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Don't want to spend the earth as despite repeated warnings, he keeps growing really fast, but would like to get something he can enjoy without being weighed down, and would love to get discs if possible, as his wee hands struggle with uplift days
This one stands out currently, as theres even an air fork on it, but it's pushing the budget a lot more than intended.
https://www.evanscycles.com/saracen-mantra-2-4-2017-kids-bike-EV289715
Option 2 - although a coil fork and 2.8" tyres - overkill?
https://www.evanscycles.com/specialized-riprock-24-boys-2017-kids-bike-EV265876
Option 3 - Down to 7 speed, Mechanical discs
https://www.evanscycles.com/charge-cooker-alloy-24-2017-kids-bike-EV290678#modal__product-zoom-modal
My son is very please with his Hoy Bonaly
https://www.evanscycles.com/hoy-bonaly-24-inch-kids-bike-EV203132
£350 from Evans and weighs in at 9kg 😀
Hmm.. the disc version of that Hoy is very nice, has Shimano discs, and 8 speeed. Almost same price as the Saracen, though
https://www.evanscycles.com/en-ie/hoy-bonaly-26-disc-kids-bike-EV246166
Edit.... 26" - I suppose he'll grow into it....
Orbea MX 24 Trail is 10 speed and air fork for £500. Light than the saracen too.
They were out of stock nationwide but the word on the street is that there are some around at the moment!
That Saracen seems pretty good as does the Orbea. Given you want uplift days as good a fork as possible ...
It might depend what's in your parts bin and what you might change both have the same fork ... neither are ideal but then £500 is fairly entry for a bike (the fact its a childs really only affects a bit of alloy in the frame pricewise)
+ve For Saracen = reasonable crank length -ve is 9 speed but if you have a parts bin you can perhaps use that
+ve For Orbea = budgetish 10 speed -ve you'll probably have to enter the crank length nightmare cycle (152mm is HUGE if you are basically just going to a 24er) but if you are changing anyway ???
[b]Just going from the photo's[/b] the Saracen does seem to have ludicrously long chainstays ... which could well make manuals and bigger dropoffs difficult
My lad has the rigid version of the Orbea. It is a cracking bit of kit, like a scaled down version of a proper grown up bike. He loves it.
I'd be looking second hand though as he'll be too big for it in a couple of years. Got ours for £100 from an MNPR/STW mate.