Hawgsnawt

Trying to be as concise as possible....let me share my story please....

Me ( super clyde at 360 ) and Momma ( a lovely Athena herself ) have just ordered new bikes to help with our fitness goals... we plan to take at least an hour ride 5 nights a week with longer rides on the weekend. We ordered 3 speed Worksman cruisers as after fairly extensive research, the bikes fit what we wanted as far as performance and style went...both bikes are done in a matching retro style.

My son is 9, JUST turned 9.....average highth, has a 20 inch BMX bike he rides fairly well but it is now out of adjustment and clearly too small for him....it's time to move him to a bigger frame.

As me and Momma are wanting to ride for fitness...I need him to be able to keep up with us, at least as well as can be expected.

He's NOT a spectacular rider, though he is coming into his own lately....he is very timid and does not like bikes that are so big that he can not comfortably touch the ground on.....

We will be riding mostly on small town streets, well paved but with a few potholes along the way... after doing a lot of looking, I think we have decided a lowish bar 24 inch MTB style bike will fit his comfort level best...I'd like to have a 3 to 7 speed if it can be done, so many kids bikes now days come with 21 speeds and I think its just overkill for our intended use....I'm not adverse to the extra gears...but to me it will just add weight and complexity to something that should be easy and near mindlessly enjoyable...

steel frame, alux...I'm not picky, and neither is he to be honest...the biggest thing is I understand a 24 inch bike is a Tweener and will see a year or two use at best till he graduates into a longer lasting 26 or 29....because of that I'm wanting to stay under 300.00 but really would have to talk myself into anything much higher than the 250.00 mark.

Big box store bikes are fine for the limited time I expect the bike to be used....if he can finish out the fall and next spring on it, we will invest in a quality 26 in July next year for his birthday when he has had time to grow into it and get more comfortable with a different style of bike than his 20 inch BMX.

within driving distance to Dallas so I have access to most all of the box stores as well as Dicks, REI, etc etc....

I've literally spent the last 18 hours pouring over different bikes, trying to find " The One " but every time I think I find it, I do a web search on it for reviews and my balloon deflates....

I just need a bike in the 24 inch size range that's going to hold up for a fall and spring, and I can't seem to figure out which option is best...

Bikes I've looked at include

Next
Diamondback
Mongoose
Schwinn
Nishiki
etc etc etc.......

We REALLY like the Giant jr 24 light but can't find one in Dallas and the one store that says they can get em said it would be 6 weeks...just unwilling to wait that long.

XTC Jr 24 Lite (2015) | Giant Bicycles | United States

I'm also looking at this Schwinn.... its a 2014 model but the only difference I can see between it and the 2015 is color...and he prefers this one to the red and white on the 2015

Schwinn Frontier 24" Kid's Mountain Bike - 2014

I'm open to suggestions!.... Sadly I don't know enough about bikes to make a very informed decision....I know LBS and CL big name used bike is going to be the popular answer...but LBS is out of my price comfort zone, and issues with CL are, I haven't got a clue what I'm looking at or for....

I have no issues picking up at a store, or shipping to home and doing assembly myself.... I just don't know which direction to go.

Diamondback Cobra?

Diamondback Boys' Cobra 24'' Mountain Bike | DICK'S Sporting Goods

Mongoose Standoff?

MOUNTAIN BIKE 24" BOYS MONGOOSE STANDOFF : Target

what about this Nikishi?

Nishiki Boys' Pueblo Mountain Bike | DICK'S Sporting Goods


Please help!

mel2012

This is out of your current stated budget, but it would get your son on a 26" bike now instead of waiting a year--have you looked at the Islabike Beinn 26? The Small is designed to get kids on to a 26" bike earlier than they otherwise would be but still has quite a bit of growing room to get him up to a small adult size frame, where there is a much more robust market (both new and used) in decent bikes. I would agree with your assessment that at this age, unless they're racing 7 or 8 gears are plenty. Beyond that, my advice would be to try and find the lightest bike possible. For timid riders, a light bike is going to be much easier to handle than a heavier bike. Generally a bike without a suspension fork is going to be lighter than a suspension fork and aluminum will be lighter than steel. I would be interested to know what the Schwinn Frontier weighs, but otherwise it looks like a good candidate, as does the Giant.

Keep in mind resale value as well when you are comparing prices. Based on my experience with Craigslist, the resale value on a big box bike is going to be much lower than a brand name bike like Giant or even Schwinn.

mel2012

You might also look on your local Craigslist for a Specialized Hot Rock Street 24" (no suspension fork) which is relatively lightweight, or an Electra 7D 24", which has the bottom bracket forward design, so he could put his feet down even with the seat at an appropriate height.

Sidney Porter

I would go with the Schwinn frontier. 1x7 which is fine for what you intend to use it for. It doesn't have shocks which just add weight and no value to for the intended use. I don't see the frame size but I think it is 12 or 13 inch. My 11 year old has what I think wasw the early 90's variation of if the bike (I picked up used for $20). He is of avg size, he got it when he was 8 this will be the last summer with it.

He wanted a road bike. So we ended up doing a drop bar conversion. I think I ended up with $125 in it. His is a 1x6 but it is also 25 years old. But if you look it looks like similar frame geometry.

I would also consider the giant because it doesn't have shocks. The giant is probably a better bike (slightly more expensive). I don't know how big the frame is. If you can test it out it could work. But if they are not in stock it doesn't help.

35mm

Sidney Porter, that is a seriously cool bike. Would you mind giving a little info about the conversion? Bars, shifters, etc. My 8YO would dig something like that in a big way.

Sidney Porter

The bars are just 80's era road bike bars that I had from another project (should be able to pick up a used pair at the co-op). The bike originally came with indexed grip shifters. Obviously those would not work on road bars. I went with a friction thumb shifter I think I paid $1 for it at the co-op. The brake levers is where I struggled, originally I used a pair of brake levers that I had, the problem was they were too large. So I ended up buying Tektro "short reach"R100A. While I was at it I also purchased the cyclocross levers to give him braking on the top bar. This ended up being a good decision it gave him more confidence. But between the 2 sets up levers I probably spent $50.

The tires are 24x1.75 street tires. They have some tread so he can cut across a field or dirt road. I think they are Ornate Tyres it was the closest thing the LBS had. I think I spent $40 on the pair. Something like this would be comparable
https://www.biketiresdirect.com/prod...-inch-tire-507

Here is a picture of the cockpit, we have since turned the shifter 45 degrees on the bar so it faces him. It gives him a little more hand room.

I searched craigslist for about a month looking for the appropriate bike.
Approx cost
Bike - $20
Shifter - $1
levers - $50
Tires - $40
Handle bars - free
Tape and cables - $15

Sidney Porter

Here is a profile. This is with the brake levers that were too large and w/o the cross levers. This also have the seat all the way up which is about how he rides it now. But it gives you an idea of how adjustable range of the Schwinn frontier (I am assuming they are pretty much the same frame). Assuming the rise on my steps is the standard 7.75 inches that would have the seat around 31 inches high.

Sidney Porter

If there is a confidence issues don't push him too soon into the 26. I would think you could get 2.5 years or so out of the 24 inch. To be honest I don't know how much more you will get out of 26 inch. The tire size might not change but the frame size certainly will. Once you get into the 26 inch you do have an option of buying the smaller framed bike and buying a frame in the next size up (or even skip a size) when he out grows the the first frame move the parts over. You are probably getting 5 to 6 years with the additional cost of a $100 nashbar AL frame. In my mind it is easier to justify bike store prices with a plan like that.

35mm

Very nice. I especially like the cross brake levers. That looks like the ideal setup for a kid like mine: a road bike vibe, but tough enough to handle some off-road riding. I am inspired to do some searching for a suitable frame and components.

One more question: did the stock stem work for replacement bar size, and for reach?

Thanks!

Sidney Porter

Yes the bars worked with the stem. As far as the reach the top of the bar would have been comparable to the mtb bar that the bike came with (although his hands are closer to the center).

The first year he spent most of his time on the top bar so the cross levers were helpful (I assume this was a combination of reach and confidence). He now rides primarily on the hoods.

Hawgsnawt

well, we ended up doing a lot of talking it over...thank you all for the thoughts, they played a heavy role in our final decision

We ended up getting him the Mongoose Standoff from Target....and please let me explain the decision.

The Mongoose was actually probably the worst bike of the bunch...BUT it was also the least expensive of them at 113.00 out the door.

We have expedited the new bike from Birthday next July....to Christmas this year. That will give him time to get used to the slightly taller bike style on a bike that won't mater if it gets dropped a few times while he builds confidence.

At Christmas we will move him to a Giant XXS or XS as needed...by then he will be big enough to handle a 26 on a small frame and we will have time to have it ordered in.

We have a Nephew who will be tickled to death with the Mongoose next spring...sadly he doesn't " get " like our son does and the mongoose will be a HUGE upgrade for him and correctly sized for him come spring.

Thanks everyone again for the advice!

JonathanGennick 

Hey, that sounds like a plan w/potential. And good for you for thinking ahead about your nephew.

mstateglfr 

26" tire? The kid is average size, just turned 9 years old, is not a strong rider, and is timid on bikes that are large.

I agree with your comments on resale difference and a rigid frame fork. Size though?...that's way too large and has the potential to discourage riders that fall into the OP kid's parameters.

mstateglfr 

Just at least consider a 24" wheel. A 9.5yo(by Christmas) averaged sized kid who is only a few months into not being timid on a bike could have a heck of a time handling a 26" wheel'd bike.


Craigslist is a godsend- it allows parents to both buy and sell quality bikes for their kids at affordable prices. That way you can fine tune the size more easily as they grow while not breaking the bank.


I hope your family has a blast riding!

VegasTriker

DON"T DON'T DON'T buy your son a bike that is too large for him. It is a safety issue with him being able to reach the ground comfortably. It is far better to buy even a cheap bike that fits and sell it on CL when he outgrows it and move on to a more expensive larger bike. I have an older boy in my Scout Troop who is the only older boy who hasn't at least tried to earn the cycling merit badge and who has never ridden on our annual 25 mile ride in Death Valley. When I asked why he explained that he had a very bad experience when his older brother tried to teach him to ride. I offered to teach him but he has no interest in repeating the experience. It turned him off to cycling permanently.

mel2012

Are you familiar with Islabikes? Their whole approach is to make bikes that are easy to ride and comfortable for even the most hesitant rider. I've read and heard story after story about people whose kids struggled with poorly designed big box store bikes that hopped on an Islabike and rode confidently away within 5 minutes. In my experience, geometry and weight make a far big difference in comfort level than wheel size-- a poorly designed 24" wheel bike is going to be harder to handle than a well-designed 26" bike. Islabike has designed their "Small" bikes in the 20" and 26" size to allow kids to ride larger-wheeled bikes (which, regardless of what folding bike proponents argue, are much faster than small-wheeled bikes) at a much earlier age than they otherwise would. Their features include incredibly light weight, a low bottom bracket, low standover, shorter cranks, shorter top tube, etc. Consequently, my "average-sized" 4-year old, who is at least a year away from being able to comfortably ride a 20" bike from any other manufacturer, has been happily cruising on a Beinn 20 Small for 2.5 months now. I thought it was a good compromise option for the OP and I continue to think so. The Islabike size chart (which actually runs a bit small) identifies the bike as for kids 8+. My daughter, who hasn't even turned 7 yet, is only 2" away from the minimum suggested height for the bike, so I assume his son would be above the minimum.

snow_echo_NY

if you and wife want to ride for fitness, what about one of those tandem attachments so that he can pedal behind you or wife so you can keep a relatively fast pace?

https://www.portlandoregon.gov/transp...article/485287

it's called a bike tow bar

as for what bike to get him, not sure on that but it looks like you have some ideas above ^^ to get you started

mel2012

What the brochure is calling a "bike tow bar" is the Trail Gator, which only works on bikes up to 20" and really doesn't do well with 20" bikes. Most of the positive reviews on Amazon are from people with small (12-16" bikes). Having a heavy kid on the back creates a ton of force on a series of weak connections (where it connects to the parent bike, where it extends--since the bar is actually two telescoping pieces, and where it connects to the kid bike). The FollowMe tandem is a much more well-executed (albeit much more expensive) version of the same general concept. But that is also only good for bikes up to 20".

mstateglfr 

Yup, I'm aware of Isla. I've read about their bikes.
Nope, I wouldn't have any reason to put my avg-tall 8.5yo on a 26" wheeled bike, and she is a strong rider.

Isla= great weight and absurdly expensive. Somehow, kids have been properly fit into bikes for years without having to pay over $600 for what is basically a rigid mtb frame.

Besides a lower bb height, everything else is normal on a lids bike- shorter crank arms, low standover, etc etc etc.

A Giant MTX 7 speed has fit 4 different kids I know great so far and one of the MTX bikes will be used once more in a few years. Low standover, shorter crank, not heavy, smooth tires, and all for a couple hundred if you buy new instead of on CL.

Why 26" wheels? They are heavier and harder to get up to speed. I get they are designed to make the wheel size work, but why force such a large wheel into the frame to begin with? Why not have an appropriately sized wheel instead?


With all that said, their kids road bike has always seemed like a good deal when compared to some lbs alternatives around here. That's relatively speaking since its still $700

CliffordK

So you've bought a $100 bike.

I'd just let the kid ride it for a couple of years if it is what you want. No need to go out and replace it this Christmas.

I got my now 9 yr old nephew a 24" Fuji Ace drop bar road bike last Christmas. I told him it was a "racing bike"... and immediately he loved it.

I suppose it all depends on your goals. On road. Off road. Trails, dirt tracks, etc.

When I was in grade school, we did some "Midget Category" road racing... which was great.

My nephew was visiting this week, and we had to borrow a cheap 24" MTB, which the neighbors were happy to get "tuned up". He actually was doing pretty well on the MTB too, although he did have troubles working the grip shifters (does the Fuji paddle shifters, but doesn't like to do it while riding )

I don't think he is quite ready for a 20+ mile ride, but would do 4 mile or so rides just fine. I'm not sure the cheap MTB was that much slower than his road bike.

I got a tandem, but can't convince him to ride it more than 1/4 mile or so

snow_echo_NY

ah thanks for that. very good to know

Hawgsnawt

Well, it took him about 3 hours total to master the 24 inch bike even though he can only reach the ground with 1 leg at a time while standing over the bar...he has learned to keep his mounted foot on the pedal in the downward position and use the other foot as his ground foot....he then leans on his ground foot, freewheels the pedals backwards to prime starting position, and is off again....

he LOVES the bike and it is large enough that I think he can make it till his birthday easily on it allowing us to skip the XXS frame on the replacement bike and move directly to the plain old S when the time is right....

We went ahead and gifted his 20 inch BMXer to his cousin whom it fits perfectly and will easily last him till my son out grows the 24 and moves to the 26....still allowing us to give the 24 to his cousin when the time comes.

All is well with the world LOL and while I had worried about him keeping up with me and Momma on our 26s.....he has learned to manipulate his gears well enough to perfectly match our speed and cadence or to occasionally run off and leave us behind on sections of the trail where it is safe to do so..... LOL knew I should have gotten 7 speeds for me and Momma instead of the 3 speeds....silly Dad....