Michael Gugliel

My son is moving into his thrid bike and I promised I would buy a brand new one this time. He rides to school daily and does trails and light off trail a few times per month. Any recommendations are greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

BigBlueToe

Don't buy a bike at Walmart, K-Mart, Toy's-R-Us, Costco, etc. Their bikes are cheap, but they're heavy and the components are usually crap, even if they say Shimano.

Go to a bike shop that sells some of the national brands - Specialized, Trek, Giant, etc. Ask for their advice. You'll pay more than at a department store, but it will be a better bike, and will have a much better resale value when your son outgrows it.

Another thing to consider is Ebay, Craigslist, or garage sales. There are plenty of kids who have outgrown their nice bikes. However, don't do that unless you know what to look for.

DiRt DeViL

If he's tall enough get him a good adult bike, most manufacturers have entry level models that are around the 300 dollar mark.