[old cheese]

Looking to upgrade the boys bike. He has learned to ride on a ridgeback 12 inch wheeled thingy. I have been looking at the specialized hot rock 16 inch as I want him to have a quality bike And also want it to last. He will be 6 in may. Are there any realistic alternatives to the specialized hot rock?

[fatkid2000]

Look up isla bikes on the net - my 3 year old has one.

They make balance bikes up to bikes for teenagers. Get great reviews and have basically scaled down version of adult components.

I tried to get a 2nd hand one , but they were selling for £20-40 less than retail on ebay. They seem popular in cycling families round here.

Think its internet order only.

[ianv]

 Stick with spesh (hotrock 20) or Scott (voltage 20).

Personally, I wouldn't touch Isla bikes with a barge pole. My son managed to snap one in two!

[SamT]

Dawes rocket.  Much cheaper than isla bikes as they are less well known thus easier to get hold of. Ali frame so nice and light. We picked up an absolutely flaweless one on ebay for 70 notes. They normally go a bit cheaper. Ask yourself if your 6 year old really needs suspension forks or whether they just add unnecessary extra weight.

[Ti_pin_man]

The honest answer is get one you lad likes.  its simples really, even if you love the mini me aspect of getting him a 'proper' bike, if its the wrong colour or doesnt have what he and his mates is cool then he wont be so inclined to ride it.  take him down to the bike shop or show him options online and see which one lights up his face.

[Obi-Wan is lost...]

We have a cheap Decathlon one but it weighs a ton so thinking of getting an Islabike Beinn 20. Most other known brands seem to be around 11kg, Islabikes are around 8kg. Expensive but they hold their value.

[Jim]

in the same boat as Obi, thinking of getting an Isla bike but contemplating a cheaper alternative

[SamT]

 

Just re-read this - and realised your after a 16" one,  again, Dawes Blowfish 16 which with have for a younger one...cheaper than the isla bikes and much easier to get hold of (2nd hand).  Ours cost 11 quid on ebay - rather well used so I bought a new seat for it and a new brake lever, but still, bargain! and T loves it.

It has to be said though, that the isla bikes do hold their value very well, so you what you fork out upfront, you'll get back in a year or two when they've out grown it.

[Jaspersharpe]

Yeah the sprog had the Isla balance bike and when we upgraded to the one with pedals I sold the balance bike on ebay for about £15 less than it cost new.

Never known anything hold it's value so well and it'd had some right hammer too.

[dave]

We just got one for Will from Decathlon, shorties dad was researching reasonably priced ones and rated the build quality of it, in comparison he said the Halford's equivalent was total shit.

The decathlon one comes fully pimped out with a horn, lights and mudguards and a dope paintjob. In other words its a pussy magnet. I know nothing about bikes but assume these things are important.

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/16-pirabike-childrens-bike-black-id_8173586.html

[Jaspersharpe]

I know nothing about bikes either but the fact that it has pirates on it is surely a massive selling point. Probably more important than brakes or suchlike.

[lagerstarfish]

I'm not sure that the eyepatch accessory is a great idea

[dave]

To be fair they missed off a cutlass holder, but you can't have everything or it would cost too many doubloons.

[SA Chris]

great arrrrrrtwork.

[Obi-Wan is lost...]

Avast amount of kids bikes are heavy, me hearties.

[Jaspersharpe]

Yes shopping for kids bikes can be a rum deal. I hope you manage to hook a bargain.

[lagerstarfish]

it's good, but I wonder if they have anything a little more piratey?

Margret will know

[erm, sam]

My 6yr old has got one of the Decathlon pirate ones above and it is fine but the brakes are a bit shit. I upgraded one of the levers to a kids bmx one which works better but he didn't like at first (fine with it now).

[ianv]

16" Isla bike, which did not retain its second hand value       :


fin 2010 - mai2011 162 by ianvincent, on Flickr

A normal height 5-6 yr old is going to grow out of a 16" pretty quickly IME. My son (not very tall) was riding a 20" at 6 and I would at least consider going for the bigger size at that age.

My general sense is that budget bikes are something Decathlon do well.

 

[old cheese]

Thanks for the replies, especially ianv, I kinda had the same idea about him growing out of a 16 inch bike at the back of my mind. I don't want to spend a bunch of dough for a bike that only lasts a few months. Will look for summat bigger

[Obi-Wan is lost...]

16" Isla bike, which did not retain its second hand value       :


fin 2010 - mai2011 162 by ianvincent, on Flickr

What's the story here? Would be surprised/disappointed if they didn't have a decent frame warranty

[Obi-Wan is lost...]

5 year on frame and forks, unless it's just been under that  car.

[ianv]

5 year on frame and forks, unless it's just been under that  car.

I did get offered a new frame but chose to give it a miss considering how obviously inappropriate the bike was. Apparently getting the wheels off the ground is a big no no

[Obi-Wan is lost...]

5 year on frame and forks, unless it's just been under that  car.

I did get offered a new frame but chose to give it a miss considering how obviously inappropriate the bike was. Apparently getting the wheels off the ground is a big no no

So he bust it by taking it over a sweet jump?

[ianv]

So he bust it by taking it over a sweet jump?

He broke it at the BMX track and they gave me grief for letting him use it it an inappropriate way. Kids ride Argos bikes on our local bmx track and they don't break so for an Isla bike to snap says something about the build quality.

FWIW @ old cheese, as long as a 20" is not too big, something like this would be a good buy.:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Boys-Bike-Scott-Voltage-JR20-Front-Suspension-10-inch-Frame-20-Inch-Wheel-/161137359010?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item258488f8a2



Tough, decent geometry and looks pretty cool.





 

[bobkatebob]

BKB Jr has a lapierre technic lite 20" that he has grown out of.
http://www.mtbchannel.com/gammes2010/Lapierre/8628/Tecnic-20-Lite
I think it's a perfect mix between light enough yet rugged enough.
In good condition though 1 uplift scar. Yep rugged enough for the alps.
It's the burnt orange colour.
I am sure he was 6 until about 8 when he rode it though it was on the small side in the end.
(He went to a small adult mtb after)
The thing is using age is only a guide as he is now 10 and only an inch shorter than me :-S

If anyone's interested in the bike you can you contact Neil H for photos etc.

[Obi-Wan is lost...]

That looks sweet, where is it BKB? Could well be interested.

[Obi-Wan is lost...]

Out of interest weighed the 20inch wheel Decathlon one we have 11.8kg.

[ianv]

This is awesome 


125 by ianvincent, on Flickr

Bit pricey though!

[bobkatebob]

where is it BKB? Could well be interested.

It's in Font at the moment but if interested it could come over to the UK around the 11th Nov. Neil can supply you with pics etc.

[bobkatebob]

Ianv,
If you want to go down that route but don't want to spend totally silly money then I saw the commencal store has an outlet section with decent kids mtb just old models. The other option is that the bike rental places in the alps usually sell off their old stock at the end of the season but I think you might have missed this years now.

[ianv]

My lad is pretty much sorted till 2015, when the really silly money starts

Demo 8 with air suspension

[Jim]

anyone got anything else to add to this thread now everyones 5-6 year olds have new bikes?

[nai]

My girl had the Specialized at about age 4 but had grown out of it by 6, knees hitting handlebars etc., she's not exactly big for her age either.  I tried her on various 18" bikes but they were all too big so I had to get her another 16" bike from Decathlon.

The decathlon has a bigger size range, was half the price and is perfectly good enough for what she needs.  Only better feature on the Specialized is the reverse pedal braking but she gets on ok (ish) with the oversize easy-pull leavers on the Decathlon.

[ianv]

Just seen this on pb. wicked bike if it fits anyone's kid ( 24" so 7 up).



http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/1422918/

There is also this if anyone is feeling flush!



http://www.propain-bikes.com/de/shop/FrechDax+2014-46/  16 and 20" versions

[old cheese]

 Managed to get jacob a Giant xtc 20" wheel bike for £120, excellent condition. Seems to be good and about 10 1/2 pounds. He is a little small on it but can rid eit ok. I am very glad I didn't for for the hotrock 14" now.