Islabikes Creig 26 Children’s Bike – Long Term Test

Could this be the best kids bike on the market today?

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By sanny

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Islabikes Creig 26 Children’s Bike – Long Term Test

Looks great, although I doubt i would get it past the wife at that price sadly.
The air fork is a great thing to have on s bike like this. The rubbish over sprung coil forks that come on most kids bikes are a waste of space.

Interested by your comments about the cost, Andy. At £1,099, it is arguably a much harder sell to parents like yourself than when it was £849.

I suspect that those who want the bike will still buy it but costs in the bike industry have increased dramatically across the board in the last twelve months and I have no doubt that Islabike have been hit just as hard as the rest of the industry.

It is a terrific bike and my daughter has loved riding it. The spec is spot on for the intended user which is why it deserves its ST Recommended status. It’s just a great pity that the vagaries of the global economy have conspired to put it out of reach of potential buyers like yourself.

Andy

I should have said that I completely agree about air forks on kids bikes being a very good thing indeed.

The Rock Shox Gold is a cracking bit of kit and can even be found on the new Trek E bike which costs the thick end of 7 grand!

Cheers

Sanny

As you say, you have to console yourself that the resale values are so good that you don’t lose much ££.
We’ve had 3 islabikes I think, and easily sold on for something like 3/4 of the purchase price, 2 or 3 years later. Maybe lost £100 if that.
A LOT less ££ lost than any adult mountain bike. Bet you wont get £5500 back on a 2 year old £6k Santa Cruz.

I think the price issue is partly a difference of opinion between me and my wife over value for money when it comes to bikes to be honest!. It does look like cracking value (more so pre covid/Brexit) for what looks like a fantastic piece of kit. I agree with the resale value point. We have always got a better overall deal with the decent kids bikes than the supermarket specials but it is still hard to justify at the time!
I think (as mentioned in the review) the fact kids keep growing is always going to be an obstacle with kids bikes, but also (in my experience) the slightly fickle nature of children with their changing hobbies.

Were the stock pedals any good, or did they need swapping out?