To consider buying a brand new Isla bike?

[hadtodoitagain]

Hello,

I have a son who is 10. I have heard very good reviews on Isla bikes but can not justify the price . I have been trying to get second hand ones from EBay but I keep getting outbidded. Honestly. I have tried. I'm tempting to buy a brand new one... but I'm not sure. Considering he would just be using it in the park..

Well, the good news is that the resale value is excellent... They are great bikes, to be fair.

If you can stretch to it, then yes. They hold their value very well and are very well made bikes. A lot of cheaper kids bikes are rubbish to ride and put them off cycling. We've a series of Isla and Frog bikes and so far they've done five kids (ours and others we've lent them to)

They are brilliant, brilliant bikes. We've bought three brand-new ones over the years and they've been worth every penny.

Isla and Frog are both worth buying new as you'll get a substantial part of it back when you sell it

Dds first bikes were Isla bikes, can only recommend them. Great service, great bikes

How long would it last for?

My kids gets new bikes every couple of years.

I would say if it’s just riding to the park then it’s hard to justify the cost.

We go out on our bikes a fair bit and they do ok with their basic bikes.

At that age where he is going to take it to the park etc. I wouldn’t as it will end up getting stolen (it would around here anyway)

I would only buy a cheapish bike for a teen / tween.

Yes do it! They are fab bikes and hold their value - selling our first one pretty much paid for the next.

Frog bikes are also good and slightly cheaper, also a bit easier to get hold of second hand.

Always do Islas. They're amazing, on 3rd one for ds. Usually buy 2nd hand off eBay but gone for a new one this time, he's going to be 11. They really hold their value, always got good money for them when we've sold them on.

I'm just worried about buying an item so expensive that it may get stolen.

YANBU. They last and really hold their value!

My DS's first and second bikes were Islas. They are very good, and you get a high % of the value back when you sell it on.

But look at Frog too - they're not much heavier, nearly as good, and a good chunk cheaper.

Most bidders are willing to spend 300+ on a second hand bike on EBay. I would rather just buy a new bike. However, I'm going to keep on trying,

We've had a few new and resold at a great price however at about that age we didn't replace with another Isla partly because ds wanted one more like his friends and also I was worried about how it would be looked after as he became more independent.
We got a excellent condition second hand trek that Santa delivered and it's been a great alternative.

We managed to get one second hand on eBay and I’m definitely going to keep buying them as my son gets older he learnt to ride it to 1 session. I do think that because the resale value is so good, the price is justified

I wouldn’t at this age. We had Isla or Frog for young ages when we were with them and they needed something light to get any speed up. We have good bikes for adults. Teens/tweens have to settle for slightly less nice. The only exception would be if they were racing or really serious, but even then they’d probably have another bike to take to the park with their mates.

It is likely to get nicked if it isn’t locked up every time they get off it. And it will only be a few years before they need a bigger one. Plus tbh my teens need slowing down for safety and because I can’t keep up!

True about the resale value though.

I think I'm the only person on MN ever to regret getting an Isla bike. It probably wasn't the bike's fault really, but DS couldn't tell the difference between pedalling forwards and pedalling backwards. He would start to press down on the higher pedal before it had reached the top and the thing would come to an instant stop and he'd hurt himself falling off. I should have got rid of it straight away and bought another one that didn't have a back-pedal brake but I thought he'd get used to it. In fact he ended up refusing bikes altogether and didn't learn until well after he was 10.

Sorry, I've just realised that your DS can already ride a bike. Carry on.

There is a Facebook group for preloved Islabikes if you search - you may have more luck than eBay. Bikes are going for crazy money at the moment - we ended up buying new for my older child, justifying the cost as it'll last a few years and then can be handed down to my youngest. As others have said, they do hold their value.

Take a look on the Facebook pre owned Isla bikes for sale. The price of bikes has shot up since Covid and lockdown so it's a sellers market at the moment. I think they're worth every penny but we've always gone halves with grandparents for birthday or Christmas. A Frog is a great alternative, also a Squish but the branding might be a bit young for a 10+ year old.

I just don't know.... is there anywhere else, apart from EBay, where I can get Isla bikes second hand? What about second hand bike shops?

There is a Facebook group for preloved Islabikes if you search

Thank you! I'll take a look.

Whatever you end up bidding for it, you’ll get back when you sell it on. Buy a lock though!

How much do you think I should be willing to spend on a second hand Isla bike?

Our 2 have Isla bikes too, think DD on her third now (probably her last as she gets more into her teens she'll not want to do bike rides w us anymore??)

Been really pleased with them for about 8 yrs + I think