Choosing a bike for my son

[Gary]

an XS 26" wheel XTC? Nice!

Gotta love how all those bling weight saving touches have been negated by fitting a 1250g DH casing rear tyre

Awesome buy for the money

 

[nappa]

went with a Norco Fluid 4.3 HT Plus 2019 Kids Bike

and a full face carbon lid Troy Lee Designs D3 Freedom Carbon Mips Full Face Helmet

Now im skint lol

 

[Kernow]

went with a Norco Fluid 4.3 HT Plus 2019 Kids Bike

and a full face carbon lid Troy Lee Designs D3 Freedom Carbon Mips Full Face Helmet

Now im skint lol

Some if the best times ever with my kids was cycling , looking back now Iam glad I spent what I could on thier bikes , priceless memories now

 

[nappa]

Some if the best times ever with my kids was cycling , looking back now Iam glad I spent what I could on thier bikes , priceless memories now

and these days its harder to get the kids to come play with things we do...

I have done it all, Para for 13 years, motocross, motor racing including BTCC, large scale jet flying, 1/8 scale rc buggy racing the list goes on...

 

[Norange]

an XS 26" wheel XTC? Nice!

Gotta love how all those bling weight saving touches have been negated by fitting a 1250g DH casing rear tyre

Awesome buy for the money

Yep, seller did say, you may want to swap out the tyres, but they’re good for dh... To be fair they’re 24s so probs only a kilo

She gets uplift from the ebike, so the extra weight adds stability.

Would totally agree, every weekend am out riding with her, we have a picnic, see some nature, visit different places.

Nappa, I have a towwhee, which is basically a tuned bungee with tough outer covering. Dunno if your son is happy under his own steam, but as mine is only 7 it means we can get loads more in. Did 550m of descent last ride out, about 5x what she could cope with on her own.

 

[nappa]

Yep, seller did say, you may want to swap out the tyres, but they’re good for dh... To be fair they’re 24s so probs only a kilo

She gets uplift from the ebike, so the extra weight adds stability.

Would totally agree, every weekend am out riding with her, we have a picnic, see some nature, visit different places.

Nappa, I have a towwhee, which is basically a tuned bungee with tough outer covering. Dunno if your son is happy under his own steam, but as mine is only 7 it means we can get loads more in. Did 550m of descent last ride out, about 5x what she could cope with on her own.

Sod that he can peddle on his own

 

[R120]

I tow my son on his balance bike behind the E-Bike from time to time on a local field, he loves it.

 

[nappa]

I got my boy's bike today, nice bike.... And was totally shocked on how big the brakes levers are, there 2 big for me let alone my boy.

No adjustment nothing, this bike is meant to be for younglings... he can't even reach the lever.

Has anyone got a recommendation for some replacements?

 

[MattyB]

Sorry, but this is why you have to choose carefully with kids bikes - too many from the non-specialists still have poor geometry, silly levers and adult sized cranks, whereas the Frog, Isla and Whyte posted earlier all have kid specific components and geo. You pays your money...

 

[nappa]

Sorry, but this is why you have to choose carefully with kids bikes - too many from the non-specialists still have silly levers and adult sized cranks, whereas the Frog, Isla and Whyte posted earlier all have kid specific components.

Thank you that's very helpfull

 

[R120]

I got my boy's bike today, nice bike.... And was totally shocked on how big the brakes levers are, there 2 big for me let alone my boy.

No adjustment nothing, this bike is meant to be for younglings... he can't even reach the lever.

Has anyone got a recommendation for some replacements?



View attachment 7941

According to Tektro those levers should have reach adjust:

TEKTRO BRAKE SYSTEMS - Products

 

[R120]

Should work something like this:

 

[nappa]

WOW I have just looked its a tiny nut in there and it works....

Well done mate top find and u have saved me a few quid, defo owe u a beer if we ever meet

Thank you big time.

On the other side, there is nothing in the manual about it and what a stupid thing to do to put a tiny nut in there. they should at least put a sticker on there.

 

[R120]

Yes its not obvious is it - on the plus side it looks like Norco have put some thought into speccing those brakes, as they are a specific short reach model with 81-85mm of reach vs the 91mm of reach on the standard version of that lever.

 

[nappa]

Yeah, The bike is mint for my boy as I thought the only thing that let it down was the levers.

 

[R120]

This is the manual for them

https://www.tektro.com/upload/Product/F_20150915093971Rwrqel.PDF

 

[R120]

he is going to love it, cool bike!

 

[Swissrob]

Good choice. Now you can start on the upgrades ;-))

As the head angle is pretty steep and it is a coil fork you could look at a second hand Rock Shox SID (maybe a 27.5" fork) and 26" front wheel, you will save a kilo or so and improve the handling, it is also a good way to increase the size as he grows. A budget dropper seat post is also worth considering, I know with my boys that they would go a lot further with the seat in the correct position but it is a pita stopping to change this. All of these parts can then go on the next bike.

 

[nappa]

Good idea swissrob

 

[nappa]

I guess these would be ideal then.


Rockshox SID RLT Dual Air 100mm Travel 26”wheel Tapered , Forks Remote Lockout | eBay

 

[Swissrob]

I guess these would be ideal then.


Rockshox SID RLT Dual Air 100mm Travel 26”wheel Tapered , Forks Remote Lockout | eBay

Now you have got me started and I don't need more work! Yes something like that but cheaper! I had an old set of Rock Shox Psylos SL with 20mm axle I put on one bike but anything about 1.8kg would work, if you come across a set of 27.5s then you can put a 26"wheel on for now and are future proofed.

 

[nappa]

Took him up Farningham woods today he loved it but he was done in by the hills lol