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Hello all - eldest daughter is ready for the next size of bike (20" wheels) and other than purple or pink has limited requirements! We're Sheffield based so the riding from the door isn't always flat, so looking to avoid anything too heavy!
From what I've seen, the "premium" kids brands are all round 8 or 9kgs which is about half of some of the cheaper ones. Had my eye on a Forme one, but they seem to have gone into administration.
Any thoughts from other parents welcome - good / bad / second hand options!
Cheers,
Chris
You'll get lots of recommendations for Vitus I reckon, they're available again through Evans after the collapse of CRC.
My daughter's had 14, 16, 20+ and now on 24+. They're great bikes.
https://www.evanscycles.com/brand/vitus/kids-20-938155#colcode=93815508
We have a Vitus 20, picked up for a bargain in the CRC/Wiggle apocalypse that is wicked.
Before that we had a Wild Bikes 16" which was also awesome, if I hadn't seen the Vitus we probably would have just got the 20" Wild. Weighs 7.6 kg apparently, which seems very light (but the 16" was pretty light, too).
Thanks both - will check out Vitus - always good to have recommendations!
My eldest is 8 and is on an Orbea MX. He's riding the same Surrey Hills stuff as his mate on a 24" Early Rider, though not quite as fast so it's pretty capable. He flies up the climbs on it!
Orbea is 9.44kg, though have replaced the stock groupset with some old XT kit I had kicking about so it's maybe slightly lighter than stock.
Have got a 24" Vitus for the next bike up (Christmas) and I'm quite impressed with it. Wheels (schrader valves) seem a little heavy though and I'll probably swap the 10 speed over to it for the wider range and weight saving over the stock 8 speed.
Just Ordered my Daughter a Bergamont Bergamonster 20+ for the same money as a Vitus. Its Basically a Scott bike but cheaper.
In the house we have
Early rider seeker 14 (youngest is on it)
Early rider seeker 16 (youngest just about fits it in back garden balance bike duties, maybe by Christmas it'll have pedals)
Vitus 20+ (eldest has it) good but weighty
Early rider seeker 24 (bought 2nd hand and being over hauled for when eldest grows into it,)
My thoughts, all are really good but the early riders are a bit lighter, eldest isn't put off by the weight of the Vitus. The seeker 24 feels lighter than the Vitus 20+ (I've not checked the weights)
I got the 16 and 24 early riders used.
The Vitus was £250 at CRC, the used seeker 24 was £320 (+£80 in New wheel and freehub bearings, headset bearings, bottom bracket and grips)
I have been very impressed with the Merida Matts j20+. in my opinion a better option than the equivalent early rider. Daughter has ridden both and finds herself in a better riding position on the Merida .. especially for a few blue runs.
My 6 year olds both have a Vitus 20+ but I’d get them Early Rider Hellions 20s if I had the cash. They’re lovely, have good geo and lighter than the Vitus even though they have a suspension fork. The Vitus 20+ has really good geo as well.
I've been pleased with the prevelo zulu 3 I got my son just to throw another option into the mix.
Thanks again for all the tips - have ordered a Wild 20 which looks to be nice and light, as well as hitting the colour requests! Currently on offer at Go Outdoors and other places by the looks of it.
For just riding around it's hard to beat a used Islabike beinn20, prices are now fairly sane and everything is serviceable. For 20" we've got a mixture of islabikes, heavily modified Frome sterndale, Vitus+ (gearing too high and not enough range) and eldest has moved to a cub-scout 24, lauth24 and a cult juvenile bmx. So many options now, and I'd go used.