He rides an Islabike here, but I fancy going back to the Alps. We holiday as a family and while his little brother can go on the LOCT on my bike, he will be 8 by the time we go and will be too big.

It’s not cheap, but he’ll use it then his brother and it means that we can all get out in an area we love (he’s already confident on red runs on skis).

Am I mad? Does anyone have experience of said bike? Or even one for sale? Any real alternative bikes in the full suss for 8 year olds easy downhill area?

*pulls up chair*

I saw something somehwere for wee ones, but remember it was bloomin’ expensive. Just done a quick google and can’t find it now.

“Lil ripper” by any chance. Looks superb and I’ve talked to the guy by email and he seems sound, but too niche, too far away, and too expensive for a child’s bike.

Yes, I know “too expensive” and I’m looking at the Kona. But they at least have a UK importer so just easier all round.

Edit: sorry “lil shredder”

how much money do you have: http://www.racespec.co.uk/acatalog/2013-Commencal-Supreme-24–Kids-.html

I’ve got a Kona Shred-20 for sale if you fancy something not quite as big.
Hardtail, disc brakes, 1:6 setup…

There’s a Specialised Hotrock FSR 24 on ebay that needs a little tlc but might be a cheaper alternative.

Or maybe a Genesis Core 24 – not FS but quite slack – 69deg head angle sagged.

Or the Rocky Mountain Reaper 24

http://www.bikes.com/main+en+01_102+REAPER_24.html?BIKE=919&CATID=1&SCATID=48&Y=2011

I’ve ridden the stinky 2-4 when I was younger. I think it was when they first came out(?). I remember being over the moon when riding it. Felt like endless amount of travel after riding my rigid HT. I found it energy sapping (not that bad) on flat but on anything remotely down it was such fun. Plus I felt like a bad man riding it 8)

Only mad if you buy a new one, 2nd hand ones are unlikely to have had a hard time of it and you’d barely lose any money when you come to sell. I would be worried that a Stinky or Commencal 24 would be too big for an 8 y/o though

Hmm. Plenty to think about.

Ska what age were you when you rode the Stinky? I’m guessing not 8.

Both our girls had them when they were younger. Great bikes for the Alps and downhills, bit heavy on the up hills but it never stopped them.

Hold there price well for resale

1st time in Verbier, Katie was 8 and Abigale was 6

My son has had his big hit from 7. At first it was a bit big for tight stuff but on open tracks he went like a train. If you intend riding in the alps, my advice would be do it as the fs means that your son will enjoy it more and be able to ride longer without getting tired. You will be amazed how much better he can ride on steep/more techy terrain.

The one thing that worried me about off the shelf 24 ” dh bikes was that they tend to have coil suspension that may be too hard for the younger rider.if you arelooking second hand you might find an air sprung one though.

FYI commencal do a supreme 24 that looks ace, norco used to do one as did spesh. The big hit grom seems pretty rare though, albeit an awesome bike. Aged 7 @ Deux alpes

117 by ianvincent, on Flickr

We’ve got a hotrock FSR that we might be selling. Based in Hampshire and probably after about £150.

Thought about one but ended up getting a Kona Howler frame with an RP23, fitted his 24 inch wheels from his Shred 24, set of air Tora set to 5 inch. Way lighter than a Stinky and in a year I can throw on some 26 inch wheels. He loves it, and is right on my tail in Leogang and Saalbach. There was a photo of him on it in MBUK last month.

Bad Ass Bikes had one on display when I was in there last week.

Wrap those kids up in cotton wool why don’t you!

Seriously though, chapeau to 6-8 year olds riding/downhilling? in the Alps. My near 4 yo has got serious progression left in store since she can’t even balance yet.

From what I rember, the old (03/04) Spesh Enduro SX had 24″ back wheel. A small one would probably do. Might be a cheaper option.
Kids aren’t usually looking for uber levels of control & chuckability, they are mostly happy with just riding “grown up” trails & a bit of decent suspension & good brakes and they’re happy.

The Stinky 2-4 looks just about unique as a proper size full size for 9-12yr olds. We are having the same thoughts off to the Alps (Samoens) for two weeks in the summer. It seems harsh for MrsG and me to be on full sussers and not for JrG to be on one.

However second hand Stinky 2-4 are as rare as hens teeth. We might have to just go for new and resell when JrG is older.

There is a Big Hit Grom frame up for sale on eBay.. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Specialized-Big-Hit-Grom-Frame-Rockshox-/111046191118?pt=UK_sportsleisure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item19dade680ehere
Not mine…

That grom is just like my sons. If anyone wants an ace kids bike, they probably will not get better. Shock is not the best but the frame is ace. Better than the stinky.

There are so many great bikes for rent that I’ve always rented this kind of bike for my son when we’re in the Alps. I agree that if he was going to be riding for several days, all day, then ing one might make sense. As it is, he only generally goes riding 2-3 days while we’re there so it doesn’t make sense to spend so much money on a bike which will be too small in a couple of years, and which he doesn’t use at home.

Also, I’ve had my son on a Hotrox on xc tyres in the Alps and I will never inflict that on him again. Having mahoosive tyres and decent suspension makes an unbelievable difference to the amount of enjoyment (and safety) on the trails. Mincing down the Les Gets Blue downhill run on a Hotrox was quite a horrible experience, when you compare it to a kids Stiy.

From what I rember, the old (03/04) Spesh Enduro SX had 24″ back wheel. A small one would probably do. Might be a cheaper option.

No it didn’t. Big hits of that era did.

My mates boy rode a stinky 24 for a couple of years. Loved it. Outgrown it now I think. Used to get his old man to push it uphill for him…

We have a kona stinky 24 for my 10 year old and a Norco b line 24 for my 12 year old. Both great bikes, but the kona comes up much smaller. I built the kona myself as I bought the frame only secondhand. Better this way as the forks are pretty stiff and other bits are not great. It now has rock shox recon air forks and runs 1×9 speed. My son loves it.

The Norco comes up bigger and we have upgraded the forks etc as they were rubbish. It now also runs 1×9 and we also upgraded cranks, brakes and wheels. My 12 year old has had it a few years and loves it. Like I said, bigger than the stinky.

Will post pics when I get home.

I’d say get a frame and build your own.

We may sell the stinky after this summer as it is getting small (my 10 year old is nearly as tall as my 12 year old).

We may sell earlier if we can get a nice xs 26″ dh bike for my oldest, my youngest will then use the Norco.

We are in Norwich if you want to come and try the bikes for size.

Simone

We’ve the Norco B-Line and still fine for my son at 14 y/o (although he’s small).

They are a great bike but like most of its ilk very heavy as standard, as in +40lbs.

My son has happily taken it on uplifts with me, and its a great bike.

tbh Whether you buy new or s/h they’ll hold a fair bit of value and you’ll get upto 5yrs out of one – so not so ‘expensive’.

If you’re north of the border, you could try ours.

Uplift at Innerleithen, still with standard (very heavy) forks – now 120 Recon airs.

Hi moniex

Thanks for the write up. I’m coming to the conclusion that the Stinky it definitely has to be. If you decide to sell yours then please PM me.

Simone – I’ve sent you an email basically the same as Tony expressing an interest if you’re selling.

My apologies to Tony – I didn’t see his post before I sent the email, though he certainly posted first.

I’ve got a upgraded kona stinky 2003 that I’m selling! It’s a 17 inch and is a nice starter dh bike and isn’t too heavy. It’s got domains, deore rear deralleur, and dmr v8s looking for around £400 for it. Has just been serviced. I used to ride it when I was 13!!

Unfortunately I’m looking for a bike (probably for use summer 2014) for a boy who’ll be 7 in May. Needs to be the Stinky 2-4.

That grom on eBay is still a decent price and looks in good nick.

I have 2 Kona Stinky 2-4’s for sale as my kids have now outgrown them.. will send you an email.

One is virtually new, having hardly been ridden by my daughter.

The other is my sons and has been ridden hard, but has always been excellently maintained (by me). That one also has 2 sets of wheels. £550 for the newer one / £350 for the more used one.

They are fantastic bikes for kids and my son is now completely hooked on Morzine!

Just a thought, but if you plan on riding as a family, and have a little one on a LOCT, won’t that limit the difficulty of the riding you’re doing to the point where the islabike could well be sufficient? I could understand 2-4s if they were both confident on their own bikes and you could get a bit more adventurous, but won’t the kiddy seat stop you doing that? Unless you plan on letting wife and youngest go out together while you take the older one on some more technical trails?

Hi Digger90

I’d be interested in the newer one – email already sent to you.

Sorry, double post.

Pleader – the LOCT on a Five in Les Gets limited me to green and blue downhills and bits of the red downhill including the 4X-ish drop in to the Chavannes lift. Stinky country not Islabike.

This was a nice bike (YT industries First Play), but pretty rare second hand!

In case anyone is interested, one of the two Stinky 2-4’s I have available has sold.. this is the other one:

Kona Stinky 2-4

A ‘build your own’ Kona Stinky 2-4 bundle which in fact is nearly everything required for a complete bike – only parts required are seat, headset, stem, pedals and derailleur/shifter. £350 collecetd for this lot.

– Frame (small amount of play in main bearing and chainstay bearings, could use replacement if fussy).

– Marzocchi forks

– 2 wheelsets: original Alex DM24’s plus Halo Combats, 3 tyres (Halo ChoirBoy, Maxxis High Roller and DMR Moto Digger, with x2 160mm rotors

– Quick releases

– Crankset/BB

– Chain

– XT Cassette

– Kona riser bars

– Hope seatclamp

Too many stories on here of people being ripped off, but I got a Stinky 2-4 thanks to Digger90 today.

Decent nick, good price, easy to deal with.

Based on my experience I’d happily deal with him again.

I’m looking for a Stinky 2-4 or something similar. Any one got one?

Or is there something else I should be looking at?

Commencal supreme 24. My son had a go on one and reckoned it was really good.