My 14 year old son has just signed up for the Mountain Bike Squad at his school but we have no bike and I know nothing about bikes. I was prepared to spend around $1,000 to get a good quality entry level hard tail that will last him a couple of years, and if he loves it we might upgrade it then. I have been to the local bike shop and they have in stock:
Norco Storm 2 $749
Norco Storm 1 $999
Norco Charger 2 $1299
Trek X-Caliber 8 $1399
Which of these would be the pick do you think? Is there any others that we should consider?
Thanks so much!
Help please! Need to buy mountain bike for teen learner.
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Re: Help please! Need to buy mountain bike for teen learner.
Postby RonK » Tue May 08, 2018 5:56 pm
I would pick the one that he likes most.
Unsurprisingly the Charger and X-Caliber have a much better equipment specification and probably won't need upgrading for some time.
Unsurprisingly the Charger and X-Caliber have a much better equipment specification and probably won't need upgrading for some time.
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Re: Help please! Need to buy mountain bike for teen learner.
Postby 10speedsemiracer » Tue May 08, 2018 7:44 pm
Woof!
I'm not sure of the viability of spending $1k on a new 'maybe' hobby for a young teen.
Not casting aspersions on your teen but having raised two myself and enduring everything from soccer to martial arts to basketball with a side-tour into death metal, I can only suggest a trip down to a Giant store. Maybe the Giant XTC Jr would fit the bill and is significantly more viable $-wise than the Norco bikes. If not the XTC then I'm sure there'd be an option.
I'm not sure of the viability of spending $1k on a new 'maybe' hobby for a young teen.
Not casting aspersions on your teen but having raised two myself and enduring everything from soccer to martial arts to basketball with a side-tour into death metal, I can only suggest a trip down to a Giant store. Maybe the Giant XTC Jr would fit the bill and is significantly more viable $-wise than the Norco bikes. If not the XTC then I'm sure there'd be an option.
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Re: Help please! Need to buy mountain bike for teen learner.
Postby Duck! » Tue May 08, 2018 9:42 pm
NO!!! The XTC Jr is a 24" wheel - at 14 the lad is almost ceratinly too big for it, of if not yet very soon will be. Look at the Talon series; not the cheapest in Giant's range, but more suited to testing out proper MTB use than the lower-grade Boulder or ATX models.10speedsemiracer wrote:I can only suggest a trip down to a Giant store. Maybe the Giant XTC Jr would fit the bill ....
I had a thought, but it got run over as it crossed my mind.
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Re: Help please! Need to buy mountain bike for teen learner.
Postby 10speedsemiracer » Tue May 08, 2018 10:20 pm
I was aiming for 24" thinking would be ok for a younger teen, clearly I got my sizing estimates wrong.Duck! wrote:NO!!! The XTC Jr is a 24" wheel - at 14 the lad is almost ceratinly too big for it, of if not yet very soon will be. Look at the Talon series; not the cheapest in Giant's range, but more suited to testing out proper MTB use than the lower-grade Boulder or ATX models.10speedsemiracer wrote:I can only suggest a trip down to a Giant store. Maybe the Giant XTC Jr would fit the bill ....
Thanks Duck
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Re: Help please! Need to buy mountain bike for teen learner.
Postby bychosis » Wed May 09, 2018 7:29 am
2nd hand. Get a hard tail that someone is selling to upgrade. Find something decent for Around $500 and spend a few coins on servicing.
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Re: Help please! Need to buy mountain bike for teen learner.
Postby twowheels » Wed May 09, 2018 8:19 am
+1 2nd hand. More bang for your buck, less waste, bought from somewhere like Bicycles for Humanity WA you support a good cause alsobychosis wrote:2nd hand. Get a hard tail that someone is selling to upgrade. Find something decent for Around $500 and spend a few coins on servicing.
http://www.b4hwa.com , donate it back when no longer being used, repeat cycle.
Win, win, win, win, win situation
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Re: Help please! Need to buy mountain bike for teen learner.
Postby bychosis » Wed May 09, 2018 9:50 am
Don't forget at 14 there is a good chance there is plenty of growing to do. He may well outgrow it in 12 months so spending less now might save more for a bike he wont grow out of - although getting a drivers licence is a recipe for a lot of kids to 'grow' out of bikes.
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Re: Help please! Need to buy mountain bike for teen learner.
Postby ValleyForge » Thu May 10, 2018 1:09 pm
My fourteen year old rides a 27.5 incher and loves it. He can ride my 29er just fine, but prefers his bike. My 11yr old daughter rides a 27.5 and at 32kg, climbs like a champion.
Look - I would trawl ads and go second-hand. Hardtails are the least-loved bikes out there IMHO and there are a huge selection representing great value. At 14 he will be strong enough to ride something a bit heavy & unsophisticated, but if the experiment is a success, you won't have spent big on something that is too slow and uncool.
Otherwise - ask friends if they have a spare bike. Lots of people have a hardtail in the garage and have fallen out of love with it.
Look - I would trawl ads and go second-hand. Hardtails are the least-loved bikes out there IMHO and there are a huge selection representing great value. At 14 he will be strong enough to ride something a bit heavy & unsophisticated, but if the experiment is a success, you won't have spent big on something that is too slow and uncool.
Otherwise - ask friends if they have a spare bike. Lots of people have a hardtail in the garage and have fallen out of love with it.
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Re: Help please! Need to buy mountain bike for teen learner.
Postby ValleyForge » Thu May 10, 2018 1:10 pm
Or to drive to MTB parks....bychosis wrote:... although getting a drivers licence is a recipe for a lot of kids to 'grow' out of bikes.
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