Hasty update, Belsize aluminum bikes for boys

[GON]

Three years ago I purchased a Belsize aluminum bike for my then four year old grandson. The bike was ridden hard and did awesome.

Same grandson turned seven and received a 20" Belsize for his birthday last weekend. And the smaller Belsize goes to his younger brother, now four years himself.

These belt driven aluminum bikes have been outstanding. The only issue whatsoever was a broken reflector when younger grandson crashed in my GX470.

These bikes can be purchased on Amazon.

 

[IndyIan]

The fork is backwards on the blue one.
They are actually light too, and they got rid of the boat anchor coaster brake rear hubs that almost all single speed kids bikes come with.
You can tell its not a real bike company with some of the pictures on the website with not well set up brake levers, but they did chose all the light parts out of the china bike parts catalog at least! These make a lot of sense, as a light all aluminum bike, doesn't cost much more than a boat anchor version to make. The equivalent 20" trek, is the same price, but is 27lb to 15lb for that 20" bike.
Those should be good fun and easier to handle for the grandsons!

 

[GON]

The fork is backwards on the blue one.

Wow, three years like that. I likely assembled the bike and was the bad party.

 

[IndyIan]

Wow, three years like that. I likely assembled the bike and was the bad party.

Oh well, I think he'll find the new bike a bit less darty!

 

[DriveHard]

The earlier you can get a new rider on a multi-speed bike, the faster and better they learn. My son graduated to a 5 speed 20" bike as soon as his coaster bike bored him. Belts are fun, but if you can't shift gears....ugh

 

[GON]

The earlier you can get a new rider on a multi-speed bike, the faster and better they learn. My son graduated to a 5 speed 20" bike as soon as his coaster bike bored him. Belts are fun, but if you can't shift gears....ugh

Hopefully I can get his Mom to approve this for Christmas which will be a challenge/ learning opportunity for shifting gears:

 

[IndyIan]

Hopefully I can get his Mom to approve this for Christmas which will be a challenge/ learning opportunity for shifting gears:

View attachment 245498

Is this his first dirtbike experience? I started my guys off the neighbors Honda Trail 50(centrifugal clutch) to get throttle and braking down, then a CRF100 to get clutching and shifting mastered and get cornering down without whiskey throttle wheelies in 3rd, next bike is finally a 2T mx 85 or a KX100.
Some kids do start off on a mx 65 but its there's a lot to figure out, its kind of like putting a beginner adult on 250 2 stroke mx bike, it may or may not go well! IMO first experience should be autoclutched slow low 4 stroke. Might be only for a few hours but it keeps them out of the rhubarb when mom is watching.

 

[GON]

@indylan, very good recommendations. Will likely go with the 50 for a year, and then migrate bigger. The issue sometimes comes down to money, as I am sure the older grandson will outgrow the 50 very quickly, both size and competency wise.

The good news is in a year, the younger grandson should be ready size wise to inherit the 50.

 

[IndyIan]

@indylan, very good recommendations. Will likely go with the 50 for a year, and then migrate bigger. The issue sometimes comes down to money, as I am sure the older grandson will outgrow the 50 very quickly, both size and competency wise.

The good news is in a year, the younger grandson should be ready size wise to inherit the 50.

Just get used 5-10 yr old nice looking/running honda's and you can resell them for the same, a year or 2 later. I did put an hour meter on the CRF100 as I had no idea really how much it was being used, and it gets 15 hrs on it in a week sometimes! And these don't have filters, and share oil with the gearbox, so a quart of 15W40 is pretty cheap maintenance.

 

[MRC01]

Hopefully I can get his Mom to approve this for Christmas which will be a challenge/ learning opportunity for shifting gears:
...

You sound like the awesome grandpa I wish I had as a kid. If you can afford that, I'd recommend a quality mountain bike instead (not an e-bike). Just as fun, cheaper to own & maintain, with a lot more healthy exercise.