Both seem crazily expensive but if their resale values are as good as everyone says, then maybe it’s worth paying to get such a good quality lightweight children’s bike.

We cycle mainly offroad on tracks via a bit of road getting to them … my daughter is nearly 7 and on the small side of average. My son is just 4, tallish for his age and yet to master cycling without stabilisers although I can’t see how that’s going to ever happen with the tank of an old bike he’s been passed down …

Does either have anything over the other? I know *nothing* about bikes so I’d really appreciate any input you can give.

Thanks so much

tor

Won’t go far wrong with either to be honest, but I’d go for the Islabike.

Search for Islabikes on here and you find plenty of opinions.

islabikes offer better builds for the money in my opinion

Trek MT60. Adjustable stem AND adjustable cranks. Will fit your daughter for 1-2 years and your son immediately afterwards. I still have mine for nephew/niece duties and it has been ridden by my 10yo. Mine is silver and white so mixed sex.

Islabikes are nice, but they didn’t exist when I was buying. If you are near SL4, you are welcome to try it.

Specialized or Ridgeback MX 14 or 16 for me. The ridgeback stuff is really good – light, with smaller controls for little hands.

cube have started doing kids bikes !

They look pretty good ! my lads rode one he is 6 it rode fine, shorter crank arms small levers etc.

The elves are now making one to the exact same spec 😆
Its comming down the chimney on xmas eve………

You can’t go wrong with the Islabikes. My daughter got a cnoc 14 at 3. Took the stabilisers off at 4 and she took less than a week to master. Build quality is excellent and resale value seems good too. Would highly recommend and never seen anyone say anything against them bar the initial cost

Being a skinflint, I’ve gone down the second-hand route for my three, but at ages 8, 10 and (small for her age)13 they are all currently on 24″ wheelers, saves on tubes to carry. We have a Trek MT220, Scott Voltage Jr and Spesh Hotrock. The Scott has the most Awesome paintjob and is a hoot to ride compared to the others, like the BMX cruiser I never had. We have met folks with Islabikes, and there is a big weight difference, especially compared to the steel Spesh. The main thing is having smaller controls and good cable routing so gears are easy to shift and brake cables not binding. This is what made the riding more enjoyable for my gang rather than the weight of the bike.

Islabikes are great but the little ridgebacks are very good too and a little less expensive.

My Son had a Ridgeback MX20 from the age of 5, and my daughter had an Islabike Beinn 20 (small) also from the age of 5.

The Islabike was perfect for my daughter but she has outgrown it (and is demanding an islabike replacement!). It is up for sale if you’re interested 😉

The Ridgeback was good, but when my son bent the chainring I took the opportunity to replce the original with a smaller one so he could tackle the hills better (he would struggle on the steeper hills whereas my daughter would ride up them easily on her islabike).

Hope that helps,

Ben

Both my kids have Isla Bikes and love them, they are light which I think makes a real difference, my 7 year old can climb out of the car park at Llandegla no problem on his Beinn 20 and has managed most of Follow the Dog at Cannock, his sister has a 26 and it’s possibly a touch big for her at the moment so she’s not so confident and quick through the twisty stuff at Cannock.

We did try a Giant XTC24 at Cannock and it’s a nice bike, but heavier than the Islas, suspension seemed to work which was a bit of a suprise to be honest, worth a look if your kid has to have a ‘proper mountain bike’

thank you everyone for your fantastic advice and input – I’m sorry I haven’t mastered how to respond to you all individually but when I have more time I’ll figure it out.

I’m so grateful for the suggestions and Ben if you think the Islabike small would be okay for a nearly 7 year old (about 116cm tall) tell me more and how much you’d like for it.

thaks again

tor

I bought my older son a Beinn 20 from Islabikes which was fine apart from the cheap front V brake which pulled through the soft metal cable stop the first time the front wheel turned. It was very expensive but I figured I could pass it through all 3 kids so I would get my money’s worth. For the 2nd one I bought a 16″ GT BMX on ebay, it is absolutely fantastic, completely bomb proof and the componentary feels much better quality. Just one persons opinion though

Blobonastick…

I’d be interested in seeing the Islabike you have for sale, if Wilts doesn’t want it.

I’ve sent you an email

I’m currently researching a bike for my 6 year old and I’m very tempted by a mini BMX (20″). Faster and lighter than the ‘normal’ kids bikes.

‘m currently researching a bike for my 6 year old and I’m very tempted by a mini BMX (20″). Faster and lighter than the ‘normal’ kids bikes.

Go for it, the Redline ones looked really good at the Bike show in Earls Court. Their catalogue is full of very good info on sizing.

I have a brand spanking new Islabike Bein 24 in red for sale (warranty replacement for stupid trick)thats never even been ridden….£200.00 pick up from Milton Keynes if anyones interested. I can state that the Islabike is a great bit of kit and the first one took loads of abuse from my son with regular trips to the woods and jumps parks etc not to mention a solid 2 years of thrashing it round the streets. It was easily twice as light as most of his mates bikes and still ran trouble free when all others were abandoned and rusting in their gardens.

Wilts/Tor: To be honest I was thinking of your tall 4-year old for the Beinn 20; my daughter was a smallest-in-her-class 5-year old when she started riding it. I think Donks’ Beinn 24 would suit your 7-year old better. Islabikes website gives Beinn 24 for 7plus years and Beinn 20 (small frame) for 5plus years. If you want to drop me a line then you’ll find my e-mail in my profile (click on the member link next to my username and view profile). I’m not back home until Friday so can’t see/respond to e-mails until then (sorry)

ReggieGasket: Thanks for your mail, as I said above I won’t be able to read it/send piccies until Friday (My mentioning it was for sale was a little unplanned!)

The bike: It’s a small frame Beinn 20 in silver/grey with purple decals. It has full mudguards, a rack and a Barbie bell (the only girlie thing about it – although the rack used to have an ice-cream tub mounted on it as a dolly seat). It’s got a small number of the usual scuffs but otherwise in great condition. Despite the enhancements I’m looking for the going price which appears to be around £150.

I’m based in Worcester and work in Birmingham (and could get to London OK as well) in case that makes a difference!

no rush BOAS

I’m going to look at mini BMXs this weekend so nothing is urgent.

donks – I’m interested in your Beinn 24 – please PM or email me.

Cheers
WB

I bought the youngest an Islabike last year. For my 6 year old i got her a Carrera Luna from Halfords. Its great value for money. Suntour forks. Sram gears. A really decent piece of kit, for a lot cheaper than the Specialised Hotrock etc.

And its purple and pink. Whats not to like 🙂

The ridgeback mx 20 and mx24 bikes are well built and decent bikes ands good value for money in my opinion. I have managed to get two MX24 bikes off here secondhand posted for just over 100 quid!!

Depends on your budget but you can spend a lot of money on kids bikes which will only last them for a few years so I choose to go secondhand for their latest bikes.

Believe Islabikes do a trade in scheme hence grandson has one
The little Cubes look good