Budget but decent 24" MTB

-ralph-

Looking for a decent MTB for my 7 year old son, but don't want to spend more than I have to as they outgrow a bike within 2 years, and I'm looking for your thoughts.

The Carrera Blast 24" seems to get a lot of recommendations at £230, but it's 16kg!

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/k ... 14-24#tab2

Best other options I've found so far are:

Jamis X.24, £192, 14kg, but it has V brakes and most of the 24" MTBS under £300 that seems to be the case.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/jam ... e-ec076086

The best value bike with Discs I can find at £265 is the Felt Q24D, which weighs 12.4kg, and extra £35 over the Carrera to save 3.5kg seems like a no brainer, he still only has little legs and I reckon that'll make a difference to him uphill.

http://www.bestbikeproducts.com/m3b36s1 ... S_GB/15656

I'm thinking the Felt is the one I'm going to go for, unless somebody can suggest an alternative under £300, or somebody tells me I really don't need discs and I should just go for the Jamis?

Thanks

-ralph-

Quick update, I've found the Felt at £254, but out of stock, if they can't order one in relatively quickly though, I probably shouldn't be buying a Felt bike.

http://www.merlincycles.com/felt-kids-q ... 75238.html

mattrixdesign2

Carrera Abyss, does away with pointless (kids) suspension. Its got V-brakes, but V-brakes are fine and IMO trump cheap discs for setup and reliability and weight.

The wheels are pretty basic and cheap, and I would ditch the grip shift for an under bar shifter.

wasp707

The Hoy Bonaly looks good. £320 at Evans. Plus they have a trade-in offer at the monment which saves £30.

Does anyone have one of these? They look a good alternative to the Islabike Beinn 24 and I'm comtemplating getting one for my son.

simon_e

-ralph- wrote:

The Carrera Blast 24" seems to get a lot of recommendations at £230, but it's 16kg!

You generally get what you pay for.

I don't know the Carrera that mattrixdesign2 is referring to but the point is valid: no suspension, single ring etc and maybe fit some lighter tyres. Rigid forks will make them a better rider. Frog 62 is <10kg and £270. Ridgeback MX24 might be worth looking at.

If you aren't in a rush then keep an eye on ebay. Sort by distance. At the time of writing a clean looking Hotrock 24 near me is at 99p with 3 days left to run.

debeli

I wouldn't buy new unless there are younger siblings or cousins to pass the machine on to.

Also... are there older cousins or family friends who might want to sell a bike that's been outgrown?

I bought new at that age, but there were three children, so the maths worked out. All our bikes (16", 20" and two 24") are still in use with cousins or the children of old friends.

However... I would think carefully about what you mean by "an MTB for a 7-year-old".

A lot of the things for which fancy-dan equipment is desirable simply do not apply at that age.

Even front suspension is of questionable merit in most children under ten, because they simply lack the stamina to put in the long rides where the absence of springs can get tiresome. They also weigh rather less than we adults and they are more flexible. Suspension is heavy.

Similarly, disc brakes are an unusual addition to a bike for one so young. V-brakes are lighter and will do the job just as well.

Of my kids, only one still rides off-road very often, but all still ride in their teens and early adult lives. Under the age of ten, they all walloped around on MTB-type bikes with knobbly tyres and wide bars, but none had suspension or and fancy kit. The little ones had single chainrings. At very young ages it is about confidence, fun and bike-handling. Do not spend a three-figure sum on what might be used for only a few months of good weather in a two-to-thee year period.

andrewc3142

^ +1

mattrixdesign2

Simon E wrote:

-ralph- wrote:

The Carrera Blast 24" seems to get a lot of recommendations at £230, but it's 16kg!

You generally get what you pay for.

I don't know the Carrera that mattrixdesign2 is referring to but the point is valid: no suspension, single ring etc and maybe fit some lighter tyres. Rigid forks will make them a better rider. Frog 62 is <10kg and £270. Ridgeback MX24 might be worth looking at.

If you aren't in a rush then keep an eye on ebay. Sort by distance. At the time of writing a clean looking Hotrock 24 near me is at 99p with 3 days left to run.

this one http://www.halfords.com/kids-zone/kids- ... ke-2014-24

a ridged 29er (24er) for kids... it doesn't skimp on kit, other that the twist shift (tenner to swap it out). The wheels are pretty basic too. Certainly has growing room, with those big wheels.

poah

god knows what they have done to the bike as my son's carrera blast did not weigh 16kg when new. Was still heavy at just under 30lb though. now weights under 23lb.

maddog 2

Cube do some nice ones.

bikes`n`guns

Just picked up a secondhand Specialised Hotrock 24" for number 1 Grandkid after his current bike failed to survive Glentress.

Mucho lighter than any carrera, paid £100 for it which I was happy with as all the components seem pretty hight spec for a kids bike.

Another, if you want new, is the Dawes academy, which comes in at 8kg and under £300

apreading

If you get the A1 Hotrock such as this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Specialized-H ... 1639175344 then it will be ace - my son had one and apart from the fact that it uses twist grip shifters, I couldnt fault it. REALLY light and great fun to ride. Bought it for £250 new and sold it for £180 three years later.