I'm getting my son his first kid bike (he had one with training wheels when he was younger). He's 8 and I'm looking at this one from walmart https://www.walmart.com/ip/20-Kent-Chaos-BMX-Bicycle-Fits-Rider-4-2-5-0-Hydro-Dip-Matte-Black-Child-Unisex/834883881?classType=REGULAR&from=/search Just seeing if anyone here has better recommendations (keeping in mind he's a kid and I'm not rich) for either a bike or some upgrades I can make to this one. I don't know much about bikes past growing up with cheapo walmart or value village bikes. I know this isn't specifically repair, but if there was a group that could help out with upgrade components I figured it was this one. I appreciate the help!
by Helsfasa
6 Comments
Oh man, please get a real bike. This Walmart wonder, won’t upgrade well and will generally be awful heavy and make him not want to ride.
There are a ton of amazing used bikes that are a thousand times better and with better components that will make him enjoy this. Facebook marketplace is what I suggest. Ligit the best bang for your buck.
As a bike mechanic I can still say it’s better to buy kids crummy wal-mart bikes. They grow out of them so quick. Unless you can hand them down to the little brothers or sisters a few times. Or if you can afford it. You won’t really be able to hand down a wal mart bike. They are pretty much considered disposable.
I had good luck buying and selling high end kids bikes such as those by woom and frog. Mostly broke even on them. They have kid specific parts and are light weight – too many kids are put on bikes 1/3 of their body weight.
Yes, it’s the expensive option up front but my kids ride – freedom for kids and parents.
Used kids bike on facebook marketplace? Maybe there’s a local “Buy Nothing” group you can put a request in, even?
I have bought and sold high end kids bikes for my now 10 year old. He’s on his second Trailcraft and had 2 woom’s before that. We live in the mountains – we mountain bike together. The extra expense has been worth it but honestly, I sell them for the same amount I buy them for. Everything has been used and it has worked out really well for us. If your kid is really into bmx then this makes sense, but that’s a pretty limiting bike in weight and lack of gears for anything else but the park or tooling around a flat neighborhood (which might be perfect for them).
I think it’ll be fine for an 8 year old. It’s single speed so there’s no derailleur or shifters to operate or break. A simple machine is a durable one, and kids thrash things.
There’s not much to upgrade on a bike like this. It’s also not worth upgrading, except maybe a saddle, new grips, to make the bike feel like more his own.
When he’s a little older it might be worth investing in a more capable bike with gears, if that’s the type of riding he’s interested in. I wouldn’t put money into a kids bike until they’re old enough to take some responsibility in caring for and maintaining their things. IE, not throwing it on the ground, ability to shift correctly, etc.
Also, you could try the second hand market. Kids bikes are usually common and cheap.