Any good all mountain bikes for kids?

jon prothero

I am trying to source a good all mountain bike for my friends boy (12 year old approx 4'5) Any ideas? Budget œ500 - œ1000.

Unknown

Tricky one, as he will be growing fast. May fit on 24 in wheeled versions of some bikes. As ever, its all about testing and getting into the local shop to see what they have.

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hsa

I bought my 11 year old son a Trek (size 13) which is perfect for him. And he 'should' get a good 2-3 years out of it.

GYP

My Lad is 11 but its a cow getting a kids bike in FS.He had a Scott Juior Racing 24 and we sold that on with not much loss on Ebay. We ended up getting a mens small GT i drive 4-3.0 from pauls cycles for œ650. He has others in stock at a higher price.GT seem to offer that better start price and we looked around a lot.

The one we got is a bit heavy but came with Judy 4 front shocks and a fox float rear shock. Avid BB5 mech brakes.I swapped my wheels from my trek fuel 90 and saved him nearly 2 lb on the weight. Good frame though so we can just upgrade bits as he gets older.This should do him well into his teens hopefully.Birthdays and christmas will be upgrades...lol

At least if you buy good bikes you can always sell them on. Don't compromise in the short term is my advice.

jon prothero

Thanks for that GYP I take a look at the GT sounds good!

Unknown

Wouldn't he learn better skills on a hardtail and they'll be cheaper! At his age he should be able to cope with the pounding.

GYP

Listen to Victorian dad.....lol[:D]

If he can't handle it dish out a sound thrashing...Your not from Yorkshire are you Father Faff?


Seriously though the hardtail option is a no no from me. Once he sees you on the full bouncer, the moaning starts when he's imitating buckaroo...It will be cheaper in the long run we found if we had gone straight for the FS.

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Unknown

Well, I'm half Scottish, half Yorkshire, and I can tell ye laddie a jolly good thrashing never did me any harm!

I guess it all depends how "All Mountain" it needs to be. I guess at the age of 12 the boy is going to want to do some quite serious stuff so maybe you are right. My son is only 8 so is only really comfy on mild forest trails and easy singletrack so only needs a hardtail.

GYP

Come to think of it i got thrashed a few times within an inch of me life. You know the type where your blubbering for 3 hrs afterwards. I still love me dad though and in a way it did me good....lol

"Now then where's that bloo dy belt, come here you little ****"

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Unknown

If it is a full suss you want, you are going to be looking at the top end of the budget, or you will laden him with an undamped heavyweight bike which is more likey to put him off!

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<font color="red">GT Ruckus</font id="red">
<font color="red">Me!</font id="red">
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finlayson99

Have a look at www.konabikes.co.uk they've got some top stuff for kids

jon prothero

Yeah I have had a look at the Konas what top end are out there supersonic? Thanks for your advice all!