[jimsiff]

I have a 6 y/o boy who graduated from 16" to 20" last summer, but he's been riding his brother's coaster bike. I'm looking to get him his own 20"/24" bike. He has good bike handling skills already and does some light XC off road.

I'd like to get him into a multi-geared setup, so I've looked at the various 6 speed 20" hardtails out there. The thing that concerns me is he's tall for his age, and in a couple years he will definitely be comfortable on a 24". Trek and Fisher have 24" bikes with low standover, and adjustable stems and pedals. I'm wondering if something like this would be a better value since he could grow into it and use it until he's 10-11 or so.

Does anybody have any thoughts? Thanks for the input...

Jim

 

[SSINGA]

Check out the Carver mini frame. It can be a 24" or 26" build which would allow for lots of growing room. The standover is low and the top tube short. They state that it fits riders from 4'1 to 5'2". More info here.

Haro makes some nice kids bikes too. I am taking my 5yr old to check out the fit of the v20 tonight.

 

[Fast Eddy]

14 lb steel singlespeed

I admit it's a bit specialized, and not great for other than smooth, mostly-flat XC, but I suspect, like my son, he rides around the 'hood a bunch, and on the bike trails. This is fast and light. I put a front brake on my son's. It's pretty hard to convince him that he's too big for it now that he's 11. A mini has 1" larger diameter wheels than a standard bmx.

https://www.craigslist.org/sby/bik/115922927.html

 

[LeopardDog]

Specialized makes a nice aluminum framed 24" wheel, 7 speed bike with a low stand over. I got one for my 7 year old daughter and she handles it fine. It's got Vee brakes front and rear and she does better with those than she did with the coaster style brakes. I think it's a "Hotrock". Nice bike for the money.

 

[Fast Eddy]

Nice bike for the money.

30+ lbs though...

 

[standard235]

Hey Eddy. Just a quick correction. You said minis have 21in rims.

Not true, it's only 1" sewups, 1 1/8", and 1 3/8" tires.
Then at 1.5" they go to 20".

Sorry for that.

 

[Fast Eddy]

I was referring to the standard 1x1-1/8" rim size.

 

[jimsiff]

Thanks guys for the help. I looked around some more, found the Ibex 440 but they're sold out. I checked out the Specialized Hotrock 24 and Hotrock A1 24, and decided to go with the A1. The build kit comparison was a no brainer. For $40 more, you get a lighter frame, slightly better fork, better deraileurs, cranks, bb, pedals, rims, qr hubs, and saddle. I'm stoked to see my kids reaction when "Santa" brings him a nice new red mtn bike just like daddys.

 

[LeopardDog]

Excellent choice. It's tough to find "Kids" bikes that are lightweight without going to the BMX race style and spending a LOT of money. So it's a little bit heavy, builds the legs! My daughter is no athelete and she rides her Hotrock pretty much wherever we go.