Best place to get a mtb for my growing 6 year old son

mattyfez said:
Also that full susser Apollo you linked to, I wouldn't even class as a proper bike, it will weigh a ton.
Actually it does, 16kg, V brakes, and they dont eveen dare say what make the suspension it..
..it might look cool being a full susser, but it's garbage.

General guide, if you're not spending more than £800, don't even consider a full susser.
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I agree 100%. That's why I skip those FS kids bikes. I recommend the Gridlock over the Expander.

The Carrera/Voodoo 20" are better, but you're talking 2-3 as much.
 
Dont bother with a full suspension for £120, will weigh 8 tons and be no fun to ride. Absolutely no need for full sus either.

Got my boy, 6 at the time and also very tall for his age(now 8 and in 13-14 year old clothes) a Frog 62 and its just about still big enough but will need a new one soon.

Also just sold his old Islabike, which cost £200 at the time, for £140, its 4 years old and his cousin also used it for a year.
 
chroniclard said:
Dont bother with a full suspension for £120, will weigh 8 tons and be no fun to ride. Absolutely no need for full sus either.

Got my boy, 6 at the time and also very tall for his age(now 8 and in 13-14 year old clothes) a Frog 62 and its just about still big enough but will need a new one soon.

Also just sold his old Islabike, which cost £200 at the time, for £140, its 4 years old and his cousin also used it for a year.
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Yup when people look the the Indi Slammer... should be called Indi Shudder. lol.
 
hornetstinger said:
It's for a kid, who cares, they'll use it for 2 years max. Best to get cheap bikes <10 years old.


Because you see the bikes as an adult, you'd buy a Voodoo/Carrera over a Apollo (obviously) But for kids the price is 2x as much. I wouldn't justify £300 on a Voodoo 20".

I've just bought a Voodoo Bizango. But that's me, not for kids who'll drop and wreck it first ride out.
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I don't disagree, however if you want the kid to have fun, actually get into riding and do some millage on it, woodland trails etc, then it's worth getting an entry level proper bike.

If it's just for riding up and down the street then fair enough.
 
Popped into Halfords during the week. I had a look at a few of the bikes discussed here and Max likes the Carrera most of all. It was a 10.5" frame with 24" wheels. It fit him more or less perfectly, and appeared to have a good 6 inches growth in it (saddle and handlebars would be raised). It was aluminium, so nice and light, and had metal brakes and some front suspension if memory serves. I liked it quite a lot. Max was pretty keen too. I got him to try some of the other display models there. One was awful. Really heavy and clunky. What a difference. Also saw the new Wiggins bikes which looked bizarre. Still haven't decided what to do yet. The Carrera was £190, discounted from £240.
 
philstanbridge said:
Popped into Halfords during the week. I had a look at a few of the bikes discussed here and Max likes the Carrera most of all. It was a 10.5" frame with 24" wheels. It fit him more or less perfectly, and appeared to have a good 6 inches growth in it (saddle and handlebars would be raised). It was aluminium, so nice and light, and had metal brakes and some front suspension if memory serves. I liked it quite a lot. Max was pretty keen too. I got him to try some of the other display models there. One was awful. Really heavy and clunky. What a difference. Also saw the new Wiggins bikes which looked bizarre. Still haven't decided what to do yet. The Carrera was £190, discounted from £240.
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Carrera Blast?

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/kids-bikes/carrera-blast-kids-mountain-bike-24

The Voodoo is a much better bike

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/kids-bikes/voodoo-bakka-mountain-bike-24

Proper thumb shifter, not grip shift. And the voodoo has lock out.

The Carrera has a triple chainset though.
 
I'd say go for it then, overall the kid needs to like it, and as cheaper bikes go, carreras are decent.

I ride one myself haha , been all over on it, including the Mary Townely loop... but that was a bit of a challenge, you'd probably want something a bit more capable for that

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Here's my advice.
Go to Halfords or a bike shop and get your son to sit on a few bikes.
Make sure he doesn't look like he's riding a bike made for an adult which I see a lot, I also see a lot of older cyclists who look like they are riding their little brothers bikes and their knees nearly hit their face.
Once you are happy with the sizing go and look for a bargain on Gumtree and go the sellers house.
I bought my last two bikes from Gumtree and they are excellent because there's always somebody who buys one as a fad.
 
philstanbridge said:
Well that's what I did in Halfords. He isn't short either. I am 6ft 8" if that gives you an idea of how tall he will be :) He will be 6 on the 13th Jan.
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If he's growing quickly I'd look at the second hand market or esle you could end up paying as fortune by time he's your height.
One of my nephews very quickly grew out of his bike, it's a bit weird because he's at least a foot taller than both his Mum & Dad :D
 
Does anyone know about the Carrera Abyss Junior Hybrid. It's the bike I've been talking about here, but I can't find much online about them. In particular, I want to know if the handlebars can be moved to accommodate Max's growth. According to the sales chap I spoke to he mumbled that they could, but I've read online by one person that they can't. It's obviously a major issue for me. If the shop staff don't even know....
 
philstanbridge said:
Does anyone know about the Carrera Abyss Junior Hybrid. It's the bike I've been talking about here, but I can't find much online about them. In particular, I want to know if the handlebars can be moved to accommodate Max's growth. According to the sales chap I spoke to he mumbled that they could, but I've read online by one person that they can't. It's obviously a major issue for me. If the shop staff don't even know....
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If it's a quill stem, it can be raised upto the dotted line.

If it's a modern stem with sideways bolt, then no it can't.

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/kids-bikes/carrera-abyss-junior-hybrid-bike-26

The Carrera is the latter.

According to the sales chap I spoke to he mumbled that they could
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LOL. No it can't. Only way is to change the stem to a riser type. Make sure both dimensions are the same

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-parts/headsets-stems/bikehut-alloy-riser-bike-stem
 
philstanbridge said:
Does anyone know about the Carrera Abyss Junior Hybrid. It's the bike I've been talking about here, but I can't find much online about them. In particular, I want to know if the handlebars can be moved to accommodate Max's growth. According to the sales chap I spoke to he mumbled that they could, but I've read online by one person that they can't. It's obviously a major issue for me. If the shop staff don't even know....
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Don't mean to patronise you but that bike has no suspension where you did ask for an MTB. You need to think where he will be riding and how he will be riding.
For example at the moment I'm commuting on my MTB and I'll bounce up & down kerbs and over potholes but come April I'll swop to my hybrid and I'll have to be more careful.
 
SexyGreyFox said:
If he's growing quickly I'd look at the second hand market or esle you could end up paying as fortune by time he's your height.
One of my nephews very quickly grew out of his bike, it's a bit weird because he's at least a foot taller than both his Mum & Dad :D
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Or buy decent branded stuff and not loose much selling them on second hand, specialist brands like Isla and frog seem to command very good prices second hand even when a little 'worn'!
 
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