Difference between boys and girls junior bikes?

[j_cocker]

I am looking for a 24" mountain bike for my daughter (age 9, average height).

The two that she likes are the Giant MTX 225 and Taffy 225 that can be found here (first is the boys and second the girls' version):
http://www.giant-bic....fs/5724/39226/

Apart from the colours, do boys and girls bikes vary in any other way? She fancies the "boys" ones in terms of apearance, but I know that for adult bikes there is sometime a variation of the distance between the saddle and the handle bar between similar sizes for males and females...

Also, considering that she will use it mostly for riding to school and back of a relatively flat country track + the occasional family trip in the country, how do these bike seem?

I haven't kept an eye on the market for the last 10 years or so - are Giant ok in terms of value for money? How do they compare with Specialized that all her friends have?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Moodyman]

The bodyframe difference between boys & girls is not as wide as that between men & women. So fit is not a big issue.

Girls bikes are designed with a lower top tube so the little miss can climb aboard easier. Of course colour is a big thing. Even if she likes the look of boys bike, she just needs a couple of kids making fun out of her to put her off riding it. I saw this with a neighbours boy whose mum bought him a unisex bike that was more girly than boyish. He didn't ride it again after he was mocked in the park.

I'd try and convince her on a girly colour.

Re the brands - doesn't make much difference. Most bikes now are made in Taiwan and are evenly specced. With kids bikes, there not much to choose between Giant, Trek, Kona or Specialised.

They're all better than you supermarket bikes.

If you really want to get her the best you can, look at Islabikes.

 

[ChrisKH]

Islabikes +1. Their children's bikes are more cyclocross (they've got one MTB from memory which is lovely, but v.expensive) but can handle any off road you throw at them.

Islabikes aren't modified for gender particularly, as they are superlight and have a sloping downtube already. They do come in different colours tho'. They're my recommendation and superior to the other brands IMO.