Ozb Alternative to Trek Roscoe 6 Bike

• 

  Porker on 05/10/2018 - 16:44

  +1

  Roscoe 6 is a typical run of the mill hardtail - nothing extra special about it to attract that price, other than the branding.

  If there's uncertainty about the use from the bike, I'd suggest consider something cheaper such as bicyclesonline.com.au. They provide free postage and 14-day return if unhappy with the purchase.

  Could get a half-decent bike (eg. Xtrada or Premier) from bicyclesonline as cheap as $400-$500 which will probably do the same as the Roscoe 6 - admittedly not as smoothly/crisply.

  But if he loves riding, then sell the bike and commit to the higher end bike. If he doesn't like it, then it's not as a big hit to the wallet and you still could get money back with the sale.

  At the $1000 price point, generally all hardtail bikes are going to be alloy frame. The main variations would be in the brakes, gears and suspension. I'd suggest that the only real need to go up in price for those three variables would be based on what riding he intends on doing. If it's just general riding, then spring forks, mechanical brakes and basic gears are fine. If it's bonafide off-road and for more than (say) 50% of the ride, then you may consider a bike with better components.

  Also don't discount second-hand bikes. There are quite a few good secondhand bikes around to be bought that are better than the Roscoe but cheaper (and older).

• 

  HighAndDry on 05/10/2018 - 16:51

  +2

  Any advice appreciated

  Well here goes. He's 13. Don't let him dictate what presents he receives from you - you promised him a present, you didn't say anything about not teaching him gratitude and appreciation. Set a reasonable budget (and no, imo $1k for a mountain bike for a 13yo who currently doesn't even ride is not reasonable). Tell us that budget and we'll recommend a bike. If he wants a dearer one, he can pony up the difference - it'll teach him to budget and appreciate the gift if he has to save up part of it himself.

  In the meantime, I think a $500 bike for a 13yo is more than good enough, so something like this Merida Big Nine 40 D is about as expensive as I'd personally even consider.

  Seriously, wtf is:

  he was googling images by colour

  ?

  • 

    altomic on 05/10/2018 - 16:59

    +1

    Red car goes faster - similar bike logic?

    • 

      HighAndDry on 05/10/2018 - 17:03

      Here is an Orange Ferrari Enzo. Apparently the only one of this colour in the world. Must be a fast colour right?

      And here is an Orange Hardtail Mountain Bike.

      I can't tell the difference, can you?

      Seriously, what kinda 13yo kid hears their parent promise to get them a bike, and then asks for a $999 professional-grade hardtail mountain bike?!

      I'm honestly tempted to just say that right now, the most valuable gift OP can give his kid is the gift of not spoiling him.

      Edit: A 13yo WHO DOESN'T CURRENTLY EVEN RIDE ANY BIKE.

      • 

        pegaxs on 05/10/2018 - 20:31

        +1

        My friends 15yo son is currently still pissed at his dad because he didn’t buy the meta bike all the other kids have at the school. He wanted some bike that was $5k.

        Friend found an identical spec bike for $2.5k (still way way more than I would have spent on the little turd.) but in a different brand. It actually has more features and I think is a better bike. This bike is only used to ride to school. That’s it.

        I was at work one day and the friend’s son and 3 of his mates rode up there (for bike adjustments). I went outside to look and talk bikes and there was 4 bikes there, and honestly between $10k and $15k worth of bikes… I was gobsmacked.

        The sense of entitlement and “my bike penis is bigger than your bike penis” talk was too much.

      • 

        Euphemistic on 06/10/2018 - 18:27

        $999 doesn’t cut it as a professional grade bike though.

  • 

    Noblejoker on 05/10/2018 - 20:23

    Well I understand your point.
    We kind of tried to give him some responsibility and let him choose, etc.

    • 

      HighAndDry on 05/10/2018 - 23:32

      Picking out a present for himself isn't the responsibility part - kids do that with letters to Santa all the time Saving up for it, and sacrificing all the other stuff he could've gotten with the money - that's responsibility.

      Edit: ideally he'd also earn the money himself, but that's a little extreme seeing he's still 13.

• 

  2jzzzz on 05/10/2018 - 17:04

  +1

  How tall is he? Doubt he needs an XL frame.

  • 

    Noblejoker on 05/10/2018 - 20:11

    He is pushing 6ft at 13 but his 16 yr old brother has me beat and I am 196cm

• 

  Euphemistic on 06/10/2018 - 18:34

  +1

  Have a look at polygon, Reid as budget options for similar spec levels - if you really need to.

  If you want to get a flash bike try for a second hand for $300-400. It’ll be a few years old but still up to standard for a 13yo. I picked up a giant xtc a few years old for under $120. It needed brakes and forks (I knew that), but I had some spares to throw at it. Now he’s got a pretty good bike for that $300-400 Mark. It was prob around $1200 new.

  Maybe buy him a cheap one, then if he treats it right offer to go 50/50 on an upgrade. Might give him some perspective on earning stuff

• 

  2ndeffort on 06/10/2018 - 19:04

  +1

  https://www.bikeexchange.com.au/a/hardtail-mountain-bikes/fo…

  https://www.bikeexchange.com.au/a/hardtail-mountain-bikes/sc…

  Have a scroll around on Bikexchange, no idea where you live but put your postcode into the search bar and look for a local bike shop. Most of the major brands will do a model like a Roscoe. You would be better off with a Bike Shop supported bike like a Scott or Focus or Specialized etc than an online brand, particularly if he doesnt ride it and you want to sell it 2nd hand later.