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As the title suggests. She has completely outgrown her 1st bike so looking for 1st step up to gears, not sure if 20" or 24" wheels would be better as height wise she is probably borderline but don't want to put her off but getting something too unwieldy when we venture off road.
Any suggestions or recommendations would be gratefully received.
If she's borderline then don't go 20" as she will quickly outgrown it.
Cheers
Danny B
Isla bikes seem to be the current recommendation, but my son had a Trek MT220 and that was very good.
Even if you don't go the Isla Bike route (although I would personally recommend them) they do have a good sizing guide on their site which may help.
Ive never really looked at that website as have been looking in the showroom so to speak. All I have established so far is that the most important criteria from her point of view is that it must have cage mounts so she can have a water bottle like me.... 🙄
vote for specialized hotrock here, - well made but oddly this years 24" models have straight top tubes rather than the hydroformed ones that gave a really good standover hieght - so a 2nd hand one (or old model runout) actually makes more sense
my girlies have also ridden the Trek MT220 mentioned above when on a course and they instantly liked the feel of them
I have a mt220 for sale if you're interested( it was my daughters from five to ten years) eighty pounds plus carriage. Red and silver. Email nickhart69 AT gmail DOT com for photos.
to be honest get the bike she wants but steer her towards a narrow choice, a selection of good ones mentioned above. At 8 its mostly important she actually loves the bike and enjoys riding it and most of that at 8 is about visually what she likes, just help steer her towards one you know will fit and work well for her also.
Isla Beinn
My 9 year old Neice has gone for a Giant XTC jr2 24".
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Giant-XTC-JR-2-24-24W-2013-Junior-Bike_56362.htm
Carerra Luna
Also got a Carerra Luna 24, great VFM.
Make sure you get a 24" wheel though, my daughter was 8 and son 6 when they got theirs.
That MT220 would be worth a look.
My sons' had about 4-5 yrs of use and is now been used by a friends daughter. In all that time the only damage/wear was when it fell off the car rack :roll:, and bent the bars.
Another vote for the Carrera Luna 24". That's what my 9 year old has been riding for the last year. Well... the Carrera [url= http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_729065_langId_-1_categoryId_165602 ]Blast[/url] - the non-pink one. She hates owt pink and girlie 😀
Great spec for the money. Have a look on ebay. There tend to be lots of these knocking about in excellent nick. I paid £65 for hers. So spent a bit putting decent brakes and tyres on it
Definitely 24". Decathlon have some reasonable models available, one of my daughters has one.
Just to put the cat among the pigeons.
I would go for something like this or the like http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mens-Scott-Aspect-55-Xs-Mountain-Bike-/251259905924?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item3a8041e784
Swap the wheels for some 24" ones like http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BANKRUPT-Pr-24-MTN-BIKE-CYCLE-ALLOY-DISC-RIM-BRAKE-WHEELS-7-8-9-10sp-SIL-NEW-/170708872404?pt=UK_sportsleisure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item27bf0aacd4
Some schwalbe black jack tyres from crc
change stem for a short one, bars saddle etc.
Then you would have a nice bike and when she gets a bit bigger swap wheels back.
Its what I have done with my two kids, Disc brakes, suspension that works and low enough gears to get up some big hills.
When we are out with their friends the thing that makes them go further is low gears to get up those hills and make them feel good and want to do it again.
Also as she will be are running the same gear as you , you can swap parts onto hers and buy yourself some nice bling for yours . Result
Lots of good bikes above but you'll get a lot more for an Isla when it comes time to sell it on.
Isla are really good ,we have had a couple when ours were younger, but the lack of low gears and suspension limit what they can do. Kids don't have big legs to push big gears they have little legs for little gears. 8)
The specialized ones (hotrock) are good - quite long, so good if your kid is tall. We went for a Kona Hula in the end, great bike that she loves riding.
I've kept the kids off gears and suspension for as long as possible (minimising distractions), so this is the first one they've had. Able to cope with anything that gets thrown at it, and very reliable.
+ one for Isla Beinn —my lad has had a 20 and now a 26 and he loves them. They are simple, comfortable, fast, have few gears, suspension and fit well. Make total sense to us
Thanks for feedback and offers guys. Problem being that outrageous postage for a full bike to IOM (irrespective of size) often makes what would be a great 2nd hand deal uneconomical.
also think the Isla Beinn is a really good bike. Our 10 year old nephew is still riding his (down proper natural mbting trails).