[Closed] Do I go for another Islabike?

We have had 5 of them and never any problems. Can't see how headset and hubs rust and seize without regular drenching and lack of cleaning. Shame for the person who just paid full RRP for a bike with knackered headset and hubs though 😯

I got my son a hoy, great bike.. But wasn't impressed with the cheap cup n cone hubs..but then it only takes 5 mins to clean and decrease..
I've fitted a rear brake and now some feet pegs..
If I had looked more I think I might have got a commenced balance bike. It now comes with a rear disc mount, giving you the option to fit a brake.. Although some may see that as a hazard.
Plus it has foot rests..
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Or al a carte
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The next bike in the range seems a bit naff in comparison, the Ramones 14
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The Ramones 16 for 216 Euros looks OK
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I like the way that the commencel range uses what appear to be MTB type parts, so upgrading or replacing should be easier..

I've had no problesm with them customer service wise. Needed a new grip for a Rothan which was only a few quid. Got straight through on the phone. Headset going rusty is odd as well, the OH regularly leaves his Rothan outside in the pouring rain 😡 and it's still fine. I do, however, have a replacement headset that Isla sent out FOC as minimatt managed to crack the bottom cup (steering limiter indent thing) when he had a bit of an off.

I sorted the headset and wheels before I advertised it. It really hadn't had a drenching. When I opened the headset and hubs up there is no weather seals so its inevitable really. Rrp has gone up £50 since we bought it and we based our price on the others for sale. Cheeky yes but selling within 10 minutes and the other interest tells me it was the right price.

We like the commencal ramones 20 but the resale is not good. I know they are cheap to buy but will prob cost more long term.

Upgraded my nephew at Christmas, looked at Isla, but we've for a Genesis in the end, better spec for the price and similar weight. It's a great bike. No idea on resale, but not really a priority for me, it'll go through a couple of other kids before we're done with it, so will be getting on for 10 years of abuse first.

I tried to get that yellow commencal balance bike but couldn't for love nor money. I was going to put a purple hope e4 brake on it.
It might of just been released or due to be released but I didn't end up getting it.
Might look again for my son when he is old enough.

Frog bikes for my kids, they are light and decent price. Not bothered about resale as they are scratched and chucked around anyway so don't really want to think what I will get on eBay because my kid just crashed it.

We've got an islabikes cnoc 14, bought new in april 2014, still looks virtually brand new now, not had any issues with ours. I think when I come to sell it (probably a couple of years away I reckon) if it goes for a good price I'd get another islabike.

Resale wasn't a factor when we bought it and wasn't considered when she was using it. I bought it expecting her to get a couple of years out of it but how fast she has grown means it has only lasted 7 months. If it had been scratched and dented and she had enjoyed it then I would of been happy with it having no resale value.
The saddle goes up high enough but it seems to short and cramped. A friend is having the same problem and his lad was only fitted for his in march.

I had this big deliberation a while ago, went for the Frog. Never looked back. So impressed with it.

I'm an Islabike fan, and have to admit that the hub bearings are a bit rubbish (though only an issue on the one we got s/h from my sister and had been ridden in the mud a lot - the other 3 we've had have been fine - two sold on in perfect working condition just a bit scratched). Are any of the other options at similar prices really any better though?

[quote=andysredmini ]Resale wasn't a factor when we bought it and wasn't considered when she was using it. I bought it expecting her to get a couple of years out of it but how fast she has grown means it has only lasted 7 months.

So she'd have grown out of anything in a similar period, and the resale value makes the Isla a lot better value! Ours have made decent money s/h despite lots of use and scratches. But wow, how tall is your 4yo daughter and how fast is she growing? Our 6yo still fits well on a 16 and he's not all that small - oldest was on that until 6.5 and he's tall for his age.

Halfords Apollo Tokko & Fade make decent budget Isla Beinn 20" & 24" alternatives. Only slightly heavier, & once set up ok they actually work well.

You must have a different definition of "slightly" to me. Claimed weight of the Tokko is 16kg, Fade 14kg. Weight of a Beinn 24 is 8.82kg.

Without aiming to sidetrack this thread, I'm curious as to what size bikes certain ages are riding..
My 3.5year old is still on his 2nd 12" balance bike, but its really time to give him some pedals.
He can pedal everything else that's on 3 or 4 wheels...
He's riden the blue at swinley all the way to the start of the red on his balance bike..
Do I go 14" or 16"? 14" seems to be a size that won't last long..obviously depends on the child's height..but be good to see what other people have got there kids of similar age..

Andy, I assume the cnoc 16 is a 16"? How does that size up for your 4 year old?

Whatever's the biggest he'll fit on at the point you're buying. Isla have a size chart which is accurate, and they also give good advice on the phone. Other similar bikes you can try out in a shop (or as pointed out on another thread, ask somebody with an Isla at a trail centre to have a go - I'd happily lend mine out if asked).

Mine started on the 14 at 3, then moved onto a 16 at about 4.5, but as your kids will be different sizes to mine that's not the most helpful info. If necessary get a s/h 14 if it's what you need now and won't get much use - or get an Isla, look after it and wait for their next price rise before selling for the same price you bought it for 😉

My daughter is very tall for her age and went from a balance bike to a 12" specialised hotrock a couple of months before she turned 3 then to the 16" isla at 4. When she was fitted for the isla she was right at the bottom of the sizes and now 7 months later its far too small. Its not the height so much its the length. it seems really short.

My son has been on a cnoc 14 since he was 3, he's now 4 and a bit and is showing no sign of outgrowing it. Unless he has some sort of sudden growth spurt I reckon it'll last a year or two more.

Kids grow and sometimes grow REALLY fast.
Eldest went through 4 bikes last year from balance to 20".
Not as bad as it sounds as the 14" was already around then I needed it for the younger one for towing then riding then he moved to the 16" which was better for him.

Goldigger My 4 YO was riding the 16" from 3 1/2 BTW. He can just ride a 20" now but only just. If I were you I'd get the 16" as it's a better bike and looked easier to handle.

Both of my kids were on a conc14 from 3 years old. Once they out grew it they went straight onto a Benin 20, I can't remember the age they switched, but probably before 5 years old. My youngest has now almost out grown the Benin, and I think she will be on a 24" wheeled bike in a few months, she will be almost 7 then. I have found the quality of the Islabikes to be pretty good, no issues with rust or bearing seizing, and the bikes have seen lots of use in all weathers.

I had decided earlier to go for the commencal ramones 20. She loved the colour and she doesn't need gears yet. But then I added one to my basket and the shipping took the price from £197 to £250. This makes it too close to the price of the isla so we are going to get the beinn 20 large.
Ill just stick the isla in one gear for now until she understands how to use them.

ah, given my comment above I should point out that the only reason for the move from 14 to 16 was because we acquired a 16 cheaply, not because the 14 had been outgrown.

[quote=andysredmini ]Ill just stick the isla in one gear for now until she understands how to use them.

No need for you to do anything IME - mine just left the gears alone after the first quick play and having selected the one which was the "same" as on the 16. TBH 2 years later I think he still just rides in one gear most of the time.

I've been Islabikes all the way through so far, and very happy with them. However, you do need to keep an eye on the lower headset bearing as it's a loose ball design and not well sealed. I've just changed my Beinn 24 headset to a proper sealed cartridge one.

However, for my daughter's new bike I went Cube, as I wanted sus forks and discs for some Alpine gnarr.

Sorry I meant I would pick a gear similar to her current one and just leave it in that one. I had to pick up some stuff from halfords and whilst there I showed her grip shift (sram) on a halfords piece of junk and she wasn't strong enough to turn it so I guess it will be a while yet.

I'm still annoyed at commencal wanting £53 for postage. Are they mainly direct sales only now? other places stock them in the uk but are around £350.

[quote=reggiegasket ]However, for my daughter's new bike I went Cube, as I wanted sus forks and discs for some Alpine gnarr.

As one of the biggest Isla fanbois on here, I think I should point out that I don't think I'll be buying another - oldest now fits on a 26 (26 Isla at least) and despite comments above about sus forks on 20s I'll probably be following usual advice on here and building him up something with a boingy fork from decent s/h bits next. Is hopefully a good time to be buying s/h 26" stuff.

my kids mastered the gripshifts pretty quick, only issue, which is common to them, is getting into lowest gear, which is always stiffer and needs a bit more technique. We have had 16, 20, 24 and youngest is now on a 26. Have always had great service from IslaBikes and the resale is such that you pretty much get your money back when they have outgrown a particular bike size.

I think I should point out that I don't think I'll be buying another - oldest now fits on a 26 (26 Isla at least) and despite comments above about sus forks on 20s I'll probably be following usual advice on here and building him up something with a boingy fork from decent s/h bits next. Is hopefully a good time to be buying s/h 26" stuff.

I dithered about that for eldest, who is 12, however ended up getting him a Cube Acid 27.5 at Christmas time, with a decent club discount at LBS. Deore groupset and Manitou air fork, not too heavy..