[Closed] 24" wheeled bike for a 9 year old, anyone beat this?

Is he (1) particularly strong (that bike weights more than my not very special full suss with dropper post) (2) particularly good with the concept of gears - most 24" kid specific bikes run 1xN set ups because at that age they aren't great at managing a front and rear shifter (in fact if you go to any kids bike event you hear a chorus of parents/coaches shouting "use your gears"... (3) particularly good at technical stuff that needs suspension (if not don't weigh him down with it, and if so buy him one that works!).

Not sure what second hand frog bikes are fetching but might be not much more and will enable him to ride further with you and enjoy it more.

Looks good value for money, but for the same, you could also look for a used Kona Hula 24, Specialized Hotrock 24 or Giant. These will all be a bit lighter, but not much in it. Good 24" tyres are not widely available. My two used to manage Swinley reds on a Kona Hula 24 and Land Cruisers. V brakes never held them back (as opposed to stop them).

So I'd sat look used first, if nothing turns up, buy one. Good bikes get passed down, mine is on it's fifth family member,

I would say he's average strength wise. He wouldnt be looking at getting into in seriously yet, just some xc rides with me (delamere forest, rivi pike and canal paths etc) so I was thinking just a hardtail with probably v brakes. Not too concerned about the gearing but wanted it as light as possible. The decathlon one is a steel frame so not sure how it would be weight wise. Ill have a look for the frog bikes if you recommend them, cheers.

Ive had a look 2nd hand but not turned anything up yet. I agree about Giant and Kona and would rather get a 2nd hand one of these than the decathlon option but so will continue to hunt around.

Yes - prowling ebay is the key, and double checking descriptions. "Collect in person" listings are always going to be the cheapest, but often things are listed as collection only but they say they'll post at cost in the description. Might well be worth the journey to pick some up though. You need to be patient to wait for a bargain with these things though. There's quite a lot about, a very quick search turned up these, which would all be good buys..

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Carrera-blast-24/331697025646

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Carrera-Blast-Mountain-Bike-24-Age-8-12/272028942979

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Carerra-Luna-Light-Blue-24-Mountain-Bike/171981973576

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Giant-Cycles-24-Kids-Mountain-Bike-/141814012875

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Specialized-Kids-Bike-24-/262116036944

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Felt-Q24-Kids-Mountain-Bike-24-wheel/331696370396

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KONA-HULA-Kids-White-Mountain-Bike/331697200164

Mis-described things can be good too - this is 24" not 20":
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20-Inch-Kona-Hula-Kids-Bike-Orange/391309076897

Just to add that Rockrider would do the job, but it is pretty heavy and not brilliantly specced. But if you've not turned anything up 2nd hand then all bikes are good bikes 😉

And another thought - Scott Voltage 24"ers are very popular at MTB hire places, which maybe looking to off-load at this time of year. No harm in phoning around some of the big trail centre hire places.

Check sizing: my nearly 8 year old is looking to move up from 24"islabike to 26", and we sat on the genesis core 26 recently which looked a good 'grow into it' fit. However, many 24" bikes come up bigger than the isla so worth checking between manufacturers.

Wow, cheers for that jonathan. Seen some of those already on ebay but a couple I hadnt spotted and are within driving distance too. That red specialised looks immaculate!

I've got this taking up room in the shed,

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/fs-marin-kids-mtb-with-24-wheels

Cheers Simon, i have considered your bike but it looks a fraction small for my lad i think

I've got a 24" GT that could be for sale if I can get it out of the shed and cleaned up a bit.
I can sort some pics out later if you like?
Located in South Yorkshire if that's close to you?

Could maybe be interested Alan thanks. Email in profile, don't spend too much time cleaning it though pal, i'm more concerned about condition. I'm near Warrington so not too far away.

No worries, I'll get some detailed pics sorted out later on.

As above, second hand is cheaper to go.

We sold a 24" Scott Scale jnr for £80 - nice and light(ish), cracking geometry.
[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8080/8345842763_050cd1d28e_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8080/8345842763_050cd1d28e_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/dHuChK ]Carron Valley[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr
We sold a 24" Kona for £115 - nice and light(ish) and good 'small' geometry compared to Scott.
[url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5143/5884894237_b6355c8814_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5143/5884894237_b6355c8814_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/9Y2C2K ]R0012506[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr
We gave to mates another 24" Kona, found at the tip, that cost some new cables, tyres and a saddle from the spares box.

At 9, also consider how blooming fast they grow - is it worth looking at a really compact 26"er.

I just sold a Islabike Beinn 26 (small) with X7 and a set of Manitou Mars air forks for £160 - it cost me £190 6 years ago....! The 'bank' of Islabikes IS worth looking towards investing in. First pic is our 8 year old - first go on the hand me down...
[url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3703/13214363095_f74de79999_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3703/13214363095_f74de79999_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/m8H4Lt ]Carron Valley ride[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8081/8345835509_8d982fec45_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8081/8345835509_8d982fec45_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/dHuA8F ]Carron Valley[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr

Another forumite now owns this, I cant remember how much but it was only around the cost of the new 24" you linked to. Our kids rode this from 9yrs old....
[url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3940/15563930505_ed4397a59b_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3940/15563930505_ed4397a59b_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/pHkdip ]Trek 4300[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr

We've got the Rockrider (well, couple of years ago model anyway). Yes, it is heavy. But that doesn't appear to bother the average 9 year old (he's had it since he was 7 I think). It's robust, works fine, and is cheap enough over a couple of years to be considered entirely disposable.

Those second hand options do look great value for money, but I couldn't resist the lure of being able to give a brand new bike for his birthday.

Having said that, for another of my boys for whom weight of bike will be an issue, we spent the money on a Frog 62 instead, and that is paying dividends with his cycling.

Some cracking bikes there Matt, why can't I find a bargain like that though!?

Get some wanted ads on here and Pinkbike.

Get looking on Gumtree.

Get asking at local bike club.

Be prepared to faff with a collection / replace a couple of parts.

My learning was to keep a bike ahead of the lads - I have an eye out for a med frame at the moment for the eldest one...

(If you are near Dunblane or want to pay postage, I have a Giant STP frame for free, needs a 'clamp' BB as the threads on one side are goosed...currently with surroundedbyhills of this parish, but not needed...)

https://www.gumtree.com/p/bicycles/isla-beinn-26-small-kids-bike-aged-8-/1140432644

You pay postage, I can sort a purchase out as I know owner (I think!)

My lad is a few days off 10yrs old, & is riding this, 12" framed, 26" wheel, Spesh Hotrock bought for £120 off here a few years ago. The Wife thought me mad, but I knew he'd grow into it one day. That frame size is as rare as hens teeth.

[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8475/8434185000_eee1d4ccec_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8475/8434185000_eee1d4ccec_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/dRipmL ]IMAG0109[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/takisawa2/ ]pten2106[/url], on Flickr

His old bike was a Spesh Hotrock, 24" wheel, he's sitting on it in this pic.
About to sell it if interested, £80 posted.
Needs some new grips, but solid enough.

[url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5679/22745423955_5a9b2d7227_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5679/22745423955_5a9b2d7227_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/ADWf6Z ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/takisawa2/ ]pten2106[/url], on Flickr

Thanks for the offer of the Islabike Matt but a little out of my price range, great deal though cheers.

Would like a better picture of that Hotrock if possible please takisaw, what frame size is it? Whereabouts are you?

Hotrock 24" is a good package. Just handed one down to the 7 year old.

Sometihng to consider though is that my small for his age 9 year old is now on a XS 26" frame, and loving it. You'll have to follow Matts 'HowTo' and be patient, but he's now rocking a Cannondale built up 1x9 for about £100 plus my spares (I did have a LOT of spares...)

Its a good point that brassneck, how small can you get 26" wheel frames though? Is it 14"? Would be much easier to upgrade parts in the long run and I may have a few spare bits myself already. Bit concerned about him handling the bike though early on, could be that I take him to halfords and get him to sit on one maybe.

One of the many problems with kids is that it seems to me that you can't expect them to fit their bike properly for much longer than 2-3 years. I bought my 12 year old a Spesh Hardrock 15.5in bike, and now he's on a Canyon Nerve in the largest size aged 15!

Unless you're kids are going to be the next superstars of the MTB world, or unless they have some issue which means they are physically weaker than average (which one of mine is) then a bog standard Rockrider bike with "good enough" components on it will be more than good enough for them.

They are unlikely to complain about any of the things an adult might complain about in terms of their bike until they really "into" it.

Realistically 14" tends to be the smallest (often XS). There are some 12" frames around but they're pretty rare (see the Hotrock up there ^^, the Trek I've just reviewed http://singletrackmag.com/reviews/review-trek-fuel-ex-junior/). You've got to be careful about what will fit though. My eldest only just fitted onto the 24" bike a built him when he turned 9 - if I'd got my act together and it had been ready 6 months before I don't think he'd have been able to ride it!

So measuring him up, trying real bikes (so known measurements) and then knowing the measurements of what you look at buying are key. I see a lot of 9-10-year-olds on 26" bikes and sometimes it works, but more often they simply don't fit very well. So you need to buy carefully.

My 7 year old (v. tall though - 137cm IIRC) is on a Felt Q24 (24" obv) bike and has been since he was around 134cm. I did take the spring out of the fork though to drop the front end a little for extra standover (though I could probably fit it back in now come to think of it).

He manages fine on the gears (3x7) - he knows to keep it in the middle ring and then just use the rear gears though he has used the granny ring for some particularly steep climbs.

It is a little heavy for him (though not particularly heavy compared to most kid's 24" bikes) to pick up if he's tired but mostly it's fine and he's ridden fair distances on it.

My 8 year old is already on a 26" bike too. I found him a second hand Apollo with an XS frame and 2x7 for <£100. He just about fitted it at first but after about 3 months he's already completely comfortable on it and I've had to raise the seat. I think the big wheels give them a feeling of stability (gyroscopic action) and better roll over/ momentum on the bumpy bits. My 6 year old, who is much stronger, really struggles to keep up on his 24".

But lets not start a wheel size thread. Think about the kittens......

I've got a pretty mint Kona Shred 24 you can come and see at Delamere if you want.
It's got Schwalbe Tabletop tyres or High Rollers.
Set up as 1x7 with a mega range cassette (low ratio 1st gear).
I'd want £120 for it though.
Let me know and I'll bring it into work at the cafe.

It's this model:

[url= http://www.bicyclebluebook.com/searchlistingdetail.aspx?id=3036126 ]2010 Shred 24[/url]

What forks are on that Kona colp? And what size frame? I've got a 7 year old who is in line for a Christmas bike. It might be too big for him, though. I'm in Frodsham though, so handy!

It's got the standard Spinner Grind forks on which are a bit naff. I'd throw some Tora or similar 80 or 100mm air forks on.
It's a 13 inch frame.
I bought it new from Tony next door at Tracs, it been hung up in the garage for about 3 years collecting dust.

Very interested in that colp, any chance of a couple of pictures please?

Will do. I'll give it a dust and put some pics up in a bit.

This looks amazing, but a bit pricey, although, relatively speaking good value. Unfortunately my son is a very small 8 year old so is some way off needing a 24

http://www.merlincycles.com/transition-ripcord-24-kids-mtb-bike-2015-82341.html

There's some rubbing on the stantions and a few scuffs here and there.
It was heli-taped from new so the frame is almost unmarked.
I noticed some play in the headset so I'll fit a new one tomorrow.
I've left the front derailleur on to act as a chain guide. The front shifter would be included along with the High Rollers.

It was a great bike and brought me son along quickly, he's 14 and doing road gaps and big stuff now.

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

Hi Colp
I'm interested in the shred,
Do you have an idea of the weight of your bike?
Cheers
Paul

Hands off Paul!

I'll send an email to you soon colp, looks perfect

Hi Paul,

It's 29lbs with the Schwalbes on, the High Rollers are dual ply so would take it to 30 or 31lbs

Hi Colp

Any chance you can email me, cant see your email in your profile.

Cheers

Those little Konas are pretty solid bikes, but ride well as XC machines too. I built up an older one from frame-only and it's been ridden long distances and raced as well. Those later ones have better standover too, the earlier ones (like ours) don't have the dropped top tube.

[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7338/13326270585_c38a14e08a.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7338/13326270585_c38a14e08a.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/miABXX ]Little Kona[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/jon_b/ ]Jonathan Bateman[/url], on Flickr