My son is coming up to 13 in August he's not big for his age, average height. Can anyone recommend a good hardtail with front shocks. He's itching to get out riding with me. I'll be looking at 2nd hand as budget is no budget.
Voo doo at halfords always get good reviews.
Or have a look at BTwin at decathlon.
Thanks ads678 I'll have a look on Gumtree me thinks.
Last year bought my lad an Inbred frame and we built it up together with my spares and a few bits off the classifieds.
He's never admitted it to me but he's told his Nan how much he enjoyed that dad and lad time.
Currently doing the same for his sister. Costing me a fortune!
Thanks for responding morecashthandash. I was thinking about that route. Small frame and a self build. We'll see. Comes down to funds and time available.
Exactly the same conundrum here.
I (kind of) like the the idea of building one up, ticks the father & son time box, but it is time consuming and can work out pretty expensive unless you take your time and pick up bargains (and you don't really let them decide what parts you put on) along the way.
I saw a father/child build at an event which was a Chinese carbon frame with lots of bling (light race) parts, but it was still cheap as it was 2nd hand, now obsolete 26" bits 😉
It worked out really well for them - cheap, light and strong. They might have even posted something on STW so worth searching as a few people have shared their builds I believe.
[b]One that fits and they want to ride.[/b]
We have had lots of little (12-14" framed) 26" HT over the years. None has cost more than £300, all have been pretty good (Fox Forked, Deore/X9, hope or Mavic wheel sets, all late 26-28lb weight range.
I wouldn't go silly - they will outgrow it, throw it in the bushes and fankly they are limiting factor, not the bike. I was watching a child on a waaaay too long a bike that they couldn't change gear on easily or feel confident on this week, yet dad was eulogising how latest carbon, XTR and Hope blinged it was...the riders pal was lapping her at great speed on a 1990's Giant with RST's and X-ray's on 8)
I just sold this for £180
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2830/9675114580_ca2ad16fba_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2830/9675114580_ca2ad16fba_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/fJXuum ]2006 Specialized Hardrock Sport[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr
And this for £200 (Prince Albert mk2 with SLX and Rev's)
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And bought one of these in minted condition for £350
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And this for £600 (tubeless now inflated...) which eldest-OAB raced yesterday against carbon XC bling and got a second place...
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Thanks Matt. That's great advice. I'll keep looking. His birthday is August and he's on a growth spurt at the moment. Thanks again.
If you are interested I have a Giant STP frame in the shed. Needs new mech hanger and a dodgy BB thread so we used clamping BB. Free to a good home.
That's really kind of you Matt. I don't have the time to build a bike so I'm looking to buy something ready to ride. Thanks anyway.
