[weevie]

My just under 1m tall 3.5 year old (the boss of me) declared today he doesn’t want to ride his hand me down Islabike 16” cnoc as it doesn’t jump … and promptly took his brothers Misfit 16” bmx off him (the boss of him too) pedalled it across the drive and rammed it into the hedge. As you do…unperturbed he got up and left it and took his scooter. Oh how the blessed live…

Q: if I fork out for a second hand/discounted but decent 14” bmx bike (misfit/juvi etc etc) how long (or how tall ?) can he ride it for fun. His brother (50th percentile) will be on the 16” for at least 18 months, maybe more if he actually nails any tricks rather than dropping it on its pegs. . Dad was too old to ride anything but a 20” bmx from 7 years old…(and badly) ) so I’ve no personal experience. We have way too many bikes but moving them on when already used is no big deal. He has his old islabike cnoc 14 which he still uses for the pump track for past 3/4 year but I’ll sell that on as he grounds it on the bumps and gearing isn’t up to it.

 

[TimTucker]

This is a good reference for sizing:

BMX Groms Official BMX Bike Sizing Guide - BMX Groms

BMX Groms official BMX Bike sizing guide infographic, which answers the question, what size BMX bike should I ride? A 12 inch, 14", 16", 18" or 20"

bmxgroms.com

If you want to see what "pro" kids do, take a look at the progression of bikes that BMX Caiden has gone through on YouTube.

 

[weevie]

That’s great link for the sizing. Thx. Most of the decent manufacturers seem to say to 3’6”/8” which doesn’t seem right…. but they should know. Except according to that link they don’t…

 

[TimTucker]

Would be nice if they'd update it to reflect that 14" and 18" options are a lot more common now.

Sizing guides for BMX are tough - from talking with the guys at our local shop (Albes) they'll generally recommend a smaller bike if someone is getting something primarily for skatepark riding and has another bike for general riding.

If they know it'll be a kid's only bike, they'll recommend a little bigger - sacrificing ease of jumping & doing tricks for ease of pedaling around the neighborhood.

 

[svinyard]

My guess is he's more of a fit for a 12" freestyle bike and thankfully those are easier to find than a 14". If you go big, the bikes get wonky fast on a BMX simply because the bars get huge. I did enjoy the Spawn Yoji 16" as it worked well as a pedal bike (with shorter bars) and then transitioned into a Dirt Jumper that my 7yro still rides (49" and its small for him now, perhaps too small). My youngest started on it at 3yro birthday at 36" tall. By 3.5 he was standing and pedaling a bit. A 1.5yr later we throw on the taller bars I think. Dad Tip: focus on getting them standing and pedaling immediately (candy bribes). Sitting and pedaling as a "safe homebase" is a tough bad habit to break later on for some kids. They don't really start progressing until they can stand and pedal so best to get the ball rolling on it sooner than later.

 

[slapheadmofo]

12 or 14 for a 'freestyle' BMX would definitely be better than the 16, and just let him ride it until he decides not to.
My son rode his 16" until he was 8 years old, and he's a pretty lanky kid.
Then he rode his 18" for another 5 years or so before moving to a 20", at which point he was well over 5'.

Also, some advice I tend to give regularly: if the bike has pegs and your kid isn't actually doing grinds or picks, take them off.
They're doing nothing but making the bike heavier and more cumbersome, and most kids end up mainly just using them as something to smash their ankles and shins into.


(Same goes for gyros on bikes that no one is doing barspins with, but they seem to have stopped putting these on every bike these days.)

 

[weevie]

Thanks all. Yes for sure. Pegs go on an off for eldest. A faff but he like racing his friends to school standing on one side of the bike to roll down the hill all the way. No traffic where we are right now so all good and he gets padded up. Happy as Larry doing that so who am I to say no (or point out it looks ridiculous!) He’s already learnt the lesson of pride before a fall so up to him.
I’m going tor a 14”.. maybe an end of season deal on a 2021 if is one left or better still something used and abused already.

 

[blammo585]

Would be nice if they'd update it to reflect that 14" and 18" options are a lot more common now.

Sizing guides for BMX are tough - from talking with the guys at our local shop (Albes) they'll generally recommend a smaller bike if someone is getting something primarily for skatepark riding and has another bike for general riding.

If they know it'll be a kid's only bike, they'll recommend a little bigger - sacrificing ease of jumping & doing tricks for ease of pedaling around the neighborhood.

Is 14" common now? I don't think I've ever heard of a 14" bike before this thread.

 

[weevie]

…..seem to be a few about this year in 14”

Fit Misfit 14" BMX Bike | Chain Reaction

Fit Misfit 14" BMX Bike - Lowest Prices and FREE shipping available from The World's largest online bike store - Chain Reaction Cycles

www.chainreactioncycles.com

Bought the last one just now … by UK standards the pink price was okay. Wanted a Cult Juvi as the aluminium frame is lighter but no joy used and I’m not paying 450 UK for a new 2022 one given its for fun until he is 6 ish and there is no one in line afterwards. Jokers on used bike websites wanted the same money for old rubbish. Bit overly pink for my taste, prob why discounted, but for 150 UkP off I can take a hairdryer to the frame stickers and some get some fit bike co vinyl decals and grips from the Bay for UKP15 or so in a colour of his choice as it’s otherwise stealth black. Bit of a faff maybe (… and we don’t have a hair dryer!) and takes a while to clean the goo up. We do have few small rolls of car wrap from another bike project years ago so could just as well leave stickers on and just stick over them. The pink wall tyres look fine to me and he’s too young for colour peer pressure - but he does like other colours more so he is welcome to ask his brother to help him scribble all over them with fat marker pens as he likes…

 

[weevie]

To end the thread - got the bike last week after work travel. . Took a hairdryer to the stickers which came off instantly. New spank grips £10, new decals for £3 from eBay and some blue leather shoe dye £4 to tone the pink wall tyres and there we have it..one stereotypical boys bike.
Frame heavy as usual for bmx .. no need for steel at 14” but as above Cult Juvi too expensive for a hack bike. This is the second of my kids two Fitco. BMXs as per photo. Poor in that they both need the crank bearings popped out and some light sanding of the BB shell as they are way too crimped and thus bearings don’t roll that well. Don’t have any tools with me (or even a hammer) so ill have to leave this one for now, but v poor from Fit as makes it harder than needed to churn the pedals.
Still .. for the price I’m happy for a new bike. My 3.5 year old loves it and would rather die than not keep up with his older brother so naturally stands up and is a happy lad. He is at the small end of the bmx 14” fit (although he rides a 16” islabike to school). …so it will be a while before can learn tricks / jumps on this due to weight. Upside is It will last him at least 2.5 years for hopping around any BMX stuff and mucking about which is great. He did 6km on it this morning while I had a a run and is watching Danny Macaskill as I type this so all is well. I’m working out of UK so it’s shorts and t shirts most of the winter so it will get well used and abused…The End.