BMX - n00b question follows

For starters, I've never built a bike for a kid (she's 8...and all of the bikes I work on are classic & vintage).
She's the daughter of my GF's best friend and they don't have a lot of money. Her uncle bought her an X-mart bike about a year ago, but the thing will break and I don't want her turned off by a crappy bike.
I have 2 frames...an old[er] Schwinn and an old[er] Haro. I don't care which is the donor bike.

We (my GF and I) don't have the money to buy her a bike outright, so I thought i'd piece one together as we could afford the parts.

If I was doing this for myself, this wouldn't be an issue, because i know i like riding.

I don't need top-of-the-line...i'm looking for durability. If you were building a bike for an 8 year old, who may or may not be riding in a few years, what would you get (and what would you steer clear of)?

I'm also building a 3-wheel cruiser for her son (he's 10)...that one is more up my alley!

Thanks in advance

(i know...search the forums & i'll find my answers)

I don't know if you really need to get her another bike. She is an 8 year-old girl and is most likely not going to break something for quite some time. If/when she breaks something, then you should start thinking of a 16" or 18" bike.

a three wheel cruiser? do explain

he has autism and can't ride a bicycle. i'm using a 26" schwinn middleweight frame (cruiser frame) and a lowrider trike conversion (puts 2 wheels in rear...as seen here (http://www.aztlanbicycle.com/images/products/lowrider-trikes/TRIKE_CONVERSION_26_31610.jpg)).
I'm adding a tank and springer fork...3-wheel cruiser!

I don't know if you really need to get her another bike. She is an 8 year-old girl and is most likely not going to break something for quite some time. If/when she breaks something, then you should start thinking of a 16" or 18" bike.

This is her second bike...she broke the frame on the first one taking it over jumps she built. her Magna-Huffy (or whatever) won't take the abuse!

oh, why didnt you just say trike?, it wouldve been so much less confusing

didn't want to confuse it with a little kids trike...i thought THAT would be confusing...so yes, I'm building him a cool trike...

I would use the Haro Frame over the Schwinn, and if you want to buy new parts and still ahve them be cheap and strong I would check out the Danscomp Clearance and Scratch and dent, you can pick up some cheap things there that she wont break for a long time.

http://www.danscomp.com/serve.php?serve=html/scratchdent&html=categories.html
http://www.danscomp.com/serve.php?serve=html/clearance&html=clearance.html

WeThePeople...thank you.
the Haro is a slightly smaller frame, and I was leaning towards it...
When it's done (or as I work on it) I'll post photos

I don't know if you could build up a whole bike of parts that wouldn't completely suck, for less than the price of one of the lower end completes. I mean one of the $170-200 ones, which are still fine for most 8 year olds...

given what I don't already have, I'd need to get crank-set, wheel-set and headset.
I could use the fork, handlebars, seat/seatpost/seatpost clamp that I have (they are off the haro)...I just don't know how good they are...heck, I really don't know how good the FRAME is.

We just want to do somthing nice for her & her mom...and she really seem to like riding what she has (and she likes watching "the BMX shows on TV (ESPN2)"...her words)...maybe we should save longer and get her a decent comlete (good frame w/OK components).

You might as well buy a Poverty Buck 99. For all the parts you need it's going to cost at least $150 when you could just get a whole new bike for $200ish.

But if you still want to build a custom go with the Haro frame.

You might as well buy a Poverty Buck 99. For all the parts you need it's going to cost at least $150 when you could just get a whole new bike for $200ish.

But if you still want to build a custom go with the Haro frame.
word.

word.
No wonder your post count and stuff is so high. You kill every other thread with 'word.'

Just a waste of a post.

No wonder your post count and stuff is so high. You kill every other thread with 'word.'

Just a waste of a post.
word.

word. No, it's just shorter than saying I agree with what you say. Since I am a lazy man, that is what I use.

But does anyone really need to know every single little thing that you agree with?

But does anyone really need to know every single little thing that you agree with?
if this is refering to me...


yes.

But does anyone really need to know every single little thing that you agree with?
Yes, because I like to give my opinion on things.

On dans comp i think they have this like Parts Setup thing they give you all the parts and you just need the frame. I think they have the low end one is $100.

Not a good idea.

terrible idea.

Why. Are the components really crappy?

Why. Are the components really crappy?

If you look at what's in it, it's all Poverty stuff. If you ask anyone on here they'll probably say that poverty sucks. Which it does.

I know. But $100 is pretty damn cheap for all the components. Plus, its for a little kid she is not going to break it.

I know. But $100 is pretty damn cheap for all the components. Plus, its for a little kid she is not going to break it.

True.

we've decided (at least for now...might change our minds again) to get a complete bike.

What bike(s) do you recommend? :D :eek: :rolleyes: ;)

we've decided (at least for now...might change our minds again) to get a complete bike.

What bike(s) do you recommend? :D :eek: :rolleyes: ;)

Price range?

Get a Poverty Buck 99 for $200. Problem solved.

didn't want to confuse it with a little kids trike...i thought THAT would be confusing...so yes, I'm building him a cool trike...

Some guy in the town ovewr from me has some sort of a mental problem and for years he used a trike to get everywhere. Its a good idea.

i was actually kidding about the recommended question...i'm not THAT much of a n00b!!!

price will depend on our Tax Returns (or lack of!)

but thanks everyone for the input
I will keep ya posted on what we do...!

Some guy in the town ovewr from me has some sort of a mental problem and for years he used a trike to get everywhere. Its a good idea.

'Cody' (not his real name) has a slight balance issue...related to the autism? Don't Know (but we think it is), so the trike is what he's getting.

Give me anything with wheels, chances are, I can crash it.

Give me anything with wheels, chances are, I can crash it.
I bet it dont even need wheels

True story.

Oh i have a reccomendation even though you don't need one. You should get a 18 inch Hoffman Rythmn i've rode one it was awesome. Here's a link http://www.danscomp.com/101320.php?cat=BIKES

Oh i have a reccomendation even though you don't need one. You should get a 18 inch Hoffman Rythmn i've rode one it was awesome. Here's a link

You know, the sad thing about the Hoffman here is that it's my size...:o

:D

East Hill

If you look at what's in it, it's all Poverty stuff. If you ask anyone on here they'll probably say that poverty sucks. Which it does.
They have a nice freecoaster from what i hear.

They have a nice freecoaster from what i hear.
Yes, they do, but it weighs a metric ton. One of my friends has one and when I get the chance to ride again I'll try it out... he also has slams. :(

Yes, they do, but it weighs a metric ton. One of my friends has one and when I get the chance to ride again I'll try it out... he also has slams. :(
Most freecoasters aren't too light.


And there is nothing wrong with Slams. They are great bars and strong too. Even if you cut them.

The geisha hub is really light

The geisha hub is really light
And people are also having troulbe with it's 3 piece axle.

i like the 3pc axle idea

spekaking of which, how come back in the day mcdonalds had a 4, 6 and 20pc choice for mcnuggets. why didnt they just do it normal like they do now with the 5 and 10

Yeh the axel is a pain in the anus

i never realized you had a geisha

I don't, my friend did and i borrowed it for a week or two

i need to borrow my friends bike a try it out, the only problem is i havent seen him in months

Might not help

Most freecoasters aren't too light.


And there is nothing wrong with Slams. They are great bars and strong too. Even if you cut them.
It's still a pig.

You are just racist against small bars.