Kid bike recommendation

[chip*]

Hi,

My youngest ride a balance ride (Frog Tadpole) but she can actually ride her sister's pedal bike (Frog 44) at the lowest seating position. Although ok for now, my eldest is close to outgrowing her Frog 44, so it's time to upgrade her and pass her Frog bike to the youngest (who will be ecstatic as she's ask every time to ride her sister's bike!).

Years ago,between Frogs and Islabikes, I bought the Frog's bike due to the light weight bikes ( Frog 44 ~6.5kg), but my general knowledge on kid's bike is very limited. Via a google search, I see a Raleigh Pop 18 inch which has 6 gears (not sure if she's ready for gears yet), but it appears to weigh 9.5kg, so a near 50% increase in weight over the Frog 44! Heavier and much cheaper, but is the frame and components any good?

If you have any other recommendations on a decent brands / bike model suitable for a 6 years old / 113cm, please share them with me! Thanks.

[cml24]

The obvious answer seems like a larger bike (small 20 inch wheeled) from islabikes, frog, or similar.

9.5kg sounds too heavy.

When I've looked 18 inch wheels seem not as common as 20. And you seem to get small framed 20 inch wheel bikes that are similar size to 18 inch wheel bikes so I struggle to see the point.

My daughter is nearly six, and very similar height. I'll be looking at 20" wheel bikes very soon as well. Interested what you end up with.

[Matt_N]

Skip the 18” wheel and get them on a 20”, all of the decent contenders are reviewed here:

https://www.cyclesprog.co.uk/bikes/junior-hybrid-b...

We went with a Giant ARX 20 after a Frog 43 and my lad loved it.

[Roastie ITR]

I recommend the Islabike Beinn 20, my son loves his. He's very small for his age & was riding his Beinn 20 small just after he turned 5, so it's possible you will be able to go straight onto the 20 large.

I weighed his one & it was only 8kg, it only cost just over £100 from eBay & we will easily get our money back.

[Shaoxter]

My 6yo/125cm has an Islabikes Cnoc 20, the seat has plenty of adjustment so yours should be fine on that. Although it might be better to go straight for the geared Beinn one for a bit of future proofing. Buy a used one and you won't lose much if anything, I've sold his previous Islabikes for almost zero depreciation.

[Dan_1981]

We got this for my 6 year old at Xmas - has a display for the gears and he's picked them up really quickly.

Heavier than his previous Early Rider obviously, but doesn't seem to have impacted and he's now in the position to go on steady rides with me.


https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/p/vitus-20-kid...

[_Hoppers]

Have a look at Woom bikes. IIRC they are lighter and a little chaper than Islabikes?

https://woom.com/en_INT

[chip*]

Thanks, lots of choices, maybe too many?!

Had a quick gander, and the Vitus 20 looks good value and fairly light'ish (8.5kg). I am also liking the Specialized Jett 20 too with the various adjustability (it looks smart but then the bike is not for me!)

I favour new bikes as it will need to last my 2 daughters, so buying a second hand bike which may need repairs/maintenance could be a false economy. Finally, I fear my biggest battle will be selling a dull / boring colour bike to a 6 years old girl who loves anything bright, pink and sparkly... Thanks for all your suggestions, and I will read them all up before making a final decision.

[Mad Scientist]

Just got our youngest a jet20. She really likes it. Comes with a stand too.

Was all the same kit as equivalent frog but quite a bit cheaper. The design/geo seems to suggest it will last a while.

My oldest is just about outgrown her 20 inch carrera and she is 10 next month but only average height. This really should have been a hand me down, but the joy of a new bike is something I can align with! The spec feels quite a bit lighter than the carrera, haven’t weighed either.

[vindaloo79]

We picked up one of these some time ago for eldest.

https://winstanleysbikes.co.uk/squish-18-kids-bike

Sub 7kg…

[Some Gump]

Isla beinn 20.

If youbwant lower budget, wiggins chartres 20 or hoy bonally 20.

[chip*]

Just received a promo Halford email with their the usual bank holiday deals, and I see the Boardman 20 Hybrid is reduced from £340 to £300

https://www.halfords.com/bikes/junior-bikes/boardm...

I can get an instore 7% discount which drops it to an enticing £279. Think I will pop into Halfords tomorrow and have a look as it's in stock at my local branch.

[bristolbaron]

chip* said:

Just received a promo Halford email with their the usual bank holiday deals, and I see the Boardman 20 Hybrid is reduced from £340 to £300

https://www.halfords.com/bikes/junior-bikes/boardm...

I can get an instore 7% discount which drops it to an enticing £279. Think I will pop into Halfords tomorrow and have a look as it's in stock at my local branch.

The major difference is you can use the frog/isla for both kids and then get nearly all your money back selling once you’re done. Other brands have nowhere near the same residuals.

Will be selling my lads Hoy towards the end of summer and they don’t fetch a lot.

[Davie]

My little boy went from a used 16" Carrera Cosmo to a 20" Voodoo Sobo when he was four and took to it pretty well. A year on, he's throwing it down trails but is already starting to look a bit big on it

I bought it used, albeit like new for a fraction of the retail price and what appealed was it had decent v-brakrs and thumb shifter gears - I really didn't want him to get a bike with grip shift.

It weighs 9.8kg but he was fine with it.

[chip*]

Decision made, it's the Frog 53 in pink.

Thanks for all your comments / contributions.