It's my lads 7th birthday in June, and he wants a proper bike - mainly so he can ride on his own at Sherwood Pines and the trails around LadyBower rather than being on the trailer bike.
I'm torn between the Specialized Hotrock, and the Isla Bikes Beinn 20. The front sus on the Spec is putting me off a bit, but the advantage is that I think he prefers the looks, and will be able to sit on one prior to purchase.
Any thoughts?
Hi Kestevan,
My brother has bought his two youngest children - 8yr old boy and 6yr old girl - an Isla bike each and I would say that the build quality is, and components are, the best I have EVER seen on ANY bike for children. They LOVE riding them, but I do think they are VERY expensive for what won't last them very long as they will soon outgrow them. Hopefully though they will still be worth quite a bit when they have outgrown them.
As for Specialized bikes I still ride my 1993 Rockhopper - rigid frame and forks - which is almost as good as when I bought it new (I have NEVER left it outside, or even in a shed - it stays indoors where it is safer, warmer and drier), except for the Shi(t)mano Altus A10/20 rapid fire plus gear levers (integrated with the brake levers) which broke after only 700 miles. I have been using Shimano Deore NON integrated V brakes and levers and MUCH better Shimano NON integrated indexed gear levers since which are still in use after nearly 18yrs.
In response to ianrauk
you are right, whoever the child is, they will have to like whichever bike they have a choice of, or they won't ride it. But even so I think that the rigid frame and forks on the Isla bike is the better option if the parent can afford it, because the Isla bike is so much lighter, and will be easier to ride because of it.
I also don't think that the Specialized will hold its value as well or withstand the hard use it is likely to get from any child who uses it. Just my opinion.
