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Old School BMX 1980 - 1988 => Old School Freestyle (frame stands and kickturns galore!) => Topic started by: SaMAlex on December 29, 2006, 11:44 PM

Title: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: SaMAlex on December 29, 2006, 11:44 PM
I am thinking about getting one ... well 2 of these S&M mini Cobra 16" bikes for my sons. Im sure they are great bikes and well built and all but is it worth buying a good 16" BMX or will they soon be riding a 20"?

Oh, btw, my sons are only 2 and 3 so I think its gunna be a few years till they are big enough for a 16" bike anyway.

...Oh, allright ...  Its ME who wants one of these!!!!

(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/r313/alexleech/smminicobra16HIGH.jpg)
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: superbikedan on December 29, 2006, 11:57 PM
 ;D i can believe that as well ;)  start em young but i hope you have

a fat wallet ;D  playing football is a lot cheaper :daumenhoch:

but no where near as enjoyable :)
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: Trev on December 30, 2006, 12:17 AM
we need lazychubs on this thread.  his nipper is only 3 and riding rom already.
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: SaMAlex on December 30, 2006, 12:27 AM
Now thats the info Im looking for!

Riding Rom at 3! Just the kind of goals I need to aim for.
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: Coastvl on December 30, 2006, 12:47 AM
I'm sort of in the same boat at the moment. My 6 year old son has out grown his 16"er and he's too small for a 20". Well he can ride one but not well. I've been looking at 18"ers. Theres a few around.
I'd go for the bike in the pic. He'll love it and want to ride it.
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: Trev on December 30, 2006, 12:48 AM
I'm sort of in the same boat at the moment. My 6 year old son has out grown his 16"er and he's too big for a 20". Well he can ride one but not well. I've been looking at 18"ers. Theres a few around.
I'd go for the bike in the pic. He'll love it and want to ride it.

 :shocked:  a 6 year old who is TOO BIG for a 20"??    :LolLolLolLol:
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: SaMAlex on December 30, 2006, 12:54 AM
So a 16" BMX might last till 6 years old? Thats good to know, thanks.

I think S&M were doing a version of their PBR frame that took 18" and 20" wheels but Im not sure if they still do it. If they are doing an 18"/20" frame in about 3 years I might have another excuse to get another S&M frame. Great!
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: lazychubs on December 30, 2006, 01:09 AM
my boy rides a 12 inch at the mo trying to get a nice sized 16 inch as he not 4 till feb
i got him a mity mini goose but is heavier than my sunday
thers a couple of short vids in bmx videos lol
hes been riding a bike with out stablerlisers since 18 months
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: Trev on December 30, 2006, 01:12 AM
hes been riding a bike with out stablerlisers since 18 months

that is absolutely amazing..... so in the scheme of things, he's actually been riding new school longer than me....
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: SaMAlex on December 30, 2006, 01:14 AM
been riding a bike with out stablerlisers since 18 months! Thats way rad! way to go Lazychubs Jnr!!!

I was in Halfords today (looking for some 1" headsets but they were out of stock) and my boys managed a pedal about on some bikes with stableisers. Maybe this summer will be the time to get them on 2 wheels!
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: lazychubs on December 30, 2006, 01:21 AM
im well chuffed when  im at the free local parks and the dads say
look at her (he has long hair lol)
she can ride a bike lol
love the look on there face when i say he.s me boy
even more so when he foot plants the 5 foot spine
proper proud dad me
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: SaMAlex on December 30, 2006, 01:26 AM
Thats so rad, nice one.

Riding any kind of ramp seems a long way of for my 2 ... but I cant wait!

(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/r313/alexleech/halfords.jpg)
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: Trev on December 30, 2006, 01:28 AM
one braked already.... proper new school  :LolLolLolLol:
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: lazychubs on December 30, 2006, 01:31 AM
i just took him to a smallish park and set him free lol
get em used to falling off and just rolling about on the ramps
it all helps .he wears a helmet now but cant get used to pads
so make em wear em indoors as ive tried lol
they both look ok on a bike .
plus mine knows all me dvds
even whe they crash lol
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: superbikedan on December 30, 2006, 01:36 AM
i just took him to a smallish park and set him free lol
get em used to falling off and just rolling about on the ramps
it all helps .he wears a helmet now but cant get used to pads
so make em wear em indoors as ive tried lol
they both look ok on a bike .
plus mine knows all me dvds
even whe they crash lol

ryhs do you know, you've almost watched billy from day one,  what the hell will the kids be

doing in two years time :4_17_5:
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: lazychubs on December 30, 2006, 01:38 AM
dan bill is my insperation for bailee lol
if hes as good as him im larfing lol
just wish i could ride that good lol
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: darkersomeday on December 30, 2006, 03:08 AM
I am thinking about getting one ... well 2 of these S&M mini Cobra 16" bikes for my sons. Im sure they are great bikes and well built and all but is it worth buying a good 16" BMX or will they soon be riding a 20"?

Oh, btw, my sons are only 2 and 3 so I think its gunna be a few years till they are big enough for a 16" bike anyway.

...Oh, allright ...  Its ME who wants one of these!!!!

(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/r313/alexleech/smminicobra16HIGH.jpg)


i've been thinking the same thing about the s&m mini cobra, i just wonder if my nipper would be better of with a super lite mini race bike before moving on to something heavier, would this make sense?
how much are the mini-cobras going to be?

i just built this up for my nephew for christmas, he's 10 so the 18" wheel suits him better, i stripped off all the unneccesary stuff like the gyro etc but it still feels heavy to me,

(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g171/jarvicseven/jacksflash007.jpg)
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: dirtyvans on December 30, 2006, 11:24 AM
the mini micro bikes look cool, but many are heavy and too over engineered, ie 14mm axels etc

you could build one up like the 16" little jack from southsea had with profile race parts, but it'll cost a bomb

hopefully by the time my nipper is 3 someone will have made a nice lightweight 12"  :daumenhoch:
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: Rombloke on December 30, 2006, 11:27 AM
i personally think that the 16'' bikes are cool for the young uns, but still believe that kids should be put on a proper full size 20'' bmx asap.
the might struggle a bit with size and weight at first, but what is the point in keeping em on 16'' or 18'' bikes for too long, when they eventually transfer over to the 20'' it would feel like a mountain bike.

only my opinion though.

Dave
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: theRuler on December 30, 2006, 11:28 AM
i personally think that the 16'' bikes are cool for the young uns, but still believe that kids should be put on a proper full size 20'' bmx asap.
the might struggle a bit with size and weight at first, but what is the point in keeping em on 16'' or 18'' bikes for too long, when they eventually transfer over to the 20'' it would feel like a mountain bike.

only my opinion though.

Dave

thats true

Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: MeddlE on December 30, 2006, 01:17 PM
What about little George at Rom though, he rips on an 18" (plus he won that 20" at the Rom Jam).  My daughter rides a 20" (she's 10) and isn't interested in a smaller bike.
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: Trev on December 30, 2006, 01:28 PM

i must have been 9 or 10 when i had my first bmx and i've only ever ridden a 20" bike
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: rad dad on December 30, 2006, 01:31 PM
Hey Alex i say go for it mate, spend as much as you can on a good 16", my lad Jimmy is 5 and can ride a 20" bmx no problem but he looks uncomfortable, they need something a bit smaller to get real confidence and a good feel, plus you never forget your first bikes do you, i still have fond memories of my striker so i hope in years to come my boys will look back and feel the same.

Ar lass says this presy was more for me than Jimmy  :LolLolLolLol: i dont know what she means  ;)

(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/y52/suedehead_1/Picture030.jpg)

(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/y52/suedehead_1/Picture023.jpg)

(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/y52/suedehead_1/Picture050.jpg)

(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/y52/suedehead_1/Picture049.jpg)

(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/y52/suedehead_1/Picture052.jpg)

Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: Rombloke on December 30, 2006, 02:52 PM
look im all for 16'' and 18'' bikes...they rule...but ffs get em on a 20'' as soon as poss or they will struggle when they do move over.

and graeme......george also rips on a 20'', i think it matters not one jot...hes rad whatever

Dave
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: SaMAlex on December 30, 2006, 08:50 PM
What about the tiny race BMXs?

http://www.cyclesportuk.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=50_60&products_id=45

I can see it might be an idea to take off the "skinnies" but Im sure the frame is OK. How hard can a 4 year old be on a bike? The thing I like about it is that cos the frame is so low you can put the seat right down. On most 16" bikes the frame is quite high and the seat is a long way from the ground.
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: darkersomeday on December 30, 2006, 09:13 PM
the skinny 1/18 rims put me off too, i'd worry they,d be too skittish for the wean and that he'll snake bite them ALL the time!,

this is about the smallest light bike i could find,
check the bike weight! 

that gt's mint by the way, full face is a good idea too!

http://www.alansbmx.com/product_info.php?cPath=38_39&products_id=4247
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: SaMAlex on December 30, 2006, 09:33 PM
Now that micro redline is just what I have in mind. So so small and light. Im sure even my 2 year old would be able to get right on it and get his feet to the ground over the frame. It doesnt really look like you could chuck a set of 20x1.175s in there so it might be best left on the smooth BMX track.

I have a friend whos kids used to race BMX when they were small and he still has a micro Cyclecraft bike. Maybe I should go and take it for a spin (not me, my boys!). I think they also have some micro GTs in a local shop that I could try them on.

The only problem with a nice 20" micro race bike that the boys can actually ride, is there would be NO chance of me having a quick spin on it on the flat, let alone a roll on a ramp! Maybe the 16" Cobra is the better way to go! ha ha
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: keyhole kid on December 30, 2006, 10:07 PM
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/y72/diane123/nattysbikewithnewbits.jpg)


this is my daughters bike, its a haro 360 but ive made a few alterations. ive lightened it a fair bit so as she can manage it a bit better, though it is probably right to start them on a 20" the problem is that if the bike is to long for them ,the chance of them lifting the front wheel is almost impossible. im afraid its a catch 22 problem, a bigger bike is also easier to ride but not necessarily easier to do tricks on, good luck  :daumenhoch:
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: superbikedan on December 30, 2006, 10:53 PM
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/y72/diane123/nattysbikewithnewbits.jpg)


this is my daughters bike, its a haro 360 but ive made a few alterations. ive lightened it a fair bit so as she can manage it a bit better, though it is probably right to start them on a 20" the problem is that if the bike is to long for them ,the chance of them lifting the front wheel is almost impossible. im afraid its a catch 22 problem, a bigger bike is also easier to ride but not necessarily easier to do tricks on, good luck  :daumenhoch:

mark i thought that was your bike ;D ;)
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: lazychubs on December 30, 2006, 10:57 PM
heres a small clip of bailee on his 12 quid universal bike
hes already snapped the bars of it
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v340/lazychubs/elise%20and%20bailee/?action=view&current=e5dfe3ed.flv
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: lazychubs on December 30, 2006, 10:59 PM
and another lol this was in the summer so was just over 3 and crap quality due to photobucket
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v340/lazychubs/?action=view&current=MOV00176.flv
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: superbikedan on December 30, 2006, 10:59 PM
ryhs, as a dad  :4_17_5:
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: keyhole kid on December 30, 2006, 11:05 PM


mark i thought that was your bike ;D ;)

trust you to notice dan......   :LolLolLolLol:
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: superbikedan on December 30, 2006, 11:09 PM


mark i thought that was your bike ;D ;)

trust you to notice dan......   :LolLolLolLol:

hello mate  ;D hope u had a good xmas, all the best mate and see you in the new year :)
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: spesh on December 30, 2006, 11:26 PM
how much is a new school 16" £100? coz in a few years time or sooner he,ll have grown out of it and it,ll be worth f#ck-all
ive just bought for my 4yr old a mini tuff burner,i paid £50 for it and in a few years time i can sell it again for £50+ on the burner website and buy him a decent 20" he absolutly loves it and i aint to bothered if he drops it coz its not a new bike!
and it dont arf get some looks down the local ramps one bloke ask if raleigh had re-released it and where he could get one from! :LolLolLolLol:
heres a pic>
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/g279/spesh1967/100_0302.jpg)
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: SaMAlex on December 30, 2006, 11:39 PM
Those 16" Cobras aint cheap, they are kinda like Beringers 16" sig bike. Like you say, they aint gunna fit it for long ... but everyone loves a pit bike in the collection, right?

 Matt Beringer designed 4130 cromo frame
 Press fit Mid BB
 Integrated head tube with removable Gyro tabs
 100% 4130 cromo fork
 100% 4130 Fit mid handlebar
 Fit S3 style stem, removable aluminum Gyro plate
 SNAFU Mobeus Detangler with Astro Glide Teflon bearing
 Flow Series 145mm tubular cromo 48 spline cranks
 16” 36h rims, 14mm rear, 3/8” front axles
 36t machined alloy sprocket
  11t one piece driver on cassette hub
 Tektro U-brake and Odyssey Monolever Medium
  Fit extruded aluminum I-beam seatpost
 S&M Embossed Hot Seat
 S&M 101 pedals
 S&M XLT seat clamp
 Flow Series 105mm dual material pegs (4)
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: ollie on December 30, 2006, 11:45 PM
how much does the above cost?
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: SaMAlex on December 31, 2006, 12:02 AM
I dont know what they will be here (4Down are waiting to get them in) but the RRP in the US is $599. BMX stuff usually ends up the same in pounds here as it costs in dollers over there so prob a bit less than £600. Like I say, not cheap, and not really a kids bike.
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: Trev on December 31, 2006, 12:23 AM
rhys, that is a mad setup you have in your back garden. bailee is gonna rip big time. that riding is better than most 10 year olds when they start riding. he's gonna have 7 years on everyone from the new era. i am absolutely gobsmacked by his standard even though i've seen clips before.  keep it up  :daumenhoch:
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: 1015 on January 02, 2007, 12:09 PM
My son is now 10 and has just moved off his 16" which was getting a bit small . He now has an s&m 18" dirtbike frame but it has 20" wheels. He rides at Bones and finds that the bigger bike is faster - jumps both boxes upstairs at bones and is getting his front wheel out of the bowl downstairs. The thing he finds hardest is manualling.
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/y260/tenfifteen/IMG_0863.jpg)

definitely think keeping him on the smaller bike improved his bike handling skills - the bigger bike can often be too hard for them to throw about
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: SaMAlex on January 02, 2007, 12:25 PM
Wow, that bike looks so good. I want one! ha ha.

I’m glad you said that about small bikes being a good place to start. I was so impressed with bailee and his top riding that I figured my boys have no time to loose and we went and got a couple of cheap 12" bikes. Can’t wait for the next dry day so we can get outside. "Ice-cream for the first one to ride without stabilisers"

(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/r313/alexleech/Boysbikes.jpg)

Does anyone have any A'me mini grips for sale?
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: QUADROPHENIA on January 02, 2007, 01:26 PM
extreme direct are selling blanks 16" for £80
Title: Re: Help needed from Dads with Kids who ride
Post by: lazychubs on January 02, 2007, 07:48 PM
nice one s&malex get em down the park when its dry
i found bending one staberliser up a tad helps the
balance.got bailee a mongoose pit bike of me neice
but is about 2 inches to hiogh for him
may put some 14 inch wheels on it lol
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