Snytjie Posted October 26, 2015 Posted October 26, 2015 Hallo, My 7 year old daughter outgrew her kiddies bike and I have been looking at options for a few weeks. Two main principals inform my search: the lowest weight and easiest operation possible. I want her to enjoy cycling, not be discouraged by complicated controls and a bike equivalent to me riding a 40kg monstrosity. I think that a 24" bike with a rigid fork and gripshift in 1 x 7 would produce the most cost-effective combination. As expected none of the options you see on the net are available in SA (e.g. Trek Precaliber which will not be coming to SA according to agents...). I am not an experienced mechanic and thus tried to get a quote from LBS on modifying a standard bike by: 1. Remove front suspension and fit rigid fork2. Replace 3 x 7 gearing with 1 x 7 Gripshift3. Convert wheels to tubeless Their answer after one week: 1. Possible at R5002. Cannot find crank set for 24" 1 x 73. Cannot find tubeless tyres in relevant wheel size I cannot believe that it is impossible to get a junior bike at around 10kg without re-mortgaging my house. Do any of you tech-savvy Hubbers have advice?
TALUS Posted October 27, 2015 Posted October 27, 2015 Titan kids have a 1x(7?)gripshift. Check you tube for "ghetto tubeless conversion". I don't think it is hard.
King_Crispy Posted October 27, 2015 Posted October 27, 2015 24" bikes have always been crappy. Rubbish components and frames that are soooo heavy. Just get an xs 26" with decent components and shorten stem etc
PeterF Posted October 27, 2015 Posted October 27, 2015 24" bikes have always been crappy. Rubbish components and frames that are soooo heavy. Just get an xs 26" with decent components and shorten stem etcAgree. I started my son off on a XS 26er then just replaced the frame as he grew. You are still going to struggle to get a sub 10kg 26er on a budget though.
Jimmy 2.0 Posted October 27, 2015 Posted October 27, 2015 Have you looked at a Titan 24 9er? 26inch wheel with a frame size sort of between a xs 26er and a 24 frame
ians H2Sport Posted October 27, 2015 Posted October 27, 2015 Been there too. I put my 8 year old daughter on a XS 26 Scott. Spent too much cash on light wheels but it made a massive difference. Then did the 1x10 conversion, swopped out seat, bars, post with lighter components I had. Bike is now 10.1 kg. 1st year on the bike she struggled due to geometry, weight and size (bike too big). This year she won her age group in the Spur school series. My son is now 7 and I went a different route. Bought a new Momsen JSL 24. Awesome bike with air fork and tubeless ready tyres/rims. Bike fit is better and should last at least 2 seasons. I suggest stay 24 and look at the Momsen. Great looking bike 10.8kg standard, most important though, geometry is better for kids.
gummibear Posted October 27, 2015 Posted October 27, 2015 24" Ti that's under 10kg http://www.trailcraftcycles.com/img/site_specific/uploads/crop_Trailcraft_Pineridge24_Ti_141014__full_5.jpg
Ed-Zulu Posted October 27, 2015 Posted October 27, 2015 I must warn you from personal experience....the Titan grip shift is poor quality, becomes sticky very easily and the kids generally battle to shift it as they do not have the hand strength. I replaced with trigger shift and the problem was solved.
RockHound Posted October 27, 2015 Posted October 27, 2015 Momsen have the JSL range which has a 20 (20') and the JSL40 (24'). Both bikes are well specked and come in at less than 9kg's. They are a bit more expensive than the Titan option, but the better weight and components do make a huge difference, with the older models mostly being SLX and Deore. The only draw back in the front shifter, which the little okes struggle to use as they don't have the strength for the big shifts. This can easily be solved by putting a grip shifter (no name brand works fine) on the front derailleur as the are 3 speed. My recommendation is try and find one of the older models. The first ones had a solid fork and then they put a very nice little air shock on some of the later models, but kids do have their own built in shock absorbers, so the fork in no biggy. For some extra bucks you can upgrade the rear derailleur and cassette. As for the tubeless, the rims do work with a tubeless conversion, you just need to find a Kendra (Small Block) folded bead tyre for 24', which are about as common as rocking horse S*&^t and unicorns, but they do exist. Revolutionised my sons riding!!!!!!!
Eddie Stafford Posted October 27, 2015 Posted October 27, 2015 I had the same problem trying to get a light bike for my kids. There are only one or two manufactures that make kid specific light 24 inch bikes. The best by a long shot is Isla Bikes in the UK - http://www.islabikes.co.uk/. Unfortunately they are not cheap (especially with the FX rate), but they are very good quality, don’t rust and my sister kids are the 4th users of the 16 inch and 24 inch bikes. You will also need someone to bring one back from the UK. Waiting time is about 2 weeks. The problem continued when the kids moved onto 26inch bikes. I ended up buying a Chinese 15inch carbon frame and built a 10kg, 1 x 10, hardtail. Again this is not cheap, but it is a proper light hardtail. See the attached spreadsheet for the cost. All parts were purchased from http://www.bike-discount.de/en.26 Inch bike build.pdf
Rowber Posted October 27, 2015 Posted October 27, 2015 Momsen JSL 40 . Awesome bike. My son loves his.
Snytjie Posted October 27, 2015 Author Posted October 27, 2015 Titan kids have a 1x(7?)gripshift. Check you tube for "ghetto tubeless conversion". I don't think it is hard.Thanks. Grip shift only in 20". ...Just get an xs 26" with decent components and shorten stem etc...She is currently on the edge between 20" and 24". I think 26" will be too big. ...Bought a new Momsen JSL 24.... Great looking bike 10.8kg standard...Hi Ians. I weighed the new Momsen JSL40 (which I suppose you refer to?) in store and it came in at 12.3kg and R9000.00. That is when I started thinking about cutting 2kgs of the Titan Calypso, Scott Contessa, Trek 220s which all weigh 12.7kg by removal of suspension, wheels etc. Said bikes are about R3500 and if I spend R2000 on 'upgrades' it is lighter and R3500 less. Could you double check that weight for me, please? Or are you maybe talking about the carbon race option? Momsen have the JSL range which has a 20 (20') and the JSL40 (24'). Both bikes are well specked and come in at less than 9kg's... As for the tubeless, the rims do work with a tubeless conversion, you just need to find a Kendra (Small Block) folded bead tyre for 24', which are about as common as rocking horse S*&^t and unicorns, but they do exist. Hi Mark. Please see above reply: 9kgs? The 20" does come at 8.7kg odd, but the JSL40 I weighed was 12.3kg... Thanks for the tyre advice, will definitely check it out!
Snytjie Posted October 27, 2015 Author Posted October 27, 2015 24" Ti that's under 10kg http://www.trailcraftcycles.com/img/site_specific/uploads/crop_Trailcraft_Pineridge24_Ti_141014__full_5.jpg $2700.00. Are you trying to sabotage my marriage? I know I have a spectacular wife but she won't live in Europe, you know...
rock Posted October 27, 2015 Posted October 27, 2015 there seems to be two Momsen 24" bikes. JR40 and a JSL40 either way they both have suspension forks which is crazy. edit. mentioned already above.
Snytjie Posted October 27, 2015 Author Posted October 27, 2015 I had the same problem trying to get a light bike for my kids. There are only one or two manufactures that make kid specific light 24 inch bikes. The best by a long shot is Isla Bikes in the UK - http://www.islabikes.co.uk/. Unfortunately they are not cheap (especially with the FX rate), but they are very good quality, don’t rust and my sister kids are the 4th users of the 16 inch and 24 inch bikes. You will also need someone to bring one back from the UK. Waiting time is about 2 weeks. The problem continued when the kids moved onto 26inch bikes. I ended up buying a Chinese 15inch carbon frame and built a 10kg, 1 x 10, hardtail. Again this is not cheap, but it is a proper light hardtail. See the attached spreadsheet for the cost. All parts were purchased from http://www.bike-discount.de/en.Hi Eddie. Thank you very much. Great info for future consideration. If Islabikes were available in SA I would pay the R8000 for a 8.8kg 24" bike in 1 x 10, for sure! I have a mate who goes to the UK a few times a year, but I don't want to put the stress on him of going through customs with a bike and trying to avoid paying import duties... I'm not even sure how you manage that.
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