My 9 yera old is wanting to get a BMX bike. He's been riding my 82 Diamond Back a little. His birthday is coming up, and I was wondering what brands are out now. I have no clue. Could some one recommend some cool BMX bikes for me. I went by a shop at lunch and they had Hoffman, Marico(sp), GT, and Redline. I saw a Mongoose at ToyRUs. They must have sold out. I saw a Diamond Back at Dicks Sporting Goods so I'm guessing they did too. They were so heavy. Anyway, I'd appreciate the help. I tried to talk him into a MTB, but I had no luck. Thanks - Jeremy
I need some BMX help
- Thread starter JSB
- Start date
hoffman would be ok for a starter i guess since hes only nine but for quality when i used to bmx i got all my products off of www.danscomp.com i dont think they sell anything below quality but then again i havnt bmxed in about 7 years
oh and id shy away from mongoose. im pretty sure theyre crap. thier more expensive bikes i.e downhill might be decent but i have no experience with them
there are a lot of decent completes for sale. haro, mirraco, fit, and others. even the low end ones are decent for a beginning rider, bikes have come a long way since 82. depending on how big your boy is he may have more fun on a 16 or 18" wheel bike. i know haro made really solid 16" bikes at one time.
there are short 20" bikes out there. look for something with an 18" top tube.
there are short 20" bikes out there. look for something with an 18" top tube.
Well I found a Haro F1 at a pretty good price. I might go with that. I can't understand why a BMX bike would cost $900. What kind of technology goes into them to create a $500 increase.
Hoffman, MirraCo, GT and Redline all make good beginner bikes for him. Also look at FIT, KINK, and EASTERN completes which are very popular.
Don't buy anything from Toys R Us, Walmart, etc. They will be terrible, really terrible--cheap soft steel where every bolt will strip out...
I'm glad you didn't talk him into an MTB. I ride an MTB now, but I'm old. Kids want to learn jumps, tricks, learn skills and impress their friends. 20" bmx is the way to go without a doubt. Then he'll have bike skills that can be tranferred to MTB later if he wants. An MTB now would be big and clunky and basically no fun for a 9 year old.
Here's the KINK LAUNCH at www.empirebmx.com
Kink complete - Launch 2009
$329.95
20" TT, 100% Hi-Ten steel frame, fork with cromo steerer tube, 2-pc Kink 7.75" bars, 25t Kink sprocket, 170m 3-pc tubular cromo cranks, Mid bb, alloy pedals with cromo spindles, U brake, detangler, 2 pegs
and the FIT PARK
http://www.empirebmx.com/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=7012
Fit Bikes complete - PRK 1
$369.95
20" TT, steel frame with cromo TT, hi-ten fork with cromo steer tube, std 1-1/8" HT, Fit grips, 7.25" bars, Tektro brake and lever, tubular 3-pc cranks, sealed Mid bb, 25t sprocket, 14mm axles, sealed cassette with 9t, Alienation rims, detangler, 2 pegs
materials and fabrication have gotten way more advanced as well as technology in every aspect. 26lbs for a solid ass street/dirt/park bike is the norm now.
don't get your 9 year old that nice of a bmx bike, just something ridable for a beginner. if he really loves bmx then you can get him something nice later.
the difference is the steel. there are multiple grades of steel from cheap mushy walmart bikes that bend and strip out... to high grade, treated, air hardened chromoly, (or high grade aluminum for race bikes). just like in mtb or road.
this kinda shows your bias against BMX. even though in this case you are buying a BMX for a 9 year old, we are all 20- and 30-something riders that take as much pride in high quality bmx bikes as mtb and roadie guys do with theirs. bmx bikes for adult bmx riders who take the sport seriously have to be both light and withstand impacts and stresses of jumping 20 ft doubles, 12 foot tall half pipes etc. etc. it should be clear that no adult rider doing those kinds of stunts wants a cheap steel bike.
if you say that mtb prices are related to the cost of shocks and gears (which is true), consider the complete single speed SURLY Karate Monkey has an MSRP of $1149:
I have been going through this with my 8--almost 9--year old and been trying to decide whether to go with a compact 20" or an 18". When he messes around on my 20" (20.75 TT) it looks like even if the TT was at 18 or 18.5 it would still be tall for him to really have fun on and feel like he was the boss of the bike and not the other way around. He's between 52 and 54 inches tall (haven't measured lately). I am leaning toward an 18", probably a 2hip counterstrike if I can locate one. If I remember right they have a decent parts list, micro drive and pull in at about $260. Or, an Eastern 'digger 18". Those are two bikes I know I can get at a fair price and still spend money my local shop. There was a pretty cheap Blackeye 18" on Danscomp (De La Cruz?). If I go 20" I will probably look hard at the Eastern 9-volt (it is an aluminum frame bike with an 18-18.5" TT). But I haven't researched hard on who else has a twenty with a TT in the 18" range.
I do know my kid isn't gonna be mounting a $500 whip....yet....because his mom said so.
I do know my kid isn't gonna be mounting a $500 whip....yet....because his mom said so.
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Have you thought about a race bike, or do you definitely want it to be freestyle ? I think bike weight is a big issue with little kids. Unfortunately most of the complete 18"s really aren't very light.
In racing, there is a size of bike in BMX Racing called "Junior." It's sort of a cruiser scaled down around 20" wheels instead of 24". It's bigger than a "mini" though. They are super light.
i know you don't want to drop the dough, but get him something that will last, blackeyes aren't that great. how tall is he? look into the kink 18", it's the best one for the money. the fit is good too. don't skimp on it, you'll spend a lot more replacing parts later. you'll want a cassette, which i believe comes on the fit, over a freewheel. stay away from 2hip unless it's a last option
http://www.danscomp.com/101979.php?cat=BIKES
http://www.danscomp.com/101979.php?cat=BIKES
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^^
Have you actually asked your local shop if they can order/source a fit? S&M is usually more than willing to sell single bikes, etc when customers ask at my LBS (where I work)
Have you actually asked your local shop if they can order/source a fit? S&M is usually more than willing to sell single bikes, etc when customers ask at my LBS (where I work)