BMX for an 11 year old boy

gooner99

Hi. My young lad (11) is after a dirt bike for xmas, but I'm not keen, as unless you go for the more expensive Japanese models they are not supposed to be great, as they are build in China and the engines are meant to gives loads of bother.

Anyway he has also been talking about a BMX as an alternative. I don't know anything at all about BMX bikes. What are good brands and what size should we be looking at and also any other advice would be of great help.We live in Donegal, but are usually in Derry quite often also, so recommendations on shops in the Donegal/Derry area that are likely to have some pre Christmas stock would also be great. I guess online would also be an option.

Tonyandthewhale

I don't know much about BMX bikes but first things first no matter what you're buying you've got to stipulate a budget.

gooner99

Tonyandthewhale wrote: »

I don't know much about BMX bikes but first things first no matter what you're buying you've got to stipulate a budget.

I guess about €300-€400 max

bokpaddie

Hi there,

I am involved with the Ratoath BMX club in Co Meath and we now have 570 plus members. Speak to Daragh at bikestore.ie, they are in Kilkenny. He will be more than willing to help you or steer you in the right direction.

Gareth

gooner99

bokpaddie wrote: »

Hi there,

I am involved with the Ratoath BMX club in Co Meath and we now have 570 plus members. Speak to Daragh at bikestore.ie, they are in Kilkenny. He will be more than willing to help you or steer you in the right direction.

Gareth

Thanks for that, will check out the website and give him a call.

What do you guys make of this one, new company spun of "we the people"?
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_848367_langId_-1_categoryId_165765

Tonyandthewhale

11.5kg claimed weight seems awfully heavy.

Lumen

What's the bike for? Ramps? Racing? Just cycling around the place?

There are several types of BMX.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/103388-types-bmx-bikes/

gooner99

Tonyandthewhale wrote: »

11.5kg claimed weight seems awfully heavy.

I see. Don't know much about these things. What sort of weight should we be looking at.

gooner99

Lumen wrote: »

What's the bike for? Ramps? Racing? Just cycling around the place?

There are several types of BMX.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/103388-types-bmx-bikes/

From talking to him he wants to be able to ride on a variety of surfaces,road, gravel, grass, dirt, do some tricks and some ramps. we have lots of rough commonage right beside our house, so lots of ready made terrain. It must have pegs front and back I'm told. He's be 11 in January, should we be looking at a full sized bmx?

Junior Jacon Jeese Jurger

theboardroom.ie

free delivery to anywhere in ireland too.

easygoing39

That radio is one heavy bmx,its 11.9kg,and thats without the pegs!!!!

Tonyandthewhale

Have you considered a dirt jump mountain bike? Might be more appropriate for his needs.

Lumen

gooner99 wrote: »

From talking to him he wants to be able to ride on a variety of surfaces,road, gravel, grass, dirt, do some tricks and some ramps. we have lots of rough commonage right beside our house, so lots of ready made terrain. It must have pegs front and back I'm told. He's be 11 in January, should we be looking at a full sized bmx?

From the link I posted.

"BMX bikes come four different sizes: Mini, for 4 to 6 year-olds; Junior, for 6 to 9 year-olds; Expert, for 9 to 13 year-olds; and Pro, for age 12 and older."

A bigger bike will be harder to handle. Riding BMX is about weight transfer, and if the wheelbase is too long that becomes very difficult.

I can second the recommendation for the bike store in Kilkenny.

gooner99

Lumen wrote: »

From the link I posted.

"BMX bikes come four different sizes: Mini, for 4 to 6 year-olds; Junior, for 6 to 9 year-olds; Expert, for 9 to 13 year-olds; and Pro, for age 12 and older."

A bigger bike will be harder to handle. Riding BMX is about weight transfer, and if the wheelbase is too long that becomes very difficult.

I can second the recommendation for the bike store in Kilkenny.

Thanks for the info. Spoke with Daragh this afternoon and he gave me some advice and will send me on some recommendations from his website.

gooner99

Tonyandthewhale wrote: »

Have you considered a dirt jump mountain bike? Might be more appropriate for his needs.

Thanks.How do these differ from normal bmx's. could you post an example?

gooner99

Thanks for all your help on this. Went for a 2012 model haro 350.2 from bikestore.ie , which hopefully should last him a good while.

moonshadow

gooner99 wrote: »

Thanks for all your help on this. Went for a 2012 model haro 350.2 from bikestore.ie , which hopefully should last him a good while.

Hi there my lad is looking for the same bike what kinda money are these running at?

thanks

gooner99

moonshadow wrote: »

Hi there my lad is looking for the same bike what kinda money are these running at?

thanks

Was €299 delivered. Must say Darragh was very helpful and gave me lots of info on BMX bikes and what to look for. I also took a look at bike shops locally and all had a very poor selection of low end BMX looking bikes. It's a bad day when Halfords had the best bikes. This is probably down to the lack of demand for proper BMX's. So best to buy online or drop into a large outlet or a BMX specialist like bikestore.ie or theboardroom.ie

gooner99

Got the BMX delivered Today. Excellent service from Darragh at the bikestore.

moonshadow

gooner99 wrote: »

Got the BMX delivered Today. Excellent service from Darragh at the bikestore.

+1 ours is being delivered on Monday and ill second the recommendation for bike store excellent advice and communication.

micko2009

If you know any others looking for a similar BMX, Fitzcycles have a few Haro's with money off.

http://www.fitzcycles.ie/c/215/bargain-bikes