[Closed] Buying a bike for my son dilemma

Wiggins chartres 26"?

However, as you say there is little choice in decent stuff, which means if you choose well and maybe pay a bit more, you will have a good chance of selling it off at a good price second hand later on.

As you've discovered, the really posh XS / XXS 26" frames all get hoovered up pretty quickly and are never in abundant supply (not that they were ever that common in the first place). What you're doing is a good plan though. My boy was 8.5yo when I moved him from 24" onto a custom build 26" bike and he just loves riding it. I used a 27.5" XS frame, with 26" wheels and a few geometry tweeks here and there and this worked perfectly for him.

My MiL has a lovely XS Intense Carbine, which we're certainly got our eye on, but the reality is that he'd have grown out of it before I get my mitts on it!

Just bought our son a Wiggins Chartres 26" - I'm really impressed with it to be honest. Paid £235ish from memory (Halfords seem to have offers every few weeks and 10% BC discount). Reasonably light and it is a good looking bike. 3 x 9 so not particularly 'on trend' though...

What is the new bike for ?

Shove a wanted ad on the classifieds here. I did and I got a 13" Specialized Myka for my 10 year old daughter last year off the classifieds. She loves it. I paid a bit more than your budget (300 quid, from memory), but it's got a pretty decent spec (Shimano SLX 1 x 10, Mavic wheels, etc so ideal if you're thinking of a frame swap further down the line)

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Its now accessorised with a bit more pink stuff, as is her want 🙂

A wanted ad is the way to go. Loads of XS frames knocking about.

I think you can get Cube XS frames for buttons (well, not much anyhow) from some of the german suppliers, if you've got some 26 wheels and bits and bobs knocking about.

The small Boardman frame I got off here for my lad was ideal - cheap and light. There's usually a few of them on ebay.

I always thought dilemma was more of a girls' name.

If you want a project, bike-discount.de are always selling XS Cube hardtail frames for not a huge amount of money.

Thanks for all the advice, that Wiggins bike looks alright for the money. Probably give it another week or two with the wanted ad then let him have a look in Halfrauds

My lad’s XS cube came from bikediscount.de, 85€, built into a lovely light bike with bits off classified ads on here.

Thread on this recently.

A pal got a £375 giant in sale for £300

Thanks for all the advice, that Wiggins bike looks alright for the money. Probably give it another week or two with the wanted ad then let him have a look in Halfrauds

We still don't know the purpose of the bike... (other than replacing a MX 24)

Availability might be a problem but unless you know what you're looking for you will be in a catch-22 as you go into the way more choice territory of small adult bikes.  Does he like jumping, trail riding, XC type or rougher, DH and uplift days etc. etc. or is it something to ride on fire roads or to/from school etc.

The Orbeas have pretty nice trail Geo... disk brake mounts etc. (on all the frames)... so it would be easy to go to something less capable for ST just bigger.

If you have spare parts yourself (or off the Orbea) might make a difference...

I wouldn't specifically be looking for a 26" frame... (I own a 26 myself) but a 27.5 XS is the same size bike as a 26XS... its just got bigger wheels.. I'm not saying don't buy the right one, just that if you set what the bike is for you will search more targeted.

I just got a new (used) frame for £240... and I need a £40 airshaft to convert some forks that I can make spare but otherwise I've got a new bike for £240.+ £40 and a tenners worth of cables, olives etc... (I had a spare shock but that only cost me £100 to become spare as the one I replaced it with only cost £100)  An added bonus was that the frame was professionally resprayed and invisiframed after...

I know not everyone has a spare set of forks, spare shock and spare wheels ... just sat about...  but the classifieds etc. or put the word out (lots of us do have stuff gathering dust we might not have bothered trying to sell)

I set a what I was looking for (which for me was 160mm travel, preferably takes a 216 shock and non boost 27.5.)

Yeah it's now 10sp... no dropper but this stuff exists if you aren't in a must have it tomorrow rush.

I'm sure you'll sell the MX24 pretty easily.

My lad’s XS cube came from <span class="skimlinks-unlinked">bikediscount.de</span>, 85€, built into a lovely light bike with bits off classified ads on here.

Perfect example.... 😀

We had an XS Giant Talon 1W. Sold it on to a lovely lady at work for £450. XS frames are pretty rare actually. You’ll need more than £200, but you will get it back in time. An XS well-fitting bike is great. Don’t be tempted by bigger. As mentioned £300 should get you something. And come sell time, your next but one bike might be a 29er, so don’t count on parts shifting!

Yeah 27.5 is an option, at the moment it's mainly fireroad/school commute type stuff but I'd like something that he could potentially spin over South Head on.

Biggest problem is I've got to sort a bike out for his younger brother as well which is why funds are short and I don't want either to be without for long while the weather is good.

Thanks for all the advice everyone!

You got a reply on your wanted ad!