Kids Bikes - Rip Off?

hwangeruk

I can waltz into my local bike shop, and get a Giant Adults Mountain Bike (albeit lowest of the range) for 179 quid.
It's got Shimano bits all over, looks a decent enough bike.

Yet, my 8 yr old wants a BMX. And those and the 20inch Specialised are 200 quid plus.
The components are unbranded and look like they were welded together in a sweat shop.
Surely they should be about half the price of the adult bikes?

If anyone has any suggestions/observations I'd like to hear them. I don't mind paying what I have to pay (its not just being tight) but they seem extremely poor value compared to the adult bikes. And he will outgrow/lose/break/get stolen this bike with 18 months - 2 years I bet.

Or am I just being a Victor Meldrew on this LOL ?

pdrolo

economies of scale. Most parents will buy there kids a full sus steel mtb for under £100 - high quality kids bikes don't sell in as great a numbers as machines for adults. - My kids want road bikes - nothing under £300 - which is a lot for bike they will grow out of .

Good thing about BMX - is that they only come in one size - so your son will not grow out of it - from memory mongoose did a nice bmx for around £200

incog24

There are a few bikes out there, but the second poster is right, the manufacturer doesn't get economies of scale on the frames. However that is only on the frame really, the rest is similar parts wise. Have you seen the Raleigh Zero G (20" wheels)? Much lighter than most children's bikes as its got an aluminium frame rather than some rubbish steel one. Not a dissimilar spec from the giant (Rock?) either. Giant do some cool kids bikes but I think they're 249.99ish (decent parts though). Road bike wise the cheapest I know of is the Dawes Giro 200 which comes pretty small.

Smokin Joe

incog24 wrote:

There are a few bikes out there, but the second poster is right, the manufacturer doesn't get economies of scale on the frames. However that is only on the frame really, the rest is similar parts wise. Have you seen the Raleigh Zero G (20" wheels)? Much lighter than most children's bikes as its got an aluminium frame rather than some rubbish steel one. Not a dissimilar spec from the giant (Rock?) either. Giant do some cool kids bikes but I think they're 249.99ish (decent parts though). Road bike wise the cheapest I know of is the Dawes Giro 200 which comes pretty small.

Even as I speak, the beards are in conference deciding the most painful way of removing your testicles.

hammerite

I know where you are coming from.

Not a BMX at all but Islabikes are supposed to be very good (not that I've bought one for Jnr). They'll also part-x an old Isla bike if you are changing due to out growing it.

Jnr Hammer wants a road bike (he's 7) we were a bit wary of getting him one as it's not really the sort of bike I'd want him bombing round our street on with his mates, and buying two bikes seems OTT as he's growing quickly. We were lucky though as his cousin has just passed down his mountain bike which was the right size and in decent nick, so he can have that to use and abuse. If he's a good boy santa may get him something for riding on the road with us - although I'm guessing that when he grows out of that he'll not want to be seen dead out riding with us

incog24

Smokin Joe wrote:

Even as I speak, the beards are in conference deciding the most painful way of removing your testicles.

They may be, but I'm sure even with their diminishing powers of sight they can still tell the difference between 531 one and Probike scaffolding :P

hwangeruk

2 good tips there. those Islabikes look great, but 250 quid...ouch.
the Dawes Giro at 58cm = 22 inches might be the ticket at 195 quid. my boy can straddle a 26 inch mountain bike, so 22 inch might work, and he can grow into it

cheers

redddraggon

hwangeruk wrote:

2 good tips there. those Islabikes look great, but 250 quid...ouch.
the Dawes Giro at 58cm = 22 inches might be the ticket at 195 quid. my boy can straddle a 26 inch mountain bike, so 22 inch might work, and he can grow into it

cheers

Dude I think you've misinterpreted the sizes - a 26" Frame mountain bike, is super huge, but 26" wheels are normal.

A 58cm road frame is for people that are at least 6foot tall.

Kids would a frame far smaller than a 50cm.

FORUM EXPERT

hwangeruk wrote:

I can waltz into my local bike shop, and get a Giant Adults Mountain Bike (albeit lowest of the range) for 179 quid.
It's got Shimano bits all over, looks a decent enough bike.

Yet, my 8 yr old wants a BMX. And those and the 20inch Specialised are 200 quid plus.
The components are unbranded and look like they were welded together in a sweat shop.
Surely they should be about half the price of the adult bikes?

If anyone has any suggestions/observations I'd like to hear them. I don't mind paying what I have to pay (its not just being tight) but they seem extremely poor value compared to the adult bikes. And he will outgrow/lose/break/get stolen this bike with 18 months - 2 years I bet.

Or am I just being a Victor Meldrew on this LOL ?

Get a Mirraco Icon Intro A REAL BMX and only £150.00

alfablue

Islabikes make great quality proper kids bikes, without unnecessary suspension etc, they are pricey, but secondhand values are good (and Islabikes do a trade in). I don't think they do BMX though. It is virtually impossible to get a proper bike for kids from any major manufacturer that would actually be any good for road riding, they are all overweight mtb style tanks.

Red Devil

My 10yr old son wants a road bike - but I having difficulty sourcing one- unbelievable really, they were commonplace when I was a boy

alfablue

This is the answer



The Islabikes Luath, they make them in 3 sizes, 9+, 11+ and 13+

It is £299, but it is as well made and equipped as an adult bike, no reason why it should cost less, and to be honest I would be surprised if you will find anything else like it that good. Resale values are high, and Islabikes do a PX for when he grows.

Red Devil

Lookin good - thanks for the reply may well be worth sourcing secondhand possibly ?
What the hell he deserves it once Ive bought my new bike

Cheers
Chris

alfablue

Red Devil wrote:

What the hell he deserves it once Ive bought my new bike

Cheers
Chris

course he does - make him a cycling enthusiast of the future!

dsmiff

alfablue wrote:

Red Devil wrote:

What the hell he deserves it once Ive bought my new bike

Cheers
Chris

course he does - make him a cycling enthusiast of the future!

Be careful what you wish for, I can "just" about keep up with mine, goodness help me when he get's to ten!!!

Brought my son a Giant SCR 3.0w (XS), but with hindsight the Islabike may have been better as it can also be used for cyclocross.

alfablue

You guys are doing a fantastic thing getting your kids into cycling!

Gav2000

I was very keen to get my (tall) 6 year old her first geared bike earlier this summer but didn't want to get one weighing 30lbs+ that had 21 gears and useless full suspension as so many seem to be.

If money had not have been an object I'd have got her an Isla Bike, however she's growing and it'll probably only last 2 years so I didn't want to spend too much.

In the end I got her an aluminium framed 20" wheeled, 6 geared, rigid frame and forked bike off a seller on ebay. It came from Austria and given that I was the only bidder cost me £45!

I didn't expect much but it's lighter than her old single speed Dawes Blowfish 16" wheeler, the brakes say Tekro and the gears say Shimano, it was delivered in a few days, was double boxed to avoid damage and has been well used. The wheels are still round and my daughter loves it, you wouldn't believe how proud she is to be the first in her class with a geared bike!

I'm afraid I can't remember the name of the seller but I could look through my feedback tonight. The frame is red and has almost no branding expect for VISP on a chainstay.

Gav.

alfablue

Yes, in the UK , at least for new bikes, you are really stuck for anything like a proper bike, they are all mtb style, even if of quality they are much too heavy. Islabikes is the only exception. I did buy a 10 year old daughter of a friend a Dawes Discovery 201 with 24" wheels a couple of years ago, this was decent, light and with a rigid fork. She could get good speed on it. Unfortunately Dawes no longer make them, though the occasional secondhand on does come up.