Recreational & Family - 14" Frame for 8 1/2 yo

I'm looking for a bike for my 8 1/2 yo. He's moving out of a 20" bike. I was looking at 24" bikes, but the LBS pointed me towards small frame 26" bikes. He actually fits a 14" frame Raleigh mojave 2.0. However I'm now wondering if there are other options besides mountain-type bikes. Anyone aware of other small frame options?

thanks...

"Hybrids" or "Urban bikes" are available in that size. When you buy it, ask the LBS to install narrow slicks on it and he will have a decent bike.

Get some slicks if he's going to ride on the road. I put my 8 year old on a 13" Trek 3500 and he loves it with 1.5" wide Michlen Trans World tires in it. Almost a road bike to him since it doesn't have front suspension.

That's another thing. Get your kid a full rigid bike to start with. One will force him/her to learn how to handle a bike.

My son graduated to a 26" bike - We got it from Performance (K5000, 14" frame) - Some components were decent, some cheap - it had a bolt-type rear wheel - I swapped it out for a quick-release wheel, and I put slicks on it to make it easier to ride.

http://www.performancebike.com/product_images/500/30-6418-RED-SIDE.jpg

So far, it's been a success. We're working on the Scouting cycling badge, and he's done 3 10-mile rides with no problem. I put the bike on the trainer to get him used to shifting as well as standing on the pedals.....and he's having a much easier time riding than the other kids who are on knobby-tire bikes.

The only thing I'd do differently would be to get a rigid front fork - when he needs to upsize from this bike, we'll go for a 'real' bike and have it set up properly @ the LBS.

Hello! I'm in the exact same position! My son is 8.5yrs also. I ride a road bike and then a hybrid while camping. He doesn't want a clunky full suspension mountain bike or a bmx bike....and that seems to be all they're making for kids these days! He wants something he can road ride with me and maybe put a rack on the back for his fishing bag when we are camping! A hybrid would be the perfect thing. I looked at the new Trek KDR 7.2fx and that seems to be what I want but I don't know if I want to spend over $400 on a 24" bike the way he is growing....especially when we are taking it to campgrounds. I have been looking at older rigid frame mtn bikes with 24" wheels on ebay. My mom is really small and she just got a new 14" Giant comfort women's bike and he can ride that if everything is adjusted all the way down. I'm leaning towards that type of bike because he has a lot more adjustments available, decent components, lots of growing room, etc. Let us know what you decide to do!
Jennifer

Several Japanese companies made a "Terry" type lugged road bike in the 80's. They used either a 27" or 700c rear wheel combined with a 24" front wheel to allow normal frame angles on a tiny frame. There was a really nice one for $50 at the Seattle swap meet this year. They are out there at a price that works even if the kid outgrows it in a year or two.