[DeeZee]

I need some help with a bike purchase for my middle son. Looking for a light weight 20” wheeled geared bike. He has a younger brother so I don’t mind buying quality if it can last two kids.

Thanks!

 

[Sevadari]

I need some help with a bike purchase for my middle son. Looking for a light weight 20" wheeled geared bike. He has a younger brother so I don't mind buying quality if it can last two kids.

Thanks!

IMO, you won't find a better deal than this:
http://ibexbikes.com/Bikes/ALP-320K-Details.html

...and this bike will last for a long time, with great components, all at a hard to beat price.

I've got one of their full suspension bikes and it is one quality ride. Everything I've read and heard indicates that all their bikes are just as good.

Lemme know if you end up going with it. Good luck!

 

[DiRt DeViL]

Trek Mountain Track 60
http://www2.trekbikes.com/bikes/bike.php?bikeid=1578600&f=32

Gary Fisher Cosmo
http://www.fisherbikes.com/bikes/bike_detail.asp?series=kids&bike=Cosmo

Specialized Hotrock
http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=12303

Giant MTX 125
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/030.000.000/030.000.006.asp?model=11350

Diamondback Octane 20
http://www.diamondback.com/items.asp?deptid=8&itemid=184

 

[Frozenspokes]

Adding to the list

another one.....
http://www.marinbikes.com/bicycles_2006/html/bikes/bike_specs/specs_hidden_canyon.html

My oldest has a Specialized Hotrock and she really likes it.

 

[FoShizzle]

use 20" Haro V20 bikes for my kids....GREAT bikes. Unlike many other 20" bikes, have quick releases which i liked, and real quality stuff all around. I considered em all and liked this the best.

for 24", i went to the nice specialized Hotrock A1 FS...it is light. The FSR version is about 2 lbs heavier and the suspension is a dumb idea on a kids bike.

 

[DeeZee]

Thanks All

Looks like the Diamondback, Marin and Haro are the front runners. I like the treadless stems, Alm frame etc.. Any idea on the weight of these bikes?

C'mon Fo I know you weigh everything down to water cage bolts

Again thanks all and any other suggestions would be great!

 

[DeeZee]

Ding Ding Ding

IMO, you won't find a better deal than this:
http://ibexbikes.com/Bikes/ALP-320K-Details.html

...and this bike will last for a long time, with great components, all at a hard to beat price.

I've got one of their full suspension bikes and it is one quality ride. Everything I've read and heard indicates that all their bikes are just as good.

Lemme know if you end up going with it. Good luck!

We have a winner

Sevadari speaks the truth. I spend the day checking out Specialized, Fisher, Haro, Diamondback and they were all over 27lbs! (yes I had the shops weigh them)

Going with the IBEX. I read the reviews on this bike and this is the one. Plus it has a triple ring in the front!

Thanks!

 

[Jasko]

You can spend more than $299 on research, but you will not find better kids MTB than Ibex 320k. My son is riding it (he is 7 years old) and loves to be able to climb up the hill, do small jumps on the trail and go really fast (15 mph) on flat path.
So, if you know how to adjust brakes and derailleurs and fix flat tires, don't think twice.
I checked many bikes and the closest one was kids Scott bike sold at REI. Now ,people there were pretty clueless and the bike has strange geometry - very streched forward. The one my sone liked was Specialized Hotrock, since it looks cool. If you don't want to maintain the bike and kid stays mainly on the flat trails, this is not a bad option.
Otherwise, get Ibex, wait couple days and have fun.

 

[DeeZee]

Ibex 320K

You can spend more than $299 on research, but you will not find better kids MTB than Ibex 320k. My son is riding it (he is 7 years old) and loves to be able to climb up the hill, do small jumps on the trail and go really fast (15 mph) on flat path.
So, if you know how to adjust brakes and derailleurs and fix flat tires, don't think twice.
I checked many bikes and the closest one was kids Scott bike sold at REI. Now ,people there were pretty clueless and the bike has strange geometry - very streched forward. The one my sone liked was Specialized Hotrock, since it looks cool. If you don't want to maintain the bike and kid stays mainly on the flat trails, this is not a bad option.
Otherwise, get Ibex, wait couple days and have fun.

All,

Ordered the Ibex 320K. Plan on putting lighter tires / tubes and a few othe parts on it. Will post pictures when it is built.

Thanks!

 

[DeeZee]

What a great company and product. I ordered the bike @ 4:30 Eastern time and it shipped that night!:thumbsup:

It arrived in perfect condition and exceeded my expectations. This is a real bike and my 5 year old is fired up that he now has gears and can keep up with his older brother and me. Glad that we purchased a quality bike because it will be used my 1 year old son (in four years).

Thanks to everyone for your advice!

 

[Sevadari]

What a great company and product. I ordered the bike @ 4:30 Eastern time and it shipped that night!:thumbsup:

It arrived in perfect condition and exceeded my expectations. This is a real bike and my 5 year old is fired up that he now has gears and can keep up with his older brother and me. Glad that we purchased a quality bike because it will be used my 1 year old son (in four years).

Thanks to everyone for your advice!

Most welcome!!!

I completely agree with your thoughts on Ibex, a quality company all the way around. Glad that you decided to go with them and I'm sure you will get many years of enjoyment from that bike.

If you get a chance, post up some thoughts and comments about the bike and your experience on the Ibex forum here on MTBR. The folks over there would love to hear about your thoughts. As for me and my house, I can't wait to have my 2nd daughter ready to ride a bike so I can get her that same bike!!!

Have fun! :thumbsup:

PS In case you're ever in the market for one, Ibex makes great bikes for real big "kids" too! If you're interested, you can see an action picture of me on my Ibex "toy" at this link: http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=206928

 

[SSINGA]

DZ - did you weigh it?

I too have been shopping for a 20" MTB for my 6 year old. He has a Haro BMX right now and the Haro V20 is the front runner based on fit and value.

IBEX is local to me - only about 4.5 miles from my office. Maybe I need to see if they have one I can look at.

 

[FoShizzle]

DZ - did you weigh it?

I too have been shopping for a 20" MTB for my 6 year old. He has a Haro BMX right now and the Haro V20 is the front runner based on fit and value.

IBEX is local to me - only about 4.5 miles from my office. Maybe I need to see if they have one I can look at.

i can try to weight my V20 for comparison sake SSINGA...

 

[SSINGA]

i can try to weight my V20 for comparison sake SSINGA...

Kewl - please do:thumbsup:

Not that it really matters. His BMX is heavy and he manages just fine trail riding it. He just needs gearing to help out with some of the hills.

 

[DeeZee]

Weight

DZ - did you weigh it?

I too have been shopping for a 20" MTB for my 6 year old. He has a Haro BMX right now and the Haro V20 is the front runner based on fit and value.

IBEX is local to me - only about 4.5 miles from my office. Maybe I need to see if they have one I can look at.

Did not weigh it yet but before I purchased it I weighed the Trek, Fisher, Giant, Specialized and Diamondback. All of these bikes had a single front chain ring and weighed 26-27lbs.

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=11024 This is the tread that sold me
If I had to guess it is the claimed 23.5 lbs. http://www.ibexbikes.com/Bikes/ALP-320K-Details.html.

Easy and cheap weigh savings on this bike would be.

Ditch the Kickstand
Bars
Seatpost
Tubes, Rim Strip and tires (Tires are not bad but I have some light ones in the garage)
Pedals

Ibex is by far the best value:thumbsup:

 

[Ciclistagonzo]

Just out of curiousity, who's the manufacturer of the fork?

And what are your impressions of it?

 

[SSINGA]

Did not weigh it yet but before I purchased it I weighed the Trek, Fisher, Giant, Specialized and Diamondback. All of these bikes had a single front chain ring and weighed 26-27lbs.

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=11024 This is the tread that sold me
If I had to guess it is the claimed 23.5 lbs. http://www.ibexbikes.com/Bikes/ALP-320K-Details.html.

Easy and cheap weigh savings on this bike would be.

Ditch the Kickstand
Bars
Seatpost
Tubes, Rim Strip and tires (Tires are not bad but I have some light ones in the garage)
Pedals

Ibex is by far the best value:thumbsup:

Just called over to IBEX and they don't have anything set-up for me to bring my son by for sizing. I can buy it and return it if it is too big but that is a hassle.

How tall is your son DeeZee? Did you need to swap out stem or bar? Will the seat drop all the way into the frame?

 

[SSINGA]

Just out of curiousity, who's the manufacturer of the fork?

Fork:

In Sync Grind CR w/ 50mm Travel / Coil Spring-MCU / 1-Piece Alloy Lowers / Disc Mounts

 

[DeeZee]

Not sure

Just called over to IBEX and they don't have anything set-up for me to bring my son by for sizing. I can buy it and return it if it is too big but that is a hassle.

How tall is your son DeeZee? Did you need to swap out stem or bar? Will the seat drop all the way into the frame?

I am at work so I can't measure him (the pictures may give you an idea. I would say he is average height compared to other five year olds. Maybe a little on the taller size. However he fit on this bike the best compared to the other bikes out there.

I had to cut the bottom of the post off to make it fit. Stem and bar are good.

 

[lucifer]

FWIW it is real cheap and easy to slim down a hot rock.