|   MTB for a kid? | singletrack
Jun 12, 2002 6:56 AM | | Does anyone know off a decent quality bike for a 7 year old? My son loves to ride but his bike (Pacific) is HEAVY. I looked at the LBS prior to purchasing and their offerings didn't seem to be a big improvement, just a lot more money. I've got no problem spending $ on a quality ride for him, I judt can't find one. I'd love to get him full suspension but that may be asking to much. Any help will be apprieciated. |
| I'm looking at the same thing | Drewpy
Jun 12, 2002 7:04 AM | | for my 7yo. The LBS has a decent selection of specialized and GF, but they are all heavy. For the record, so are the Giants.
I haven't been able to find anything lighter anywhere. Another thing I have run across is there isn't a whole lot of difference at this level (I assume you are looking at 24'). Frankly, the name brand stuff doesn't really appear to be worth 3x the Murray at Toys r Us. Don't get me wrong, I know I will have to reassmble the thing, but I haven't made up my mind yet.
OK, I drifted off the subject a little. If you find one out there, I'd really like to know about it. |
| Stay away from a FS... | Ken in KC
Jun 12, 2002 7:11 AM | | at his age, they will be heavy and cost too much.
A good bike really depends on how tall your son is and your price range.
Some of the WSD bikes seem to be built well for kids. In addition, some of the smaller frames may fit him too.
My daughter rides a 13" Specialized. It costs a little more than most kids bikes, but she really loves mountain biking and she will be able to grow with the frame for a number of years until she is ready for a bigger frame.
I've heard (but not seen) that Bianchi makes a 13" WSD bike that retails for around $300. Yeah, it's a lot of coin, but if your son rides it until he's 14 or so, that works out to about $43 per year.
More advantages to a LBS bike, vs. a mega-retailer bike:
- Bike is put together correctly
- You will be able to get support for the bike
- The warrantee process is easier with a LBS
- Most likely, a better fork
All of these are extremely important when you consider that you're mountain biking, not just riding on sidwalks. The bike will suffer considerably more abuse. If the bike is built to take it, your son will be safer than on a bike that isn't designed to handle abuse.
Ken |
| How serious is he about riding? | BostonBullit
Jun 12, 2002 7:22 AM | | if he's a budding DH nut you could alway contact Frank The Welder and order up a FatCat!
http://www.ftwindustries.com/ftw-fatcat.htm
BostonBullit |
| do you know?... | Barleymon
Jun 12, 2002 11:37 AM | | What is a minimum rider height for riding the Fat Cat? I've been eyeing that bike and am sure my 19 month old son won't manage it yet, but am wondering how soon I should start saving. I can't get him off of my Bullit so I know I'm going to have to do something... old pic, but this was his first time sitting on it... |
| Here is one for ya!... | El Jester
Jun 12, 2002 7:28 AM | | http://www.nsmb.com/shore_news/kona_06_02.php
03 Kona Stinky Jr. The price is a bit steep for a 7yr olds bike, but wouldn't it be sweet!! It's a 13" frame w/ 24" wheels. It has a Fox Vanilla R rear shock and a Marzocchi EXR 4" in the front. Lx components and disc brakes.
Try to convince the wife on this one....not. Maybe I can get a layaway on one now for my 2 year old!!! |
| Pic of Stinky Jr. | El Jester
Jun 12, 2002 7:33 AM | | http://www.konaworld.com/kw_index.cfm |
| Agree with first reply | pedalAZ
Jun 12, 2002 7:32 AM | | Fisher and Specialized both have kid series hard tails. I bought 2 of the Specialized ones 2 years ago and the kids like them. They have real v-brakes, grip shift, quick release axles, 26" rims, etc. Up front they've got RockShox Judy's, which are adequate for the light weight of the kids. Don't waste your money on a FS rig or trying to build a light bike for the little guys; they're just going to grow out of them before you know it, and you won't get your money back. |
| How about a Trek 240? | radair
Jun 12, 2002 8:09 AM | | Aluminum frame and quite well-built. Still not really light, but much better than the department store bikes. My LBS gives a decent trade in on used bikes, so there's incentive to come back. |
| 2 Good 24" Wheel kid bikes | HoJo
Jun 12, 2002 8:12 AM | | I have done a bunch of research on this for my now 10 year old.
There are 2 new kid bikes out Trek and Specialized. Both are 24" wheel bikes std diamond AL frames with front shock.
Trek is a little larger with a 21"TT, 8 speed, $380
Specialized is shorter 20"T,T w/ 2" more stand over, 7 speed, $320
All the other bikes we looked at are funky (very heavy) designed frames, with not for dirt parts.
We ended up with a Specialized and a bunch of my left overparts (now 8 speed rapidfire, etc.) Only thing I can't find is lighter 24" full nob tires. My son loves the bike and can climb and descend stuff he would never take on with his old 20" Trek MT lion.
Good luck Hojo |
| Trek 240... like this one. | Charlie America
Jun 12, 2002 8:32 AM | | It's very nice... |
| If you want to save some weight and keep Cleatgrrl happy... | Biking Viking
Jun 12, 2002 8:34 AM | | ...you could go with the Trek 220, which doesn't have a suspension fork.
BV |
| And what if... | Charlie America
Jun 12, 2002 8:50 AM | | ...I'm happy with my weight and don't give a plying puck if Cheatgrrl is happy?
I removed the stock RST springs from the bike and installed one SpeedSpring extra light spring in the right side. It actually works very well for her. Add to that she loves riding it and I'm happy too.
Photo from a ride at China Camp. |
| I'm impressed | cleatgrrl
Jun 12, 2002 8:54 AM | | That you got the basket on without messing up the brake cables. Can she also put something in the basket, or would it kink the cables? |
| She carries snacks in there. | Charlie America
Jun 12, 2002 8:57 AM | | Usually Ritz Bits (cheese) and juice.. and occasionally dog treats for the dogs we see while otu riding. I've rigged a little net cover for it because things bounce out when we take the bumpy downhills. |
| ooo..good idea... | Sabine
Jun 12, 2002 9:14 AM | | Might have to steal that netting idea to keep the Duvel from bouncing out of the Schwinn's basket. |
| CA and/or BV.....a question for you..... | knobbydad®
Jun 12, 2002 9:48 AM | | How tall is your daughter? My 8 1/2 year old has outgrown her 20" Specialized Hot Rock and I'm thinking about skipping the 24" phase altogether and getting a 26" wheel bike. She is about 54" tall and grows like a weed. She takes after her old man except my growth these days tends to be out instead of up! I'm looking to scrape through my parts bin and have been eyeing the Access frame at Superblo to build up.
BV, I know your son is on a 26" bike. How tall is he? |
| Have to call my wife....(pause)...She says 54 inches. (nm) | Biking Viking
Jun 12, 2002 10:01 AM | | |
| Growing like a weed... | Charlie America
Jun 12, 2002 12:59 PM | | ...and I'm not sure how tall right now (holds hand about half way up ribs) or her inseam. She's a tall one though.
I'll measure her tomorrow... |
| Be careful of the Trek 240... | Fast Eddy
Jun 12, 2002 9:36 AM | | The 2001/2002 versions were very cool. 6061 alu frame, 8 spd casette rear hub and 1-1/8" threadless headset. For 2003 (I saw one in a shop already) they dumbed it down some. The frame is heavier and it uses a threaded headset and a 7 spd freewheel in the back. |
| What?!?! Why?!?! | Charlie America
Jun 12, 2002 1:06 PM | | The one I got for Sepcial K was light and had a real 3x8 setup... all I had to do was cut the bars down 2" and change the spring i nthe fork and it's damn near perfect for her.
I figure with a new stem and seatpost, she'll be riding that biek for another year or so.. then onto 26"..
CA (figures Trek would screw up a good thing) |
| Specialized HotRock A1FS24 is pretty cool too. | Fast Eddy
Jun 12, 2002 9:47 AM | | Specialized HotRock A1FS24 is pretty cool. It's $70 less than the Trek and appears to come in two sizes (10" and 13"). It has smaller tires than the Trek (1.8 vs 2.1), and it's lowest gear is 24/28 as compared with the Trek's 22/32. This is a big consideration for me as all the places I ride have significant climbing, and I'd like to have the kids come along. |
| Specialized HotRock A1FS24 is pretty cool too. | singletrack
Jun 12, 2002 10:36 AM | | The Secialized Hotrock does look good. Any idea what it weighs? Secialized would be good because that's what dad rides, an important point for a 7 year old! A trip to the LBS may be in order again. The KONA mentioned earlier is waaaay cool but to much $$. I could see spending $4-500 here but not $1500. Thanks all! |
| the 12 years olds in Whistler seem to prefer the RM7s! (nm) | islander
Jun 12, 2002 1:13 PM | | nm |
| Expert opinion here.... | ironlegsracer
Jun 12, 2002 7:41 PM | | Okay,Lil David started with me on a modified seat at 3 doing the 17 mile singletrack loop.At age 4 we moved up to a trail a bike,doing the same loop.At 5 he started racing bmx.At 6 we bought this bike.Tall for his age,we tried a 24" seat all the way down,still too big (cranks and tt length).We looked at a hotrock (aluminum) 24" last week.I think with shorter cranks it might work.If you want to really know why I'm so anal about the crank length,go here: www.dnascomp.com and check the sizing chart.the bike below has 152mm cranks,his race bike has 145mm.
If he can fit the 24" top tube bike get it.The trak is a good one although I think it's bigger than the specialized.I don't recommend an FS of any type for that age.Although frt shock would be good,make sure it's soft enough for his weight.That covers most of it.
Good Luck,
David
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| Expert opinion here.... | singletrack
Jun 13, 2002 6:21 AM | | Good post. Thanks for the benefits of your experience. Great little guy you've got there. Thanks to everyone for the info. |
| re: MTB for a kid? | Johnny Sea
Jun 13, 2002 6:52 AM | | I'm there too, for my 6 year old. The coolest bike, though you have to get a shop in Canada to get it for you, is a Norco Razor, a 20" F/S bike that is just so cool. It'll run ya about $180 plus shipping, but wicked cool. My son, however wants the GF he saw in the shop, so I guess it's his call. There are also GF Joshua 24s out there on the used market, saw one for $150 in the Want Advertiser a couple weeks ago but my son is way too small for it... |
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