on eBay locally for little money. They both use std compents so upgrading to better parts is easy if you want pics let me know

 

[shutterman]

Been browsing ebay and i think i have picked the right ones

Carrera Blast

Scott scale junior

Trek MT 220

Specialized hot rock

Will be researching these for now, if anyone can suggest anything else to add to the list then feel free. Offers of help with sending would be cool too Karma WILL come back directly

 

[Iwasgoodonce]

The twins, (nearly 9 years old) both have Specialized Hotrocks with 24" wheels and 12" frames. They are dual suspension but seem a very reasonable weight. Charles had an Islabike before but it would be too small for your lad as it was the Benin 20. They do hold their value very well though.