Recreational & Family - Get the Young Boys Out

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View Full Version : Get the Young Boys Out


Biketo120
11-15-04, 11:08 PM
Any suggestion for what bikes to get 5 and 7 year old boys?

At this point they have these little single speed bikes with 16 X 1.75 knobby tires. It takes them all day to go anywhere so its no fun for dad.

I'd like to get them some bikes that they can use now and grow into so they can enjoy some short road trips?


Rick G
11-16-04, 07:54 AM
well if you ride at all on dirt roads or off road anyway look into a giant mtx 125.
this would work well for most kids.might be a little tall now that I look at it.it is only 19 inches tall though.
that is if you have the means that is.
I do not so I have been looking at wm for my little girl a geared bike.might be worth looking into for ya.
Rick G

alanbikehouston
11-16-04, 02:44 PM
I ride with an eight year old who is stronger and more athletic than most boys his size. But, there is a limit to how far he enjoys riding. He likes to ride fast, but rides fast until he is out of steam. About an hour of riding is his limit. After that, he begins to get tired and cranky.

He rides one speed BMX bikes, and they are well suited to his aggressive riding style. In my very flat town, the advantages of adding 21 speeds seem doubtful.

I'm thinking of getting one of those "hitch-on" type bikes for longer rides. That way, he can work hard until he gets tired, and then just watch the scenery.


Biketo120
11-16-04, 09:51 PM
Thanks for those reply's guys.

All three of us are small and I would like for all three of us to ride together.

Any other suggestions?

arboc!
11-16-04, 10:00 PM
if you really what to get them going specialized has there 05 hotrock fsr full sus. but they also have the normal hotrock in 24 and 20 inch. also check out kona they've got some good starter bikes for the young ones.

madhouse
11-17-04, 04:47 AM
I use a tandem trail-a-bike but a 7 year old is pushing the limit on size so this option won't last very long.

I bought my older children 24" wheeled Wal-Mart bikes. I think my kids were 8 and 9 at the time. If I recall correctly the bike were a little on the big side and my kids are on the mid to big side for their age. Two years later the concept of shifting gears is foreign to them.

They still have there old coaster brake 20” Wal-Mart bikes that they ride a majority of the time around our house/yard. When we go to the bike trail they use there geared bikes.

I have seen MTB styled, geared bikes with 20” wheels at Wal-Mart. This might be an option for you.

I realize that Wal-Mart bikes are disposable bikes. I used to work at a bike shop and swore up and down that my kids would never ride a Wal-Mart bike. But with as hard as my kids are on things, my blood pressure doesn’t shoot up when I see what they have been up to with their bikes. It also allowed buying geared bike to be affordable even when they already had their 20” bikes that fit them well. (The downfall is I had to give up 150 square feet of my garage just for bikes!)

AndrewP
11-23-04, 07:54 PM
Get geared bikes. They wont think of shifting gear when they ride by themselves. When they are with you, you can tell them when to shift, and it will allow you all to keep up a much better pace. Get hard-tail X-mart bikes with indexed shifting if the money is tight, but re-assemble them, including adjustment of spokes and wheel bearings.