Need advice - Bike for 9 year old

[khjr]

OK guys and gals with kids – I need your help. My 9 year old nephew has his 1st communion (right of passage for those of the Catholic faith) on May 20th. My sister wishes to gift him with a bike to replace the tiny bike that he’s on now, and has saddled me with the responsibility. I have zero time to research this on short notice, but obviously care enough to want it done right. Questions I have are as follows:

* Are there any quality bikes made for tiny 4 ft tall bodies and 25” inseams?
* Can anyone recommend a shop in Connecticut where I can find one in inventory (I’m loath to buy a dept store bike)
* How much should I expect to pay?
* Does anyone have a newish condition used one that you’d like to sell?

My sister says that he can shift the gears on other kid’s bikes, but doesn’t yet understand the need for gears as they live in a flat town. I’m inclined to go single speed if I can find one, as I’d like him to build up his little legs. She describes him as a wobbly rider, which I suppose should be expected given the amount of time he spends on computer games.

Thoughts?

[craptacular]

I really recommend a BMX bike. Let him learn how to jump and mess around, then if he decides he wants to try something different, he can get a mt bike or road bike. Here is one to start with. (http://www.bikeattack.com/2012/redline-rival-18-2012/)

[93legendti]

OK guys and gals with kids – I need your help. My 9 year old nephew has his 1st communion (right of passage for those of the Catholic faith) on May 20th. My sister wishes to gift him with a bike to replace the tiny bike that he’s on now, and has saddled me with the responsibility. I have zero time to research this on short notice, but obviously care enough to want it done right. Questions I have are as follows:

* Are there any quality bikes made for tiny 4 ft tall bodies and 25” inseams?
* Can anyone recommend a shop in Connecticut where I can find one in inventory (I’m loath to buy a dept store bike)
* How much should I expect to pay?
* Does anyone have a newish condition used one that you’d like to sell?

My sister says that he can shift the gears on other kid’s bikes, but doesn’t yet understand the need for gears as they live in a flat town. I’m inclined to go single speed if I can find one, as I’d like him to build up his little legs. She describes him as a wobbly rider, which I suppose should be expected given the amount of time he spends on computer games.

Thoughts?
My 9 yr old daughter got a mtn bike, with gears and brakes, last year from Performance. Because of vision problems, she only learned to ride when she was already 8 yrs old.
The bike cost $139-end of season close out. She loves it and rides almost every day that it is above 50 degrees. I'll get you a link.

Here's her bike:
http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1109780_-1___400338

Boys model:

http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1109768_-1___400338

[crownjewelwl]

got one for my 8 yr old...my thinking was that a cross bike would be the most versatile...he can ride on the road with me or putz around off road

it is a real bike shrunken down. not a "kid's" bike

[Bob Loblaw]

There is actually a decent bike at (shudder) Walmart. It's a mongoose MTB with 24" wheels. The frame is aluminum, nothing to write home about, but it has grip shift and shimano derailers. Totally competent and for a mere $135.

:banana:

BL

[Fishbike]

I would vote MTB with gears. Big Box is likely fine or you can get a basic Trek or Specialized for around $300.00. So maybe he leaves it in the same middle gear most of the time. As he gets older he can use the gears more has he wanders further off. I don't see a BMX bike as being as do-everything as a sturdy MTB.

[93legendti]

There is actually a decent bike at (shudder) Walmart. It's a mongoose MTB with 24" wheels. The frame is aluminum, nothing to write home about, but it has grip shift and shimano derailers. Totally competent and for a mere $135.

:banana:

BL

You don't want a bike from Target, Walmart, Sears, etc. The bike may be fine. The person who builds the bike is not. We got in a Target bike at work - the suspension fork was installed backwards. In the '90's I researched the issue. The "builders" used basic Sears tools, as opposed to bike tools, had no special training and were paid by the bike. Lots of accidents caused by those bikes and lots of injuries.

[pdmtong]

buy one you can resell or a used one. while he may fit a 24" now, it wont be for long

my daughter at age 10 was on 26" mtb (XS) and 700c wheels (44cm).

[67-59]

You don't want a bike from Target, Walmart, Sears, etc. The bike may be fine. The person who builds the bike is not. We got in a Target bike at work - the suspension fork was installed backwards. In the '90's I researched the issue. The "builders" used basic Sears tools, as opposed to bike tools, had no special training and were paid by the bike. Lots of accidents caused by those bikes and lots of injuries.

+1

My wife came home with one for our daughter from Target, and it was really messed up. Essentially had to take it apart and put it back together before I'd let my daughter ride it. You can imagine how excited an impatient little kid was about that.

Go to a bike shop where it's at least more likely that the initial assembly was done competently.

[jmoore]

Specialized Hot Rocks is a good bike for a kid that size. I got my 6yo the ss version with a coaster and hand brake and he loves it. It was $220 at the lbs and they did a "fitting" with him, so he thought that was cool. Worth the extra $ to get a bike built by the LBS.

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=47708&eid=4360&menuItemId=0

They've got a geared version for a bit more.
http://s7d5.scene7.com/is/image/Specialized/4318?$Display$

[pdmtong]

Specialized Hot Rocks is a good bike for a kid that size. I got my 6yo the ss version with a coaster and hand brake and he loves it. It was $220 at the lbs and they did a "fitting" with him, so he thought that was cool. Worth the extra $ to get a bike built by the LBS.

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=47708&eid=4360&menuItemId=0

They've got a geared version for a bit more.
http://s7d5.scene7.com/is/image/Specialized/4318?$Display$

specialized and trek kids bikes are easily resold on CL. I bought all mine used and sold them for what I paid and in some cases even more than what I paid.

[tele]

Specialized Hot Rocks is a good bike for a kid that size. I got my 6yo the ss version with a coaster and hand brake and he loves it. It was $220 at the lbs and they did a "fitting" with him, so he thought that was cool. Worth the extra $ to get a bike built by the LBS.

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=47708&eid=4360&menuItemId=0

They've got a geared version for a bit more.
http://s7d5.scene7.com/is/image/Specialized/4318?$Display$

I got the bigger geared version for my 9 year old last summer--it is pretty nice and he rides it a lot. He wanted the one without the front suspension, his buddy got the version with front suspension. Either way going through an LBS was a good experience for him.
Also my lbs has a program where you can trade the bike back in within 2 years and get 50% of the value towards a bigger bike. Might be worth checking around for something like this.

[khjr]

Thanks for the advice!!! Regardless of where I buy it, I'll definitely be making sure that it was built correctly before he rides it.

[GuyGadois]

I got both my kids a Trek mtn bike because there are a number of components that will adjust to the kid as he grows. The cranks have two holes on each side to make the crank longer as they grow. The stems adjust a few ways also. Ours have lasted 4 and 5 years without any problems and they ride them every day to school and have since 1st grade. Solid bikes and nice purchase from an LBS who will tune them up too. Keep an eye on CL for these Trek mtn bikes for kids.

GG

[charliedid]

I got both my kids a Trek mtn bike because there are a number of components that will adjust to the kid as he grows. The cranks have two holes on each side to make the crank longer as they grow. The stems adjust a few ways also. Ours have lasted 4 and 5 years without any problems and they ride them every day to school and have since 1st grade. Solid bikes and nice purchase from an LBS who will tune them up too. Keep an eye on CL for these Trek mtn bikes for kids.

GG

+1

We sell em all day long