Where's a good place to get a bike for an 8 year old?

[whatdoIget]

I want to get ds a bike to learn to ride on (I've been a bit remiss and he can't ride yet). I'm probably going to get him a new one and would like it to last him a few years. He's about 135cm tall. Tbh I don't know what I should be looking for and what sort of price it would be. Would decathlon of halfords be good places to look? I don't want to spend more than £150 max (preferably a lot less!)
Any advice would be very welcome indeed

[DubiousCredentials]

Well I am by no means an expert but we recently bought new bikes for our dc of similar ages to yours and found all the ones in Halfords in that sort of price range to be very heavy. In the end we bought them aluminium framed Claude Butler bikes from www.bikes2udirect.com/ and the service was excellent. There was a slight fault with a part and they replaced it without quibble and it arrived next day.

[DubiousCredentials]

*Claud

[whatdoIget]

Thanks Dubious. Wow they're quite expensive aren't they?! Maybe I'll have to start looking for 2nd Nan's instead. The weight thing is definitely something I was worried would be a problem in my price range

[freshprincess]

Decathalon are really good.

[whatdoIget]

I was looking at decathlon but they all seem to be steel. Does that mean they'll be really heavy though? Thanks for replying btw!

[DubiousCredentials]

Steel will be heavier than aluminium yes.

[3boys3dogshelp]

I'd definitely recommend second hand, the weight of the bike will make a big difference to your son. My kids have Frog bikes and love them (about £250 new but I think there are some second hand now). Also friends have Isla bikes which are super light but vv expensive, specialised and Dawes.
Before the Frogs I got a bargain from bikes2u and would recommend them.

[SavoyCabbage]

We just bought bikes from http://www.hawkcycles.co.uk. They were really good. My dd is nine and we got a 24 inch bike for her.

[fruitpastille]

I've always bought second hand on eBay. They grow so fast and mine don't use their bikes that much so reluctant to spend a lot. My kids are not very good with gross motor skills but just a standard bike eg halfords has been fine. Take the pedals off so it's like a balance bike to start with. There may be courses in your local area for kids to learn too.

[whatdoIget]

Thanks everyone there's a lot to look into there. He did have a bike previously that I got 2nd hand off eBay and it was really heavy which put him off I think. Also the fact that I never got round to teaching him to ride it didn't help.
Yy fruitpastille taking the pedals off was part of my original plan that I didn't put into action. I think I'm going to start at decathlon and see what they're like in there and go from there.
Thanks again everyone