I'm looking for a 20" MTB for my daughter. Doesn't need to be girly as my son will use it once she's done, but I want to make sure the frame's light(ish) and that it has relatively decent kit. Don't want a Raleigh...
And I've heard about some kids brakes that are progressive. Any idea?
Matt
20" wheel...?
Yeah, sorry. 20" wheel.
Both my kids have Trek MT60 20" bikes which I'm pleased with. The 2009 boys model is black/blue which looks great. My daughters one is the 2009 girls version and is dialled fit, so there are two positions for the pedals on the pedal arms and the stem can be tilted up or forward to adjust reach, though I do prefer the stem on my sons bike which has a standard short reach aheadset one. Even my 5 year old daughter can handle the 6 speed gripshift.
And how heavy are they? All the adverts talk in grades of aluminium but no-one gives any weights. Are Specialized heavier than Trek? Do Kona provide better spec. It's a worse minefield than when I bought my Merlin!
[url= http://www.islabikes.co.uk/bike_pages/beinn20.html ]
Islabikes Beinn[/url]
I'm really impressed, as is my daughter with her (blue!) one. There isn't a better kid's bike IMO from a considered design point of view.
Unless you spend serious dosh on a scott racing JR theyre all pretty weighty for the size .
Our eldest had a Trek 20" that was OK .Some years ago , mind . He's 6'3" now.
The 10 yr old twins ( Boys )both have a Mongoose Rockadile 24" . OK. Uneccesary suspension fork , but hey .18 spd.
I think they do a 20 ", 6 spd, and the girls one doesnt look girly at all . in fact I nearly got one of each .( In 24" )
Not silly money . Ali frame . V brakes . You know .
You can even get proper conti ' explorer' tyres for the 24".
They grow up fast , is all .
Our 8 yr old girl has a singlespeed , on 18" . OK , if you dont go tooo far. She has done a 12miler on her old GT Lola .
Just one thing on the weight . The kids dont really notice.
Just one thing on the weight . The kids dont really notice.
They don't "notice" apart from repeating "this bike is heavy dad!" and "I'm pushing it" (which means "Dad push it for me"!). A lighter bike gives them more chance of getting up the hill on a 6 or 7 speed bike.
If you live in the Fen's then I get what you mean, but if there are hills involved in your regular riding and your kids like to ride longer distances; the weight of a Kid's bike does make a difference. I'm for anything that keeps them pedaling rather than pushing.
As for spending lots:
Scott Scale RC Jr (24") - 23Lbs and £800
Scott Scale Jr (20") - ?? weight and £275
Isla Bein 24 - 22.5 lbs and £250
Isla Bein 20 - 19.5 lbs and £210
Granted those Islas don't have front sus, but you don't have to spend £800 to get a lightweight kids bike.
My son has a Hotrock 20, so Im not an Isla fanboy 🙂
We cycle a lot with our children - most weekends. They are 8, 6 and 4. My six year old daughter has the Isla Beinn 20 small. Ridden it for 12 months now. Expensive at £200 but as i said we ride a lot and I have another daughter who will use it after wards. These bikes are really nice for kids and I consider them a huge improvement over the specialized, giant, trek equivalents (some of which we have owned). The major difference is the weight. Most kids bikes are as heavy as my own. The isla bikes are nice and light. There are other good features too (gearing and brakes) but weight is the major advantage to my mind. Age 5 or 6 my daughter could manage 20 miles off road at a reasonable pace - and enjoy it. My son who is a couple of years older has had a generic model from the local bike shop - built in Taiwan. This cost less than half the price of the isla bike. I picked it as it seemed to be reasonably light, in comparison to other models from better known manufacturers. He has done really well on it - manages 30 miles, has done follow the dog at Cannock several times with me. So I don't think you have to spend loads but I would pick a few bikes up to see how heavy they are. Also, it seems obvious but get something that fits - don't be tempted to go large - as I think that this just puts them off. Hope this helps
a lot of the weight in kids bikes is in the forks and finishing kit
got youngest a specialised hot rock 20" mainly because she is small and it has a low standover very pleased well finished and appreciably lighter than her big sisters ridgeback harmony
not sure how important weight is but makes some difference but probably not as much as motivation and maintenance