boys bike - 10 years old

[007fair]

Hi Any suggestions on a reasonable / light MTB for a 10 year old?
where to buy what to spend? Kids have had GIANT up till now but the price of new bikes seems to have gotten pretty expensive Is this true?
ie the equivalent GIANT - an MTX 250 I think is 200 GBP

I was wondering if I could get a decent new bike for 120 - 150 Would need to be 24 inch wheels I reckon

Thanks !

 

[Globalti]

Yawn! Here we go again.

You won't get a decent bike for £120-150, you'll get a heavy mild steel frame and unnecessary suspension.

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

 

[Jonathan M]

Yawn! Here we go again.

You won't get a decent bike for £120-150, you'll get a heavy mild steel frame and unnecessary suspension.

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

Lot of outlay, especially in these times, I've recently spent £150 on a Raleigh MTB for my 8 year old simply becuase he is growing so fast,and it would be difficult to keep up with the change in bikes required. Once he shows a bit less growth and as much keenness for MTB riding as he does on his "commute" to school & weekend rides together, then a better MTB will be on the cards.


@007fair, don't assume he'll need a 24" wheel, I did when sizing Josh for this new bike, and with a small enough frame he has gone up to 26" wheels. Josh is quite tall, probably the same height as an average 10 year old (he's 9 in a couple of weeks) so you may be in the same dilemma. Basically a 24" wheel bike would be at max saddle extension and his feet still flat on the floor pretty much - he's got a 14" frame, 26" wheel Raleigh Roam on the way.

 

[Globalti]

Good advice - at 10 he is beyond the upper size limit for a 24" wheel. Get a small frame with 26" wheels and you'll have plenty of room for growth.

 

[007fair]

Thanks for the advice guys I'll look into a small 26 inch
Sorry to bore you rigid .. er ..rigid raider!

I had heard of Isla bikes before but for the time he will have it and the way he will treat it (ie not with particular care) this sort of price is out of the question

I was looking at a second hand Ridgeback MX24 Rigid alloy frame and seems to be reasonable quality ?

 

[John Ponting]

Good advice - .

certainly better than your first attempt.

Yes it's a question that gets asked quite often but it is BEGINNERS so not unexpected. Also let's try not to put BEGINNERS of at the first post.

Another forum that I visit has usefull beginners advice as stickies - maybe we need some here ?

 

[Globalti]

Here, just stumbled across this: http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Dawes-Bullet-Boys-Mountain-Bike-2009-Hardtail-MTB_24987.htm

Might do?

 

[upsidedown]

If you're anywhere near a Decathlon they do some great bikes for that sort of money.

 

[John Ponting]

We bought grandson a Raleigh ZeroG 24 inch boys with similar specs to the Dawes Bullet. Seems to be special order at a couple of shops at the moment at good price. Also available as Raleigh ZeroG 26 inch boys 2010.

 

[Dave5N]

Good advice - at 10 he is beyond the upper size limit for a 24" wheel. Get a small frame with 26" wheels and you'll have plenty of room for growth.

Nonsense. My lad is 10 and is fine on his Kona Jake 24.

 

[John the Monkey]

My son's 11 - we got him a 2nd hand Decathlon Rockrider 5.1 with 24" wheels.

Nice bike, and ours just needed cleaning up a little - total cost £50 plus a couple of trips to see it and pick it up once we'd won it on ebay.

 

[007fair]

all thanks for the replies
Yes I know this is a time old question. Almost as much as 'which road bike for 500 quid' But its great to have place to go to ask these questions - sticky or otherwise

I'll be looking for a second hand good nick alloy bike with no suspension (rear at least) Bit like the decathlon in the last post I'll update this when it happens for future readers reference

Cheers!

 

[Jonathan M]

Kids bike needs to be fitted according to kids height not age - so what works for one 10 year old may not work for another 9year old.

Another reason that I'll suggest trying before buying is that it is more likely to get you into your local bike shop, and while I'll agree that Islabikes are superb quality, there is nothing like supporting your LBS.

Reminds me I'm off to my LBS to pick up Josh's new bike this afternoon.

 

[ChrisKH]

Nonsense. My lad is 10 and is fine on his Kona Jake 24.

Equally my son had only just turned 9 and had outgrown his 24" Islabike Beinn. Depends on the kids size more than age and the various bikes being considered.

 

[summerdays]

You are right to say size more than age for fit although it starts off as a reasonable guide.

But then the Islabike sizing is definitely slightly different to the standard bikes. My 8 yo (small) has only just moved up to the 24" Islabikes but there is no way he would fit most of the standard 24" bikes out there. That was one of the reasons for going with Islabikes, the fact that he should be able to keep up better with the larger wheel size.