Kids MTB advice

mintster

Thanks for all of the responses. If second hand was an option I would have gone with it - unfortunately my other half didn't believe in giving a second hand bike for his birthday. Looked at the Carrera again and were pretty much set on buying it until we went to the local Ridgeback dealer. The MX24 just seems like a better bike - it is lighter (even my son noticed the difference) which will make the biggest difference.

As it goes they had a 2010 model (same as 2012 other than colour) and I got it for £180. If he really gets into riding then we may well look at upgrading with better components. I take the point about disc brakes - if needs be I will upgrade at a later date.

custardy

mintster wrote: »

Thanks for all of the responses. If second hand was an option I would have gone with it - unfortunately my other half didn't believe in giving a second hand bike for his birthday. Looked at the Carrera again and were pretty much set on buying it until we went to the local Ridgeback dealer. The MX24 just seems like a better bike - it is lighter (even my son noticed the difference) which will make the biggest difference.

As it goes they had a 2010 model (same as 2012 other than colour) and I got it for £180. If he really gets into riding then we may well look at upgrading with better components. I take the point about disc brakes - if needs be I will upgrade at a later date.

think carefully on upgrades
it can be a bottomless pit (just see my bank balance
I would only be replacing as stuff breaks/wears out at his age

rdr

mintster wrote: »

I would like to go for the Islabike but there is no way I could convince the boss to spend the extra money.

Too late now, but there is a boyant second-hand market for Islabikes so you get far more back if you sell them on. Taking resale value into account they are actually cheap to own.