First "adult size" bike - Specialized Pitch?

whitzend

My son has outgrown his Specialized Hotrock 24 and is ready to move up to an adult bike.

We went into our LBS who are a Specialized dealer and he tried a 15.5" Hard Rock. which seemed OK. He then tried a 15.5" Pitch 650b which seemed a little better for him in terms of arm reach.

LBS is offering the Pitch at £385 at the moment.

Given that I'm looking for small frames, that seems to rule some of the usual "what bike for £300-500 should I buy" style options out (the Voodoo Bantu usually only seems available in larger sizes, for example).

So, would you recommend this bike at this price point, as a first adult sized bike, or should I look elsewhere? If so, at what?

EDIT: to ask whether for a younger rider moving up to adult bikes, a 26" would be better than a 650b generally, or is "a bike that fits" the key consideration.

Pitch 650b Specs:

FRAME Specialized A1 Premium Aluminum, Sport Trail 650b Geometry, butted tubesets, externally relieved headtube, forged dropouts w/ reinforced disc mount, replaceable alloy derailleur hanger
FORK SR Suntour XCT 650b, alloy lower, coil/MCU spring, Hi-Ten 28mm stanchions/1-1/8" steerer, preload adj., disc mount, size-specific 80/100mm travel
HEADSET 1-1/8" upper/lower, Zerostack 44, steel cups, loose ball bearings
STEM Specialized 3D forged alloy, 4-bolt, 7-degree rise, anti-corrosion hardware
HANDLEBARS Specialized, low rise, double butted 6061 alloy, 9-degree backsweep, 5-degree upsweep, 15mm rise, 31.8mm
GRIPS Specialized Body Geometry XCT, Kraton w/ gel, lock-on, closed end, 132mm
FRONT BRAKE Tektro Aries, mechanical disc, organic pads
REAR BRAKE Tektro Aries, mechanical disc, organic pads
FRONT DERAILLEUR Shimano Altus, high mount, bottom swing, dual-pull
REAR DERAILLEUR Shimano Altus, 8-speed
SHIFT LEVERS Shimano ST-EF51, w/ integrated brake lever
CASSETTE Sunrace, 8-speed, 11-34
CHAIN KMC X8, 8-speed, reusable Missing Link
CRANKSET Forged alloy, square taper spindle, w/ chainguard
BOTTOM BRACKET Square taper, cartridge bearings
PEDALS Composite platform, w/ reflectors, 9/16"
RIMS Specialized Stout, 650b disc, alloy double-wall, pin joint, 25mm inner width, 32h
FRONT HUB Specialized Hi Lo disc, alloy double-sealed, ground race, QR, 32h
REAR HUB Specialized Hi Lo disc, alloy, double-sealed, loose ball bearings, QR, 32h
SPOKES Stainless, 14g, w/ brass nipple
FRONT TIRE Specialized Fast Trak Sport, 40TPI, wire bead, Flak Jacket protection, 650bx2.0"
REAR TIRE Specialized Fast Trak Sport, 40TPI, wire bead, Flak Jacket protection, 650bx2.0"
INNER TUBES Standard, Schrader valve
SADDLE Body Geometry mountain, thick padding, steel rails, 143mm
SEATPOST Alloy, 2-bolt, micro-adjust, 12.5mm offset, 30.9mm, anti-corrosion hardware
SEAT BINDER Alloy, nylon/glass fiber washer, QR, 34.9mm

rockmonkeysc

Its going to be very heavy and ride like a turd. At under a grand Specialized are best avoided.
You will get a much better bike for your money from Halfords. Carrers bikes are great for the proce. Also look at the Rockrider bikes from Decathlon.

whitzend

RockmonkeySC wrote:

Its going to be very heavy and ride like a turd. At under a grand Specialized are best avoided.
You will get a much better bike for your money from Halfords. Carrers bikes are great for the proce. Also look at the Rockrider bikes from Decathlon.

Cheers. Am looking at the B'Twin 520 which seems available in-store in small frame size but a bit of a journey from where we live.

Assuming he could take a 16" frame (the Specializeds were 15.5") the Carrera Vulcan, Valour and Vengeance are all available from Halfords, but far less choice at 15". Beyond saying the Vulcan is most expensive, so "must be best", is there any logic particularly in which to look at?

Is the B'Twin worth the extra effort to get to?

whitzend

Got the B'Twin 520 today. Happy shopper. Thanks for the advice.