Hello Just An Innocent Dad Whose Sons Bike Mad

[winchman]

Hello

Our son is a very keen BMX rider who fancies a trals bike.

So what do we buy?

Obviously second hand, budget £150-250

We did see one at the car boot for £175, luckily I know a bit about bikes, so we walked away LOL, looked very good, but not looked after with a big list of problems.

Any good places to take him near to St.Helens

Forgot to say he is 12 and 5ft6" tall, bit weedy but starting to fill out, wouldnt like a dig from him LOL

[Alex Dark]

Hello

Our son is a very keen BMX rider who fancies a trals bike.

So what do we buy?

Obviously second hand, budget £150-250

We did see one at the car boot for £175, luckily I know a bit about bikes, so we walked away LOL, looked very good, but not looked after with a big list of problems.

Any good places to take him near to St.Helens

If i were you I would look at something like an Onza rip or pro for that kind of money. A mod bike is usually easier to learn on and tend to be considerably better specced than comparable stocks.

A good place to look for a bike is the FS section on here, or obviously Ebay. Sometimes decent bikes come up on gumtree too.

If it were me buying the bike I would look for the following:

Negatives:

• 
  
  
• Dented rims
  
• Heavily buckled rims ( 1-2mm is rarely an issue )
  
• ANY loose bearings, headset is the exception which could just need tightening. If wheel/crank bearings are loose ( grab the wheel/crank arms and rock side to side to feel for any play ) chances are the wheel/bb either has open bearings ( cup and cone ) which dont last all that long and are badly adjusted or the bearings are shot which points to an abused bike.
  
• Rear/front brake if magura hs33 ( hydraulic with calipers that push pads onto the rim ) check the lever actuates the pads and locks the wheel in place
  
• If disc brake, wheel bike forwards then snatch brake... if contaminated or really horrendously setup the brake wont lock all that effectively and youll get a horrible shriek.
  
• Back pedal the cranks, look for any weird noises coming from the rear/front freewheel/hub apart from the usual clicking or buzzing of the pawls/ ring engaging.
  
• Check the frame and forks mainly for cracks before buying. Obviously every bike is different, but the top of disc mounts and magura mounts are one of the most highly stressed places on the bike.
  
• A couple of dents isnt really an issue, but I avoid bikes whose downtube and especially chainstays look like the surface of the moon.
  
• Tyre tread is important as at the bare minimum youll be looking at £38 to replace both tyres ( mod . CC rear, SB8 front )
  
  

Brands to look for would be Echo, Onza, Trialtech and Koxx ( loads more but those are a few decent ones )

Any other questions, give me a shout

Alex

[monkeyseemonkeydo]

Alex has pretty much covered everything there. Only thing I'll add is that by 'mod' he means a bike with 20" wheels. These tend to be a bit cheaper, smaller and lighter than bigger bikes making them easier to learn on, particularly for a 12 year old.

[murph82]

he may be 12 but at 5ft 6 already a mod may not last that long. If he is into bmx maybe a 24 would be good, second hand onza zoot or ashton effect or anything else that falls into that budget?

[monkeyseemonkeydo]

he may be 12 but at 5ft 6 already a mod may not last that long.

So mods can't be ridden by fully grown adults? Tell that to Cesar, Dani and Benito!

[dann2707]

I would say get the basics dialled on a mod first then upgrade to a stock, seems really tall for his age!

[Krisboats]

So mods can't be ridden by fully grown adults? Tell that to Cesar, Dani and Benito!

I think the point might have been that in the next year or so the kid may well be pretty tall. At his age i was a similar size and by 14 i was 6'3".

In fairness though, even if he does become a tall one the mod will probably suit him until he's either gotten bored of it or into it enough to want something more advanced.

[Alex Dark]

I think the point might have been that in the next year or so the kid may well be pretty tall. At his age i was a similar size and by 14 i was 6'3".

In fairness though, even if he does become a tall one the mod will probably suit him until he's either gotten bored of it or into it enough to want something more advanced.

[winchman]

Alex has pretty much covered everything there. Only thing I'll add is that by 'mod' he means a bike with 20" wheels. These tend to be a bit cheaper, smaller and lighter than bigger bikes making them easier to learn on, particularly for a 12 year old.

Thanks I did wonder what the Mod meant, I thought modified LOL

I think I agree with the 20" and see how he goes, after all if I buy second hand and he moves up or gets bored it should still be worth what we paid?

Seen a few Onzas for sale so will start to look about

[murph82]

So mods can't be ridden by fully grown adults? Tell that to Cesar, Dani and Benito!

Of course they can, but cant imagine any of them winning a tallest person contest. I thought maybe a 24 as more than anything some of the kids bmx style might cross over well to the style of riding perhaps keeping the interest there if he's still learning backhops after 3 months getting cheesed off

[monkeyseemonkeydo]

Of course they can, but cant imagine any of them winning a tallest person contest. I thought maybe a 24 as more than anything some of the kids bmx style might cross over well to the style of riding perhaps keeping the interest there if he's still learning backhops after 3 months getting cheesed off

Dani Comas isn't exactly short! On the other hand Marc Caisso is about 5 foot nothing and is a beast on a 26" bike.

But yeah, point taken on the 24" vs. BMX, just depends what sort of riding he wants to do.

[trials owns]

Thanks I did wonder what the Mod meant, I thought modified LOL

I think I agree with the 20" and see how he goes, after all if I buy second hand and he moves up or gets bored it should still be worth what we paid?

Seen a few Onzas for sale so will start to look about

If your budget is around £200, second hand bikes dont devalue that much to be honest its only when you start peppering them in brand new expensive parts where the money is lost

id recommend a onza t pro as they are cracking little bikes for the money!

[MonsieurMonkey]

Hey, I'm not going to join in the whole bike debate because it's personal opinion. If he rides BMX he'll be used to 20" wheels, that's probably the best place for him to start. (I do realise I said that just after saying I won't join in the debate lol.)

Anyway, I'm originally from St Helens, currently in Liverpool doing my degree, I come home most weekends and as soon as my bike is sorted I'm hoping to ride at home every other weekend. I'm only just starting (At twice the age of your son...) but I've been around for a while (First attempt at riding when I was 14, been around on here on and off for maybe 8 or 9 years) so if you ever want to come out I'll be more than happy to come ride too, or if you ever want to come up to Liverpool, it seems there is a scene here, it's just bubbling below the surface and needs some organisation

[winchman]

Hey, I'm not going to join in the whole bike debate because it's personal opinion. If he rides BMX he'll be used to 20" wheels, that's probably the best place for him to start. (I do realise I said that just after saying I won't join in the debate lol.)

Anyway, I'm originally from St Helens, currently in Liverpool doing my degree, I come home most weekends and as soon as my bike is sorted I'm hoping to ride at home every other weekend. I'm only just starting (At twice the age of your son...) but I've been around for a while (First attempt at riding when I was 14, been around on here on and off for maybe 8 or 9 years) so if you ever want to come out I'll be more than happy to come ride too, or if you ever want to come up to Liverpool, it seems there is a scene here, it's just bubbling below the surface and needs some organisation

Thanks we will keep you posted

[JJ_ONeill]

Hey, just thought i'd say something before you buy!

You say he's a keen BMXer, so I assume you mean park or street BMX? If so, I believe a 24" bike would be best for him to learn on. When out with friends I am forever asked by BMXers for a go of my mod bike, and more often than not they hate it. The geometry is radically different, and so most park BMXers don't want to branch into trials. 24" bikes have a geo much closer to a BMX than a mod or stock bike, so this is my reasoning.

However, as someone already said, he will feel comfortable on 20" wheels, so a mod bike would be good for that reason. Also a 20" is so much more flickey - I prefer mine to all my other bikes(I mean for god's sake I travel about 8 miles to my girlfriends house, just because everything can be seen as an obstacle and it's far more fun than a commuter bike!).

Its really a question of either a radically different geometry and the same wheel size, or a similar geometry but a much bigger wheel size.

Just weighing up both sides to try and help! Good Luck!

[winchman]

Hey, just thought i'd say something before you buy!

You say he's a keen BMXer, so I assume you mean park or street BMX? If so, I believe a 24" bike would be best for him to learn on. When out with friends I am forever asked by BMXers for a go of my mod bike, and more often than not they hate it. The geometry is radically different, and so most park BMXers don't want to branch into trials. 24" bikes have a geo much closer to a BMX than a mod or stock bike, so this is my reasoning.

However, as someone already said, he will feel comfortable on 20" wheels, so a mod bike would be good for that reason. Also a 20" is so much more flickey - I prefer mine to all my other bikes(I mean for god's sake I travel about 8 miles to my girlfriends house, just because everything can be seen as an obstacle and it's far more fun than a commuter bike!).

Its really a question of either a radically different geometry and the same wheel size, or a similar geometry but a much bigger wheel size.

Just weighing up both sides to try and help! Good Luck!

Thanks

its a mine field for me as its a totally new concept.

BMX wise he loves the ramps at Rampworx in Liverpool, but often uses it any place he can.

He currently rides a Fly Pantera, but prefers my bike, its strange what we like and such a complex decision, he just loved the Fly until he rode mine.

One day the Fly was off the road with bearings failed again, but he still had a good day on one of the spare bikes a cheap mongoose thingy, it did the job, I find the BMX world is very trendy and all about names, some of the stuff is appaling but they just stick a name on it and try to give it prestige.

Heres a pic of my BMX he loves it, I like it as it was £49 from a car boot sale!Its so light at about 23lbs

[JJ_ONeill]

Looks sweet man, I used to ride park BMX myself for a while, but I prefer bike trials because of the nature. It requires more balance and care - park BMX only really needs momentum for the ramps...

Anyways, if he is such a keen rider of BMX then 24" would probably be best. You can do traditional trials stuff on them, although they do tend to lumber a little unlike the smaller mod bikes. But like I said, the geo is much closer to a BMX than other trials bikes, so he may get on better with one. There are a few Onza Zoots in the for sale section, and some of these can go for as little as £250 - £300 (new they're only about £500 or so)

[winchman]

Well just missed a tidy Onza T mag on Ebay, went over out budget.sold for £260 but would have cost £20 odd quid to collect in fuel

I assume he is better with a front disc?

Whats the Onza t-Vee like? what should we pay for one?

I think its decided he wants 20" wheels

[winchman]

Been offered an Onza Bird 12 months old, front disc, hardly used but it has cable operated brakes?

I assume this is a cheaper version?

He wants £250 but whats it really worth?

I was thinking £150 but then I see different models selling for £250 with hydraulic brakes and twin discs.

Advice please

Oh its very tidy with good tyres

[Leistonbmx]

Looks sweet man, I used to ride park BMX myself for a while, but I prefer bike trials because of the nature. It requires more balance and care - park BMX only really needs momentum for the ramps...

Anyways, if he is such a keen rider of BMX then 24" would probably be best. You can do traditional trials stuff on them, although they do tend to lumber a little unlike the smaller mod bikes. But like I said, the geo is much closer to a BMX than other trials bikes, so he may get on better with one. There are a few Onza Zoots in the for sale section, and some of these can go for as little as £250 - £300 (new they're only about £500 or so)

Lol, takes more than just riding at a ramp.

Depends if he wants to ride "street trials" or trials.

[Nick Manning]

Well just missed a tidy Onza T mag on Ebay, went over out budget.sold for £260 but would have cost £20 odd quid to collect in fuel

I assume he is better with a front disc?

Whats the Onza t-Vee like? what should we pay for one?

I think its decided he wants 20" wheels

Which brakes to use are purely down to personal preference. A disc brake on the front will allow for better modulation for tricks such as stoppies (rolling forwards on the front wheel only). With a Magura (hydraulica rim brake) there is little to know modulation on most set ups, though this can depend on which pads are being used and whether the rim has been ground (roughened up with a angle grinder). As your son rides a bmx I expect his brakes are not that sharp, so either would be good.

Been offered an Onza Bird 12 months old, front disc, hardly used but it has cable operated brakes?

I assume this is a cheaper version?

He wants £250 but whats it really worth?

I was thinking £150 but then I see different models selling for £250 with hydraulic brakes and twin discs.

Advice please

Oh its very tidy with good tyres

Cable disc brakes are not very powerful (excluding Avid BB7, set up correctly this is very powerful), but for someone first starting out in trials they are adequate. I would try and go for a bike with hydraulic rims brakes ( Magura HS33), or hydraulic disc brakes or Avid cable discs.

I think you are better holding out for a mod with hydraulic brakes.

[Mark W]

Cable disc brakes are not very powerful...

Once they're bedded in, the standard Onza ones can be pretty mental. A semi-local customer of our's brings his son's bike in every now and again to have a bit of work done, and the front brake is insane. The rear ones can work pretty well too.

[winchman]

Well we went to see it and bought it for £230, its like brand new, not a mark on the sump guard thingy, couple of scratches from storage, tyres like new, rides well.

Could do with two new grips thats all, so whos up for giving him a few lessons after Xmas?

Main thing is he is happy, he has a titty lip on though as we wont let him on it till Christmas LOL

Edited November 20, 2011 by winchman

[kaybs41282]

I long for the day my kid shows an interest in trials....

[winchman]

I long for the day my kid shows an interest in trials....

LOL

Ours have had a go at most things, its strange he might just get up one day and ask Dad I want one!

The turning point for us was a lad at work was selling a £1000 BMX on Ebay for £400, he tried twice and didnt get a bid ( ficcle world of BMX wrong colour / name etc)

I kept taking the P and offering £100, came in weeks later and told me I could have it for £150!

Our son still has it and has had a few different bikes as well but always comes back to it.

He has wanted a Trials bike for a bit so Christmas was an ideal oppertunity.