Huffy Rock it
 

So my 10 year old boy is hooked on devices and has totally abandoned any outdoor activity for the summer.... not if I can help it. I want to get him a BMX style bike but not spend an arm and a leg doing it. Actually, I only want to spend no more than $60 for a bike for him. When he re-develops an interest then I will get him a better bike.

I went to Wal Mart and Academy and didn't like any of their offerings. However, this Huffy Rock it popped up and it was a simple coaster brake 20" BMX style bike that wasn't too aggressive and built rather well. The wheels were surprisingly true and had a decent size crank so he can get a little top end speed. It was only $54 but I felt better about it because the were no cheap components to fail and was sturdy enough to satisfy his basic riding needs. He has expressed interest in riding again but doesn't know what he really wants. NO....I don't want to spend more than $60....I have my reasons, but as far as cheap bikes go.... this one was built well and is a more recognized brand than your copycat bike makers that dress up these BMX bikes with cheap components and gimmick items.

What do you all think of my choice?

I'm not familiar with the model but as long as the bike is assembled properly it should serve for a while at least. I understand not wanting to invest more on an uncertain outcome but it might be difficult to inspire him to ride as much as you think he should. Maybe you can figure out a way for the bike to power the devices in question. That would keep you both happy.

I think it was a good choice given your goals. I commend you for wanting to provide your son with an actual active activity "device".

I'll probably get flamed, but BMX bikes are relatively simple non complex items, I don't see much value in spending tons more on that for a growing child that may or may not take an interest in the sport.

If he does take an interest, and you are willing to upgrade at that point, I can't see where you are going wrong in this approach. Although, I would argue that Huffy falls solidly in the category of "cheap components and gimmicky items", its just that when dealing with a SS coaster brake, there isn't much better out there until you really delve into specialized hobby status.

Maybe you could parley his love of electronics into cycling by putting Strava on his phone (if he has one, or else get a cheap old iPhone or something) and see how many miles he can "score" in a ride, then try to beat that "score" the next time, etc. I admit that sometimes I'm an electronics junkie, and part of what makes cycling fun for me is keeping track of my mileage.

Agreed....
Huffy is a "cheap" brand but this particular model is as basic as it comes. Coaster brake SS with a decent size chainring.... that's it. No fancy stems, no pegs, no brakes that constantly need adjusting and no messy cables.

Budget in enough for a helmet he'll want to wear - I bet that will be more then the bike!

Prolly so....lol
My choices were Huffy,Schwinn, Ozone, Next, Hyper, Kent and BSA. All about the same price range and loaded with useless crap that will most likely break. The Huffy Rovk It was a simple design that didn't cost much but serves a purpose without fail.

The Huffy Rockit is not a bmx bike. But it's a start.

Usually these end up in the driveway getting run over, so Huffy is fine.

Yep, from that field, pick the one with the coolest color that fits in your budget and run with it. I'd be surprised if they didn't all have the same coaster brake unit and cranks on them anyhow.

I find if very unlikely that a a semi-functional Huffy is going to inspire your son to develop an interest in cycling, particularly when he realizes what a piece of trash it is compared to the BMX bikes that other kids are riding. I suggest you bring him to a BMX track where (1) he will find a multitude of friends who are into riding bikes, and (2) you will be presented with a multitude of opportunities to buy a high quality used bike that is properly assembled, safe, mechanically sound, and properly size for your son.

The Huffy was the only one with coaster brakes. All the other makes had cheap rim brakes and pegs and all kinds of funky colors and gimmicky components that don't actually work.

He's not into BMX track riding.....now. He likes street and road riding. At least that's what he says....

There was nothing semi functional about the huffy. It's a barebones basic bicycle with coaster brakes which work as they are supposed to work

Then a BMX bike is the wrong choice.

I have experience with very cheap bikes such as the one you are considering purchasing. They are semi-functional...meaning they are often assembled incorrectly, made of inferior materials that do not last or hold together very well, are not properly sized, and have poorly handling geometry. I get that they will work in a pinch, but over the long run, they are more frustrating then fun.

I don't have a son but my 7 year old grandson has a life that revolves around video games, and watching you tube videos of people with video game channels. He's had a Walmart bike for a couple of years but this winter finally learned to ride it without training wheels and was proud to show me he could ride it. So since his old bike was in rough shape since he kept it outdoors in the rain, I bought him another one at Walmart, a Spider Man bike haha. I told him if he promised to take care of it and store it inside so it wouldn't get rusted then I might buy him a nice BMX bike for his 8th birthday and take him to the BMX track.

Well, I go over there a few times a week and now the bike sits outside. He'll only ride it for about 2 minutes at a time. He's just obsessed with video games and you tube. Maybe in a few years he'll be ready for a cool bike, we'll see. I thought about gettimg him a gaming PC for his birthday in 2 months, that would be the holy grail for him. I have no clue what else to get him. But that would be like giving crack to a crackhead.

I'm guessing, if his youth is anything like mine, that the majority of his other 10 year old friends are on very similar bikes. Most 10 year olds are not riding at a level that anything more costly is any advantage, and the bike is going to be beat to hell in the short time they own it, tossed down drive side, left in the rain, and otherwise not looked after.

There really is no "long run" with a 10 year old. In a year or two, they'll have outgrown the bike and be on to the next one.

"BMX style"

My boy is not a rider. He's a gamer. Riding bikes is a way for him to appease me. Je genuinely likes to ride as it is not a team sport.... which he is not inclined on doing no matter what. However, the three outdoor activities he loves to do are swimming, scootering and biking.... all in that order. He doesn't those much but when he is out that's what he likes. Changes are being made on ju part to get him out more. He's not hung up on particular kind of bike like I am but he knows what he likes and how to ride it.

That's a problem that a lot of hobbies have in getting youth involved, competing with video games. My children love their electronic devices, and enjoy playing the Wii as well, but they also enjoy reading, playing baseball, swimming, and at least in the case of my son, riding bikes with me. But if we think they've been a bit too addicted to their electronics, we'll make them do something else, non-electronic related.