Thoughts please. My 10yr old will have grown out of his 24" wheel mtb by the spring, do I buy him another kids 26" wheeled bike or buy a load of secondhand parts and a new 14" frame like an on one. Seems like the second option gets him a better bike that is lighter than the cheaper kids type bike.
Far better to build one up.
BUT...
I built my son a bike - a Whyte 19 frame, using mainly XT spare parts from my shed. His mates have cheapo 80quid front'n'rears. Guess who's bike is rated as crap?
Just doing the same for my 11 year old which will be his Christmas present. mmmbop frame and using a combination of 2nd hand off the classifieds, searching for good deals on new, and some donated parts that I have upgraded, total cost will be ~£300. He will get a far better bike than whats available pre built. I did consider an on one but the mmmbop frame is about 1.5lbs lighter and there are some cracking deals about on them.
[url= http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/m/1_Bikes%2Band%2BFrames/7_Frames/99_MTB/136_HandsomeDog/ ]bargain small frames[/url]
I've built a couple of bikes for my stepsons. We bit the bullet first time round and bought them Viper Crazy Boys each at a substantial discount (£139 each!).
I've used the donor Deore kit from the respective Vipers which were soon outgrown and fitted it to a Hardrock and a Merlin Malt 1 frame. Both boys now have far, far better bikes than the vast majority of twelve years olds have any right to.
Agree small frame and build. Then replace frame when he grows. Just posted about using the lads bike. He is only 14 and now I have to lower the saddle!
The other thing is. A good bike gets them into the sport. Its embarassing when your kids podium more than you ever did or will. Perhaps bung a crap wheel on the back so they learn some respect.
Thanks for the tip oldgit...
I'll be filling the rear tube with sand too.
Another vote here for a small frame and build.
In fact here is one I made earlier - xsmall 14" Giant XTC frame bought in a sale and the rest raided from the 'good spares' spares box!
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Trouble is he will soon have outgrown it, so will be searching for a new frame in the near future.
Thanks guys, I think I new what to do just needed a push in the right direction
My 10 year old got one of those XXsmall Giant XTC bikes earlier this year, he loves it (esp in black)
Coleman that's better than my bike 👿
My boys was sort of similar. Spesh frame and 80mm Mars Elite forks, full XT, XT disc front wheel El Cheapo on the back, no name chainset but CK headset! and USE carbon risers. That was a 13/14" frame.
Two years later it's a 19" frame, a very cheap Dirty Jo job.
2009 Kona Blast Deluxe from Rutland cycles - they bought the entire stock of 14" bikes from last year and have them in stock. I paid £379 for a bike that was selling for £300 more last year. Give them a call. Just looked on the web and they've upped the price to £449 🙁
As an aside, my son wrote off the front wheel riding around Swinley on its maiden outing, so the saving was only £200... A great bike
At 10 are you sure a DJ type bike wouldn't be better - rather than something dads like.
What Dad rides isnt going to be cool I'm afraid. Look at Glentress no kids on the XC trails they are all in the freeride park.