Is there such a thing as a lightweight inexpensive bike?

[sksjasams]

My dad has offered to get our DS a bike for his 13th birthday. We are looking for a 24 inch wheel mountain bike that is under $150 and not too heavy. Does that even exist?

We have seen lots of bikes online at walmart, target and toys r us. Most are over 40 lbs. We saw a few for 37lbs. Has anyone found a lighterweight 24 inch bike that is not too expensive?

I appreciate any recommendations you might have for a good bike under $150.

Thanks so much for your help!!

 

[Swimalie]

If you have a Performance Bike http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/TopCategories_10052_10551_-1 near you, I highly recommend you go there. You might spend a bit more but the quality is much higher and they will most likely have lighter bikes, too. My son has his 16 inch (he's only 6) from 3 years ago. It's still in perfect shape. They had a trade-in program as well so when my son is ready for the larger bike, we get credit for the one he has.

 

[NotUrsula]

Pawn shops. Your best bet for getting a good bike cheap is getting a used one from a pawn shop; one near a university will probably have the best selection. Then take it to a good bike shop for a tuneup and it should be great for him.

Look for brands like Trek, Speciallized, GT, or Diamondback, or Gary Fisher if you get really lucky.

PS: Unless he's really a short kid for his age, the average American 13 yo boy will be in a 26 inch very quickly; consider carefully before buying a 24, unless his gene pool makes you think that he's likely to be short. The national avg. for a boy at 13 is 63 inches; I'm about that height and I ride a 26", with a 16" frame. (Higher-end bikes are measured by frame size; it is equal to the length of the seat post, the upright bar that extends upward from the chain hub.).

 

[sksjasams]

If you have a Performance Bike http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/TopCategories_10052_10551_-1 near you, I highly recommend you go there. You might spend a bit more but the quality is much higher and they will most likely have lighter bikes, too. My son has his 16 inch (he's only 6) from 3 years ago. It's still in perfect shape. They had a trade-in program as well so when my son is ready for the larger bike, we get credit for the one he has.

I checked and there are none in Wisconsin.

Thanks for the suggestion though

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Usually lighter bikes are the most expensive. If you're looking for a decent bike, avoid bikes from Wal-Mart, Toys R Us, etc. I'd go to a local bike shop for advice. They should also be able to help you if you're looking for a good used bike.

 

[sksjasams]

Pawn shops. Your best bet for getting a good bike cheap is getting a used one from a pawn shop; one near a university will probably have the best selection. Then take it to a good bike shop for a tuneup and it should be great for him.

Look for brands like Trek, Speciallized, GT, or Diamondback, or Gary Fisher if you get really lucky.

PS: Unless he's really a short kid for his age, the average American 13 yo boy will be in a 26 inch very quickly; consider carefully before buying a 24, unless his gene pool makes you think that he's likely to be short. The national avg. for a boy at 13 is 63 inches; I'm about that height and I ride a 26", with a 16" frame. (Higher-end bikes are measured by frame size; it is equal to the length of the seat post, the upright bar that extends upward from the chain hub.).

I'm sure you're right about the pawn shops. Thanks for the suggestions of the brands. DS and my dad both prefer to get him a new bike though since it's a gift.

DS will be 13 next month and is average height - 63". He is a very inexperienced rider though, and nervous on a bike. He couldn't manage a bike that is too big for him. That's why we want to stick with the 24 inch. Since we are looking for a less expensive bike, we won't be able to choose larger tires with a smaller frame.

Thanks for your help!

 

[thomas998]

If you wanted to do the pawn shop route and not make it look like that was the gift, he could be given money... then he could use it to go buy a bike from the walmart (overpriced for the quality you get) or a pawn shop or off craigslist (for a more bang for your buck bike).... searching for a great deal in a pawn shop could be an adventure in itself.

 

[kirstenb1]

We bought a clearance mountain bike for dd for her 13th birthday. It was right around $200. It was at a local bike shop. They also sell used bikes there. By used, I mean they're totally refurbished and no one would know they were used. Check out a local Mom and Pop bike shop.

 

[mjkacmom]

We bought a clearance mountain bike for dd for her 13th birthday. It was right around $200. It was at a local bike shop. They also sell used bikes there. By used, I mean they're totally refurbished and no one would know they were used. Check out a local Mom and Pop bike shop.

My kids have always ridden good quality bikes (honestly, they're easier to ride), but I like to keep a spare at the grandparents home across town (they're on a bike path). For the 2nd set, we always go to the local bike store, and buy a refurbished one, which is usually about $150 or so (instead of $300+ for a new one). My parents have given my kids used ones as gifts, and they're thrilled with them.

 

[sksjasams]

Thanks for all your replies!

I understand a local mom and pop shop will get us better bike, but I think we will need to stay at a chain, so my DS can find a bike where we live, and my dad can purchase it where he lives (different cities).

So, it doesn't seem like lightweight is an option. Does anyone have an inexpensive 24 inch boys mountain style bike, that was purchased at a chain store, that they are happy with?? My fingers are crossed...

Thanks again!

 

[kathyell]

I used to race bikes and I worked in a bike store for awhile. About 90% of the bikes in for repair at any given time were chain store bikes, even though we sold a LOT of bikes out of our shop and people could bring those in for free tune-ups a couple of times a year. We typically saw the bikes we sold, bike store-quality bikes, maybe once or twice a year for tune-ups or to fix flat tires and the rest of the repair department was filled with bikes that were sold to the owners by Target/Walmart/etc.

Chain store bikes aren't made well, they don't work well, they're put together by someone who has no idea what they're doing, and they're heavy. I don't recommend them to anyone. I'm sorry, I realize that isn't the answer you're hoping for, but it's the absolute honest truth.

Your best bet, truly, is for the gift to be a cash gift or a gift certificate to a bike store local to you (when I was working at the shop, we sold many gift certificates over the phone to relatives in other cities buying store credit for people in our local area) and pick out a lower-end or clearanced bike that's new, or perhaps a refurbished or used bike if the store you choose deals with the used/refurbished side of things. I totally understand that you'd like the transaction to be as simple as possible and that this is complicated by the distance between the gift-giver and your son, but that's a problem that, once solved, will stay solved. A bike that isn't going to work well, hold up to use, or be fun to ride (which it won't be, you're absolutely right, if it's really heavy) will be a problem that will stay with you for as long as you own that bike. The components on those chain store bikes are so cheap and poorly made that I honestly think you'll have to pay so much in repairs and replacement parts that they end up being no bargain at all from any perspective.

 

[momsully]

DS will be 13 next month and is average height - 63". He is a very inexperienced rider though, and nervous on a bike. He couldn't manage a bike that is too big for him. That's why we want to stick with the 24 inch. Since we are looking for a less expensive bike, we won't be able to choose larger tires with a smaller frame.

Consider looking at Dick's or The Sports Authority. You should be able to get a bike in the price range your looking for where you can go with the larger tires and the correct size frame. Dick's always sells last years models at closeout prices when they bring the new bikes in.

DS9 rides a 24 inch and DS12 rides a 26 inch with a small frame. Consider that it can be just as hard to ride a bike that is too small as too large.

 

[mrodgers]

Why is it kids today have to get the best of everything? And we wonder why our economy is in the trash? When I was growing up, you got a Huffy. The kid is 13, he doesn't need a BMW bike. A Chevy will do just as well for him.

The kids who had the BMW bikes were the rich snobby kids. Then they gloated about how awesome they were and how awesome their BMW bike was resulting in noone wanting to hang out or be friends with them. So there they were all alone with their awesome BMW bike and no one to ride or play with...

 

[Jex]

Wow, jealous much.

 

[mjkacmom]

Wow, jealous much.

Issues... ETA, thinking back, I got my bikes from the bike store when I was a teen (before that, had hand-me-downs from the neighbors), and yet managed to have many friends. Dd15 got her bike store back a few years ago, and I expect she'll be riding it for many, many years, since she stopped growing.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Thanks for all your replies!

I understand a local mom and pop shop will get us better bike, but I think we will need to stay at a chain, so my DS can find a bike where we live, and my dad can purchase it where he lives (different cities).

How will he then get the bike to you? I don't understand why he can't just send the money. He can even pay using a credit card over the phone if you buy at a local bike shop.

The kids who had the BMW bikes were the rich snobby kids. Then they gloated about how awesome they were and how awesome their BMW bike was resulting in noone wanting to hang out or be friends with them. So there they were all alone with their awesome BMW bike and no one to ride or play with...

Wow.

 

[sksjasams]

How will he then get the bike to you? I don't understand why he can't just send the money. He can even pay using a credit card over the phone if you buy at a local bike shop.

He will come to visit for DS's birthday and bring the bike with him. Every family is different. I could never ask him to send money. My dad enjoys actually giving a gift to DS, seeing DS's excitement and happiness. It wouldn't be the same if he just sent money and then got to see what he bought when he comes to visit. I'm sorry, I know it might seem silly to some people. At some point, when DS is older, he may give him cash, but not yet.

We will look at bike shops, and if we find one, we could possibly go to buy it when my dad comes to visit. I am honestly doubtful we will find one under $150 though.

 

[mickeymaker2003]

We will look at bike shops, and if we find one, we could possibly go to buy it when my dad comes to visit. I am honestly doubtful we will find one under $150 though.

I would do something like this. Go to the bike store with your son to 'browse' and if you find something you like at a price you can live with ask them to hold it for you (outside your son's range of hearing). Then you can take grandpa, he can buy it, and it will still be somewhat of a surprise.

 

[NotUrsula]

Consider looking at Dick's or The Sports Authority. You should be able to get a bike in the price range your looking for where you can go with the larger tires and the correct size frame. Dick's always sells last years models at closeout prices when they bring the new bikes in.

DS9 rides a 24 inch and DS12 rides a 26 inch with a small frame. Consider that it can be just as hard to ride a bike that is too small as too large.

IME, Dicks and SA sell the same mid-range brands, and the pricing at SA runs about 30% higher on average. I agree about the size -- if the bike is too small how heavy it is won't matter; the kid will be killing his legs trying to pump without sufficient leg extension.

As to the whole "BMW" bike argument, that really isn't much of an issue if the kids are doing any serious recreational riding, as opposed to just tooling around a suburban neighborhood for transportation. I'm assuming that the OP's son wants to ride this bike recreationally, or she probably would not be caring about the weight.

Once a bike shop gets done spiffing up a quality used bike, you normally cannot tell that it isn't new, especially if you spring a bit extra to have new tires, brake shoes and handlebar grips put on. (Unless the bike has been in a pretty serious wreck there won't be anything wrong with the frame that a bit of polish won't eliminate. I toed the wheel on my Diamondback about a year ago and flipped it 180 degrees-- the only damage that shows is a slightly cracked derailleur handle housing.)

 

[sksjasams]

I would do something like this. Go to the bike store with your son to 'browse' and if you find something you like at a price you can live with ask them to hold it for you (outside your son's range of hearing). Then you can take grandpa, he can buy it, and it will still be somewhat of a surprise.

Thanks - we could definitely do this if we can find an affordable one at a bike shop.


So, I looked at Dick's online and I didn't see any with small frames and 26 inch wheels. Do they carry stuff at the store that is not online? We don't have sports authority here.

Thanks again to all of you for your advice!