Getting my son a bike

[joe76]

Hi,
I'd like to get my son into mountain bike riding. He is 6 and is a keen rider. We go to the local bmx track and he burns around on his old bmx that is getting way too small for him. He also likes to go to the skate parks and do a few moves.

Now is time to upgrade. I would like to get him keen on mountain biking so we could get out and about together, however I don't want to buy a bike that is only good for that purpose.

Hence I am asking for some knowledgable advice on a good bike that will cater for him now and for the next couple of years. It needs to be suitable for mountain biking (nothing serious) and for him to use bmx/freestyle.

Any suggestions????

[europa]

If he's serious about the bmx, buy him a decent bmx. He can still belt around in the bush on the thing and when he decides he wants an mtb and is big enough to have a decent one, he can still use his old bmx for the bmx bowls.

Richard

[sogood]

6 years old? Still a bit young for gears I'd say. But suspect the choices will be limited by his height.

[MountGower]

H

[sogood]

That Scott is 11.5kg! For a 6 yrs old, that is or almost 50% of their body weight. I sometimes wonder how they manage to handle their heavy equipments. Guess just as well, or they'll overtake all of us on a hill climb.

[MountGower]

bjk

[sogood]

It's amazing how much weight difference there can be with bikes. I don't have trouble loading my bike onto the car roof but always feel that I'll strain my back when I load my son's single speed into the boot.

[joe76]

Hey guys,

Thanx for the words. My boy is a confident rider but yes i'd say maybe he isn't ready for gears.

What is out there that doesn't have gears, built a bit like a bmx but has maybe front suspension???

Are there crossover bikes out there??

Any thought appreciated

joe

[Bnej]

Front suspension is really not necessary for such a small rider, it would just add weight and make it more difficult to pedal.

A good BMX will last a long time, and you can ride them on dirt, trails, etc. just not really tough MTB terrain. Plus it will be rideable for many years. Once he's a bit older think about a 20" wheel MTB.

[Kalgrm]

Now is time to upgrade. I would like to get him keen on mountain biking so we could get out and about together, however I don't want to buy a bike that is only good for that purpose.

Hence I am asking for some knowledgable advice on a good bike that will cater for him now and for the next couple of years. It needs to be suitable for mountain biking (nothing serious) and for him to use bmx/freestyle.

Any suggestions????

Until you said "and for him to use bmx/freestyle" I was going to suggest a Specialized Hotrock, which is a good, kids-sized mountain bike (with gears). The BMX side of the quote kills the suggestion, since they won't allow geared bikes to race (most of the time).

I don't know of any companies making single speed hardtails for kids. And unless you're prepared to go with an expensive bike like those Specialized ones, the suspension forks on any kid's bike won't be able to withstand dirt jumps or freestyling. Still, that's what I would choose - a Specialized Hotrock.

My own 8 year old was ready for gears a couple of years ago - give the kids some credit! If they can run a DVD player, they can figure out a derailleur .... My son has no problems with his and took to them very easily.

To me, it sounds like you're in for a very expensive custom build or an adaptation of a good BMX bike as a single speed off-roader. Keep us up to date with your search - I'd love to know what you eventually do.

Cheers,
Graeme

[mikesbytes]

Personally I'd just get a bike from kmart.

You can even get kids bikes for free from the nunnery in Sydney

[sogood]

What's the age/height when kids can start to ride a road bike? Junior high?

[Kalgrm]

I've seen some primary school age kids on road bikes around here. Giant is making a small road bike - looks cool! But kids love dirt - don't try to talk them out of it!

[mikesbytes]

What's the age/height when kids can start to ride a road bike? Junior high?

As in 700c wheels? When they can fit on an extra small frame

[CoffeeNut]

My daughter is 8 and just big enough for a Trek 3700 16inch.
Does that help ?

[sogood]

Thanks all. Have an idea now.

[Bluerider]

My 7yr old is a very capable rider but no way could he focus changing gears yet.
Doing monos and skids and coming off gutters would only have me putting the chain back on hundreds of times
He's got a Gemini from the local LBS, stocky frame like the Mongoose but no gears,back brake via pedal and front hand brake. Gone through the first son and still cutting the mustard.
We have 2 Mongoose's which our eldest son rides and they are tuff as nails also.

[tbcool]

still way too young imo, definitely get him a bmx.