Any tips for buying kids bike? - Askaboutmoney.com

Hi toby, we have 2 girls, 10 &11, would have bought their last bikes, their previous ones and the ones before that and will definitely get their next ones from our local bike shop, andy is the guys name and he may hot see them for 2 yrs but he knows their style ( one is tomboy & the other very ladylike! ) he never fails to come up with the goods, Each time i trawl the smyths,halfords,argos unknown to andy but i always end up back in his shop, Its always an expensive purchase with the pair and we dont have a lot of spare cash even though ive seen bikes for maybe 2/3 of what we would pay i never have second thoughts and always consider the personal service the fact that bikes are what he does and the way he treats the girls well worth the price paid, incidentally we would have paid very similar money for their last bikes to what your quote is, regards

I second local shop, in my local one my daughter got to cycle round outside for a trial, and the shopkeeper really knew his stuff. My daughter is on her third year on this bike, and in terms of value for money /cost per use the bike is fantastic.
Incidently, it is worth asking what they will throw in for 'free', helmet, basket, pump, light etc.

+1 for the local store.

We have bought all family (6, so far) bikes locally. A neighbour bought one for his daughter from a well-known UK shop and arranged for it to be delivered the day before her birthday. It arrived in a box - assembly required. Suffice is to say that is not how he had planned to spend his evening and ended up calling me and one othe neighbour to help.

The local shop adjust everything to suit the child, and provide a 'drop in if there's a problem' promise.

+1 for the local store.

We have bought all family (6, so far) bikes locally. A neighbour bought one for his daughter from a well-known UK shop and arranged for it to be delivered the day before her birthday. It arrived in a box - assembly required. Suffice is to say that is not how he had planned to spend his evening and ended up calling me and one othe neighbour to help.

The local shop adjust everything to suit the child, and provide a 'drop in if there's a problem' promise.

a big +1 here, we also got a bike for our little girl from a well known store and daddy (me) had to assemble it. A right pain in the neck. Avoid if at all possible. Thanks, have bought previous bikes from local guy alright but thought we might save by going the Smyths route this time. I'd thought if we bought bikes from him he might let us off on the occasional puncture or other minor repair but maybe thats too cheeky of me and he didn't anyway!

Having said that I got bikes fixed myself by this same man 15 years ago and would like to help keep a local business going but at the same time money is tight!

Will ask about what extras he'll throw in.

Smyths say they assemble for €10 btw which would still be quite a savings.

Anyone have an opinion on whether its worth paying €50 more for aluminium frame instead of steel?

Thanks, have bought previous bikes from local guy alright but thought we might save by going the Smyths route this time. I'd thought if we bought bikes from him he might let us off on the occasional puncture or other minor repair but maybe thats too cheeky of me and he didn't anyway!

Having said that I got bikes fixed myself by this same man 15 years ago and would like to help keep a local business going but at the same time money is tight!

Will ask about what extras he'll throw in.

Smyths say they assemble for €10 btw which would still be quite a savings.

Anyone have an opinion on whether its worth paying €50 more for aluminium frame instead of steel?

Steel framed bikes weigh a lot more than an aluminium framed one, they will also rust. The bikes sold in Smyths are cheap for a reason, the one you linked to in your first post has pointless suspension that adds weight and WILL break in a very short period of time. It may seem more expensive to buy a better quality bike but it will last longer and you can pass it down to younger kids or sell it later, you will not sell the ones from Smyths secondhand easily. Ideally you should buy [broken link removed] from Islabikes in the UK, best kids bikes you can get but they are expensive. If you think its likely to be well used and well looked after then I'd get one, but if you think the bike will be thrown around and ignored after a while then a disposable one from Smyths might be the answer.

You'll get lots of proper advice over on the [broken link removed].

I'm all for supporting your local bike shop if they have anything suitable and aren't overpriced.

Steel framed bikes weigh a lot more than an aluminium framed one, they will also rust. The bikes sold in Smyths are cheap for a reason, the one you linked to in your first post has pointless suspension that adds weight and WILL break in a very short period of time. It may seem more expensive to buy a better quality bike but it will last longer and you can pass it down to younger kids or sell it later, you will not sell the ones from Smyths secondhand easily. Ideally you should buy [broken link removed] from Islabikes in the UK, best kids bikes you can get but they are expensive. If you think its likely to be well used and well looked after then I'd get one, but if you think the bike will be thrown around and ignored after a while then a disposable one from Smyths might be the answer.

You'll get lots of proper advice over on the [broken link removed].

I'm all for supporting your local bike shop if they have anything suitable and aren't overpriced.

Daves comments are good and he obviously knows what he is talking about.
But, money is tight and there is nothing wrong with getting a steel bike for your 8 year old child if that is your budget. Aluminimum is lighter and a superb material to make a light quality bike from, but it is a luxury unless the bike will be heavily used for years and you can afford it.

Most/all the 8 year olds I know have steel bikes and they are grand

...
Anyone have an opinion on whether its worth paying €50 more for aluminium frame instead of steel?

Pick it up with one hand and you decide.

I bought a steel kids bike a couple of years back, froma a LBS (local bike store) not knowing much about bikes, and I regret it now. Its pretty much the same weight as my own adult steel MTB. The child it was bought for has to be bribed to ride it. Of course he might have been the same with a lighter bike. If I had the money I'd go with a Islabike.

Perhaps pick the lightest steel bike as a compromise.

Best value for money kids bike, 20", £300 budget

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Post by Dj » 9 Nov , 8:38am

Link to ChiSure

Hi,



Our 6 year old son would like a bike for Christmas. We had seen the Carrera Blast in Halfords (£300), as were hoping that it would be reduced in the sales (it wasn't). I've therefore found the following 4 links, and was hoping that someone could offer some advise as to which bike is best value for money please? He would use the bike to ride to school (pathways), and also use the local dirt/shingle path. I'm sure as he gets older, he would got mildly off-road with his mates. He is quite small, so a lightweight frame would be good. Thank you in advance!!



Link 1:

https://www.southdownsbikes.com/bikes/k ... blue__



Link 2:

https://www.cycleking.co.uk/kids-bikes/ ... S0EALw_wcB



Link 3:

https://www.tweekscycles.com/cube-acid- ... lsrc=aw.ds



Link 4:

https://www.halfords.com/bikes/junior-b ... lsrc=aw.ds

Re: Best value for money kids bike, 20", £300 budget

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Post by Richard Fairhurst » 9 Nov , 9:37am

Bike Club are selling off a bunch of refurbished kids’ bikes, all from decent brands - that might be the best way to get a good bike within your budget. cycle.travel - maps, journey-planner, route guides and city guides

Re: Best value for money kids bike, 20", £300 budget

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Post by tomsumner49 » 9 Nov , 10:34am

Of those bikes I'd go for the specialized or the cube.

Richard's suggestion is good. We bought a refurbished 16 inch islabike from Bike Club (via their ebay store) and it was in excellent condition.

Wild bikes from go outdoors also look pretty good and cheaper than other big brands (even with paying £5 to be a member). They were on my shortlist before we got the islabike.

https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk//w ... e-

Re: Best value for money kids bike, 20", £300 budget

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Post by Jdsk » 9 Nov , 10:58am

Welcome

Are you only considering buying new?

I'd also be looking at preloved Islabikes, as in:
viewtopic.php?t=

Jonathan

Re: Best value for money kids bike, 20", £300 budget

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Post by Dj » 9 Nov , 7:36pm

Are you interested in learning more about children's bicycles? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

Thank you all.

We were looking at a new one. We have various members of family contributing towards it for Christmas.

Halfords were talking highly of the Carrera, but maybe that's because it's in their own interest?

Re: Best value for money kids bike, 20", £300 budget

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Post by Dj » 9 Nov , 7:50pm

Would you say the Specalized or the Cube is better?

Thank you

Re: Best value for money kids bike, 20", £300 budget

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Post by Bonefishblues » 9 Nov , 8:14pm

A pre-owned Islabike is a class apart as a kids cycle as others have said, but of those two the Cube's twistshift is much harder for small hands to operate, which in turn makes it harder to ride, so if you do choose it I'd recommend replacing it at purchase. The Jett's system is much better.

Re: Best value for money kids bike, 20", £300 budget

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Post by Samuel D » 9 Nov , 10:51pm

I think Islabikes threw in the towel because several other companies took what they did first and ran with it – sometimes while adding coolness.

By far Islabikes’ biggest competitor on the European market was Woom, an Austrian company I think. I live in the Netherlands and my daughter has a Woom Original 3. It’s brilliant, and one important reason is that it weighs 5.5 kg (as measured by me; claimed weights are always wrong (Woom claim 5.4 kg for this one) and more so the cheaper the bicycle. And yet one of the bicycles you linked to had a claimed weight of 11 kg – ridiculous for a six-year-old’s bicycle, in my opinion).

The Original 4 would be the Woom model for your son. It would blow your budget, and I totally respect any need to stick to that budget, but I mention it in case the budget is flexible or you come around to considering a used bicycle. Claimed weight is 7.7 kg (so probably about 7.9 kg typically, at a guess?).

Just glancing at the four bicycles you linked to, the Cube and Specialized are clearly much better than the other two. The Barracuda Charge has full suspension – absolute nonsense on a young child’s bicycle (or an adult’s for that matter), and I dread to think how much that weighs if the Carrera with only front suspension (also ridiculous) already weighs “approximately” (read: much more than) 11 kg.

My strong advice would be not to buy any bicycle with any form of suspension.

The Cube and Specialized look pretty decent, although it’s a pity everyone puts derailleur gears on these bicycles, making them heavier, less likely to work smoothly, more maintenance-intensive, more fragile, more dangerous, harder to use, and more expensive than they really should be. Better (and cheaper and lighter) would be singlespeed. Who is going to keep these derailleurs adjusted? Likely no-one. I see even Woom makes the same error with the Original 4.

Ah, trust Islabikes to have got that right: they offered a Cnoc 20 that was of course far lighter (6.6 kg) than any of these geared competitors that probably put them out of business. That would be a great machine if you can find it used.

Re: Best value for money kids bike, 20", £300 budget

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Post by Dj » 10 Nov , 6:53am

Thank you for a great reply.

Out of the Cube and Specialized, would you have a preference?

Unfortunately we are already at the top end of our budget.

Thank you

Re: Best value for money kids bike, 20", £300 budget

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Post by Samuel D » 10 Nov , 10:00am

Want more information on custom kids tricycle? Feel free to contact us.

Dj wrote: 10 Nov , 6:53amOut of the Cube and Specialized, would you have a preference?

There’s not a lot between them, and I haven’t personally examined them. But here’s what I’d say if pushed for an opinion.

Cube Acid 200 20″ benefits:

• Rear derailleur has better ground clearance
• Rear derailleur is a genuine Shimano (though Microshift is getting very good)
• Rear derailleur cable routing is a bit straighter at the back (likely to need less maintenance to keep the shifting sweet)
• Does not have internal cable routing (increases cable friction and maintenance hassle for no good reason).

Specialized Jett 20 benefits:

• Claimed weight a bit lower: about 8.8 kg versus 9.5 kg.

So I’d slightly prefer the Cube, but unless you’re a good bicycle mechanic, I’d take whichever one could be found in a local bike shop. I’ve examined and set up many new bicycles for other people, and it’s rare that one comes entirely properly adjusted, greased, all the fasteners at a sensible torque, etc. So some initial attention from a mechanic makes a big difference.

Specailized seem to have made a Jett 20 Single Speed too, but availability may be zero. That would have been my pick, though it’s still a lot heavier than an Islabikes Cnoc 20.

Another geared bicycle to consider might be the Decathlon BTWIN 20″ Riverside 900. It’s 9.3 kg, so in between the other two (if any of these weights can be trusted). The quality appears broadly similar to the other two (one notable difference: the others have replaceable derailleur hangers for when the bicycle inevitably takes a hard knock to the derailleur; the Decathlon lacks a replaceable hanger but comes with a protective cage for the derailleur). However, the Decathlon adds a bell and front and rear LED battery-powered lamps, and you may have a Decathlon shop nearby that could take care of maintenance.

That’s the thing here: geared bicycles like this will need ongoing maintenance. Otherwise the gears will start making a racket, run roughly, and not shift across the entire range. No fun.

On bicycle weight: once the machine is up and riding, weigh differences of the order mentioned above don’t matter. The weight matters when the child needs to lift or manoeuvre the bicycle, prevent it tipping away from themselves while standing beside it, get it over a kerb or other obstacle, etc. Which happens all the time with children. They aren’t sitting on the saddle for two hours straight.

Good luck! Lucky son.