Bike upgrade 5 year old boy

[Lindi Magnus]

Ho

 

I need a little help please. Looking to buy a new 16 inch bike for my 5 year old - can anyone recommend a good brand please. Budget up to R3500. 

 

Thanks a lot!

[RobynE]

If his feet can touch the ground when he’s sitting I’d go for this (link below) and let him really get a feel, and then when he’s ready for suspension and gears a Titan Hades or Norco Storm would get my vote. 
 

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/kids-bikes/803533/silverback-skid

[dewaldsss]

I was lucky enough to get my 4 year old - now turning 6 a new Scott Voltage JR 16 inch.

Alu frame, solid bike and rear brake is "back pedal"

My son loves it, and it is ktm orange 🙈

these are also very cool - https://www.momentumbmx.co.za/product/mongoose-l16/?srsltid=AfmBOopK6uMnhrb6bS1c696eJsq0h6pCBuND4T_UWD4Q81W1HwoEuTX1

[Barry]

Take a look at the @Titan Racing Bikes range of bikes; the Hades 16" model would likely be a good fit for him at this age. They have options suitable for every stage of his development, and their quality and service are excellent. Additionally, they are available on the hub if you need to chat.

[ChrisF]

13 hours ago, RobynE said:

If his feet can touch the ground when he’s sitting I’d go for this (link below) and let him really get a feel, and then when he’s ready for suspension and gears a Titan Hades or Norco Storm would get my vote. 
 

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/kids-bikes/803533/silverback-skid

 

This is a good option, and well inside your budget.

 

As much as I am a Titan Racing fan, their 16" bikes seems outside your budget.

[Jono]

At 5 years old, maybe look at a 20 inch. My 5 year old just got her brothers 20 inch and is loving it.

[Barry]

8 minutes ago, ChrisF said:

 

This is a good option, and well inside your budget.

 

As much as I am a Titan Racing fan, their 16" bikes seems outside your budget.

R3500 for the Titan 16" is the average new bike retail.  Could probably get a slightly used second-hand for half the retail. 

[RobynE]

From my experience a 16” is a “blink and you miss it” bike, so if kiddo fits on a 20 and is comfortable then it’s the better option to get more use out of it. 

[Barry]

5 minutes ago, RobynE said:

From my experience a 16” is a “blink and you miss it” bike, so if kiddo fits on a 20 and is comfortable then it’s the better option to get more use out of it. 

The blink is the issue. I got a new Calypso 20" a few months ago, thinking she would grow into it in about a year. I took her out last week, and now I'm considering an upgrade.

[ChrisF]

12 minutes ago, Barry said:

The blink is the issue. I got a new Calypso 20" a few months ago, thinking she would grow into it in about a year. I took her out last week, and now I'm considering an upgrade.

 

Jip, got barely more than 12 months out of the 16", 20", and then the 20" each ...

[Lindi Magnus]

1 hour ago, dewaldsss said:

I was lucky enough to get my 4 year old - now turning 6 a new Scott Voltage JR 16 inch.

Alu frame, solid bike and rear brake is "back pedal"

My son loves it, and it is ktm orange 🙈

these are also very cool - https://www.momentumbmx.co.za/product/mongoose-l16/?srsltid=AfmBOopK6uMnhrb6bS1c696eJsq0h6pCBuND4T_UWD4Q81W1HwoEuTX1

We are looking for an orange bike - it is my sons favorite colour 😅😅

[Barry]

16 minutes ago, ChrisF said:

 

Jip, got barely more than 12 months out of the 16", 20", and then the 20" each ...

I suppose it’s like that with everything at this stage of development, from shoes and clothes to bikes. Buy what works for now; try not to think too far ahead, and remember that this is a transition that probably won’t last long. Expect to be buying again in a year or so.

[DJuice]

1 hour ago, Lindi Magnus said:

We are looking for an orange bike - it is my sons favorite colour 😅😅

The Norco we have is orange.

Three boys, 7, 5 and 4, we had two Muna balance bikes. One Norco 16 inch third boy’s outside bike.

5 year old on new to him Titan Hades 20inch, had the bike from his nephew from 4,5 years.

7 year old on Titan Hades 24inch.

The 4 year old, was happy with hand me downs, but wanted is own green bike, we got him the Scott.

I’m a bad parent, his allowed to ride in the house, the green Scott is uses for that.

The other day the 4 year old had a mic drop moment. The older two was showing off, he got up, did two laps on the Norco and jumped of in the ride. 

Three months later he used the Norco again, last night we went for a short ride. 
 

Personally not a fan of the coaster on the scott. Slow engagement at the dead spot point in the cycle, which does not give confidance to a child, at 3-4 they are not strong enough to pass that point. 
 

If you can, don’t skip sizes, re-use. All our bikes are spoken for with friends children.

Edited Saturday at 11:07 AM by DJuice
Clarity

[RobynE]

4 minutes ago, Barry said:

I suppose it’s like that with everything at this stage of development, from shoes and clothes to bikes. Buy what works for now; try not to think too far ahead, and remember that this is a transition that probably won’t last long. Expect to be buying again in a year or so.

Yep. My kiddo got her 26” XS end of 2022 having spent about 18 months on 20” a BMX - beginning of last year we reckoned she had 2 years left on the 26” - middle of last year we realised 1 year - and as of December she’s on a M 27.5 😂 (she’s 10) and she can ride my M 29” with my own seat height on non-technical stuff 🤯 

[DavidOWright]

16 minutes ago, DJuice said:

The Norco we have is orange.

Three boys, 7, 5 and 4, we had two Muna balance bikes. One Norco 16 inch third boy’s outside bike.

5 year old on new to him Titan Hades 20inch, had the bike from his nephew from 4,5 years.

7 year old on Titan Hades 24inch.

The 4 year old, was happy with hand me downs, but wanted is own green bike, we got him the Scott.

I’m a bad parent, his allowed to ride in the house, the green Scott is uses for that.

The other day the 4 year old had a mic drop moment. The older two was showing off, he got up, did two laps on the Norco and jumped of in the ride. 

Three months later he used the Norco again, last night we went for a short ride. 
 

Personally not a fan of the coaster on the scott.

I also have 3 boys ALSO 7, 5 and 4 years 

I have gone with 2nd hand frog bikes from the Hub and never regretted.

7 year old - 20 Inch

5 year old - 16 inch (not yet ready for the 20 inch)

4 year old - balance bike - about to start on 16 inch

In answer to your question:

- 16 inch FROG for the 5 year old - you will sell it easily again

- you could go 20 but think it might be too soon

Good luck...

 

 

[DJuice]

41 minutes ago, DavidOWright said:

I also have 3 boys ALSO 7, 5 and 4 years 

I have gone with 2nd hand frog bikes from the Hub and never regretted.

7 year old - 20 Inch

5 year old - 16 inch (not yet ready for the 20 inch)

4 year old - balance bike - about to start on 16 inch

In answer to your question:

- 16 inch FROG for the 5 year old - you will sell it easily again

- you could go 20 but think it might be too soon

Good luck...

 

 

Was looking for Frogs, skaars soos hoender tande!