I think I should but I am conflicted. I have 3 kids. I gave up on 'cheap' bikes after DS1's first bike, at 3 years old, was heavier than my adult bike and it took him forever to learn to ride. A few Christmases ago they all got 'decent' bikes (2 kids were straight off balance bikes) and hey presto everyone can cycle and I can actually lift the bikes onto a cycle carrier without giving myself a hernia. They're not really expensive- just aluminium rather than steel frame, well balanced etc. The idea with purchasing reasonable quality ones was that they would get more use out of them and then bikes could be passed down/smallest one sold.
So…now everyone is really getting too tall for their respective bike but DS1 is not keen to get a new one for birthday/Christmas etc as he is happy to cycle around with his seat at the very max extension as he'd rather get lego for his birthday (which is fairly soon) I said that was fine, I'd try to get a 2nd hand decent quality one- still with the aim of passing it down.
This hasn't gone well so far. On eBay, people are currently paying over the odds compared with how much bikes are new- e.g. 140/50/60 for second hand model of a bike that is currently 202 pounds brand new (it's currently on sale 25% off). I'm reticent to buy a poorer quality bike 2nd hand as they are also going over what I think reasonable, I'd expect to need to pay to get it serviced, and I'd worry that DS1 would, quite reasonably, want to hang on to his quite nice but slightly small bike. Rationally, in terms of value for money, the new bike is the best bet- servicing, guarantee etc, and it being pretty much guaranteed to be passed down to the other two without having to have too much spent on it. But I feel uncomfortable with the idea of getting a brand new bike now- it just doesn't seem quite right. Problem is…it's the school holidays coming up, we usually take the bikes away with us. The younger 2 are the ones that are in most need of a bigger bike and I really really just don't know what to do!
We're not well off. We've recently gone through some extremely hard financial times- no debt, as I don't do debt, just very hand to mouth. Historically we've had more 'hard' financial times than easy. Things are on an even keel now and we are comfortable, but I'm never going to be a person who is able to throw cash around, and am always careful. Am I being too careful, and really the bike would be an investment for all 3 children, or would it be unreasonable/spoiling my child to buy a brand new bike?