UKC

Im looking at getting my 7 year old son a new bike for Xmas

ideally he would like something geared, but I have seen that Raleigh burners we remade a few years ago, and they are a classic at his age (I had a mag burner in yellow and blue, amazing).

Also, I have seen the raleigh chopper is available again (and is geared) - is this still the height of childhood coolness or is it just old blokes who now think this? Will he be vilified by his peers for my retro tastes?

anyone got any useful suggestions about what a "cool" (and functionally useful) bike is for a 7-10 year these days?

ta

In reply to fxceltic:

Not sure about cool but have a look at Isla bikes. Got a balance one for my daughter and it's very well made and you can trade them up as they get bigger.

Hope that's useful

Toby

In reply to fxceltic: My son has just owngrown his Ridgeback 20" if you want something second hand. Otherwise new theyre a nice little bike.

In reply to Toby_W: Dan has just got a 26" Isla cross bike. They are well made but quite expensive; however you get a good resale price for them if theyre looked after.

In reply to Toby_W: cheers, Ive heard they are excellent as it goes, and will certainly consider one for my daughter in time.

However, if I think back to my 7 year old self, Im not sure I would have been top buzzing receiving a bike with a girls name for Xmas.

Thats possibly not the most progressive, non gender stereotyping, pc perspective, sorry.

In reply to fxceltic:


A kid in our village got a Raleigh Chopper when they 1st came out, we thought it was dead cool for all of about 5 minutes until we rode it & realised what a truly awful bike they were

In reply to Jamming Dodger:

is that the MX20? Is it in silver or black? I may be interested depending on condition, price, location etc

thanks

In reply to Hat Dude:

that is probably a fair point.

In reply to fxceltic: I got my son a Dawes blowfish 18inch wheel a couple of years ago. It was perfect and would consider a larger version this year for his Xmas. Trying to avoid suspension forks and gears as they're wasted on younger kids, need maintenance, and add more weight to the bike. The Blowfish was great for those reasons and an aluminium frame so light as well.
I'll be selling it on before Xmas but too small for your lad, but good brand.

In reply to fxceltic: Its blue.
http://www.ridgeback.co.uk/bike/mx20-blue
I advertised it recently for £80. Just noticed someone responded to the thread though saying he'd emailed me... oops.

In reply to fxceltic: Im in Manchester and just noticed you're in Sussex so probably not a viable option without one of us losing out unless you ever come up this part of the country.

In reply to fxceltic: One of my children has a trek (220?) and the other a GT. The GT is a ton lighter and generally better than the trek, but both ok.

It is worth trying to get them to accept one without front sus as the small sus forks are completely non functional, and add a ton of weight and cost.

Choppers are pretty, but foul to ride. I crashed one horribly as a kid and knocked some teeth out after getting high speed wobble. Have you considered a BMX bike? Simple to maintain , light, and normally comparatively good vfm.

In reply to fxceltic:


You used to be able to get them stickered up with your kid's name for a little extra - can't remember if it means the Isla bit is still there or not, but might take the edge of it.

Mind you, my very nearly 7 year old lad isn't in the least bothered by the name.

In reply to Carolyn: You can still get them decalled with the kids name but theyre quite difficult to remove and could affect the re-sale value when you come to sell.

In reply to fxceltic:

My son got a specialized hot rock 20 mountain bike for his Christmas 2 years ago he was 7.

He still loves it now.

cheers

Gaz

In reply to fxceltic: There a lot of kids on Isla cross bikes a couple of weekends ago when my club held a cyclocross race. They are well liked because they are light and well made. btw well worth getting a bike he can have a go at cross racing, there were about 100 kids having a go and loving it. It is a really nice atmosphere and it improves their skills before they go out on the road.

In reply to fxceltic: another vote for isla bikes. they are very well made . at the moment our boys have a cnoc 12 and a rothan balance, both have been very well used and are still in excellent condition. we are getting a beinn 20 (small) soon. the main feature over and above other quality brands is that they are much lighter. look at the prices they go for on flea bay, almost the cost of buying new.

In reply to fxceltic:
I've been through a range of Islabikes for my kids. Whilst others have been on Dirt jumping styled bikes and 'full sussers' which may at first look fashionable, they are in fact inefficient and cumbersome. Fortunately now, Islabikes are much better styled and have more then the standard gray colour!

If you want your kids to love cycling and really progress, go Islabikes all the way,

If you want the cool factor, Scott, Trek and Specialized all do decent kids mountain bikes.

I think someone else has also suggested it but a decent bmx is just amazing fun, don't rule one out.

In reply to fxceltic:
My daughter has a Specialized Hot Rock 20 inch. She adores it, and has accompanied me around the easier parts of the Gisburn trails with no problems. It even has DCD-type chain guide! A bit pricey, but good build quality, and the shocks are easy to service.

In reply to fxceltic:

+1+1 for IslaBikes

Both our boys started on Isla balance bikes and our oldest (5 and bit) is now on a geared Beinn 20-Small.

They hold value very well if you want to sell on.

In reply to ChrisJD:

They are good.. But it annoys me that spokes and brake noodles rust on them.

Cnoc 12 and beinn 20 small

In reply to fxceltic: I agree with the Isla bike recommendations.

I'm a bikeability trainer and see a whole raft of bikes. The cheap and cheerful are heavy AND the brake system components are poor, therefore it makes it really hard for the children to stop.

The combination of weight and poor components makes it hard to ride and difficult to stop - that can very easily scare a child.

Isla bikes are well made, use quality components, designed for children not to a budget and are a joy to ride. And then trade them up as the child grows. I hope that your son enjoys his cycling.

Robin

Another +1 for Islabikes

In reply to duchessofmalfi: And they don't really look like they've got a girl's name on them:

http://www.islabikes.co.uk/bike_pages/beinn24.html

I just think they look dead cool.

In reply to fxceltic:
My 7 year old daughter has had an Isla beinn 20 for her birthdays today and it has instantly made a massive difference to her riding. The quality is superb and it is very light - 7kg compared to my sons 24 inch Wheeled specialised bike

In reply to fxceltic: 2 things, how would he be using his bike? ie 2 min ride to go to his mates house, throwing himself down a mountain in the alps or doing tricks...etc?
Secondly, look at the size of the bikes especially the standover compared to your son's inside leg measurement. This will give a better idea if a bike is worth looking at rather than the age the manufactures says it will fit. Then get him to try before you buy. Just to show you that sizes can be missleading, BKB Jr at age 8 was riding an adult XS MTB.

Whatever bike you choose, I hope he has lots of fun

BKB...