My boy John has recently started to take an interest in coming out with me, he surprised me by joining me for my November BAM. If fact he insisted that we ride from home rather than cut a few miles off in the car
At the moment he’s riding a carrera abyss, a small framed 24” hybrid. It’s like a miniature 29er, big wheels fitted into a small frame. It’s lasted him two years and now we need the next step up. His inseam is 24” so he’s a little way off needing a 26” wheel bike, any suggestions on decent bikes, I’m apparently allowed a budget of around £400 although I might be able to stretch it a little if no one is looking
Frog do a lovely range of bikes, so worth looking at. Their mountain bikes are over budget but do come with air forks, so better than most manufacturers by giving a usable fork
Also, if he’s 10 or older, Trek do the Marlin range in a 13.5’’, 650b etc and are excellent value. £395 for Suntour forks, hydraulic brakes, Shimano gears etc and a new, lovely looking frame for 2019
A mate bought his grandson a orbea 24" mtb for xmas. It was a nice bike with rigid forks and seemed to be much better specced than the equivalent priced frog or spesh. https://www.orbea.com/gb-en/bicycles/ki ... am-disc-19
Edit - found the link and orbea not merida!
Last edited by fatbikephil on Sat Jan 05, 2019 10:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
htrider wrote:A mate bought his grandson a orbea 24" mtb for xmas. It was a nice bike with rigid forks and seemed to be much better specced than the equivalent priced frog or spesh. https://www.orbea.com/gb-en/bicycles/ki ... am-disc-19
Edit - found the link and orbea not merida!
Good call, the Orbea MX 24 Team Disc is definitely on the radar
htrider wrote:A mate bought his grandson a orbea 24" mtb for xmas. It was a nice bike with rigid forks and seemed to be much better specced than the equivalent priced frog or spesh. https://www.orbea.com/gb-en/bicycles/ki ... am-disc-19
Edit - found the link and orbea not merida!
Good call, the Orbea MX 24 Team Disc is definitely on the radar
Got my 8 year old girl a MX24 Team but the v-brake version. I am very impressed with it for £300.
How old is he Steve ? Moved my lad onto a xs 27.5 when he was 10 ,it looked huge but when he was on it he was really comfortable and confident ,a bit too confident to be honest ,stand over height not a problem as the top tube was shaped ,it's worth taking him into a shop and have him sit on a few different wheel sizes , otherwise it can work out quite expensive ,he only lasted a year on the xs giant and then he nicked my medium one, as for orbea they are great bikes ,bought him a 27.5 mx10 for Christmas come with part xt and part deore groupset ,36 rear and 32/22 up front ,the 22 works really well for him as he doesn't get on with going up and is too confident coming down
I've got a 14" Inbred looking for a new home Steve. I built it for Dee but she's never really ridden it. I reckon it'd suit someone down to about 5'1".
IME they dont use a 24 " bike for very long and most who an ride one can get away with riding a XS 26 er - which are incredibly good value for what you get
I got mine an older Orange 5 - not exactly a Bike packing bike but second hand straight tube 26 ers is where the bargains are though many parents seem t up the price of the XS frames a bit
Bearbonesnorm wrote:I've got a 14" Inbred looking for a new home Steve. I built it for Dee but she's never really ridden it. I reckon it'd suit someone down to about 5'1".
Hmm sounds interesting, he’s 4’8 at the moment I did read something on the tinterweb about running 24” wheels and shorter cranks, swapping them out to 26” as they grow what do you think?
Stu I think the horse has just bolted but if for any reason your inbred doesn’t suit Steve I’d be really interested for my daughter - been trawling eBay for 14” frames for ages!
I'd like £400 for it ideally. I'll reach it out tomorrow and do some pics. Of the top of my head - Rockshox something or other, Deore groupset inc brakes with a 36t out back and 22/32 up front with a Blackspire Dually chain device.
