Can anyone recommend a good boy's bike?

[132]

Guys,

I urgently need to buy a bike for my 7 yeard old son as a Christmas present. I know very little about bikes, other than he has outgrown his current bike. I am looking to spend up to about £150, but could stretch to £200 for something special. He will only use the bike for usual 7 year old type activities, so no competitions etc.

Many thanks in advance for your advice.

132

[Deerfoot]

A Specialized Hotrock 20 will fit the bill.

Edit, just checked, they're £250 these days. They're good bikes though.

[alock]

Our 7 year old daughter is tall for her age and we've decided to go for a 24" wheel bike for Christmas. A tall 7 year old is on the cross over point between where they recommend a 20" and a 24" bike.

We got an older version of this second hand for about half price from a local bike shop. It's been fully refurbished and looks like new.

[jmini23]

Would Echo that the Specialized hot rock is best (aluminium framed) - got my son one from Ebay less than half price.

[zebedee]

would think for 150 to 200 your best buy will be secondhand, otherwise you'll end up with something pretty generic, but then by definition that will be what most 7 year olds are on.

[132]

Thanks guys. \i think it will have to be the Hotrock...Anyone selling one???

[Deerfoot]

132 said:

...Anyone selling one???

An hour left, in London. looks well used though.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SPECIALIZED-HOTROCK-2012...

In Oxford with a `buy it now`.....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Specialized-Hotrock-24-A...

The Oxford one looks to be in great condition if you can collect.....

[Mars]

Ridgeback MX20.

[GBSGR5]

We have an Islabike. Would recommend these to anyone.

[132]

Deerfoot said:

An hour left, in London. looks well used though.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SPECIALIZED-HOTROCK-2012...

In Oxford with a `buy it now`.....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Specialized-Hotrock-24-A...

The Oxford one looks to be in great condition if you can collect.....

Thank you. Unfortunately, the London one sold and the Oxford one is a 24". I think my son will need a 20".

Edited by 132 on Friday 21st December 22:35

[Dan Friel]

Have you looked at this..

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

[Rob_T]

Ridgeback MX 20

[With these feet]

GBSGR5 said:

We have an Islabike. Would recommend these to anyone.

Same here, my son got a CNOC 16 for christmas last year when he was coming up for his 5th birthday.
This year he has learned to ride without the stabilisers and can now do 8 miles and has started riding it on little trails once I changed the tyres.

Ive just looked on their website, looks like there are some new additions - bit pricey mind!

[anonymous-user]

Not really, not having kids and all that but

The thing about the hotrock that puzzles me is the suspension fork which really has no place on a childs bike. It adds a fair amount of weight without adding anything significant in terms of function. To be honest, i think its there for show and for the dads satisfaction!

I think there is more potential with the Islabike Beinn which offers greater scope for longevity, being able to raise the bars must surely be a big advantage over the Hotrock?

[Mars]

My lad loves his MX20 with sus fork.

[zebedee]

I am an Islabike fan but without looking at website assume they will be out of budget. My two learnt on Islabike Rothan balance bike and straight onto Cnoc 14 on 4th birthday without stabilisers. As someone else said, aged 5 he's riding 6 miles or so easily (provided its flat) and they are nicely thought out and made. I'd agree there is no real need for suspension on a kid's bike, the weight penalty won't be worth any perfomance gain even if you do take them on gnarly descents and they do ride them hard enough to get the fork working. Some kids are full-on with the descending though but o/p says 'typical 7 year old' so guessing his is not.

I'd get a secondhand Islabike or other properly thought out branded kids bike though over a Halfords generic heavy P.O.S. anyday.