The wee man now needs 24inches of wheel under him. Are they all garden gates or is there a lighter option that doesn't break the bank?
Have a look at Islabikes: http://www.islabikes.co.uk/bike_pages/beinn24.html
They'll even buy the bike back when you move to a bigger one.
We've been happy with Spec Hot Rock, although tbh the triple chainset is a pain. Ours just couldn't work out how to use it, and weren't / aren't really strong enough to use the twist grip for the front mech
How tall is he though? you may get him on a 26? My daughter (about 1m 40 ish) came off the 24 at Christmas onto a 26, she's nearly 11
reckon a wide ratio single ring would be better, and would save quite a bit of weight - I think Isla Bikes do this on their kids bikes
http://www.islabikes.co.uk/bike_pages/beinn26.html
quite a bit pricier though
my 9 year old daughter has the 24 inch hotrock - but its the slightly higher spec version (hot rock FS I think) - still a hardtail, but a more trad looking frame, slightley nicer components - got about 50 quid off as it was the last of last years
I'm very impressed with it - no issues with stiff shifting here. could probably save some weight by replacing the bars, stem and seatpost though.
Tim
Had both the Hotrock FS and the Hotrock FSR for our girls, the FSR was modified with discs for the Alps, had no problems selling them after they had been out grown, probably not the cheepest but by far the best 24" out there
[img] http://images.fotopic.net/?iid=y222r1&outx=600&quality=70 [/img]
[img] http://images.fotopic.net/?iid=yfavrt&outx=600&quality=70 [/img]
Depending how tall he is you may get away with one of these, XS Trance
[img] http://images.fotopic.net/?iid=yq3s3s&outx=600&quality=70 [/img]
Tracey
Thanks, luckily for me he's still too small for the Trance, Hotrock looks like the one for him, 300 quid not too expensive either. Wonder if there are any second hand ones around?
Got a marin bayview se for my son and I am very happy with it ( http://www.abbeycycles.com/products.php?plid=m1b0s15p492)
Although the shop did have to hack at the spring in the fork because it was acting like a rigid fork!
It changed my son from not really enjoying riding to whooping coming down cwmcarn (he is 7).
My prime concern was that it was light - I think this is one of the lightest.
IslaBikes are excellent - very light and good quality kit.