Buying a Mountain Bike for a 11yo

dazzza on 22/08/2016 - 23:07

As the title says, bought enough "$100 kmart specials" to understand they don't last the journey, so looking at getting a better built one. Budget max $600, less the better. For riding to school (a few kms) and general riding the streets, in the dirt and mud out in the bush to a certain degree. Want something that is robust and will stand up to a 11yo! I have looked around at Giant, GT, Trek, Norco, Focus etc all seems around the same price for similar features, the terminology for all the different parts and makes of parts are confusing as to me :(. Is there any I should steer clear of as I have very limited knowledge of makes, models etc. I see they seems to be going disc brakes and 27.5" wheels also. When trying some for size (he is just over 5ft) seems to be a Small frame in Adult. Is disc brakes overkill for kids, he is not a hardcore rider at all….he wishes he could be!
Is there a site I could read up more on these bikes, comparisons etc? Good stores to buy from in Melbourne ?

Cheers

Sports & Outdoors

Comments

  • altomic on 23/08/2016 - 00:03
    +2

    buy 2nd hand.

    an 11yo will out grow their bike as they hit puberty and have a growth spurt.

    you need something for a year or 2.

    buy a decent second hand bike that you won't lose too much out on when you re-sell.

    • dazzza on 23/08/2016 - 00:24

      Thanks altomic. Just curious have you learnt this by experience ?

      • altomic on 23/08/2016 - 00:49
        +5

        sort of. My 2 eldest (not yet teenagers) are now riding "adult" bikes. both of them were freebies/hard rubbish finds. my youngest is wanting a new bike but there are 3 bikes from the older siblings that are her size, so …too bad youngest.

        when we ride to school it's only 2kms and mostly flat. they don't need a super duper bike. hell, I didn't have a great bike when I was young and would easily do 10kms a day to and from school (in the snow!!)

        if they want to get in to road biking (I do a 25km circuit 3 or 4 times a week) then I'll buy a something semi decent until they are serious or they stop growing (doubtful for a few years).

        my eldest is about the same age as your boy (though a bit taller). she wanted a bmx so i got one (near new) for $50 (with helmet) off ebay. it was an okay brand but she then complained about it when riding distances. so she rides her mothers 18 speed hybrid and enjoys that.

        my middle daughter recently received a hard rubbish sourced ladies mountain bike. she loves it. took me an hour to change over the brake levers, grease the chain, remove mud and crud, pump tyres, "tune" the gears, etc etc. it's a great bike. relatively light, fits her and she can adjust it as she grows. and best of all it was free.

        we live on the coast and there are several bike tracks within a 1 km radius so cycling is a frequent activity for us.

        as my kids get more into cycling then I'll be happy to buy decent bikes (second hand of course). but for school, then just a semi decent bike (such as a restored hard rubbish bike) is fine.

        I think it is all about weight. I sourced a bike for my eldest and it felt heavy to me and she said it was impossible to ride. I got rid of that pretty fast. found a much lighter bike and she loved that.

        • dazzza on 23/08/2016 - 23:53

          Thanks altomic for your detailed response, I'm not overly handy when it comes to bikes and getting them, working right when picking up cheap 2ndhand, so I'm a little torn which way to go.

        • altomic on 24/08/2016 - 09:11

          @dazzza: yeah, it's a learning process. youtube is your friend. it all works out. mostly it is cleaning and tightening and seat adjustment.

          good luck

  • mskeggs on 23/08/2016 - 12:28
    +1

    I bought a 2nd hand Giant for my 9yro after a BigW special didn't last. He is now almost 11 and on the verge of outgrowing it.
    Glad I spent $160 instead of $400. He has been very pleased with the bike,and I will likely repeat the second hand approach for the next bike.
    My bigger boy got a BMX (again 2nd hand) that he rides if we go camping or for a ride, but he doesn't take it to school as he really needs a geared bike for commuting.

    • dazzza on 23/08/2016 - 23:54

      Yep, gotta agree have to have something with gears, have sent my kids to school on the bmx a few times….. and he "cant get there or away from there quick enough" !

  • Xyzzy on 23/08/2016 - 13:01
    +1

    https://www.reidcycles.com.au/ (in Melbourne) I'm told do decent bikes at a decent price.

  • Euphemistic on 23/08/2016 - 16:01

    Buying a new bike to ride to school might be a bad idea. You'll need a good place to lock it up, and a very good lock. Then kids don't look after their gear as well as they should (mostly) so you might find it eft in the rain, or potentially on the front lawn of a mates place where it gets nicked from. You are right that all the major brands have similar bikes at similar prices. It's not a conspiracy, but it is the value point where they can make a good bike as cheap as practical. They'll all be slightly different, but on the whole the same value. Some will have better gears, some better forks, but not by much.

    Disc brakes are great on the whole, but there is nothing wrong with v-brakes either. Cheap disc brakes aren't as good as decent v-brakes, but the discs will work better in the wet/mud.

    I've just bought my 11yo a second hand small frame adult bike. Got a Norco for $75 and then put new cables, pedals, saddle and grips and some good (but lightly used) tyres and it looks good enough to be new. Total cost is now around $150 after also upgrading the gears 'because I can'. You should be able to find a good quality bike for under $200

    I wont be buying any of my kids a new bike until they can prove they will look after it, or they'll be buying their own. Heck, I wont be buying myself a new bike either, and I've currently got a fleet to choose from. If you know how to repair and upgrade bikes there isn't much to lose by buying 2nd hand.

    • dazzza on 23/08/2016 - 23:57

      Thanks, a Norco for 75 clams! I quite like the look of the 500 - 600 ones they have.

      Just wish I was a bit handier fixing bikes.

  • 2ndeffort on 23/08/2016 - 17:29

    The problem with 2nd hand is that if you don't know much about bikes and anything goes wrong you could end up spending more fixing the old beater than what you might have spent on a better bike to begin with. If your kid will be mostly riding to school with the odd bit of offroad don't be tempted by expensive, maintenance intensive suspension. If most of your riding is on road then fat chunky tyres will only be a hindrance. Disc Brakes are great but are also an added expense and if you are just riding to school and back over very short distances (15 - 20 km etc) at relatively slow speeds (<25 km/hr) then disc brakes are very much nice-to-have!

    • dazzza on 23/08/2016 - 23:59

      Sorry should rephrase it, will ride to school probably 1 day a week as he has big brother duties to get his little brother to school on the bush on other days. He will ride it quite a bit after schools, so will be in biteum, so dirt riding will generally be most weekends.

  • dazzza on 24/08/2016 - 00:44

    Anyway still toying with the idea of new vs old. New will give some piece of mind, old will be much cheaper but may need work etc.

    New ones I'm looking at
    https://www.anacondastores.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bikes/…
    https://www.anacondastores.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bikes/…
    http://www.focus-bikes.com/gb/en/bikes/2015/mtb-trail/whistl…
    https://www.giant-bicycles.com/au/boulder
    https://www.giant-bicycles.com/au/atx-2

    or 2ndhand ones
    2007 Avanti Atomic Disc, in real good condition, apparently just needs a new rear derailleur. Supposedly around $150 to fix? Sound about right for that bike? Could I still get the derailleur for it considering it is nearly 10 years old?
    2006 Giant Yukon once again old, but in real good knick by pictures, nothing needs to be done supposedly. How much should I be spending on these nearly 10 yo bikes in VGC?

    Which way to go ??

    • Euphemistic on 24/08/2016 - 07:28

      You can buy a new rear derailleur for very cheap, you just need to match to the shifters. Eg if it is 7,8,9 speed you need to get 7,8,9 speed. SRAM is different to shimano, 10speed is different to 7,8,9 speed.

      A good 10yo bike should is still a good bike. The Yukon would have been around $1k when new, probably $2-300 now. Not familiar with the atomic.

      If a bike feels like it is working well when you buy it, it probably is working well and a quality bike should keep working well. If you are handy with tools it isn't hard to learn how bikes work, and could be a good way to teach your kids how to fix stuff. YouTube is great for getting tips to do your own work. A set of Allen keys will get basic maintenance done, then there are some specialty tools that might be required for more adventurous work.

  • Euphemistic on 24/08/2016 - 09:53

    I had a quick look at the Avanti, seems to be of a similar level of equipment as the Boulder, basic but solid. Can't see the other ones as the links aren't working properly.

    The Yukon is about two models higher than a Boulder, so despite being 10years old will probably be a better bike than the new one if everything is in working order.

    • dazzza on 24/08/2016 - 21:12

      Hmm sorry not sure why the links are not working for you (work for me), I will try them again
      https://www.anacondastores.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bikes/…
      https://www.anacondastores.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bikes/…

      I have checked the Avanti out and seems in good knick, tells me he rode it in races in Canada. It has Alivio rear derailleur and Acera front. The rear derailleur is definitely broken and need a whole new one. So do I have to get an Alivio one then? Approx cost ?

      The Yukon I'm hoping to check out ASAP and probably is the way to go if it is working fine etc

      • Euphemistic on 24/08/2016 - 22:46
        +1

        If it has Alivio or acera gear it isn't a 'race' bike, but a recreational bike. Certainly could be ridden in races, but not a bike designed to be competitive. You should be able to get a new derailleur online for around $40, probably significantly more in a local shop if you need fitting.

        Fluid bikes from anaconda tend to be overpriced for what they are at normal retail, but on special get back to reasonable value.

        • dazzza on 24/08/2016 - 23:21

          Thanks mate, for the derailleur, guess the 40 would be 80 in a store then about labour. How much do they charge for labour approx. Assume this would be less than an hours works?

          Fluid bikes, they look pretty good, but don't all bike when nice and glossy in shops. On the 800 to 400 bike, it has Disc brakes, Hydraulic lockout on suspension, Acera front derailleur, not sure about back. Not sure how good the rest of the bike is though, could have the best parts, but crap frame etc

        • Euphemistic on 25/08/2016 - 10:34

          @dazzza: Typically its the other way around, the frame is similar enough to other bikes, but the parts are cheaper. The more you pay for the bike, the better the parts attached to the frame.

        • dazzza on 25/08/2016 - 22:09

          @Euphemistic:

          Was thinking the same, if so, then the anaconda ones should be good value at 1/2 price as the shimano gear and brakes tend to come in around the 500 + plus from what I have seen.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join