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Paul Nuki is one of Britain's leading consumer journalists and is currently head of news features at The Sunday Times. He's also a father of four and long time cycle enthusiast. Here he picks out the five best bikes for kids Click to view Top 5 Childrens Bikes.
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Best BMX (Mongoose Expert) |
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 If your teen is already into BMX, just hand over the cash and let them buy their own wheels - mum and dad are almost certain to get it wrong. But if they're just starting out, go for a Mongoose. It's an established brand which commands respect from riders worldwide. Mongoose BMXs also offer outstanding value, say most reviews. |
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| "When buying a Mongoose bike, it's plainly obvious that you are getting a major deal. Not many bike brands - in fact, no other bike brands - can pack so much into a bike for so little money", says the specialist magazine Ride UK. |
Great Value |
 BMX bikes come in three main styles - racing, freestyle and dirt jumping. However, the differences between the bikes needed for each discipline are actually quite slight and, with the exception of those for young children, BMX bike frames tend to come in a single size which fits all.
According to Brixton Cycles, one of London's leading independent distributors of BMX gear, the two key things to look for in any quality BMX bike are a "cro-mo" frame (lighter than high-tensile steel but just as strong) and a three-part pedal crank which can be taken to bits, adjusted and repaired.
Super-lightweight aluminium frames are also available but they are more expensive and only really useful for racing anyway. The rest depends on what the bike is to be used for, as follows:
1/ Freestyle BMX bikes are ridden on the street and in concrete skateparks so you'll want smooth tyres and a strong 48-spoke rear wheel. Freestyle bikes also need brakes at both the front and the rear, handlebars that can spin 360 degrees and the facility to add axle pegs which the rider can stand on to perform tricks. Most also come with a "gyro" - a device which lets the handlebars spin without twisting the brake cables.
2/ Racing BMX bikes have just a single brake at the back and lighter 36-spoke wheels. Because the racing is done off-road, they also need knobbly, high traction tyres.
3/ Dirt-jumping BMX bikes also have only one brake and knobbly tyres but the stronger 48-spoke wheels, front and back. The frames and axles on these bikes also tend to be beefed-up to withstand heavy landings.
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Strong Reviews |
 So which bike should you go for?
If you're buying for a teen who is just getting into BMX riding, I would go for the Mongoose Expert (top) as it's a true all-rounder which has stood the test of time. It's a great bike which - with a simple swap of tyres - will perform off-road just as well as on the street or in a skate park. It has a full cro-mo frame, an excellent three piece crank, high-quality wheels, nice alloy pedals, gyro and axle pegs.
The Mongoose Expert has also won rave reviews. "The Mongoose Expert is a prime example of the fact that you don't have to spend a lot to have fun, you just need to shop wisely and get the most for your money. The Expert could possibly be the wisest money spent", said BMX Plus.
Another good option is the Mongoose Rogue (above). It's sold at the same price point as the Expert and boasts a virtually identical set of components but has a frame geometry which is geared more to a pure freestyle ride, making it ideal for street tricks and skateparks. If you live in the heart of big town or city and your teen is keener on concrete than dirt, then this is the one to go for.
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 Finally, if money is tight, consider also the Mongoose Brawler or the Mongoose Villain (left). The front triangle of both these bikes' frames is made of cro-mo (which cuts their weight), while the back part is made of steel (which cuts their cost). The Brawler has a all-round geometry, while the Villain, like the Rogue, is pure freestyle.
There are even cheaper Mongoose BMX bikes but they have heavy steel frames which are likely to prove a false economy in the long term. |
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Other great reviews in KidsStuff:
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