Geared Bike for an 8-year-old

[Bklyn]

My son wants gears, and his BMX coaster-brake bike is clearly too small. My questions:

What size for a tallish 8-year-old?

Is there such a thing as kids cyclocross bike (that doesn't cost a fortune)? (I'd rather not spend more than $200.)

I think a 7-speed would be ideal. Any recommendations?

[DieselDan]

I've got an 8 year old that is almost 5' tall. I bought him a Trek 3500 with a 13" frame, but adult size 26" wheels. I fitted it with narrower 1.5" wide Michlen Transworld tires for smoother street riding. Initial bike purchase, new helmet, horn, cycloputer, and new tires came out around $300. Kid rides almost 60 miles a week on his own.

[atbman]

Try Decathlon - they're a French sports Superstore who have branches in Massachusetts. they sell a 5-speed, 24" road bike with downtube shifters - you can always put a thumbshifter on the top of the handlebars if he finds it difficult. They're about £100 in the UK. Failing that, ebay.

Excellent value. You won't find a new 'cross bike for $200, I suspect. Scott and Trek do some decent 24 inch mtbs - don't know the US price.

[masiman]

A 24" rimmed bike would probably be right but you should really try him on some at a shop (not a department store). My smallish almost 8 year old is on a 20" with a little room to grow. New I would expect around $250+.

I don't know of any off the rack kids cyclocross bikes. You could build one yourself but it might not be worth it for what you could get.

Ebay and craigslist if you know what you are looking for.

Personally I do not like the shocks on the kids bikes. They are cheaply made and kind of useless for that young and light of a rider. Plus they add weight where the bikes are already heavy enough. Although there are far fewer shockless bikes than shock bikes available in your son's range.

Good luck.

[BigBlueToe]

I bought my son a little Specialized when he was 7. (He's 18 now.) It had 6 speeds. It had 20" tires. I found some narrow road tires at our local bike shop. My dad built a custom rack for it. He rode that thing all over. We even took a tour (when he was 8) and he carried a sleeping bag, pad, and clothes in panniers for 30 miles. When we got to the campground I sat down to read and nap. He could only stand that for about an hour. I had forgotten to bring toys, so he asked if he could ride his bike around the campground! When we got home 2 days later, I had 60 miles on my computer and he had 80!

[Marylandnewbie]

Late last summer we bought my son (who was 9 at the time) a Trek 820 with a 13" or 14" frame. It has 26" wheels so he should be able to ride it for awhile. It was a little tall for him at first, but he quickly adapted to it. Last fall we did a 120 mile tour over a long weekend, including a 50 mile day, so its clearly working for him. I was going to switch out the tires, but after seeing how he rides I left the wider knobbies on so he can go anywhere and over anything -- saves me some anxiety.

[DiRt DeViL]

Trek, Fisher, Giant, Haro, Specialized..(you get the idea) make 20", 24" bikes with gears.

If he's tall enough you're better of with a XS (13") adult bike instead because it will last longer.

If you're looking for a little roadie then the manufacturer list shortens big time, Trek, Orbea, Felt among a few more make a 16sp 24" roadie. My son had the Trek and outgrew it very fast now he rides a 43" Trek 1600SLR.

Don't know of any 24" ciclocross bikes.

[dh1]

and I ended up selecting the Marin Bayview trail. It was one of the two lightest kids bikes I found and it wasn't loaded down with gimicky garbage like the adjustable crank arms, adjustable stems, etc. It has Shimano Acera deraileurs, Alivo shifters, Shimano V brakes, 24" kenda cross tires. The components were not top of the line, simply entry level MTB quality...but far superior to chain stores bike offerings. The other big name manufacturers had decent kid mountain bikes, but they were all quite a bit heavier...and some really didn't look like a mountain bike. The front shocks on most of the kids bikes were really heavy and seemed like toy quality.

If your son is taller, I would urge you to buy into an XS size with 26" wheels rather than a youth size with 24" wheels. The 26 will fit him for a lot longer and will roll a lot faster (if you plan on riding with him). My son rode the Marin for 2years (9yrs now) before he outgrew it. Luckily I have 3 more boys that will use it. After Son1 outgrew the Marin, he and I built a bike for him from the ground up from an older Cannondale M800 frameset. It was a really fun project for us to do together, and he learned a lot about bike maintenance in the process. Now he can change his own tires, clean chains, adjust brakes and shifters, etc.

THe Marin Bayview was purchased off the showroom floor for less than $300 from a local bike shop with a 1 year free tune up arrangement. I built the Cannondale in my basement for the same price, but it has all XT components except the LX dual control shift/brake levers, tubeless Bontranger Race rimset. Whole bike is 21 lbs and a lot nicer than my MTB. Definately overkill for a kids bike, but like I mentioned earlier, when he outgrows it...I have 3 more boys that will ride it:) .

[Bklyn]

If your son is taller, I would urge you to buy into an XS size with 26" wheels rather than a youth size with 24" wheels. The 26 will fit him for a lot longer and will roll a lot faster (if you plan on riding with him). .


Just when I thought I found the bike!
http://www.schwinnbike.com/images/catalog/r_21.12.S7_GLB_MIDI_COLLEGIATE_BLU.jpg

The Schwinn Collegiate, MSRP $229, seems perfect. One chain ring, rigid fork, semislick tires....
http://www.schwinnbike.com/products/bikes_detail.php?id=728