Suggestions for FS trail/DH bike for 12 year old

othello

I'm looking for suggestions for a full suspension trail/DH bike for my 12 year old son. I'm looking at second hand, not new, and really want some suggestions of models to keep an eye out for.

My son is a keen cyclist and already has a very nice XC race bike. But he likes mucking about in the woods, the occasional trip to BPW (done on his carbon XC bike last time!), and wants to try some beginner DH races at Tidworth etc. Rocking up on his XC bike isn't going to work! But... we don't yet want to go all in for a new bike, so I'm after something second hand.

Key spec things are:

* XS or S frame size. He currently rides a 15" XC frame.
* 26" wheels
* Able to take a long travel fork
* Nothing fancy! Not talking top of the range here, just something that will do the job.

Any ideas?

supersonic

What sort of budget are we looking at?

othello

supersonic wrote:

What sort of budget are we looking at?

Good question!

A tricky one as I've not thought about budget (and my son is going to chip in too). I'm also totally happy with a bike that is a few years old. If he really gets into it then we can talk about a high-end one, but he already has a very nice XC MTB, Cyclocross, road and track bike!

What would £500 get me?

(I'm also happy to look at getting a frame and building it up)

yiannism

othello wrote:

supersonic wrote:

What sort of budget are we looking at?

Good question!

A tricky one as I've not thought about budget (and my son is going to chip in too). I'm also totally happy with a bike that is a few years old. If he really gets into it then we can talk about a high-end one, but he already has a very nice XC MTB, Cyclocross, road and track bike!

What would £500 get me?

(I'm also happy to look at getting a frame and building it up)

Adopt me please! please!!

What a lucky kid!

othello

YiannisM wrote:

othello wrote:

supersonic wrote:

What sort of budget are we looking at?

Good question!

A tricky one as I've not thought about budget (and my son is going to chip in too). I'm also totally happy with a bike that is a few years old. If he really gets into it then we can talk about a high-end one, but he already has a very nice XC MTB, Cyclocross, road and track bike!

What would £500 get me?

(I'm also happy to look at getting a frame and building it up)

Adopt me please! please!!

What a lucky kid!

He loves his cycling, and I'm happy to support him. Plus I would rather he be on his bike(s) all the time than stuck inside on a games console

He still has to earn and contribute towards his bike gear, and I get a lot of things off eBay. But yes he is lucky, though does know it!

The Rookie

Do you really mean a DH bike (if such is available) and basically unpedelable or a trail/Enduro which would be?

A bit (lot) over budget but.....
http://lilshredder.com/lil-shredder-phenom

Or for inspiration
http://faqload.com/faqs/bikes/

othello

The Rookie wrote:

Do you really mean a DH bike (if such is available) and basically unpeddleable or a trail/Enduro which would be?

A bit over budget but.....
http://lilshredder.com/lil-shredder-phenom

More of a trail enduro bike I think, though as I said in the original post he fancies doing some beginner downhill races at Tidworth etc.

That phenom is going to be too small, as its 24" wheels and a small frame, and he currently riders a 15" frame with 26" wheels for XC. He is quite a small 12 but is growing.

Unless a 24" wheel is the way to go?

The Rookie

Depends on his height whether a 24 or 26" is better!

poah

if he is normal high a 24inch wheel bike won't last him long.

othello

I need to measure him but he runs a 15" XC bike with quite a bit of seat post. CX bike is a 49cm and road bike is a 45cm with lots of post (damn, might need to get him a bigger size soon...)

That is telling me I'm looking at 26"

rockmonkeysc

For tidworth a small jump bike would be better. XS downhill bikes are rare, heavy and not very good, especially at your budget.
If you're local to tidworth then look up wind hill bike bark on facebook. Should be better than tidworth, especially when it's wet.