Hi,
I just bought a Specialized Hotrock 12 for my little boy from ebay based on what i have read about it being light and a very good bike to learn on.
However, the bike is not light at all! it's actually heavier than a similar halfords special bike! so the only thing going for it is that it is better made and the seat can go lower and..................................what else? for £150 it's not very good value. Why then has so much emphasis been put on it being a light bike across all the forums i have read when it is simply not the case. It has a supposedly aluminium frame and is said to weigh 7.7kg. I've not actually weighed it using a scale yet, but will do so soon just to see the actual weight.
End point is that if you are looking to buy one, you might aswell buy a cheaper halfords special!
You seem to be fixated on the one aspect of the bike, and since you haven't actually weighed either it's a bit subjective.
The Spesh is better built, as you say it fits smaller kids, and it will be worth something when junior grows out of it.
The Halfords special will be landfill.
Does your kid like the Specialized? If so it's your problem, not theirs.
Branding partly, and I bet it's way better quality than anything out of Helfrauds.
My daughter loves hers
And she can easily pedal it
That's all that matters