I've been looking for a bike for our 8 year old son. Some shops have told us that he'll fit a 24" or even a very small framed 26" wheel. He really likes the idea of getting an older frame and building the bike up from parts bought at shops/ebay etc.
Question is, what frames should I be looking out for here?
Islabikes? Read about them, but don't know anyone who's bought them for the little'un for a review.
CRC had a good small framed HT quite cheap; and you could start with 24" wheels first before moving him onto 26".
We did this, using a Dr Jekyll (we already had the frame) as a base.
A small 26" frame could work with 24" wheels to start with.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=75346
looks like a good deal and is a small size!
crc have a load of 24" kona frames but i would be going down the 24" then move on to 26" wheels
Was thinking of doing the same thing myself, be very interested in what forks, was looking at the genesis core 24 but it £500+.
Hi
I have a Specialised hard rock sport with 26 inch wheels and a twelve inch frame, it is 24 speed with v brakes but has mounts for discs on the frame. It has riser bars on and a basic front 80mm travel front fork. Bike is about 4 years old, still on the original brake pads and has not had that much use. Seat has a small rip in.
I am about to put it up for sale as my daughter has out grown it and I have just built her a Genesis up.
Would this be of any use?
So I just bought an Islabikes Beinn 26 and a Trek 4300 for a 9 and 10 year old. Both have added cheap air forks from retrobike (a Marzzochi X-fly 2001 and a Manitou Mars Elite), plus a couple of changes to shifters etc on the Trek.
Both have worked out at under £200, for bikes that fit/work well (esp good air forks) and are light.
Interesting comparing the Islabikes (small), Trek (13.5") and mrs_oabs Cannondale F900SL (XS). Islabikes has shortest toptube, and most relaxed head angle, Trek next shortest but steep head and Cannondale longest TT and mid head angle. Islabikes has lowest BB, followed by Trek. Small differences (mm's), but a lot in 'real world' shape and geometry for small riders.
Salsa. Would it be possible to send over some photos, so I can show to Theo and get his response. If you could also let me know what sort of price you will be selling at please. 12" maybe too small but I don't know enough about kids bikes to say.
andy@3rdedition(dot)co(dot)uk
Would this [url= http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/FROOVDO126/on_one_inbred_26er_vertical_dropout#basket ]inbred[/url] work with a 100mm fork and 24" wheels?
Just completed a 24" wheel part build (Bought frame forks and few other bits together) for my son. Most parts were easy to obtain but, and it depends on your budget, decent light-ish 24" wheels aren't easy to come by without going custom build and shorter cranks were a pain to find.
just bought beinn 24 from ebay, perfect condition and weighs less than my sons current ridgeback mx20
looking forward to him growing a few inches so he fits it.
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specialized have great small frames, we built up this 13.5" rockhopper for my 9 year old. It is lovely and he has really come on a lot with his riding since having it (came from a 24" hotrock a1 FSR).
We put on 26" wheels, seems to work. Saddle is higher now, nearly as it should be for a "perfect" fit. Short stem and short cranks, sorted!
Forks are great, rockshox duke (£50 from here), they are easy to set for his weight and work lovely.
My son is now 140cm and 33 kg if that helps.
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Going to be selling my lad's 14inch Kona Fire Mountain in the next couple of weeks if you are interested - frame only or built up
Just buy a Carrera Blast !,no building no messin job done !,ways ure friend ..I'vee put him some thumb shifters & some hydraulic brakes on as the clarks cables ones were crap,& it's made a proper little bike !.
Might be, where are you stevemorg, any pics?
14" Scandal?
But, oooh, look....
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[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7061/6929874700_1143f2d130.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/37621241@N05/6929874700/ ]003[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/37621241@N05/ ]ianvincent[/url], on Flickr
For short cranks, look at Bmx race ones. The cranks on my sons bike are funn hooka mx and were £25 from crc.
will get some pics sorted later
My 8yr olds been on a 24" spech hotrock full suss since she was 7, she's exactly median on height, prefers it to her 20" hotrock - when she bothers to ride it that is.
But if I was to do it again (which I will for my 2nd) it'll be a hardtail hotrock with shokpost instead, much much lighter, and thinking 64'er with some old SIDs, just to be niche!
I've just done the same as reedspeed for my 8 year old. Bought a carrera blast, upgraded the brakes to Avid BB5's, set of DMR V8's, some lighter bars, shorter stem, Deore trigger shifters and she's flying about on it! Less hassle and cheaper than a build from scratch! And some of the parts will be moving on to the Pace RC305 frame that's sat here waiting to be powder coated pink when she's ready to move up to 26"
Will send photos! Do you have an email?
andy@3rdedition(dot)co(dot)uk
Just replace the (dot) with .
Ian, that bike looks great. What frame is that, and what forks did you opt for?
I've sent a few pics
I have just built this up for my 8 yr old son. Frame off ebay, bargin at £9, I had some parts in the shed and got given the forks. Other bits i had to buy, seat post, clamp, headset, cassette. Borrowed the cranks and front brake off his old bike for the time being
[img][url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7222/7376426106_6125cac599_m.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/beargotsoul/7376426106/ ]Untitled[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/beargotsoul/ ]bear406z[/url], on Flickr[/img]
Frame is a shred 24, £56 off crc. Forks are Reba sl ( they need to be air for kids). Wheels were the biggest problem, these are Spank rims on superstar hubs.