|
Ibex Bicycles
Alpine 440K
|
|
|
Average Rating
|
4.5/5
|
|
# of Reviews
|
8
|
|
MSRP
|
$ 440.00
|
|
Weight
|
|
|
More Products from Ibex Bicycles
Submit a Review
|
|
|
Description:6061 Aluminum Frame
RST Capa Suspension Fork
24-Spd Shimano Alivio/Deore Drivetrain
Shimano Alivio Rapidfire Shifters
Tektro Alloy V-Brakes
Factory direct price: $329
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Submitted by
Niels Reimers
a Cross Country Rider
from Meadow Vista, CA
Date Reviewed: February 15, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Clementine, Hole in the Ground, Tahoe Rim | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$270.00 | | Purchased At: | www.ibexbikes.com | | Strengths: | Frame and components | | Weaknesses: | Not available when I was a kid | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized, Giant | | Bike Setup: | As delivered | | Bottom Line: | First of all, I agree with everything said by the other reviewers. This is a real mountain bike and putting it together is not much harder than fixing a flat.
The real testimony comes from my kids. My kids (aged 5 and 8) have been riding for several years now and we're always trying out harder and harder trails. I've been disappointed in the bikes they have and started to look for new bikes to get them on. I was surprised at the garbage that is available for kids. It seems that many manufacturers believe that children need 30lb bikes with bad brakes, no front derailleur (or just a double), hard shifting and no suspension. It's no surprise that I don't run into more kids on the trails, I'd stay away too! Anyhow, thanks to the other reviewers here I found Ibex. A triple in the front, components from manufacturers I recognize, a 24" bike and a weight that is useful. I can be a gearhead just like the rest of you all here so after I ordered the bikes (a 320k for my 5 year old and a 440k for my 8 year old) I started getting fired up about how great they would be able to ride when the bikes arrived. Even with these high expectations, the bikes delivered more than I expected. My kids’ abilities and interest in riding have increased enormously. Hills that they previously would have walked up they are now riding, single track sections they are taking with much greater confidence and finesse than before. As a dad, and particularly a dad who wants to get out on the trails myself, it’s really exciting.
What is really comes down to is a decision that most of you reading this review have already made for yourself. You know that you will get more riding out of a nice bike than you will from a tank you but at Walmart. You’ll get more miles/dollar from one of these than you will from a lesser bike. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kurt kenzler
a Cross Country Rider
from phoenix, AZ
Date Reviewed: February 2, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | desert classic, so. mnt, phx | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$299.00 | | Purchased At: | online (ibex) | | Strengths: | We purchased this 2007 24" Alpine for $299 during the IBEX pre-launch special in Dec-06. Bike shipped on the day they promised via FedEx Ground. Packaged VERY well. Some assy of pedals, stem, seatpost, wheels... and ready to ride. Only adjustments required were the v-brakes. This bike is an incredible value plus it inspires confidence in my young son. He's 10 and was tired of using his single-speed BMX'er on trails. Great components. Quality workmanship. Feels so light too and shifts cleanly - unlike most toystore kid multispeed bikes. This is a REAL mtb!! | | Weaknesses: | The Grind fork is lame'o by an adult's standard. But, for a young rider, it works great absorbing the bumps they throw at it. Any more elaborate fork = higher price + more weight. IBEX made the right compromise here. | | Similar Products Used: | Diamondback Aluminum BMX bike | | Bike Setup: | Added WTB saddle, H2O bottle cage. | | Bottom Line: | There is NO equal available for the money. We also considered the Scott Scale line-up from a local Phoenix shop. The Scale RC Jr. is the best bike, but the $990 tag disqualifies it from a practicality standpoint. The local shop was willing to come down from $450 msrp to $299 on the Scale Jr 24" - but the IBEX kicks its butt on features anyway. In the derailleur category: the IBEX is 1 Shimano level higher on the rear, and 2 Shimano levels higher on the front. Most other features are the same, (ie.. aluminum frame, low-end fork, etc.) That is exactly the reason why Internet vendors can offer more value - no dealer margin to add in. It's the Dell business model for bikes. The IBEX is a clear winner all around. No risk in the fact your kid can't ride it around first - they will be so excited to open the box and help you put it together. Enjoy!! | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew
a
from Rockies
Date Reviewed: September 19, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$330.00 | | Purchased At: | internet | | Strengths: | Almost everything. Frame, componets, replaceable derailluer hanger, dual quick release wheels, real shifters, deore R.D., short cranks. WOW!!! | | Weaknesses: | The RST fork sucks. But there is nothing on the marktet to replace it with. Good news, it is sprung for a lighter rider. The kid was like, "dosen't it go higher", but the last suspension fork he saw was mine, a 120mm Marzocchi. | | Similar Products Used: | Huffy crap. Disney Princess. | | Bike Setup: | Stock. And stock is sweet for the price paid. | | Bottom Line: | If you love to mountain bike, and you love your kid, buy this bike. It's just like a quality entry level hardtail, only smaller. It even has disk brake mounts. Replaceable derailluer hanger. It's not light, but WAY lighter than the neighbors Huffy. Stuff breaks? Standand MTB parts. You could even get goofy and put XT stuff on here. It all fits. If you love to ride, and don't want to put your kid on crap, buy this or the smaller one. 9 flaming chilis' here. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chaz
a Cross Country Rider
from Baltimore
Date Reviewed: July 17, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Mount Falcon | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$330.00 | | Purchased At: | online | | Strengths: | Components 1 level higher than competitors
Well assembled | | Weaknesses: | Like all 24" wheeled bikes, still a little heavy | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized HotRock, GT, Trek, Scott | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | Bought for my 8 year old son, after looking at competing products from major manufacturers ...
Ordered online on Wed, arrived Friday. Bike was EXCEPTIONALLY well packed, tons of bubble wrap, tape, cardboard. Arrived without a scratch!
Assembly? Simple. Put on front wheel, seatpost (seat already on), pedals and handlebars. That's it. Took longer to unpack than assemble. Had my son take a spin, was ready to spend 1/2 hour adjusting brakes / shifting. NO NEED - bike was way dialed in. Whoever put this together at IBEX knew what they were doing.
The package includes a 6061 Aluminum frame that looks suspiciously like the older Schwinn custom "Home Grown" line. Quality frame with triple top cable routing, nice welds. Components are Shimano Alivo which work well (my daughter has 'em on a RockHopper which cost $150 more). Components not named are mostly Kalloy - good, servicable, reasonably light. Some nice touches - rear derailleur is upgraded to Deore. Headset is a sweet Cane Creek. Bike comes with a multitool and multi-wrench included. AND, all the shimano instructions were included also, nice when it comes time to tune ...
Overall, I think that the Ibex is a GREAT deal. My son did a 32 mile ride the next day, no probs. My only "complaint" would be that I still wish kids bikes were a little lighter. This one comes in about 25 lbs, the competing HotRock was about 27, the Trek even heavier. The only lightwight kid's bike I could find was the Scott RC Junior TEAM ISSUE. Sweet bike, with double butted frame and some 24 spoke wheels.. The Scott was a very respectable 22 lbs. BUT, at $900, in a way different price league than the $330 IBEX. My son is growing like a weed, was hard to rationalize spending $900 for a bike that he'd only ride for 2-3 years ...
My only suggestion to IBEX is would be to make a TEAM ISSUE verson of the 440K, for $150 to $250 more I'd bet they could drop into the 22-23 lb range as well. Certainly not a "mass market" item, but I'd bet would do great via online sales ...
Don't get me wrong though, this is a GREAT deal. My son is super-happy, and in the end that's what matters when you're buying a KID's bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rod
a
from Ithaca ny
Date Reviewed: November 4, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$299.00 | | Purchased At: | ibex website | | Strengths: | Good components for the money. The frame quality appears very good. Ibex was very good with shipping and communication. Probably the best for the money out there. | | Weaknesses: | Well ,I was wondering how they got this bike so light before I ordered it. A light frame only weighs about 3 1/2 lbs and I was suspicious that with the components offered, even with the 24" wheels that it could weigh 24.7 lbs without pedals. Well, same ole weight lies as most other companys in the bike biz. This bike weighs in at a hefty 27.7 lbs without pedals reflectors or supplied kicktand. | | Similar Products Used: | old 20" gt steel 2x5 | | Bike Setup: | Stock for now. Im goin through my parts boxes and try to get this thing lightened up a tad. | | Bottom Line: | Worth $299? Yes Would I buy it again? Probably not since I was looking for a light weight bike for my aspiring xc racer of 8.I did email them about the weight and here is what the said per quote.
Mr. Stabler,
We calibrate our scales and we stand by our posted weights. If you are unhappy with the bike you are welcome to return it in accordance with the terms and conditions of our return policy. I can issue you an RMA number on Monday to get the process started. I doubt that you will find a better bike or a lighter weight bike for the money, but I wish you the best of luck in doing so.
Sincerely,
Dave T.
IBEXbicycles | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Sandy, Utah, USA
Date Reviewed: October 12, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Porcupine rim, Wasatch Crest | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$340.00 | | Purchased At: | IBEXBIKES.com | | Strengths: | real mountain bike components, frame is light and strong, wheels exceeded my expectations, good looking. Trigger shifters. Fits my 10 year old great. | | Weaknesses: | only one I can think of is not too many color options, but who really cares. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized, Trek, K2, and Giant | | Bike Setup: | As is, no need to upgrade anything. I did switch the pedals to clipless for my son. | | Bottom Line: | This is a real mountain bike for kids. I love mountain biking, have a great bike for me, wanted something good for my son who is 10, not big enough for 26" tires, so I checked all the good brands for a kids mountain bike with 24" tires, Specialized, Trek, K2, Giant. They all had cheap components, and cost almost as much as the IBEX Alpine. The IBEX Alpine has 24" inch tires with a Deore rear derailleur, and Alivio front and trigger shifters. The fork is good, and the wheels are awesome. By far the best bike available with 24" tires. I was so impressed by it I bought one for my 9 year old daughter, she may not mountain bike much, but it is so much better than any other 24" bike, and doesn't cost that much more. These are real mountain bikes for 8-12 year olds. Will probably buy the 20" tire Alpine for my 6 year old. Compare components with all the big name brands for their 24" tire bikes, and you will buy the IBEX. Don't buy a 26" bike that is too big that they will "grow into" because all the other kids bikes are crap, this is a good bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
RB
a Cross Country Rider
from Lexington, KY
Date Reviewed: October 5, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$339.00 | | Purchased At: | Ibexbikes.com | | Strengths: | Components, weight | | Weaknesses: | Kickstand | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | The bottom line is that there are no other real kids mountain bikes out there (O.K. maybe Specialized and Trek have decent models, they just didn't fit my 8 year old's measurements as well). I have been on the trails twice now with my eight year old. He can actually keep control and climb hills on this bike because it is light and maneuverable. There is no way he could do that on the 50 pound kids' bikes being passed off as "mountain bikes" at the department stores. Why don't all of the good bike manufacturers make kids mountain bikes?? How do they expect to grow the market for mountain bikes?? Oh well, their loss is Ibex' gain. Buy this bike if you want to take your kid on the trails. You won't regret it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ritchie
a Weekend Warrior
from Rock Hill SC
Date Reviewed: September 17, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$335.00 | | Purchased At: | Online | | Strengths: | Quality components,frame and paint. Great customer service. Rear skewer was damaged during shipping(thanks to UPS) called and (Jack)said he would take care of it for me. | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | Department store bikes | | Bike Setup: | stock setup, will have to see how he likes it before we upgrade anything | | Bottom Line: | Purchased the bike for my eight year old.It's for Christmas but I bought early wanting to get the Blue over the Yellow.Ordered on a Thursday and it was at my house on Monday. Put it together last light.It's as easy as described on their website. Everything took less than twenty minutes. I cant wait for him to try it out so he can see the difference between a quality bike and what hes been riding. I'll post another review after Christmas and a few times on the trail. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
| |
|
Photo Caption Contest
(sponsored by Maxxis)
|
Enter here
|
|
|
