Would you get your child a second hand bike?

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We’ve always bought new and usually for birthdays or Christmas. Dd is in the in between stage of being a bit too big for her bike with stabilisers, but hasn’t learnt to ride one without. Her birthday isn’t until late summer, but she’s keen to get trying without stabilisers, I can’t really afford or justify buying a brand new, expensive bike for no reason.
I saw a great one for £30, little basket and bell, would you buy it?
I’m guessing she’ll outgrow that one in a year or two 😅

We buy high quality second hand bikes but I’d be careful about buying really cheap for a first go without stabilisers. Check how heavy it is, cheap bikes weigh a ton! I’d look for a second hand quality bike then sell it on after for about the same (provided you don’t damage it).

Of course, why wouldnt you? I'd say 75% of the bikes my children had when still growing were 2nd hand or maybe 3rd of 4th hand as children grow out of them so quickly

Yes and have

This, I'm all about the isla bike.

I also have started buying big stuff like this when I need it rather then waiting till his birthday / Christmas. This is made worse by the fact that my sons birthday is December so things like his first pedal bike I got in May so he could make the most of it in the summer / learn to cycle.

I then just give them smaller token gits at Christmas, stops them getting overwhelmed.

We wanted a Frog as they're so light and easier to learn on. Child was between sizes so we rented via Bike Club for £5.99 a month. You can send back or swap whenever. We might buy once child goes up to next size.

Mine always have second hand until they got to secondary, not worth buying new as they grow out of them and we regularly chuck them in the truck to go and cycle around somewhere else so the paint gets chipped. As long as they work or are repairable I don't know why you wouldn't get second hand tbh, bikes last ages.

Yes been doing this with DC 3 and DC4. All second hand from a bike charity shop close to us. They give advice, service all the donated bikes and I have one too! They're brilliant . Highly recommend😊

Yes. Not sure why you feel the need to ask the question. got DD her first bike on a dog walk when I saw one with a for sale sign. £20 bargain.

Why wouldn’t you?

Why would you not?

Yes, absolutely. It’s much better to get a fairly good quality second hand bike that is LIGHTWEIGHT than a brand new supermarket one that is all-steel and heavy.

Top of the range are Frog and Islabike but they are expensive even when used. You can get fairly middling quality ones second hand. Check out the Cyclespog website for recommendations.

Yes of course!
Our local tip has a charity shop attached to it. So so many people take decent bikes (sometimes only had one owner) to the tip that they have started sending them to the local prison where they are repaired, serviced, etc and then the charity sell them. It's a fantastic scheme and everyone I know who has got one has had years of use out of them.
I'd never buy a brand new bike again I wouldn't buy any bike cos I hate cycling and will always get the DC a second (or third) hand one. They grow so quickly.

Erm yes... Why?

My kids have only had a brand new bike one, always second hand after that.

It's easier for children to learn to cycle on a bike that's a bit too small - they need to be able to put their feet down easily. Take the stabilisers off her current bike and see how she gets on before you buy a new (or nearly new) one!

buy the best bike you can, but second hand.

so it used to be Isla bikes, but now I’d say Woom are the best brand on the market in UK for kids.

the materials are light, the gears and components good quality and the bike position has been made for kids.

They are not “bike shaped items” as are many that are in Halfords/Argos etc. which are much heavier than the above brands, and the shapes are not as ergonomic.

i could afford to but new but I much prefer to buy second hand.

I then sell them on at much reduced price. to make sure another kid gets a good bike

I’d also say that stabilisers aren’t the best way to teach how to cycle.
if you’d like I can explain a better method, but that’s not what you were asking about.

go second hand, but buy a good bike.

Yes 100%. They grow out of them so quickly that you're wasting your money buying them new, and also they're unlikely to have had much use because the previous kid has also grown out of it quickly. Often you can sell them on for close to what you've paid for them when bought second hand so don't know why you wouldn't. As they get older it may be worth a bit of spending but not when they're growing so rapidly.

Of course! Why not?!

Of course. Every bike my DC have had has been a second hand Islabike.

Why would you buy a new child's bike?

yes, i have and i do regularly!
whats wrong with 2nd hand? they dont notice!?

wait until they are teens - then they will

Well some people like the OP need to buy new bikes or there wouldn't be 2nd hand ones for the rest of us 😁

Yes, but I admit it's only been an Islabike or Frog which are around £150 second-hand and very good quality. I appreciate that's not in everyone's price range.

Incidentally, stabilisers don't really help. Can your child ride a balance bike? All the children I know who could ride confidently on a pedal bike at age 4 or even 3 just learnt on a balance bike without ever having stabilisers.

Yes of course, just go and get it she won't care she'll just be happy and hopefully grateful for anew bike

My 10yo is riding on a bike we paid £700 for, that is close to £2k new, he won’t ever get him a new bike, and he’ll never be unhappy!

Always, research the model and size and find one at a good price. My current bike was second hand too.
Growth spurts never coincide with Christmas and birthdays and I decided that because I can afford it, bikes are in the same category as underpants, when we need new ones we can get new ones.