Would you buy a Carrera bike for a 6 year old?

[PH5121]

I am looking for a 20 inch wheeled bike for my son.

I have been looking for a Specialized Hotrock 20 on the second hand market. I don't want to buy him a new one as I like to save money where I can, also if I spent £250 on a new one I would be very upset when he generally abused it like 6 year olds tend to do (basically I am being tight).

However, for the same price as a pre owned Hotrock I could buy a brand spanking new Carrera Blast (£170 ish after 10% discount my wife can get on Carrera bikes through work).
After my eldest had out grown it it would pass on to my youngest, so the poor residual value is not an issue as by the time they have both finished with it I am sure it would be fairly tired.

My query is are the Carrera bikes 'Bike shaped objects' that are going to spoil my lads biking experience?
As it stands both my boys love being out on their bikes, usually out every evening. I wouldn't want to put him off by getting a Pile of poo which weighs a ton and falls to bits.
The Hotrock 12, 16 and Ridgeback 14 that my boys have had have been great. I have always been a believer in getting them alloy framed branded bikes rather than cheapo steel framed bikes that weigh as much as my bike does.

Without being a snob about Halfords are their own brand bikes any good?

Any advice appreciated.

Paul

[tigger1]

Carrera bikes are perfectly "ok" - and for a 6 year old, definitely!

I'm sure it'll be bounced, thrown, dropped, skidded and abused beyond all recognition anyway...so probalby quite sensible to buy at the cheaper end.

[Deerfoot]

I don`t know much about Carrera bikes for kids but unless you`re in a hurry have a look on the ctc website for sale section, sometimes there are really good deals to be had on used bikes.

Recently there was this...

http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=7...

which went for £150. I can assure you it is better than a new Carrera or a used Hotrock.

My son has a Hotrock 20, my daughter an Islabikes Beinn 20 bought from the ctc site. There really is no comparison.

[Countdown]

tigger1 said:

Carrera bikes are perfectly "ok" - and for a 6 year old, definitely!

I'm sure it'll be bounced, thrown, dropped, skidded and abused beyond all recognition anyway...so probalby quite sensible to buy at the cheaper end.

I agree. I bought Carreras for 2 of my kids when they were younger. The bikes were fine, lasted about 3 years and then handed down to cousins. Cheap and healthy pasttime

[PH5121]

Thanks for the responses. I had a look on the Halfords website last night, on there the Blast was cheaper than in store by about £30.
At £150 it looks good value if it is decent quality, but if £150 potentially buys an Isla Bike I will look at e-bay, to get an idea of what they sell for.

[Rick101]

Cripes, last 3 bikes I bought for the 3 kids were £50, £25 and £25.

Don't mind spending the money when they're 14+ and take up cycling as a hobby but for now they're just a toy.

[PH5121]

The bikes my two have had between them in the last 3 years were £60, £60 and £45 (as the eldest outgrows one his little brother inherits it). All bought off E bay locally, all decent branded bikes that would have been £150 each new.

In each instance I may have paid over the odds for them, but the fact I could pick them up within 20 minutes of home was a key factor.

[Kell]

Depends how likley the bikes are to be trashed.

My daughter's on her second Islabike and I'll probably look to get another when she outgrows this one.

The beauty of buying them is that you'll get 75% + of the original purchase price back second hand.

In fact, if you went on to buy another Islabike, they'll give you 50% back.