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BMX for a 6 year old

  • 05-08-2012 10:26am
    #1
    Jawgap
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,297 ✭✭✭✭


    Any suggestions on a decent BMX for a 6 year old?

    I've been brought in as a 'consultant' on the purchase of this item for my nephew.

    At the moment he's more interested in free-style than racing because a skatepark has opened near him.


Comments

  • #2
    Lumen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 31,218 ✭✭✭✭Lumen


    My short, scrawny 6 y/old son has used four bikes in the skate park:

    - Haro Micro Mini (normal duty: race BMX)
    - Islabikes Beinn 20 (normal duty: MTB, 21 gears)
    - Islabikes CNOC 16 (his old "main" bike, currently running single-speed)
    - Islabikes CNOC 14 (his younger sister's bike)

    Of these, he has most fun on the Haro and the CNOC 14, which are the lightest and smallest respectively.

    The CNOC 14 is way too small for him, but BMX is much about weight transfer, and the smaller the bike the easier it is to transfer weight.

    The Haro has extremely skinny, low profile tyres at 80-100psi which is very unusual for a BMX, but since he weighs under 20kg he hasn't got any pinch flats and it makes for a very responsive ride.

    BMX is done standing up, and uses specific seatposts and saddles which are not interchangeable with normal bike components. The obvious problem with a small BMX is that it'll be too small for just riding around place - the seat may be too low even at maximum extension.

    The geometry of a BMX is also a bit weird - the seatpost angle is very relaxed to keep the seat out of the way - although he manages fine using the BMX for "road racing" at Corcaigh Park after we did some testing and proved it was faster than his geared bikes.

    I do like the Haros, and an average six year old would probably fit fine on the next size up (the Mini). But again, if you take the "sane parent" approach of getting him under the largest bike that'll fit you'll find his BMX skill development suffers, because small bikes are tricksier.


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