Show off your Mountain Bike!!!

Anyone on here have a kid with a Trek Jet 20, Specialized HotRock 20, or Giant Moda 20? All would be single speed since he will need training wheels. I'm trying to figure out which is better for my son who is about to turn 5 years old and not had any interest in a bicycle until now. He fits on all of them, and I figured get the 20" since he could keep it the longest.

 

honestly I think any of those are going to be fine for a child. it looked like the trek and giant would be easier for him to get on but the spec looks like a regular bike...i would let him choose the one he likes or just get the one you get the best deal on.

 

Training wheels are the best way to teach a kid to NOT ride a bike. I took an old walmart mongoose with 12" wheels and tore off all cranks, chain and sprockets etc and made a balance bike and had had my son ready to balance and pedal by age 3.5. Kids can learn balance quickly and pedaling is actually a lil more neurologically difficult but it will come.
Just work on smooth gently sloped area.

 

Very nice practical idea! Strong work

 

Well disregard my question lol... My dad called yesterday as I was leaving out the door to the Trek store and said he had bought him an 18" Kent bicycle from Wal-Mart for his 5th birthday. Don't guess it matters as it's his 1st bike. When he learns to ride that one good and outgrows it I'll get him a nice one.

 

I buy my sons used bikes and upgrade parts when needed. Saves a ton of $$ and they are going to beat on them until they get older anyways.

 

Thanks

....and leave them laying around where they can be stolen.

 

When I was in high school, I had a cheap Magna 10 speed. I used to have one of those multi-dial combination locks. One day, someone stole the lock and left the bike.

 

What's y'all's opinion on Turner Mtn bikes? I'm looking at getting a Sultan.

 

turner is pretty good. They used to be made in the USA up until a year or two ago. I know one of the guys ive ridden with a few times bombs the shit out of trails. One of the fastest of the local guys.

 

They changed fabricators, but as far as I know their still made in oregan, by some aircraft company

 

ohh I was told by a guy at my local shop that they were moving production overseas...maybe not

 

What's everyone's opinion on the Trek Fuel series ?

 

the new one or older models? I have a 2011 ex 8 and loved it until the rocks got bigger and I started using it at the bikes park.

The new fuel looks pretty interesting with that new reaktiv suspension designed with penske racing. it seems like it will be a good match with the DRCV shock but I haven't gotten a chance to ride one yet so I'm not sure how it compares.

 

The newer ones.. 29er or keep it old school ?

 

The new fuel 650b just came out and that is the bike I want to demo.

My 29er is a very good bike but it is long and I have to really work on tight and twisty single track descents and switchbacks.

 

Turner frames are made by Zen bicycle fabrication in Portland afaik.

The Turner Flux 27.5 is a bike I am looking at.

 

I'm 6'5". Any other brands I should look at before I pull the trigger?

 

what he said ^

I think the 27.5 is pretty good. I rode the slash and didn't notice much of a difference in steering. It rolled over stuff a bit better though. I rode the remedy 29er and the rumblefish and I thought the steering on those was too weird for me haha. not as playful and that kind of kills it for me. Trek Demos are everywhere so I would find one and try and ride both if I were you.

 

There seems to be more interest in 650b bikes here than other forums I've been on. Usually people either want a 26 or a 29er.