Looking to buy a push-bike for a 4 year old, and went into my local bike shop to see prices of $300 and up.
I'd like to get him a good quality one to learn on, but that price seemed excessive. Bike at kmart, target, big w all seem to fall in the $80-$150 range, but I'm not sure on quality and riding experience.
Anyone have any feedback on those bikes or recommendations to purchase online? I know he'll outgrow it reasonably soon, but don't want the bike to be crap to the point where it's hard to pedal, turning is faulty, all those sorts of things. Any help appreciated. I don't know a lot about this sort of thing.
Thanks in advance
Good Quality Children's Bike
CustardShot on 14/11/2022 - 19:40
Comments
Fluid or merida is overkill for someone that age. I doubt they have bike for that range. Good brand for small kid is schwin or so but if it were me I wouldn't start with expensive bike for someone still needing support to set both feet on the pedal. Once they can ride by themselves and legs get long enough, get a good brand 20in bike like schwinn or giant
Don’t think Schwinn is much of a brand any more. They’re almost department store bikes so wouldn’t put it in the same basket as a giant for 20in. Giant, Merida are equivalent quality and are a (small) step above Fluid.
My three each got a Kmart 20" BMX style. Kept them out of the weather and kept chain lubed. Still have them long after they grew out of them. My son rode his enough to wear out the front tyre
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What do you mean by "quality"? The problem is you don't know what you actually want.
A 4yo is not going to be clocking up a lot of km, climbing steep hills, or fussy over brand names.
Don't worry so much. All they really need is a bike that fits, and you to spend time with them.This being ozbargain, I just had a look at the kmart kids bike and was shocked at how expensive they are! Forget K-mart. Try Kogan:
https://www.kogan.com/au/buy/fortis-14-kids-bike-orange-fort…I think I paid less than $40 for my kids first bike with trainer wheels.
Lots of tears and lots of fun. But that bike did fewer km in its whole life than my grown up kid does every week now. So "quality"? Get the cheapest pipe-iron you can find, and live life! (You can spend more later.)I apologise if my post came across that way. By quality - something that won't fall apart or just feel like a crap ride immediately. That's what I want for him. Something he can enjoy being taught how to ride on, that's all.
Thanks for the suggestion. I'll check it out.No worries, I think you may have taken my post a bit wrong too.
Given how far a 4yo is likely to ride, no bike will "fall apart" unless poorly assembled. They will not judge it as junk, even though we would think the same parts inadequate on our own bikes.
They just want something to have fun on it, and ride to the nearest park, or kindy.
I 'm suggesting you are over-thinking it.That said, lighter is better. But the important things are to adjust the seat height etc correctly, and check the brake pads are correctly positioned.
And make the most of the time while they are little! It will be gone in a flash :)The kogan bike does look good.
I can recommend the Mongoose Lilgoose. It is $300 new but there are many of them around on Gumtree and Marketplace so you should be able to pick it up for about $100 second hand.
Trek best quality and lightest. Cheap bikes are heavier and therefore harder for little ones to ride.
Look for a bike shop brand second hand if you want quality. There’s plenty out there that are hardly used and close enough to new that you don’t need to pay full price.
On the other hand, I’m a bit of a bike nerd and I didn’t get a ‘quality’ bike until my kids were about 6. They survived on hand me downs and council cleanup specials. If it doesn’t have gears, has back pedal brakes it doesnt matter much as they are so simple they just work.
At 4 they may not ride much and will grow out of it quickly. There’s little point getting an expensive bike, but buying a new Kmart bike isn’t a great idea either when you can get better value second hand.
BYK e250/e350 and apollo neo 12/16 are good first bikes. Both brands’ bikes are relatively lightweight with good geometry for learning riders. Should be able to get all of them for under $150
second hand on gumtree/fb marketplace. May need brakes adjusted or something minor like that, but that won’t cost you much. Avoid bikes with a lot of rustI'd be looking at BYK bikes too. Terrific for someone transitioning from a balance bike.
My kid has gone through several second hand bikes including balance bikes and Byk brand pedal bikes (upgrading size as he’s grown), all found through gumtree/FB marketplace/eBay. The ones he’s outgrown I’ve sold for about the same if not higher price than what I bought. Going on memory I’ve paid between $50-150 each time depending on age/condition.
Can someone recommend one for 9 yr old as well please? And what size to buy as well, would appreciate.
9yo would normally be on 24” wheels. Pick a bike shop brand (Trek, Giant, Merida, Avanti, Specialised to name a few) second hand.
My kids got a second hand 24” for between $80 and $150 at 8yo and upgraded to small framed adult bikes at 11. Were probably a little above average height for their age but not much.
Thanks will look out for these brands. Appreciate it.
Get a second hand bike off gumtree or whatever. Like a Fluid, or Merida. Post Covid, there’s heaps of bikes listed that are way better than Kmart/big w
Edit: just saw your kid is 4. My kids first bike was a BYK-250