Bit of a vague title, sorry. My little man is going on 10 soon and at some point I've told him we'll get him a new bike. But I don't plan on getting ripped for something substandard off the shelves.

Only slight problem is that I do want it to look mint for him. I can swrvice the Shimano calipers and levers I have to add discs. Bars, I'm sure I can find something decently priced on internet and forks I'm sure there's plenty about..

The only one niggle is that am I working too prematurely in the hope to build him his first proper big-boys bike. The wheels I have is the Hope PRO2 EVO on 27.5 plus (almost) rims. But, would they be too big for something that I hope to help grow with him.

Maybe a decent/used 14" frame and a super short stem with steerer cut to the limit on forks. Saddle/postdropped right down as he grows with it and a rigid fork (to keep it exciting for when he gets his first quality suspension God Willing).

Thoughts... He's average height for a 10year oldand currently rides about on his 20" wheeled bike.

Might be worth sorucing a trek marlin frame in xs (this fits 650b as the other sizes are 29er).

Decent frames, should be plenty of them knocking about as they’re popular. Can also take a normal rear rack so that may be helpful to carry stuff in a longer ride

Thanks v much Simon. How much do I owe you

Just ebay searched it. I guess that his eid sorted (wouldn't usually spend so much on a gift specifically for eid but I know he'll use it well). Thanks again... Best get saving!

I built my now 10, but then 9 years old, daughter a bike around an XS trek 26" frame - you can get nice older complete bikes for very little on eBay, and then some garage raiding added a 1*10 deore groupset and some avid brakes... She seems very happy with it, and I don't expect to loose much money in it when she's ready to move up to 27.5" wheels.

Thanks Paul. Yes, that could also be a nice little option. You're right about the cash and ebay. Always done that with my own bikes and those built for others.

Built both my kids bikes from 26 components.

Was lucky with the lads bike as someone local was selling a cotic soul full bike for cheap (came with hope wheels and tech x2 brakes). I then put a wanted ad on here for an xs frame and someone had an on one inbred in excellent condition. That frame lasted a couple of years before I upsized it to a small ragley mmmbob (which he’s now just about grown out of).