New used bike for kiddo #1

Many here remember the bike Tunakid and I built years ago. It's gone through his brother, his other brother and now it's his sisters.

It's time for a genuine mountain bike, but maybe $150 worth. Hardtail, 24" or 26" wheel. He's 4'8" and his inseam is 26" if I recall correctly. He rides my 26" 17.5" Specialized Hardrock with no issue.

https://charlotte.craigslist.org/bik/d/trek-mountain-bike-sr-suntour/6726828423.html

https://charlotte.craigslist.org/bik/d/specialized-hotrock-a1-24/6701718221.html

https://columbia.craigslist.org/bik/d/giant-boulder-mountain-bike/6716573017.html

What else say the hive?

I have an aluminum frame version of the Giant Boulder, and it still feels as heavy as, well, a giant boulder. One with a steel frame is going to have some real heft to it, while the other two are aluminum. Of those, I'd probably go for the Trek, but mostly because I don't like twist style shifters.

In reply to MadScientistMatt :

I so hate twist style shifters. The worst shifter ever invented. I'd rather the old-school lever-mounted-to-the-tube style.

I'd look for a bike he can grow into, framewise. 26" wheels definitely. Twist shifters are the devil. Personally, I prefer steel frames, but finding a good one means looking at older bikes, which in turn probably means replacing components. Aluminum is easier to make light bikes out of, but the vibration it transmits is unpleasant at speed (I was reminded of this yesterday test-riding the Trek 7.3 FX I grabbed from the dump last month).

I like the trek myself,  but the 24 tire limits options.

In reply to MadScientistMatt :

LOL at "heavy as a giant boulder"

How about this?

https://knoxville.craigslist.org/bik/d/scott-aspect-60/6734100768.html

The small frame 26" Spec Hardrock is good for kids transitioning out of 20" with room to grow.  That's what my son has (he's 10) and it's 'big' but usable.   The low stepover height is perfect.  We got ours for $100 on a local FB MTB page.  

Geometry is going to be a compromise with a growing kid no matter how hard you try to get it right.  That said, I'd be looking for lightweight and in budget.  Also, I'll be the dissenter... grip shift is irritating on rocky trails while trying to horse the bike around, but it kicks ass when it's so cold outside that your thumb won't shift a regular lever anymore.  It also tends to be lighter and more forgiving to tuning issues.

I don't love twist shifters but good ones are not bad at all.

I'd skip the Giant. Rusty af cassette, old school quill stem, suspension fork that may not be in good shape anymore. I am betting it needs more work then you would want.

The Hotrock looks alright (although I have to question anything sold as a mtb with a kickstand).

The Trek looks sketchy as hell. Why are there that many spacers under the stem? Check for cracks around the head tube on that one if you go look at it. And if you buy cut the steerer tube down!

The Scott would be my choice.

IMO if they are going to do any actual MTB riding, I'd want disc brakes.

In reply to 93EXCivic :

I've done tons of trail riding without the discs, so I'm not mandating that.

Thanks for the tips on the rest. I hadn't seen any of that in the pics.

Another place to watch for bikes. https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/

Im a huge specialized fan for utility type mountain bikes.  I find that they just work and work and work.  No issues..   Though my latest buy was a super sweet giant 20" mtn bike for my 7 year old. 

In reply to 93EXCivic :

Hey that place is neat. This is high but I bet negotiable, thoughts? I didn't want a full suspension bike but this seems to be a good one.

https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/969332/?directtofirstphoto

Per Schroeder said:

The small frame 26" Spec Hardrock is good for kids transitioning out of 20" with room to grow.  That's what my son has (he's 10) and it's 'big' but usable.   The low stepover height is perfect.  We got ours for $100 on a local FB MTB page.  

I was shocked when I saw that this is dated today and from Per.

Haven't seen you around in a while, hope life is grand :)

If I bought something which needed everything, how much would I spend for shifters, derailleurs, fork, wheels, etc?

https://greenville.craigslist.org/bik/d/gary-fisher-bike/6731974560.html

Or just this

https://greenville.craigslist.org/bik/d/older-specialized-mountain/6715256427.html

That StumpJumper looks like it has good quality components on it; I'm thinking the frame will be too big for your son in the short term though.  When my son was that age, I discovered that it's tough to find used small MTB frames. 

I do have a small Raleigh frame my son rode from 9-12y/o or so; it's bare aluminum, cosmetically challenged, and has a LOT of trail miles on it, but will fit him better in the short term; you can strip all the components off that Stumpy and build it up for him til he outgrows it. 

PM me your address and I'll get it boxed up for you. 

That Stumpjumper is the most promising one to my eyes. It's really hard to build up a frame without spending considerably more than you would for a complete bike unless you have lots of parts lying around, even for a SS; once you add in shifters and derailleurs it's nearly impossible unless you buy the cheapest junk you can find.

tuna55 said:

If I bought something which needed everything, how much would I spend for shifters, derailleurs, fork, wheels, etc?

https://greenville.craigslist.org/bik/d/gary-fisher-bike/6731974560.html

 

A lot more then you are budgeting honestly. I just rebuilt a free bike as a cruiser into a single speed for my wife. That included new brake lines ($10), new chain ($11), used single speed crank ($28), a new single speed freewheel ($20), seat ($20), handlebar grips ($8), single speed tensioner ($20), new tires ($40). new tubes ($12), new rim tape ($2), used stem ($10) and new handlebar ($12) so almost $193 and most of that stuff is going to be cheaper then the parts you would need.

I still think the Scott is best looking choice IMO.

In reply to 93EXCivic :

The Scott frame is pretty big, 18.5".

He's riding my Specialized Hardrock (circa 2002ish aluminum frame hardtail) OK, and I think it's a 17" frame. I wouldn't want to go bigger than that.

In reply to XLR99 :

Dude that's a huge offer. I'll let you know if I end up getting something which can work that way.

Your thread inspired me. I stopped by my local bike shop and picked up a used haro z16 for my little guy for xmas.  He's gonna freak out. 

WonkoTheSane said:

Per Schroeder said:

The small frame 26" Spec Hardrock is good for kids transitioning out of 20" with room to grow.  That's what my son has (he's 10) and it's 'big' but usable.   The low stepover height is perfect.  We got ours for $100 on a local FB MTB page.  

I was shocked when I saw that this is dated today and from Per.

Haven't seen you around in a while, hope life is grand :)

Thanks--I pop in here and there if there's a thread that interests me.  It is grand--spending a lot more time working on foot power rather than horsepower.  

Does the adoption of yet another project signal an improvement in your energy levels?

Pete

In reply to NOHOME :

No.

Although I also have gone the entire week with very little sleep. Actually, I have data:

Sat oct 27: 7:02

Sun Oct 28 4:34

Mon Oct 29 6:16

Tues Oct 30 4:50

Wed Nov 1 5:43

Thurs Nov 2 5:00

So who really knows?