Recreational & Family - first bike for 5 YO

I am looking for a bike for my soon to be 5 year old niece. I want something decent that she can enjoy and then pass on to her sister who is a few years younger. I want something that looks like a bmx or mountain bike so we can ride it on the grass and maybe some easy trails. What do you think of this http://www.rei.com/outlet/product/47943579.htm?vcat=OUTLET_SSHP_CYCLING_SA I do like that it has both coaster brakes and a handbrake. Other suggestions I have gotten are 16" wheeled Specialized Hotrock, Haro Mirra 360 (too pricey at $260), Haro backtrail (getting closer at 159.95) and the Giant Animator. Thanks!

the specialized is a lot bike for that age. I just bought one for an 8 yr old, and yes $260!
the Animator was the previous bike. it's great, solid, has held up well. Seems like it was about $80 too, three years of riding and ready to be passed on.

Sure can't beat that price! I went a similar route on the first bike for my 5YO son. He abused it a bit learning to ride, especially off road. Once he works his way through whats left of his starter, I will likely move him up to a Trek with gearing to help him on the hills and suspension to help him on the trails.

EEKS, >$100 for a 16" bike. I'm on my third child, now 6, and have started them all out on hand me downs from our family. I haven't seen a big enough difference in a "big" name from a dept store bike in this catagory to justify 2-3X the price. Most run all the same mass produced chinese components. I would hate to see $100 bills laying in the drive waiting to be backed over or left out in the rain, although I've seen my girls take care of their stuff better than my boy. I just picked up a 16" for my daughter to have at her Mom's house "roadside shopping" for free and stuck $2 in front wheel bearings in it. It cost more to outfit it with her required basket, bell, and streamers. I think I spent more on each helmet than I have on all their first bikes combined including replacing tires spokes etc. Check rummage sales, resale or goodwill shops for a decent used one. She'll ride a $5 or $10 bike just as well as a $150 one. As far as riding on the grass or trails all these bikes in this size pretty much run the same size tires and do just fine on grass or trails in any style. At that age I would stay away from gears and hand brake only, coaster and hand brake is good. their hands are not quite big or strong enough and they have enough trouble paying attention to staying up , steering, watching where they are going etc. to complicate it with gears and hand brakes. they also really like the way a coaster brake can lay down a skid mark in the driveway. Must be why rear tires wear faster than fronts :) You may want to invest the money in a good tag along trailer bike so they can accompany you on longer rides while still pedaling and getting the bike experience or save it for the eventual upgrade at 24" when they are big and strong enough and maybe savvy enough to appreciate a quality bike. My 13 YO finally appreciated the trek 7100 he got last year on a 25 mi ride after doing it last year on a 20" Murray 5 speed. Just my philosophy, your money and children, your call P.S. don't forget the helmet.

I agree with dedhed. Look for a good used bike at garage sales. Spend the money getting it working good and safely and making it look cool with basket, streamers, and a matching helmet. When she's riding without training wheels confidently with her friends, then look at spending $$$ on something better. Kids grow, bikes don't.

I will be in the same boat in a year or two but I have already bulit my daughter her first bike.
If you want something that looks like a mtbike I would suggest this, 13" frame w/24" wheels but it is a bit out of your price range ;)

I bought a Specialized Hotrock 16" for my son one year ago. At the time he was 4 1/2 years old. He's now 5 1/2 years old, and still riding the same bike. At the time I paid about $120 for it, brand new, but it has been worth it. He's been riding the heck out of it, but it is still in as good a shape as it was when it was new, except for a few scratches here and there.

Last weekend I bought a Trek Mystic with 20' wheels for my six year old daughter. It is her first two wheeler without training wheels. While kind of heavy, I'm guessing around 25 pounds, at least it is aluminum and the components are relatively good. While I didn't weigh them, it seems lighter than the Hotrock which has a steel frame but both bikes are going to be lighter than the xmart versions. Yeah the bike cost $170 but if she likes it and uses it that's a small increase in cost that is well worth it IMHO.

As you can see from the photos my daughter likes it.