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Hard Tail recommendations for my 10yo son for Christmas

By muzg - Posted on 19 November 2012

NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.

Hi,
Wanting to get a XS or S 26" hard tail for my 10 year old son for Christmas. It will be his first 26" and want to spend about $400-$500.

Any recommendations??
Thanks

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Scott Jr

Submitted by Dicko on Mon, 19/11/2012 - 12:25.

i am in the same boat and have done a lot of research.

The best bang for buck and also lightest is the Scott Jnr Scale range. they a 24 inch, but have a very upgradeable frame. i have upgrade mine with XT bits that I had as spares.

The next in line is probably the specialized range also around the same price. I found the scott to have a slihter better spec and about a 1kg lighter. Both come in around 11-12kg, but you can easily get them below 10kg.

note these a both 24inch bikes, but I found my son/daughter were not big enough to strectch to a 26 inch frame at this stage.

Hope this helps.

Have a look at the classifieds.

Submitted by thshs on Mon, 19/11/2012 - 18:25.

I'm currently selling a 24-inch Giant. Very reasonable.
Worth a look.
Sorry, now also sold to Cromerboy.

Cheers

26 may be too big

Submitted by Discodan on Mon, 19/11/2012 - 13:12.

I bought my son a Small 26" Giant Boulder last year just after he turned 11 and it is realistically too big for him. He's the tallest in his class but we've got the seat screwed right down and I had to flip the stem and take of the spacers to make it work. It's still a tad to big for him to be able to really control the bike although there's lots of growing room there

If you want to get him offroad on it I'd suggest a 24" might be a better choice. I think he's have a hardtime on the 26er which might rattle his confidence, better to have a smaller bike that you can ride the nuts off for a couple of years

As an aside we got the Boulder 1 which cost a tad over $500, what amazes me is how heavy it is compared to my hardtail. I'll try to remember to weigh it tonight and update this. Aside from that it's a good entry level bike.

Recommend having a look at Trek.

Submitted by ae93gti on Mon, 19/11/2012 - 13:51.

Bought a Trek 3900 for my 10yo daughter for her birthday in July.

16" frame, also a 13" or 19" option, all 26" wheels.

Seat is not right down, up about 2 inches so no problem there, stand over height good too, wondering if I should have gone the 19" but she's comfortable now.

The 3500 starts just over $400, the 3900 somewhere around $550 from memory.

She did have the Scott Contessa Jr 24" prior and that was a great bike, but it looked like a clown bike for her as she had shot up.

Has been passed onto younger daughter and still going strong.

I got a trek 24''

Submitted by Scottboy on Mon, 19/11/2012 - 21:16.

I picked up a Trek 24'' mountain bike for my 6yr old last Friday , alloy frame with different pedal height on the crank for when he gets taller closer to bottom bracket for now then when he gets taller position the pedal closer to the end of the crank & I think it is a 3x6 or 7 $329.00 Alloy frame with rim brakes ..

I had a Sub and a Raleigh for

Submitted by ps on Tue, 20/11/2012 - 14:16.

I had a Sub and a Raleigh for my kids from the local Avanti shop. They both had 3*8 alvio, alloy frames and rim brakes. Still got the Raleigh and it weighs a bit over 13kg. I think it was around the $300 mark new.

I doubt there will be that much difference in spec and price between the various brands at the same price point as its a pretty competitive market space.