Looking for a bike for my kid. The options I have shortlisted are:
Merida Big 9 20 D(can get for $500)
and
Giant ATX 1 2018 (can get for $575)
I am not very familiar with the bikes, so needed some advice as to which one offers the best value for money. Is there any other bike under $600 worth considering?
Thanks in advance.
Lucky kid!
Bike got stolen recently.
What size kid? Do they need a mountain bike?
The bike will be Small size. Whether mountain bike is needed or not is up for debate. The kid is interested in mountain bike. I have showed the hybrid bikes, but they don't seem interesting (to the kid).
Bummer. Not so lucky kid.
Avoid 29er wheels for a small size frame. Look for a 27.5
Avoid 29er wheels for a small size frame.
Ok. The Merida I linked above has 29" wheels.
Just out of curiosity, what difference does it make?
@homersimpson: MTB wheels used to be all 26”. Then someone discovered that 29” wheels roll over stuff better and they became popular, but the bigger wheeel size also meant heavier wheels and ‘slower’ handling. They were less nimble so the industry moved to 27.5 which is better rolling than 26” and a bit more nimble than 29. 29” is great for rolling over the miles efficiently cross country style while smaller wheels are favoured more by the downhill set because the are easier to throw around and cope with rough stuff.
For 29” wheels it is even harder to get a small frame to handle well, which is why some models have two size wheels, 27.5 for small, medium and 29 for large, XL.
@Euphemistic:
Which is all fairly moot if you aren't riding hard off-road. For a general treadly either bike is totally fine.
I would go the Merida as it has hydraulic disk brakes which offer better feel and power, the Giant is mechanical (cable pull) type. Other components are all similar spec.
@singlemalt72: Still, there is a difference, and the OP asked what it was. 29 wheels will be heavier and with a larger diameter will have more rotational inertia so will be a bit harder/slower to accelerate and brake. For a light weight kid it could make a difference.
If the kid is interested in a mountain bike, there is a good chance they might also be keen to experiment with riding off road, in which case the smaller wheels would probably be better as well.
@Euphemistic:
Thanks. I have decided to go with Merida. Did a test ride and will be buying on the weekend. Kid loved it.
@homersimpson: Excellent. The differences are subtle, so it pays to do a test ride.
What is it with the simpsons in this thread? Homer, Abe, Jimbo, links to Bart?
@Euphemistic:
No idea. Just cause my Avatar is Homer, people tend to think I am stupid and make references as such.
Thanks for the help.
Also consider weight of the bike. Depending on the age of said kid, they're not going to have Lance Armstrong amounts of strength, so giving them a heavy bike to push around is only going to end in misery. And as per Euphemistic, if they don't need a mountain bike don't get one - overly heavy for roads/bike paths.
Components on cheaper bikes won't age particularly well, so adopting the 'they'll grow into it' mentality might see the bike die before it fits them.
This is true, but the two bikes linked have entry level 'good' gear and will be more than adequate for a decent length of time.
boy or girl?
age?
height?
colour preferences? (bike not kid)
colour preferences? (bike not kid)
Fracking hell you owe me a cup of coffee…
?
over my head that one
Sorry - made me laugh so hard I spit out my coffee.
The giant has good resale like a toyota.
I bought this one.
https://www.avantiplus.com.au/products/ra460a611/title/ralei…
I paid $330 for it. It's a nice bike.
Lucky kid!
What size kid? Do they need a mountain bike?
The 29er wheels can compromise the frame geometry on smaller sizes. The Merida does have the advantage of hydraulic brakes though. 27.5 wheels might be better for a small frame size.
Pretty much every brand will have a bike in this price bracket. They will be very similar in specifications, so you need to get one that will fit right and looks good so your kid will ride it. If you don't need a mountain bike, a hybrid style bike without suspension will be a more efficient ride on the roads/paths.