Beginning bike for a 13 year old boy.
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: South Park...ing Lot
Posts: 721
Bikes: Fantom 29
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 49 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Beginning bike for a 13 year old boy.
My 13 year old son recently learned how to ride a bike using my wife's Jamis Boss Cruiser (7 speed Nexus shifter). For some reason, he never learned on any of the smaller bikes his brothers all learned on.
He's really taken to riding lately, and I'd like to encourage him by getting him a bike.
I'm looking for suggestions for an all around bike that would mostly be used on pavement, and possibly light trail/off road in the neighborhood of $300. I don't want to spend too much, as I do not know how long this phase will last, and how he will take to different kinds of riding.
He's really taken to riding lately, and I'd like to encourage him by getting him a bike.
I'm looking for suggestions for an all around bike that would mostly be used on pavement, and possibly light trail/off road in the neighborhood of $300. I don't want to spend too much, as I do not know how long this phase will last, and how he will take to different kinds of riding.
#2
Senior Member
How handy are you with bike maintenance/repair?
#3
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,614
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10964 Post(s)
Liked 7,491 Times
in
4,189 Posts
https://www.diamondback.com/insight-2 disc brakes, good stock tire size.
$360 delivered.
Or this for $330
https://www.diamondback.com/insight-1
You would need to create free account at Dback's discount corporate site. Probably not much from a local retail shop thatll be cheaper.
A hybrid will allow for good gear range, ability to go relatively fast on pavement, and give relativley good stability on crushed stone paths.
Trek's most entry of hybrids is $360 https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/b...colorCode=grey
The other option is find a used small 700c hybrid or a 650 wheel for the right price that fits. Totally random based on whats around though.
$360 delivered.
Or this for $330
https://www.diamondback.com/insight-1
You would need to create free account at Dback's discount corporate site. Probably not much from a local retail shop thatll be cheaper.
A hybrid will allow for good gear range, ability to go relatively fast on pavement, and give relativley good stability on crushed stone paths.
Trek's most entry of hybrids is $360 https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/b...colorCode=grey
The other option is find a used small 700c hybrid or a 650 wheel for the right price that fits. Totally random based on whats around though.
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: South Park...ing Lot
Posts: 721
Bikes: Fantom 29
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 49 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: South Park...ing Lot
Posts: 721
Bikes: Fantom 29
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 49 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
https://www.diamondback.com/insight-2 disc brakes, good stock tire size.
$360 delivered.
Or this for $330
https://www.diamondback.com/insight-1
You would need to create free account at Dback's discount corporate site. Probably not much from a local retail shop thatll be cheaper.
A hybrid will allow for good gear range, ability to go relatively fast on pavement, and give relativley good stability on crushed stone paths.
Trek's most entry of hybrids is $360 https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/b...colorCode=grey
The other option is find a used small 700c hybrid or a 650 wheel for the right price that fits. Totally random based on whats around though.
$360 delivered.
Or this for $330
https://www.diamondback.com/insight-1
You would need to create free account at Dback's discount corporate site. Probably not much from a local retail shop thatll be cheaper.
A hybrid will allow for good gear range, ability to go relatively fast on pavement, and give relativley good stability on crushed stone paths.
Trek's most entry of hybrids is $360 https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/b...colorCode=grey
The other option is find a used small 700c hybrid or a 650 wheel for the right price that fits. Totally random based on whats around though.
#6
Senior Member
#7
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,614
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10964 Post(s)
Liked 7,491 Times
in
4,189 Posts
its actually the same code for Raleigh too. Both brands are owned by the same company.
https://www.raleighusa.com/partner
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: South Park...ing Lot
Posts: 721
Bikes: Fantom 29
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 49 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
CYCLE4TAW
its actually the same code for Raleigh too. Both brands are owned by the same company.
https://www.raleighusa.com/partner
its actually the same code for Raleigh too. Both brands are owned by the same company.
https://www.raleighusa.com/partner
#9
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,614
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10964 Post(s)
Liked 7,491 Times
in
4,189 Posts
CYCLE4TAW
You have to go to the bottom of the main page, toss your name and email in as well as the code and create a password.
...i may have sent you the wrong URL originally.
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: South Park...ing Lot
Posts: 721
Bikes: Fantom 29
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 49 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
https://www.diamondback.com/partner
CYCLE4TAW
You have to go to the bottom of the main page, toss your name and email in as well as the code and create a password.
...i may have sent you the wrong URL originally.
CYCLE4TAW
You have to go to the bottom of the main page, toss your name and email in as well as the code and create a password.
...i may have sent you the wrong URL originally.
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 275
Bikes: 2015 Giant Roam 1 | 2002 Giant Sedona LX | 1980s Norco Monterey SL
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 131 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The Giant Escape 3 is about $20 less than the Trek FX, and is equipped about the same in the drivetrain, but uses a much nicer threadless headset and stem, versus the quill on the FX...
https://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/escape-3
It's a pretty decent entry level bike for a 13 year old for $340 USD.
Cheers
TRJB
https://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/escape-3
It's a pretty decent entry level bike for a 13 year old for $340 USD.
Cheers
TRJB
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Munising, Michigan, USA
Posts: 4,131
Bikes: Priority 600, Priority Continuum, Devinci Dexter
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 685 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 55 Times
in
37 Posts
Maybe something like this from Raleigh:
https://www.raleighusa.com/redux-1
I like it for the wide tires and rigid fork tnat seem good for urban riding, some curbs and such, and even some light singletrack.
https://www.raleighusa.com/redux-1
I like it for the wide tires and rigid fork tnat seem good for urban riding, some curbs and such, and even some light singletrack.
#14
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,614
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10964 Post(s)
Liked 7,491 Times
in
4,189 Posts
Maybe something like this from Raleigh:
https://www.raleighusa.com/redux-1
I like it for the wide tires and rigid fork tnat seem good for urban riding, some curbs and such, and even some light singletrack.
https://www.raleighusa.com/redux-1
I like it for the wide tires and rigid fork tnat seem good for urban riding, some curbs and such, and even some light singletrack.
#16
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: South Park...ing Lot
Posts: 721
Bikes: Fantom 29
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 49 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#17
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: South Park...ing Lot
Posts: 721
Bikes: Fantom 29
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 49 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Maybe something like this from Raleigh:
https://www.raleighusa.com/redux-1
I like it for the wide tires and rigid fork tnat seem good for urban riding, some curbs and such, and even some light singletrack.
https://www.raleighusa.com/redux-1
I like it for the wide tires and rigid fork tnat seem good for urban riding, some curbs and such, and even some light singletrack.
#18
Member
We went the Trek FX for my 12yo son, he has not interested in off-road at all. He got to pick the color which was a big point for him. He loves the FX, he's not my mechanically inclined kid, not like his little sister that helped me install a belt tensioner on my wife's Altima.
roog
roog
#19
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: South Park...ing Lot
Posts: 721
Bikes: Fantom 29
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 49 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
He's tech savvy. He's helped me build three computers, where his immediate older brother (6 years older) wasn't interested. A little more about him
He's average height for his age, around 5'4". I'm 5'9" and his three older brothers are between 5'10" and 6'0". So we'll see where he winds up.
I'm not opposed to looking at bikes at Target, Walmart, Dicks...but it's hit or miss at those stores if they allow you to take the bike down, make a seat adjustment...
He has his own strong opinions about what he likes and dislikes. He's always been the hardest kid to take shoe shopping (picky about color) and this is from the time he was a toddler. He doesn't care what his friends are riding. he rides with some younger kids in the neighborhood (because that's who's out riding) as well as with his boy scout troop. I took the troop on a 14 mile ride at Shark Valley (Everglades National Park) this past Saturday and he was not self-conscious at all riding his Mom's bright yellow mixte frame cruiser amidst all the boys riding ""cool" looking flat bar hybrids from Trek, Giant, GT, and Diamondback.
Of the three bikes he sat on and test rode in the parking lot, he liked the Schwinn Sierra 2, which is a comfort bike. If I was able to pull the trigger on the purchase right then, i would have, but since I can't for a couple of weeks, I want him to explore his options. He liked the look of the Raleigh Redux 1 and Redux 26 online, but with him, I worry about him liking a bike once he sits on it.
He's average height for his age, around 5'4". I'm 5'9" and his three older brothers are between 5'10" and 6'0". So we'll see where he winds up.
I'm not opposed to looking at bikes at Target, Walmart, Dicks...but it's hit or miss at those stores if they allow you to take the bike down, make a seat adjustment...
He has his own strong opinions about what he likes and dislikes. He's always been the hardest kid to take shoe shopping (picky about color) and this is from the time he was a toddler. He doesn't care what his friends are riding. he rides with some younger kids in the neighborhood (because that's who's out riding) as well as with his boy scout troop. I took the troop on a 14 mile ride at Shark Valley (Everglades National Park) this past Saturday and he was not self-conscious at all riding his Mom's bright yellow mixte frame cruiser amidst all the boys riding ""cool" looking flat bar hybrids from Trek, Giant, GT, and Diamondback.
Of the three bikes he sat on and test rode in the parking lot, he liked the Schwinn Sierra 2, which is a comfort bike. If I was able to pull the trigger on the purchase right then, i would have, but since I can't for a couple of weeks, I want him to explore his options. He liked the look of the Raleigh Redux 1 and Redux 26 online, but with him, I worry about him liking a bike once he sits on it.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 6,319
Bikes: 2012 Salsa Casseroll, 2009 Kona Blast
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1031 Post(s)
Liked 208 Times
in
146 Posts
I would look for a quality used bike as your son is still growing, so anything you get for him this year will likely be too small in a year or two. What specifically you get depends on what you find.
For my own son, we got him a used Trek 800 (no suspension fork) which he rode for a few years between 5' and 5'5" tall. Then, I just let him ride my late 90s era Bianchi Advantage for a few years. Height was 5'5" to about 5'10". In between, he took up mountain biking and started with a used Schwinn Moab, later upgraded to a Kona Cinder Cone for riding on trails. For riding around town, he now rides an early 80s Gitane that somebody modded with brifters and an 8 speed freehub sometime in the late 90s to early 2000s. He is currently just a little shy of 5'11" tall. This bike should be fine through about 6'1" or 6'2". Hopeful this will take him through high school, maybe it can even be a campus beater for him when he goes off to college.
For my own son, we got him a used Trek 800 (no suspension fork) which he rode for a few years between 5' and 5'5" tall. Then, I just let him ride my late 90s era Bianchi Advantage for a few years. Height was 5'5" to about 5'10". In between, he took up mountain biking and started with a used Schwinn Moab, later upgraded to a Kona Cinder Cone for riding on trails. For riding around town, he now rides an early 80s Gitane that somebody modded with brifters and an 8 speed freehub sometime in the late 90s to early 2000s. He is currently just a little shy of 5'11" tall. This bike should be fine through about 6'1" or 6'2". Hopeful this will take him through high school, maybe it can even be a campus beater for him when he goes off to college.
Last edited by MRT2; 05-16-17 at 07:00 AM.
#21
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: South Park...ing Lot
Posts: 721
Bikes: Fantom 29
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 49 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
So,after three weeks of online research, visiting 4 different bike shops, scouring the used bike ads, and getting my Mom to kick in some money to buy her grandson his first real bike, I was able to increase my budget. The bike he fell in love with and we bought this morning is a 2016 Specialized Sirrus Sport Disc. Was able to get the $700 bike for $560.
Specialized Sirrus He loves the bike, and my wife is happy with the purchase. So all is good. Looking forward to some father/son and family rides.
Specialized Sirrus He loves the bike, and my wife is happy with the purchase. So all is good. Looking forward to some father/son and family rides.
Last edited by Garilia; 06-05-17 at 08:32 AM.
#23
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: South Park...ing Lot
Posts: 721
Bikes: Fantom 29
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 49 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Munising, Michigan, USA
Posts: 4,131
Bikes: Priority 600, Priority Continuum, Devinci Dexter
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 685 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 55 Times
in
37 Posts
So,after three weeks of online research, visiting 4 different bike shops, scouring the used bike ads, and getting my Mom to kick in some money to buy her grandson his first real bike, I was able to increase my budget. The bike he fell in love with and we bought this morning is a 2016 Specialized Sirrus Sport Disc. Was able to get the $700 bike for $560.
#25
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: South Park...ing Lot
Posts: 721
Bikes: Fantom 29
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 49 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts