Which bike for my son?

[RedWhiteMonkey]

Looking for some general guidance.

In a few months we will be buying our son his next bike. He is 9 years old, but tall for his age (around 155cm or 5'1") and competent on a bike. He currently rides a 24" wheel bike, but it is clearly too small for him so that will get passed onto his younger sister. The guys in my local bike shop said my son was basically a small adult now in terms of bike sizes, and I tend to agree.

The bike will be used for knocking around the streets with his mates, our family bike tours across the local fields (tarmaced roads) and eventually riding to school once he is finished at primary school. I think a cross country XC hardtail mountain bike is the way to go, something that is fun enough for him but can also handle having some accessories (rear rack, lights, stand, etc.) added to it. The two main wheel sizes seem to be 27.5" and 29". I think 29" will be too big for him (I have 29" on my touring bike and would probably go smaller if I ever changed), so would be looking at 27.5". Small wheels would also help with the loading of 4 bikes onto the bike rack when we go on holiday. Does that seem like the right option?

Budget wise, we have been saving some birthday and Christmas money so we're willing to go up to 800-900 (I'm in Germany). I have been looking at the following so far:

Trek Marlin 4:
https://www.fahrrad-xxl.de/trek-marlin-4-gen-3-m00...

Carver Strict 160:
https://www.fahrrad-xxl.de/carver-strict-160-b-war...

Orbea Onna 27 40:
https://www.fahrrad-xxl.de/orbea-onna-27-40-m00010...

Orbea Onna 27 20:
https://www.fahrrad-xxl.de/orbea-onna-27-20-m00010...

Canyon AL 5:
https://www.canyon.com/de-de/mountainbike/trail-bi...

Any thoughts on these? I like look of the Orbea (either one), any experiences of Orbea?

[Barchettaman]

I would be looking for a s/h Corratec or similar with 26” wheels.

You should be able to pick something up for €150.

I sold this, only V brakes but a really nice fork, for about that:



Not the best photo but trust me it was an absolute hoot to blast around on.

[PomBstard]

From experience, at that age he’s going to blitz through whatever you get next in a couple of years. A s/h 26er for little money would be my choice, and was what I did - an old Trek Fuel was up for sale locally cheap so that worked until it was too small - about 18 months. 10yo boy down the road now has it.

[Discendo Discimus]

No offence to the above posters, but if I was a 9 year old lad I wouldn't want to be riding around on a second hand 26er with V brakes.

Realistically any of the bikes in the OP are great, it depends which one your lad likes the look of more. I'm sure you're aware, but Canyon are direct to customer and don't sell through bike shops. This can mean some bike shops are reluctant to work on them (although I've never experienced this myself), and there are horror stories regarding returns and warranties.
This does mean they are a bit cheaper than shop bought bikes. I love mine!

[SwissJonese]

Look at the fork first, if it says "coil spring" just move on. These are heavy and almost useless in all conditions (unless you want to change it to an air fork).

At 5ft 1 then yes a small framed adult bike with 27.5" wheelset will be fine, my daughter rides exactly this.

However, I would look locally for 2nd hand bikes. Or if near any parks that hire bikes, look for used stock they sell off. Would more likely get a bargain as some kids never use their bikes.

Out of your list it would be the (Orbea is good as German Brand)
Orbea Onna 27 20 - 27.5 inches - Diamond - 2026
or
Grand Canyon AL 5

Or if pushing the boat out a Marin would be very high on my list.
Marin Bobcat Trail 5 27.5´´ 2025 MTB bike

[RedWhiteMonkey]

Thanks, with all respect to the others (and I know there will be some second hand bargains out there) I'm 99.9% sure that we're going for brand new. We have the money set aside and he's been brillant over the last couple of years so we want to reward that.

I agree with the servicing of online bought bikes, my own ebike (Radon) is an online purchase and it took me ages to find somewhere to take it when the motor needed service. I'm pretty handy with tools and can easily service a bike that doesn't have a motor to complicate matters though.

Realistically, we need to get him to sit on some bikes and see what he likes. Just trying to get a feel for things at the moment. I think 27.5" wheels and a single front sproket is the way to go.

[Pablo16v]

My son was around the same height at 9 and I bought him a small 27.5 Specialied Rockhopper Comp, which fitted him perfectly.

Like this one https://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/shop/bik...

[Davie]

My little boy is 8 and 142cm and has been riding a Calibre Bossnut V3 with 27.5 wheels on a small frame for the past couple of months with no issues.

[okgo]

Barchettaman said:

I would be looking for a s/h Corratec or similar with 26 wheels.

You should be able to pick something up for 150.

I sold this, only V brakes but a really nice fork, for about that:



Not the best photo but trust me it was an absolute hoot to blast around on.

I d rather spend summer in Great Ormond Street than own that as a 9 year old.

OP - any of the major brands you’ve listed will be fine. Get his buy in probably best.

[PomBstard]

I get the desire to buy new and it’s your choice, but I just sold this for the equivalent of £250 and was the basis of my earlier reply…



It’s an early 26” Trek Fuel, size M, with Fox forks and Fox Float shock, 1x10 gears, and Shimano hydraulic discs f/r. Weighed less than many of the cheap hardtails other kids were riding.

I paid £500 for it a few years ago and used it for 2 kids, the latest got a massive 18 months use out of it - now on a size M Giant Trance 27.5”

[SDK]

We got our son a Canyon - Grand Canyon Young Hero 27.5" (£700), when he was 12 and he still uses it today now 14, for the same things you mentioned :


- Riding to and from school, even through Winter
- Riding to meet up with his friends
- Riding pump tracks
- Riding easier MTB trails

It's a child specific bike, and he loves it.
He has several other bikes, including a full suspension Canyon Neuron, a Trek Rail eMTB and a DH Marin Quake, but still often rides this Canyon hard tail

Looks like it's currently out of stock, but will likely come back soon.
There are two sizes - 2XS (148cm to 158cm), and an XS (158cm to 166cm). He rides an XS and is around 165cm in these photos. He likes the smaller size as it's much easier to ride tight pump tracks etc....

https://www.canyon.com/de-de/mountainbike/trail-bi...

Edited by SDK on Sunday 8th February 12:56

[RedWhiteMonkey]

Thanks all, more food for thought.

I have been looking a local second hand stuff for sale, and getting something like a 4 year old bike that was 3 k+ brand new for 500 now does seem tempting. Obviously such a purchase needs a bit of luck and thorough examination though. We'll have a chat with our son at some point and see whether second hand would be still cool enough.

Having said that, it is always nice to get brand new and that Canyon looks interesting.

Edited by RedWhiteMonkey on Monday 9th February 07:07

[heisthegaffer]

okgo said:

Barchettaman said:

I would be looking for a s/h Corratec or similar with 26 wheels.

You should be able to pick something up for 150.

I sold this, only V brakes but a really nice fork, for about that:



Not the best photo but trust me it was an absolute hoot to blast around on.

I d rather spend summer in Great Ormond Street than own that as a 9 year old.

What a revolting thing to say.

[8IKERDAVE]

I went for this for my 9 year old lad for Christmas. Trek Marlin 4 XS frame. It's a great way into 'proper bikes' with hydraulic brakes, front suspension and bigger wheels. He absolutely loves it! Despite the terrible weather he has been out quite a bit.

I would also say, overhearing playground conversations it offers just the right amount of street cred too

[okgo]

heisthegaffer said:

What a revolting thing to say.

It’s a joke. That bike is the sort you see a crackhead riding with a bag for life on the saddle

Trek above looks smart!

[RDBx]

Another vote for the Marlin. We got our 10yo one in blue with gold decals. Looks fab, definite playground appreciation and the sprog loves it.

I thought 27.5 might be too much, but no, turns out it's spot on

Also liked the look of the Canyon, but were OoS when we needed it.

[McMoose]

okgo said:

It s a joke. That bike is the sort you see a crackhead riding with a bag for life on the saddle

Trek above looks smart!

Seriously - some things are not okay to joke about. That was a really disgusting comment imo.

[okgo]

McMoose said:

Seriously - some things are not okay to joke about. That was a really disgusting comment imo.

Not as disgusting as that bike mind you.

Stay away from a Gervais stand up routine won’t you.

[paulrockliffe]

PomBstard said:

I get the desire to buy new and it s your choice, but I just sold this for the equivalent of £250 and was the basis of my earlier reply



It s an early 26 Trek Fuel, size M, with Fox forks and Fox Float shock, 1x10 gears, and Shimano hydraulic discs f/r. Weighed less than many of the cheap hardtails other kids were riding.

I paid £500 for it a few years ago and used it for 2 kids, the latest got a massive 18 months use out of it - now on a size M Giant Trance 27.5

This is the way.

Don't forget that for 30 years 26" wheels were for adult bikes and for solid reasons. Yes modern bikes with modern geometry have good reasons to put adults on larger wheels, but the downsides with larger wheels are made worse the smaller a rider is, so it doesn't really translate into kids bikes, apart from industry fashion considerations.

With kids bikes buy second hand or factor in resale value so you can disregard all the advice to buy a bike that's too big for them that they'll grow into and go up the wheel sizes when they outgrow the crank arm length.

Edited by paulrockliffe on Wednesday 11th February 13:10