Recommend Me a Good Bike for Year 6 Son

Unacceptable on 28/04/2020 - 19:34
Last edited 11/05/2020 - 14:05 by 1 other user

My 12 years old son’s birthday is coming next week and I am thinking of buying a new bike for him. He’s been riding a second hand bike for a couple years so it is time to get him a good one.

I have had a Giant brand bike for long and it’s been great and so looking for same Giant brand but not sure which model would suit him best.

He is about 165cm and will use to commute to primary school and high school next year (home to train station).
My budget is up to $700-800.

Please recommend me a good bike (no need to be Giant).

• 

  coxjon on 28/04/2020 - 19:36

  +2

  He might like to choose his own at a bike shop at that age?

  • 

    Unacceptable on 28/04/2020 - 20:44

    +1

    It’s a surprise birthday present!

    • 

      Nugs on 29/04/2020 - 07:19

      Well, just blindfold him and drive to the shop.
      .

• 

  tryagain on 28/04/2020 - 20:23

  -3

  Given you want a Giant, just go to the shop and speak to them, given that he is six, there are only 3 20" bikes to choose from in their range.

  • 

    salmon123 on 28/04/2020 - 20:53

    +1

    given that he is six

    Read the post again. Kid is in year 6, 12 years old.

• 

  salmon123 on 28/04/2020 - 20:58

  He is about 165cm … My budget is up to $700-800 … use to commute to primary school and high school

  I wouldn't buy my kid a bike blind at that age/price point. There's so many styles/brands to choose from - Road/Hybrid/Mountain/eBike/etc. For all you know, his friends might have freestyle BMXs that they hoon around on after school.

  He’s been riding a second hand bike for a couple years

  Buy him an iPhone for the birthday and another used bike for commuting. As I mentioned above, there's so many style to choose from and his preference might change and he'll more than likely grow out of it in a few months.

• 

  Dark Zeus on 28/04/2020 - 22:34

  Trek - Marlin 4, 5, 6 or 7

  given that, bicycle can be annually.

• 

  TheBilly on 29/04/2020 - 06:25

  Go to the bike shop. Take him. It's still a surprise he never knew you were buying it for him. It's like buying your son a surprise car, you think you get it right by getting a Holden Barina lol

  • 

    Unacceptable on 29/04/2020 - 09:14

    +1

    But the budget is there, obviously.

• 

  RockyRaccoon on 29/04/2020 - 07:14

  How secure will the bike be at school?

  A junker for school, and a good bike for weekend rides might be better option.

  No fun if he rides it to school to find its vandalised or missing.

  Only you know if that could be an issue, just factor that into your purchase and use considerations

• 

  [Deactivated] on 29/04/2020 - 09:29

  Anything from kmart.

  • 

    Euphemistic on 29/04/2020 - 11:42

    +1

    No. Just no.

    • 

      [Deactivated] on 29/04/2020 - 11:52

      Why not?

      • 

        Euphemistic on 29/04/2020 - 11:58

        +1

        Cheap, heavy, poorly built, not well designed. They are the epitome of our buy cheapest hen throw it away when it breaks culture. You are much better off getting a second hand quality bike if you are looking at Kmart prices in your budget. Their suspension in particular is just pointless. Doesn’t do anything but add weight. There are a few exceptions though. Basic, single speed, coaster brake non suspension Kmart bikes can be OK, but you need to pull everything apart and regrease it because they don’t out much in at the factory.

        I have many bikes over the years and Kmart stuff is harder to tune to run, rusts a lot quicker and generally don’t handle as well. Bike shops will often not service them because the cost of repairs often doubles the investment in the hike.

        • 

          [Deactivated] on 29/04/2020 - 12:09

          @Euphemistic: That's the sorta bike I had when I was a kid and I used it for 6 years til I outgrew it. :(

          It was heavy AF but it was yellow with red flames. I felt so speedy.

          • 

            Euphemistic on 29/04/2020 - 13:36

            +1

            @[Deactivated]: I dont particularly mind Kmart kids bikes, up to about age 8. Under that it is big money for little gain to get a brand name bike.

            My kids had cheap either hand me down or kerbside find Kmart bikes, but I stepped up to a basic but brand name bike for 20” because I wanted them to experience mountain biking.

            All the kids bikes have been second hand, getting bikes for them at less that 1/2 retail price for virtually new bikes that they’ll grow out of in a couple of years. They were then sold for very little loss.

    • 

      [Deactivated] on 29/04/2020 - 14:26

      Wouldn't recommend Kmart or even target. Was looking for a bike for my 2.5yr old son for Xmas and every single one we've looked at at those places were too flimsy and poorly built.

      • 

        [Deactivated] on 29/04/2020 - 14:50

        I don't think your 2.5 year old is going to be doing jumps and hard landings.

        • 

          [Deactivated] on 29/04/2020 - 15:07

          @[Deactivated]: They had plastic wheels, brakes didn't work and the bikes squeaked ominously when he tried them in store. We spent a little bit more and got this, which was down to $140 at the time. It was easy to assemble and is sturdy without being heavy. He fills his water bottle first thing in the morning and rides round and round the house all day.

          • 

            [Deactivated] on 29/04/2020 - 15:13

            @[Deactivated]: Mine only squeaked contentiously so I ended up settling.

            • 

              [Deactivated] on 29/04/2020 - 15:59

              @[Deactivated]: I had an old bike at uni that was a pass-me down from another student. It was heavy as hell and, between riding it to and from work every night and soccer practice, I had some seriously overdeveloped calf muscles. Some might even call them sexy and some, in fact, did. I was quite proud of them.

              That was 15 years ago. Settling isn't an option now. I can't see myself riding my bike while towing my youngest on a heavy, yet flimsy, bike of his own every time we go cycling and still keep up with his on-the-verge-of-teenagerhood siblings. That $60 extra we spent was worth it.

          • 

            Euphemistic on 29/04/2020 - 15:46

            @[Deactivated]: I don’t see that Amazon one being any better than a Kmart bike. It’s probably out of the same factory and has a marketing tax added.

            Caliper brakes are rubbish, even worse for kids. Next to useless. I’d be very surprised if the bottom bracket bearings are sealed as advertised, it is not a thing that basic bikes do on a one piece crank. Rims look like steel as well. Maybe, just maybe, it has had a bit more attention to greasing in the factory to make up the extra price.

            • 

              [Deactivated] on 29/04/2020 - 16:12

              @Euphemistic:

              Caliper brakes are rubbish

              better than no brakes at all. None of the ones we've tried at Kmart/ Big W or target had brakes that worked. He got the hang of using these caliper ones.

              bottom bracket bearings are sealed as advertised,

              They are. We confirmed before we bought the bike.
              Rims are alloy.

              It has held up really well so far. Has a couple of paint scratches from when my son was learning to go sans training wheels but otherwise is as good as new. My only gripe is that it doesn't have a folding sidestand. The kid hasn't mastered the leaning-against-a-wall-without-dropping-the-bike-on-his-foot skill just yet and calls out whenever he wants someone to "park" his bike for him or use the excuse of not being able to let go of his bike without hurting himself to get out of his afternoon nap.

              • 

                Euphemistic on 01/05/2020 - 12:13

                @[Deactivated]:

                bottom bracket bearings are sealed as advertised,

                They are. We confirmed before we bought the bike.

                The picture shows a one piece crank. That style does not work with sealed bearings because getting the bearing around the curved part of the crank is impossible with a decent tolerance of fit when in position.

                Happy to be proven wrong, but you’d probably need to pull it apart and supply photos.

• 

  Euphemistic on 29/04/2020 - 11:49

  Buy second hand if it is going to be parked at school regularly, especially if it’s going to be out in the weather all day

  If you must buy new there will be plenty of styles to choose from and depending on his needs/wants may mean mountain bike or bmx. I can’t see 12yo WANTing a hybrid but you never know.

  Giant is a good bike brand, but like Toyota. Good value, solid etc. there are also many other brands that will provide similar value, Specialised, Trek, Merida, Norco, Avanti to name a few.

  Buying what you local shop stocks might is a good option if their service is good, don’t just be guided by brand loyalty. Most brands will have a very similar bike in the same price range. They are often so similar that it comes down to which colour you prefer. Different bikes might have a slight advantage in parts specs but will have a slightly lower spec parts in other areas to make up for the better parts when compared with a similar model in a different brand.

  Avoid going to Anaconda if you want proper service, and remember that the sale price, not the RRP, for Anaconda bikes is more indicative of true value.

  Buying inline might save you a few coins but will mean you need to complete assembly and don’t have the after sales service of a local shop. Polygon is leading the way for online sales.