Bike for a 6 year old boy

andrewsylvester

I know this might sound like a stuck record as I'm sure a lot of people ask it, but I'm looking for a bike for my little boy who is going to be 6 soon. I've done quite a large amount of research on the subject, but I'd like a bit of input really to put my mind at rest.

Basically, I have a maximum budget of £300. And I know to a lot of people that would scream Islabike, but If I could get something excellent for less, then I would, so I could spend money on other things (I'd like to buy him a Sky kids jersey for a start!).

I've split it down into different price categories

So basically my choices are the obvious Islabikes Beinn 20 (small or large) - £299
Or
Specialized Hotrock 20 (around £250)
Cube Kid 200 (around £250, although may be able to find a 2013 model for less)
Or
Giant Revel Jr Lite 2014 (£219) - http://www.rutlandcycling.com/150571/pr ... black.aspx
Vitus Minium (£189) - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitu ... -prod85582
Or
Carrera Blast (£160) - http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165602

So really my question is, which one is best value for money, or what are peoples experiences?

I don't know how heavy the Giant Revel is as it's new, and Giant don't like telling anyone weights of their bikes. Does anyone know anything about the Vitus, as I can't find any reviews. Obviously when it comes to Halfords I'd usually steer clear, but the Carrera might not be too bad judging by Mr Internets opinions. My lad liked last years Giant XTC Jr Lite which fitted fine a few months ago, as did the Specialized.

I can also get 10% off the Giant or Specialized through purchasing iGo vouchers or 10% off at Halfords through my British Cycling membership, so that would reduce the cost of the Specialized to £225 and the Giant to £200ish. I'm not too worried about resale value as I will probably keep the bike for when my daughter is old enough.

I'm not too bothered about suspension either, but I would like to know it was decent sus if I were to pick up a bike with it. I believe the Hotrock is pretty good, but I don't know about the Carrera. He won't be riding rough terrain much, but I want him to be able to if the situation pops up.

Finally, I'm really not keen on Frog bikes!

Any advice is welcome

othello

*All* the suspension on those bikes will be terrible to be honest. It will be heavy, coil sprung and of little use.

My son and daughter both had Hotrock 20" and they were really good bikes. Yes the suspension was rubbish, but apart from that they were really well made and well specced. My son rode Whinlatter blue route on his 20" hotrock without a problem, so they can tackle rough stuff. Would I put it above the Benin? No, but at the time it was what I could afford as I bought them second hand (in as new condition off eBay).

if you don;t want to go for the Islabike then I would go for the hot rock.

macbikes

Also consider the Ridgeback MX20 (think you get a rigid version too RX20 maybe?) My son has had his more than a year now and it is a great little bike. He does full-on mountain biking with it and it takes everything he throws at it.

I don't know much about tech specs but the Giant has a steel quill stem, steel seatpost etc. Sounds like it might be heavy?

alphacharlie

My 7 yo is currently riding a Blast 20" and we have a 24" sat in the garage ready for Christmas. Apart from swapping the twist grip shifter to trigger shift to make it easy for him it has been faultless, He has ridden Dalby Forest and we regularly ride at Sherwood pines at he manages the red route without issue. He's not ridden further than 20 miles in one day but we are building up slowly and he may do it just before we swap for the bigger bike. The 20" will get a service and be sat waiting for my 5 yo girl when she's ready to part with the Dawes Blowfish 16" she currently rides