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Looking at birthday / Christmas options for my 5 year old son as his 12" balance bike is starting to look like something a clown would use during a show.
Was going to go 16" but the rate he's growing he'll likely outgrow it in 6 months. Had a look at some 20" bikes and they're way too big plus all come with gears which he will struggle with.
I've seen a couple of 18" bikes which look on point, specifically made by BH (local Spanish brand) and Cube but wondering if there's anything else out there we should be looking at? Doesn't necessarily have to be an MTB - a BMX is also a possibility.
how tall is he?
Both my boys went from 16 to 20. It was the isla bike beinn in small. I got it as it had the lowest saddle height of any 20" bike as far as i could see.
My youngest had it from 4 and has just turned 6 today and gone to a 20inch mtb which is bigger
I think you often size downa bit for bmx in terms of wheel size at that age
Beinn 20 is 47cm inside leg +
Squish are a good make that are very similar to isla bikes
https://www.thelittlebikecompany.co.uk/size-guide/
https://www.thelittlebikecompany.co.uk/product/squish-18/
"suit a child aged around 5-7 years old with an inside leg between 52 and 60cm"
as you can see this is a higher min inside leg than the Beinn 20
Don't bother with an 18. Just go 20" and get a small one as has been said above. Isla primarily. My suggestion is a Cannondale Cujo 20 which was used by my lot from about 5 years.
If you search for that, I'm sure you will see a thread about that exact point.
As for gears - just put it in one and leave it.
Currently 45cm inside leg, 106cm, growing rapidly by the day.
My lads has just turned 5, quite small for his age and has gone from Kokua like-a-bike 12"
To Frog 4 14"
Which he started with as a balance bike about a year ago, has just this past Summer nailed the pedalling and is beginning to do actual 'cycling' with us. So I've got him one of these:
Which is a Frog 47 with 18" wheels - its a touch taller but much longer and I'll let him decide when hes ready for it - the bigger wheels should help significantly now hes building up stamina and rolling along gravel tracks and fireroads etc.
I did contemplate if he might go to 20" but that a big jump, so 18" although rare, feels like the right next size for my lad.
Both the 14"/40 and the 18"/47 were chosen as they are very low standover versions of some of their similar bikes and also compared to most others with similar wheel size.
Balance bike to 18" wheels feels like a big jump to me but of course thats only based on our experience and all kids are different.
Highly reccomend the Frog bikes though - both bought used, both great quality and both will lost basically no value in a year to two that he might own them, or be ideal hand me downs. Loads of colours too.
ETA - I wouldnt hold out too much on 'he might grow out of it soon' either, buy smartly, buy used, and even if he does need another change a 8 or 12 months I think that is a better route than making too big a jump at once. Theres loads of good quality bikes about (try little rippers recyled on facebook), and they are easily sold on again.
buy smartly, buy used
This is a great point. Ideally will something second hand up because we all know how kids treat their bikes!
yup.. all mine have been 2nd hand.
plus all come with gears which he will struggle with.
Not sure thats the case. We got a 20" at age 4 and he's quickly got used to the gears. Lots of "yellow button*" and "peter pointer" calls, but otherwise grand
*get a Sure Shift, makes a huge difference. Avoid gripshift, for all the same reasons adults do
Careful not to buy him a bike that’s the right size for him next year, but too big for him now.
Ignore wheel size, look at the recommended inside leg range.
Buy one that’s he’s just big enough.
Frog 47 looks perfect. My daughters running a 44 and loves it.
Buy second hand, you’ll get (most of) your money back when it’s time to size up.
I have a couple of Frog 47s, very happy with them. Light weight and well made. Only thing to point out is that there isn't much frame room for fitting wider tyres.
Our kids are on 16s and are 5 this week. Hoping to jump to 20s when they get bigger.
when they were 3 they were on a CNOC 16s and a Frog 40 now on Belter 16s. Also don’t underestimate how clean and grease free the belt drive bikes are we literally just sling them on the car seats or in the house with no fear of chain lube getting on anything
I think DMR have an 18/16 mullet bike that looks quite nice.
Frog do an 18” bike
Hope Academy do a 20” bike with really low standover and saddle height if you go down that route.
here’s my list of prices, inside leg measurements and wheelsizes
Bike Cost Inside leg Wheels
Belter 16 £439 45cm 16”
Seeker 16 £449 45cm 16”
Hellion 16 £724 43cm 16”
Hope 16 £14pm 45cm 16”
Frog 44 £425 49-53cm 16”
Vitus 16 £329 40-54cm 16”
frog 47 £430 43-59cm 18”
DMR Sidekick £530 45cm 18/16”
Hope 20” £18pm 47cm 20”
Belter 20 £549 52cm 20”
Seeker 20 £749 54cm 20”
Hellion 20 £1,249 54cm 20”
Vitus 20 £349 52-69 20”
Vitus 20+ £399 52-59 20+
Cub Scout 20 £849 52-59 20”
DMR Sidekick £630 49 20”
Orange Zest20 £510 20”
I didn’t just knock this up for you today, we’ve been trying to figure out what to put the twins on once they outgrow their Early Rider Belter 16s
also Early Rider bikes are brushed aluminium so don’t show scratches and scrapes much.
@zerocool - nice job! This will help Santa figure out what to get for our eldest this year.
Isla bike Beinn 20 is 47cm inside leg. Widely available 2nd hand also.
There's a free Vitus 20 in the classifieds...
https://singletrackmag.com/advert/vitus-twenty-kids-bike/
I've just got rid of a Cuda 18", great little bike to span between 16 & 20. Unfortunately doesn't look like they do it any more.
Don't forget the Orbea MX20 (and its more serious brother the Laufey), always loads of them available second hand.
Orbea MX20 £499 52-62cm 20"
Also don’t underestimate how clean and grease free the belt drive bikes are we literally just sling them on the car seats or in the house with no fear of chain lube getting on anything
This cant be understated. The ability to just throw the wet bike in the garage is amazing
Cheers for the info on the Benin and OrBea, I’d forgotten about Isla and couldn’t find the info on the OrBea MX20.
Orange didn’t list the inside leg size for their Crush 20 and I’m not sure if Commencal still make the Meta20/Ramones20