Daughter has grown our of her Cnoc 14 and now looking at next bike up.
Beinn 20 would appear to be perfect.
TBH cannot fault Islabikes at all - fantastic products.
However, any real alternatives which achieve the same quality and re-sale value....?
Cnoc 14 for sale soon...mint condition 😉
We got our youngest son a Ridgeback MX16 recently and we plan to get our older son a MX20 based on the first purchase.
They are very well finished and have a decent aluminium alloy frame. The MX16 was much lighter than the 12" wheel bike it replaced.
I would personally recommend them as worth a look. Also worth considering are Saracen's kids bikes.
You've then got Scott and Specialized but they are so much more expensive and I can't personally see where they are any better (until you get onto the junior Spark etc)
the kona 20" is in the same price bracket,id agree with the ridge/saracen comments(same supplier/designers etc) they all have great resale value
neninja has recommended most of the better kids bikes I've seen at our Go ride club. One of the younger lads has a Giant which looks decent.
Most don't seem to be as well thought out as the Isla bikes though
Looking at the quality of the components on the Ridgeback, unless it was very lightly used, I doubt it would have anything like the relative re-sale value of an Islabike.
Their 20" wheel bikes typically sell at 80% of retail on eBay.
The flipside is that you might find a used bargain of another brand as demand for used Islabikes is so high...
I did the rounds of the alternatives in exactly the same situation and bought a Beinn 🙂
Just sold a cnoc 14 for 70% of its purchase price it was in vgc, just ordered a beinn new and hopefully will be doing the same in 2 years time!
Trigger about to be pulled on a Beinn....I know it makes sense.....
Just got my son a ridgeback mx20. Looked into the Isla as my nephew has one but I felt the mx is better as we stay in the country and he spends most time on green trail and my nephew is in Glasgow so in parks. The mx is all triple butted so can take alot of knocks and such. If you buy a decent make the re sale is always ok
can't stand the look of their Cnoc bikes
for a lighter better looking massively better spec alternative look at micro race BMX.
Can't beat Islabike for weight, quality or resale value.
That said, we have worked our way through the Ridgeback MX range with our lad, Trek and Spesh bikes are also decent, especially as we only buy the kids bikes second hand.
Can't beat Islabike for weight, quality or resale value.
the first two you can easily. (see my previous post)
Can't beat Islabike for weight, quality or resale value.
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/37621241@N05/5842545393/ ]fin 2010 - mai2011 162[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/37621241@N05/ ]ianvincent[/url], on Flickr
Didn't get much for this second hand.
From experience the best kids "mountain bikes" are the spesh and the scott voltage. The frames are tough and the suspension works better than some of the other brands, kona for example.
the first two you can easily. (see my previous post)
yes, by throwing money at the bike. Double the price of a cnoc, and a bit more besides. And I'd venture a race bmx is hardly an all purpose mucking around on type of bike.
Edit:
Didn't get much for this second hand.
Wow. Hope there wasn't too much rider damage. What did islabikes say/do? Warrantied?
Isla bikes were pretty good about offering a new frame. It sort of highlights the isla bikes short coming though, they are light but not up for much abuse. Wheras the scott:
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/37621241@N05/6165152713/ ]030[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/37621241@N05/ ]ianvincent[/url], on Flickr
yes, by throwing money at the bike. Double the price of a cnoc, and a bit more besides.
FFS! it doesn't need saying that you need to pay more if you want lighter, better quality bike or components. 😕
to achieve this you don't need to spend anywhere near double the price of a Cnoc at all. take the Cnoc 16 for example, what are they? around £170? You could buy a 16" redline pitboss for around £270 and it's a much lighter, the frame and every single part is miles better quality than anything islabike sell.
[b]And I'd venture a race bmx is hardly an all purpose mucking around on type of bike[/b]
😆 Ha ha.. are you for ****ing real? and a mini 'run down the difficult bits' XC bike is? 🙄
Benz, what are you looking for for your Cnoc 14?
That Redline does look smart. Recommended height is 4in taller than the Cnoc 16, though, which is quite a lot for littl'uns. Stock gearing looks a bit enthusiastic as well. But yes, it's 1.5lb (or 10%) lighter for your extra £100.
by strange coincidence, I want to buy a Cnoc 14 for my lad for a christmas present...
email in profile 🙂
Have to say that this is EPICALLY cool 🙂
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http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/2379642/The-Helmet-legs-it-on-track
to achieve this you don't need to spend anywhere near double the price of a Cnoc at all. take the Cnoc 16 for example, what are they? around £170? You could buy a 16" redline pitboss for around £270 and it's a much lighter, the frame and every single part is miles better quality than anything islabike sell.
Can you show me where I can get one for this price?
Why is a cnoc a 'run down all the difficult bits' xc bike?
You're a bit abusive, aren't you gw? 😥
Like the look of the Redline but for a 7yr old, riding UP hills with dad on a 15-20m ride! 36/16 you've got to be kidding....
Beinn 24 for me I reckon..I can understand it if your child is jumping 5ft frop offs though. I don't think Isla bikes are intended for that.
I picked up a Curtis T1 comp s/h. It can be geared, built pretty light with s/h parts and is bullet proof, 11" frame. TT is a tad long tho, she'll have to wait a year or so...
Cannot fault the Beinn 20 my lad has had one for 2 years now and it has put up with some abuse.He rides with me on a regular basis on several red marked trails.It is about to get tucked away ready for the next junior Tat to ride.Great bike and glad we got it.
Now i have got to find a 24" wheel bike for him to ride or is that destroy.
Mike - it's 14lb, if anything, is undergeared for intended use and standover is def not more than a cnoc16. (got one in the loft if you want real life measurements)
Chainline - why would you even be considering a 16" wheel bike intended for 4-6yr olds for a 7yr old to do 20mile XC rides on? 😕
No just straight to the point. maybe don't type utter shite if you can't cope with being put straight.You're a bit abusive, aren't you gw?
No just straight to the point. maybe don't type utter shite if you can't cope with being put straight.
You've not put anyone straight, just typed a load of nonsense and abuse. 😆
Mike - it's 14lb
OK. I'm just going off what the internets say.
is undergeared for intended use/quote]"Intended use" being "BMX racing"? 36/16 is a keen gear for a four year old just riding along, IMHO.
and standover is def not more than a cnoc16. (got one in the loft if you want real life measurements)Again, just going off manufacturer's recommendations. Not sure that standover's all that relevant, the relatively high BB on the Redline doesn't look ideal given that most folk here are probably looking for a bike for "sitting down" kind of riding.
Like all sorts of bikes, the best option depends on what you (or your kids) want to do with it.
GW - Memberknob
Who makes that one then?
Ive not heard of a Knob bike before, not sure I would buy one for my daughter whn she is old enough
Last thing I want my daughter riding is a 20" knob 🙄
my daughter has a Ridgeback and we are very pleased with it - quality little bike and reasonable cost.
have bought 3 Islabikes over the yrs and sold one on here. IMO they are every bit man for the job and the kids love 'em. Tough enough for the average wee person, very light, good value (when you factor the resale)
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GW - how do you fit a front brake to that Redline? Or does your intended use (which is different to most Cnoc buyers it seems) not require one of those?
as long as you buy it from a UK shop it will come with a front brake.
my intended use? er.. I do like small bikes but have to draw the line somewhere 😉
IKEA probably 😉Who makes that one then?
as long as you buy it from a UK shop it will come with a front brake.
Like the shop Mike_D linked to above? 🙄
Or maybe you could provide a link to a shop selling one for £270 with a front brake? Or just one with a fork you can fit a front brake to?
I think all bikes are sold with two brakes, my sons bmx came with a crappy disposable front one that was there only to meet that requirement. You will probably find that the fork has a hole in the crown to fit one to.
Cant see a race bmx as being great as a do it all bike though tbh. Wrong gearing, skinny tyres, reasonably harsh ride.
Its an interesting question: would people be prepared to pay a premium for a light, strong kids mountain bike (20/24in wheels) with decent geometry and something like a 75mm air fork. Or even a lightish full suspension bike? It seem like good kids have to make do with some major compromises at the moment.
My lad had, in order:
Trek Mt 20
DK BMX race bike (I forget which)
Islabike Beinn 26"
Now on a Genesis Core & Eastern Scythe BMX.
Point is, the DK was good on a BMX track (Royston Rockets). The Islabike got used on the school run, Thetford, Pyrenees etc. The gearing on the DK was too big to push on anything like a hill. Plus, he complained that his back hurt when MTB'ing with it.
My other 2 have (and have had) Islabikes....
I think all bikes are sold with two brakes, my sons bmx came with a crappy disposable front one that was there only to meet that requirement. You will probably find that the fork has a hole in the crown to fit one to.
Ah - that's what GW was referring to? In which case rephrase my question to "a front brake which isn't a crappy disposable one".
We're talking about 4yr olds bikes here, personally I've never met any 4yr old bikers that "do it all"Cant see a race bmx as being great as a do it all bike though tbh. Wrong gearing, skinny tyres, reasonably harsh ride.Its an interesting question: would people be prepared to pay a premium for a light, strong kids mountain bike (20/24in wheels) with decent geometry and something like a 75mm air fork. Or even a lightish full suspension bike? It seem like good kids have to make do with some major compromises at the moment
aracer - what sort of brake do you "think" a 4yr old needs? any half decent lightly sprung front front claliper brake with a well looked after cable is more than adequate for stopping any 4ry old. (It stops me FFS! 🙄 )
We're talking about 4yr olds bikes here, personally I've never met any 4yr old bikers that "do it all"
4yr olds don't ride 20/24 inch bikes and personally I have seen plenty of kids on 20/24 inch bikes that would have benefited from having a better one.
what sort of brake do you "think" a 4yr old needs? any half decent lightly sprung front front claliper brake with a well looked after cable is more than adequate for stopping any 4ry old. (It stops me FFS! )
I'd hazard a guess that you have considerably more hand strength than the typical 4yo. I'll rephrase again if you like "a front brake which isn't the same as you get on most bikes for children". How many kids bikes have you looked at? How many have decent brakes which enable a kid to stop easily? Looking at that pic of the BMX, a decent front caliper brake won't actually fit as the drop is far too big, leaving you only with crappy ones.
Though even if that wasn't an issue, we're still left with you suggesting an alternative to an Islabike is something twice the price with unsuitable gearing. Are you being deliberately obtuse, or do you really not get that "do it all" means typical kids messing around on bikes (riding to school, riding round the woods etc.) as opposed to just BMX racing. I'm sure a mini race BMX is better than an Islabike at BMX racing - the Islabike is better at pretty much everything else.
my point was, why are you talking about 24" wheel bikes on a thread about a kid growing out of a 14" wheel bike?
aracer's ref to disposable brakes is about a 16" wheel bike.
BMXs for older kids often don't need brakes at all.
Scott and Specialized already make what you seem to be asking for in 20/24"
BMXs for older kids often don't need brakes at all.
For use doing the sort of things kids do on Islabikes?
Ahem, I have a Specialized Hotrock 20" wheeled bike for sale.... 🙂
This year I`ve bought 3 bikes for my kids via ebay.
2 Carrera Lunas for my daughters,one 16" in as new condition for £16,and one less good 20" but still vgc for £50.
And a 24" GT Agggressor for my son for £50.
Without the high upfront cost,though I doubt I would have ever been able to afford the new price of an Islabike anyway.
And I bet the resale won`t be much less when I move them on.......
Not as good but plenty good enough,I reckon.
