[Closed] Reccomend me a Trail/Enduro bike.

The one he wants

Also, nothing there is a trail bike. What does he actually want?

He wants a bike to jump the crap out of in the woods, race at Enduro and take to Afan, Cwmcarn, FoD, Offpiste at FoD.

As to the 'what he wants'.. That's a very short list and is the Enduro Elite above.... because he had the Sworks and the Stumpy before that and it's a safe and happy place for him. It's where he feels good really.

But... as for more than that.. well that's a tough one. He rode his mates Remedy the other day and wasn't keen... he rode his other mates Stumpjumper and liked it (even though small), but he's inexperienced compared to many on here. He's not a studier of magazines, he does read up on bikes, just rides them.

They're 'trail' in his context, he is different in his 'trails' compared to many on here, as he wants it to pedal the 4 miles to the woods, then wants to launch 15-20' gaps on it... Or 6' or bigger vertical drops. So they may not be trails to you, but they're what he interprets trails as being.

Would a Bird Aeris fit the bill? They have more modern geometry and can be made longer travel if necessary with a new link, could be a good option to grow into

The Birds are surprisingly expensive. But that's because they're generally newer than say a 17.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284727217893?hash=item424b108ee5:g:AXwAAOSwJwZiP4wX

I don't know much about say this above, but yeah, many parts of that ticks the boxes.
Thanks fella.

Have a look on the bird owners Facebook page if you can. Eg Med long aeris 145 for £1300.
So newer geometry and cheaper. Probably a bit big right now but c5'8 and he will fit it.

Are you willing to build something up? Only looking at full builds will limit your choice. There's an Aeris frame in the classifieds at the moment

He liked the Enduro and what he could do with it. My money would be on the next size up and best spec / condition for your affordability in his wheel size

It's the safer bet

https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/3304521/

Some nice patrols on pinkbike for reasonable money.

If he likes the Stumpie then that’s the safe bet / but those x frame spec enduros weren’t the best things ever.

That Saracen will take a lot of abuse but it’s getting quite close to the GT. I reckon 150-160 travel 650b (sounds like 29er is a battle too far) sounds about right.

The Airdrop Edit could be worth a look. I wouldn’t buy a Mark 1 Aeris now - they’re getting on a bit. Would want an Aeris 145 / 145 LT. Maybe a Mega 275 from a few years ago etc.

I’d echo Tracey’s comment and get him a larger Enduro.
Only trouble then is getting the same spec he has previously, you don’t want to pay out for one with Ohlins if he can’t make them feel like his old RS forks.

Once he’s a bit older and he understand kinematics and feel a bit more he can move o to something more modern if needed

It’s the safer bet

Would also echo this. You’ve now pissed around getting 2 bikes for him, give yourself the easy option

Thanks all.

That leaves this very squarely in the running
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353883778397?hash=item52651ded5d:g:9cUAAOSwx75h9ufa&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5337821651&toolid=10001&customid=91808X1545679X2ca0e5f2ada27ae16fbb005684f6eb14

I've seen and ridden the actual bike as I was debating it for myself, but decided on the 29er for me. It was spot on and is local too. He'll take £1700 for it which suits me.

I think we're into a winner.

Thanks again.

Forgot to say, when he’s chosen a DH bike, the real answer is actually a burly hardtail. Perfect for pretty much everything you mention, better for his skills and he’d just have to choose if he wants to race on it or not 😉

What about a Capra?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/324838026253?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=5Uw_SQ6VTPq&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=QISASXWmQLW&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

AYe, i'm quite partial to a Capra as well for sure...

Abigale had the same Elite as your link in the 29er. Sold it to her boyfriend a couple of years ago. See it on a regular basis and it's still going strong.

Just buy him the Spech.
It's what he wants.

Until it arrives.😛

Having had a number of flavours of Spesh I do find they just seem to 'fit' me better than quite a few other brands I've tried. So if he loved his Enduro that might seem the best bet. Having said that, I've got a Vitus Sommet and can also heartily recommend that.

I think there's a danger of getting a bike he doesn't want/like, which is slightly iffy.
Kids (and lets face it, most of us) are drawn towards things they like and want to use.

90% of the bikes suggested will fit the bill, so it's worth at least trying to get what he wants, or at the very least a 'What do you think of that?' question on everything else. That way you'll see how he really feels by the reaction to anything outside of the Specialized.

A bike he doesn't really love is a bike he won't really want to ride.

Abigale had the same Elite as your link in the 29er

We like that one you linked above too, with Ohlins front and rear and Hope brakes. The only question on that (apart from distance for collecting) is whether we'd be better sticking with the Rockshox on the blue one over the full Ohlins in terms of maint and setup. I get the impression the Ohlins are a bit more needy in terms of servicing?

Also look for a HT that he can just rag when he fancies.

My kids all had jump bikes of various builds over the years, simple HT with 100mm forks. The eldest liked SS while the other two had 1x.

Needed to be cheap enough too, as a couple were stolen over the years - but better they were stolen than their 'expensive' bikes.

AYe, i’m quite partial to a Capra as well for sure…

It’s not about what you’re partial to.
If you look at lots of pro race bikes, a lot of them have what might not be described as cutting edge kit, because they know what they like and like what they know. If your lad is happy on an Enduro, keep getting Enduro’s until he can identify something he wants to change.

That said, going 29er will have as big an effect as anything, if he doesn’t get on with that, that’s the time to start looking elsewhere. If you do though, I think a good point was raised in your other thread, whatever gets picked, he needs to put his head down and ride it, and adapt to it, rather than focus on it not being his old enduro.

The one we sold her boyfriend has still got the Rockshox it came with with an upgraded spring in the forks. Both were regularly serviced.
She also had the S Works which she competed on. The Ohlins felt better but needed more regular servicing which was usually done by Andreani at the races or by Plush.
I would be wanting to get the blue one a bit cheaper than advertised. Sold Abigales for £1600 but it had X01 Eagle and Saint brakes.
You could use the pink ones price and specto get the blue ones price down

It might be a good idea for him to have the final choice

get the impression the Ohlins are a bit more needy in terms of servicing?

Not at all, it’s no more or less than other brands.

I’d actually argue Ohlins is better than most, because they don’t fill the internals with plastic crap.

However, Ohlins of that era was questionable at best, so I’d be avoiding that full stop. Well, I’d be avoiding that vintage of Specialized too, to be fair.

One thing I would be doing, whatever you buy is be running the same kit in terms of touch points so he has familiarity between the bikes. Run the same brakes, same bars for sweep/rise, grips, pedals etc.

I would be wanting to get the blue one a bit cheaper than advertised.

It might be a good idea for him to have the final choice

THe blue one he won't go below £1700. I did mention that if we bought outside of Ebay that £1600 still leaves him up.. but £1700 seems to be his bottom line on it.

https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/3238427/
This one is the slightly later model, it seems to have a slightly different linkage that's the only real difference... He's happy at £1750.

Both of the above are local to me, well, within 40 mins drive. Which of course appeals.

This one is the Hope/Ohlins one you linked to.
https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/3304521 /'ve not actually discussed the price with him yet, but he's a decent 3+ hours drive each way... With the amount of driving i've done lately, i've kinda peaked lol... i know that sounds a bit daft, but i'm just a bit tired of it all.

Giving him the final choice..... TBH he'd take either... if he was pushed, he prefers the looks of the blue one. But i don't think he'd complain about either blue or the black/pink and essentially the decision is mostly only a colour and suspension choice.

However, Ohlins of that era was questionable at best, so I’d be avoiding that full stop. Well, I’d be avoiding that vintage of Specialized too, to be fair.

I know people frown upon them for various reasons, but apart from Traceys one having a shock fail (which funnily was an older Ohlins), the Specialized have been brilliant for him. Both the Sworks and the earlier model Stumpy... He loved both and both worked brilliantly.

Come on, what was wrong with the Bronson to cause buyers remorse?  May help STW pinpoint what to look for in a new bike.

Good of the seller to take it back unless you found a crack.

i’m just a bit tired of it all

Us too.

Come on, what was wrong with the Bronson to cause buyers remorse?

Within about 10 mins of riding it it had a complete shock failure. No jumps, drops etc were involved, he'd only just got to the woods and it completely died on him. We could put 200+ psi in the shock and push it down effortlessly by hand, it then returned slowly.

The buyer then gave us the option of repair/replace/refund. I took this as a sign of fate in a way as i could honestly tell the lad wasn't 100% with the bike, maybe not even 90, 80 or indeed 70 and accepted the offer of the refund. So in some ways yes, there was a little buyers remorse in there, but i blame the daft lad for that more than myself.
At the time of purchase i took him to one side and tried to explain he shouldn't feel pressured into buying it just because the bloke had driven 25 mins to let us try the bike... but apparently he didn't listen to that and ended up saying yes to the bike even though he wasn't sure, purely because "he was really nice and very kind to bring it over and let us try it"

The seller was really good about it all and took it back without too much discussion whereas he could have just said "nah mate, used bike, jog on" and i'd have had to accept that.

When you've got kids you kinda know when they think something is brilliant and i just wasn't thinking he was 'there' with that.

But i do think/hope, 'there' would be an easy thing to get to with the slightly bigger version of the Sworks.

Us too.

Don't open the thread, heck it's not hard to see what the question was going to be in here, it's not like i disguised the thread.

Plenty of people seem to be enjoying the lads racing, riding and bike stuff... If you're not... then it's a simple case of not opening the thread.

If it was me and he wanted an Enduro I would chose the one I linked to and travel the 3 hours. Its half term and the location is not far from Gisburn. Make a day of it and ride the trails.

I drove up to the Nevis Range recently, 750 mile round trip, to but a 2022 S Works Turbo Levo. The price was too good to miss and I knew the seller. Made a long weekend of it and rode some new stuff.

Where there's a will there's a way

I hear ya.... I do... i've got tomorrow off and our other plans for coaching had to be cancelled by the coach, so it's not like we have any plans. 3hr 49 according to Google maps... oooft.

This localish one does look decent though
https://www.pinkbike.com/video/547408/

Quite like this which is 12sp and internal routing, later year than the others, but obviously not carbon.... however in some ways, i'm not sure that's a bad thing 😀

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224884903693?hash=item345c2f4f0d:g:zSkAAOSwQj1iNb6H

Thanks for the response Weeksy, seems like a fair seller and lesson learnt.

Quite like this which is 12sp and internal routing,

Absolutely not a selling point. Especially for an amateur mechanic.

Absolutely not a selling point. Especially for an amateur mechanic.

BUt not a massive downside either... it's fairly irrelevant either way overall.. just a bit tidier. Was mostly just highlighting the differnece as that's the later model, but seems to be the same geometry as the black/pink 18.

goldilocks and the 3 bikes - hopefully the next one is just right

The carbon ones you linked to have internal routing and a SWAT box. When you look in the SWAT box you can see the moulded in guides running down both sides.

You can see the different specs original specs here not allowing for upgrades, big difference in overall spec on the comp v the elite

https://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/product/13773/2019-enduro-comp-27-5/

https://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/product/11715/2018-enduro-elite-650b/

https://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/product/6704/2017-enduro-elite-carbon-650b/

thank you 🙂

TBH i'm not sure spec plays as much of a factor as it could... in some ways, something like this, saving me £600-800 makes an appealing choice, after all he got his expensive bike in the DH GT

It still ticks the geometry, the condition and the overall sizing/style, but gives me a bit more cash back in the bank.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/125252091516
[img] [/img]

Why not sell the DH bike and get a top end do it all rig, like a newer Enduro or Giga?

I'd get that one, a newer bike with lower end kit is better than an older higher end one IMO.

With regards to trying lots of bikes out, it's always worth remembering that small setup changes can make a big difference. I've got a friend whose bike always feels horrible when I ride it purely because he rolls his bars too far forward for my liking even though I know it's otherwise a great bike.

Personally, I'd go look at the Elite in Reading @£1,750. It's not hugely out of your way, you can see the condition and try it first hand. If it's not for you, nothing lost and you can then consider the one in Lancashire, but factor in the fuel cost of that return journey.

Size large at 5’5”? Even if the reach is ok, the seatube might be an issue with a decent length dropper?

Also, though it was an Enduro bike he wanted rather than a trail bike like that? Stumpy EVO as a minimum?

Isn’t that stump jumper outside of the brief you set - shorter travel / not as burly? I can’t see what fork it is but it has bulges one the lower legs that suggest it’s a 32mm stanchion fork to me.

It feels like you’re just bouncing round eBay honking about whatever is on there rather than being targeted at the type of bike you want. Surely that stumpie is going to have more conservative geometry than the enduros - given they’re all round the 2018/2019 vintage?

Sorry to be late to the party, but how old is he? Old enough to do the research and make a choice himself? Otherwise you're just pitching bikes at him.

150mm will be fine for him... he won't want to go lower than that... but when he's got his own job he can 100% make all his own decisions and his own mistakes.

The green Stump has REBA forks according to spec list.

Selling the DH bike simply isn't happening, he's got tough DH races planned and loves it.

As i say, while he may say "i'd like 160mm" that's not set in stone, but i get the impression he thinks 180 is a bit excessive. After all, this is not a race bike, so times don't matter, it's not a bike that's going to hit blacks at BPW as he'll use the DH bike for that... a large chunk of the time it's simply for messing about locally, although on decent trails and with decent jumps.

The brief is still fairly targetted, mostly to Specialized and 150-170mm of travel... I'm not sure i could target it much tighter other than a specific model.

Sorry to be late to the party, but how old is he? Old enough to do the research and make a choice himself? Otherwise you’re just pitching bikes at him

He's coming up to 14... but weirdly despite loving riding, he's not massively into bikes... I don't think he'd do a great job of finding something.

All of the options/shortlist are also going to him for evaluation.

That reba at 150mm travel will be quite twangy - I wouldn’t want to be sending that down steep / rough tech or doing huge jumps on it. I reckon he’d break more stuff on that bike than the 2 enduros you’re looking at.

There are a few Specialized status’ on eBay - not really looked at sizes or if they’re 140/160mm but they might be worth a look. Come with a Fox 36 on the front and they’re mullet so still have a small back wheel. Very modern geometry too.

I had a reba at 120mm and I thought that was a bit twangy. I didn't know rebas went to 150mm. Revelations did though. Maybe a swap to a pike on the stumpie would be good.

That green stumpy. 67 H/A and an XC fork in long travel flavour.  I’d give it a miss for what riding is planned for the new bike.

OK, so we're scrapping the green one off the shortlist..

Joebristol like this Status 160 (edit, he won't drop below £2100 for that, which is more than i'm prepared to throw in)
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265624163432?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20211130125621%26meid%3D6df84598e2ae495889d8754df94e7fdd%26pid%3D101465%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D265624163432%26itm%3D265624163432%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D3817808%26brand%3DSpecialized&_trksid=p3817808.c101465.m3507

I personally like the idea of trying to talk him into 29er
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/374008799754

My girl's (similar age, lower weight) got a 2018 Stumpy with a Yari, that thing doesn't twang!
I actually came here to recommend a Status either in 140 or 160 flavour, but they may be too recent to find any second hand at a realistic price. And then there's the mullet although as a plus that may be the gateway to 29er land.

I rekon with a bit of persuasion i can make him at least try a 29er... Heck, i may make him ride mine tomorrow at FoD, but as i'm sure you'll have all established, patience isn't my strong point and i'd like to get a bike much sooner rather than later...

Pass on the stumpy, ford mondeo of bikes, doesn't really shine at anything.

The ali enduro would be my choice, its going to take the knocks and be easy to work on.

I'd avoid the older ohlins stuff, apart from the TTX22 Coil shock and coil fork, they were ace. The air stuff was guff, pain to setup and seemed quite needy on the servicing front. STX air shocks are unreliable, gave up sending mine back for the 4th repair and spesh gave me a TTX coil.

Heck, i may make him ride mine tomorrow at FoD, but as i’m sure you’ll have all established, patience isn’t my strong point and i’d like to get a bike much sooner rather than later…

Don't get me wrong, I applauded your dad'itude in the racing thread, but this one seems far more about you than the boy tbh 😉

Better to wait a few weeks I reckon and get something that’s going to stick. He’s already said he didn’t like the t130 and the Bronson and you don’t want to have to do another bike swap.

The status seems ideal tbh - it’s a shame they haven’t dropped just a few hundred more to put them at the cost that Bronson was.

You already know my opinion on the Enduro 29er so I'm just going to throw this into the mix for comparison

https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/3295011/

but this one seems far more about you than the boy tbh

HE just wants bike..... Simple as that really. He cares, but doesn't too... He's not as i say really 'into' bikes in the "ooooooh i want a ..... " so he just wants something he likes really. But as to what that is, he doesn't know.

Me, i have an interest in bikes as well as biking, so i'm trying to use both my knowledge and the forum knowledge to make an informed decision.

I don't actually care what we get, i'd like more Mondeo than Maserati as i'd like part availability and ease of upkeep to be as simple as possible, hence more things like the Specialized being on the list than other 'niche' bikes which are not.

But going back to the Capra - loved mine. I came from an older gen S-Works Enduro (that ended it's life donating it's parts to a PP Shan) to the Capra and now back to a Kenevo - basically an electric Enduro.

So, I'm used to Enduro's and felt at home on the Capra - they aren't massively long though

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/7755/26919345483_52d28221aa_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/7755/26919345483_52d28221aa_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://www.flickr.com/gp/85252658@N05/238MU6 ]2016-06-07_08-47-57[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/85252658@N05/ ]davetheblade[/url], on Flickr

*edit - my house is somewhere in the distance

That green stumpy. 67 H/A and an XC fork in long travel flavour. I’d give it a miss for what riding is planned for the new bike.

WEll, with that one for say £1150 i could easily flog the REBA for say £125 and then put on a set of Yari/36s/whatever for £350 and i'd still only be at £1300-1400 but have dent forks on it.

The answer is absolutely not a bike with a Reba. It’s a lightweight XC fork, some of which have jacked up travel. It’s not a 14 year olds play fork for dirt jumps etc

The Stumpy is far too close to the T130 to make sense to me. What makes the Stumpy different other than 20mm travel, and likely being too big?

What if he doesn't like whatever you get next?

Will you just keep buying and selling bikes until you find one he likes?

It seems to me that unless you buy an enduro there is a high chance he won't like whatever you buy, so just buy an enduro?

I reckon even if you buy an enduro, there's a reasonable chance he won't like it. Even bikes with the same frame but different components can feel hugely different from one another.

To stand a chance at getting a bike he likes, you need to get more/better feedback on what he doesn't like,otherwise you're just throwing sh!t at the wall and seeing what sticks.

Or just buy him something decent you know will do the job and tell him that that's it for the next 2 years, like it or lump it.

I think by even mentioning travel you’re looking at it from the wrong viewpoint. You need to look at a style of bike.

He got on with the Enduro, I don’t know why you sold it (was it to fund the DH bike) but just buy him another one. Take your opinion out of it, if I’m honest your style of bike (for wont of a better word) from your Bird thread shows you to like shorter, more traditional bikes, much like the X frame Enduro’s and if he’s going balls out he needs a bike for him not you.

Just find an enduro in a size that suits, I couldn’t advise you strongly enough to stay away from the 29ers because I had one and whilst it was a bike I had desires for a long time I thought it was the most upright ungainly piece of shit I’d ever ridden. But clearly some people like them.

Which takes us back to the bike he used to have, just get him another one until he understands more about geometry and set up to make decisions for himself.
Or a hardtail, hardtails are great for smashing trails and hitting jumps - I’d still have one but I’m nearly 40 and my back is approximately 78 so I can’t enjoy them like I used to.

Buy him an Enduro.
Ps, might be lots of spelling mistakes up there, but buy him an enduro.

What if he doesn’t like whatever you get next?

Adoption ?

Will you just keep buying and selling bikes until you find one he likes?

Errrrm.... probably 🙂

It seems to me that unless you buy an enduro there is a high chance he won’t like whatever you buy, so just buy an enduro?

It's certainly on the option list... i can't think why he wouldn't like it though.

To stand a chance at getting a bike he likes, you need to get more/better feedback on what he doesn’t like

That's easier said than done though isn't as as how/what/where do we do that... without a bike to try, we can't really try and find out.

I'm not trying to be difficult here..honestly. I'm just bouncing thoughts, ideas and getting ideas from you lot.

Another vote for a Status. Perfect bike for kids to have FUN.

That green stumpy. 67 H/A and an XC fork in long travel flavour. I’d give it a miss for what riding is planned for the new bike.

WEll, with that one for say £1150 i could easily flog the REBA for say £125 and then put on a set of Yari/36s/whatever for £350 and i’d still only be at £1300-1400 but have dent forks on it.

A new fork won’t replace the dated trail bike geometry though. 67 HA is XC these days.

I’m not trying to be difficult here..honestly. I’m just bouncing thoughts, ideas and getting ideas from you lot.

Fair enough ,I know getting my boy to articulate something more than a grunt is difficult.

Seems odd though, I'm sure in one of your earlier posts you said he didn't seem to care what he rides,how it's setup etc, he just gets on a rides the wheels off it, but now he being all princess and the pea about it.

Seems odd though, I’m sure in one of your earlier posts you said he didn’t seem to care what he rides,how it’s setup etc, he just gets on a rides the wheels off it, but now he being all princess and the pea about it.

I think that's in part my fault as i quiz him on how things feel in the quest... but it's a very good point... maybe i should just buy the bugger something and say "here, get on with that"

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/363777866611?hash=item54b2d9bb73:g:IXUAAOSwggtiOizX

I like this, his mates one is a M/L and he's a 2/3" smaller than my lad is... So maybe the L would work for the boy...

Another vote for a Status. Perfect bike for kids to have FUN.

They're not available for decent money,.. not a lot about and even fewer in an S3.

You could all throw £25 in the pot to get me up from £1800 the £2000 needed for that one 😀

It's been mentioned (I think), but as a contrast to his DH Bike, maybe try a nice slack'ish HT and sharpen his skilz?

He got on with the Enduro, I don’t know why you sold it (was it to fund the DH bike) but just buy him another one.

If you Geometrygeek the M in a 2015/16 you'll see they're a very small M, closer to a small in most other bikes, so it was simply sold to move to something bigger... it wouldn't have necessarily happened the week it did, as we sold it after buying the GT Fury DH bike... But it certainly wouldn't have been long until the bike got moved on simply because he was getting a bit big.

And I suppose if you then vary the year of frame and go newer you have different geometry to deal with as well as sizing?

I just want to know what you do for a living to afford all these bikes, and spend all day on here/eBay discussing or buying bikes! 😀

I like this, his mates one is a M/L and he’s a 2/3″ smaller than my lad is… So maybe the L would work for the boy…

I thought he didn’t like his mates Remedy? As with the Stumpy, you need to watch the length of that seat tube. If that’s 18” (which I think it might be) then you’re limiting the dropper travel

I thought he didn’t like his mates Remedy?

In fairness, he didn't try it that much and it wasn't exactly set up how he likes bikes.

Apologies for any delays at the moment, i'm just updating some Virtual Connect firmware on HPe Synergy Enclosures, so i have to keep making sure it doesn't take the whole infrastructure down 😀

Blimey this thread makes Hora and Renton look positively decisive.
Just give him a couple to choose from and buy the one he wants.

You really do seem to be over thinking it.
It's just a bike for a kid to piss about on in the woods.

Another vote for a Status. Perfect bike for kids to have FUN.

I KNOW you said it's too pricey...but having watched recent Vital MTB reviews, it DOES look really good!
Simple, strong, fox 36 as stock... even the entry one is REALLY good...

BUt... MONEYZZZZZZ!

I've got a newer (well 2020) stumjumper - i've stuck a cascade link on the rear (148mm travel now) and a 160mm 36 on the front...
It's AMAZING... like, trail bike PLUS!

DrP

I had one of these Capras and it was a brilliant bike. I used it at bike parks in the UK and Morzine, I even did some silly long xc type rides on it and it was fin. It was only really the grippy tyres that made it harder work as it pedals really well for a 170mm bike. It's the second gen and you typically had to go a size up on these so a L would be equivalent to a M.

https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/3270584/

One thing to check over (get more pictures if not able to take a look in person) is the welds around the top/seat tube as I've seen a few go around there. It's obviously a good idea to check all the welds anyway.

Did the boy like your G160? A standard one of them with an upgraded damper could be an option?