Help me find a bike

[leighi123]

Ds's grandpa wants to get him a bike for his 4th bday in July! 

What I want: 

- 2 wheeler, no training wheels (or must be removable, we don't need them)

- real bike tires, not the plastic or foam ones

- very lightweight

- 12" bike

- preferably purple (his favorite color)

- NO characters all over it. 

- priced no more than $150 (less is always better though if it meets the above)

Ideas?   The only bikes I can find that are this size locally are walmart bikes, which are really heavy and have Dora on them or something, OR a bike from a bike shop that meets all of the above things except color and it costs like $250.  

[Red Pajama]

My twins are learning to bike this year, and we got bikes without training wheels. For us, it just didn't work.  My husband went and got some training wheels and added them, and the boys like biking a lot more now, and can actually do it.  We'll get there, but we're not there yet. THey are 6.

If I had it to do over again, I'd get a balance bike first.  Balance bikes have no pedals.  Here's two examples, both in your price range.

http://www.amazon.com/Diggin-Skuut-Metal-Balance-Bike/dp/B003QIB7KK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1307308366&sr=8-4 

http://www.amazon.com/Go-Glider-16-Inch-Balance-Bike/dp/B001HX3CEK/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1307308366&sr=8-12 

both companies make other bikes as well, so perhaps you could find one in purple.

[leighi123]

Thanks - we have a balance bike!  He got it when he was 2, and rides it every day.  He's now at the point where he can balance super well on it, I have no worries that he will quickly pick up a 2 wheeler, he just needs to learn how to pedal.  

So I'm really looking for a "real" bike now.  

[tbone_kneegrabber]

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCProduct.jsp?spid=52926&scid=1005&scname=Kids

[LuckyMommaToo]

How tall is he? Could he get a 16"? Twelve inches is pretty tiny and he won't use it for long. My kids both went from the balance bike to 16" two-wheelers (no training wheels).

-e

[pigpokey]

I have gotten almost all my kids' bikes off Craigslist.  For $150 or less you need to get bike store but lightly used.

Jamis is a good brand, and I think the frame is aluminum so lightweight.

http://spacecoast.craigslist.org/bik/2357809137.html 

[ShyDaisi]

If you find one the right color underneath all of the stickers, you could assemble it yourself or request the stickers not be put on. My son is pretty short for his age, so I was desperately looking for a 10" bike which did not require the training wheels to be attached. I finally found a Mickey Mouse bike at Toys R Us. I didn't realize the decorations were stickers, so didn't say anything, but when I got it home and realized they were, I removed them. We now have a primary colored, character-free bike (that only cost $45)! :)

[leighi123]

Originally Posted by tbone_kneegrabber 

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCProduct.jsp?spid=52926&scid=1005&scname=Kids

He would love that one!  There is a dealer listed only 2 miles from me, I'm going to see if they have it! 

Originally Posted by LuckyMommaToo 

How tall is he? Could he get a 16"? Twelve inches is pretty tiny and he won't use it for long. My kids both went from the balance bike to 16" two-wheelers (no training wheels).

-e

For him, 12" is pushing it, the guy at the bike store said a 10" would be best 2 months ago when I looked at bikes, and he was a bit too small for the 12" because his arms aren't long enough for turning around corners and the 12" one with the seat all the way down he was a few inches from being able to touch the ground with his toes.   He is 36-37" tall, and only 27lbs, so more the size of a 2yr old than a 4yr old.  He's grown 1" sense we last looked at bikes so I'll check again, but he grows super slowly so I'm not to worried about it not lasting very long.  

The neighbor kid has a 12" and he is a LOT taller than my ds (at least a head taller, he is only 3months older but so much bigger!)  

Originally Posted by pigpokey 

I have gotten almost all my kids' bikes off Craigslist.  For $150 or less you need to get bike store but lightly used.

Jamis is a good brand, and I think the frame is aluminum so lightweight.

http://spacecoast.craigslist.org/bik/2357809137.html 

I've been hunting craigslist, sooo many flakers in this area, I've emailed on several bikes for more info and never get responses.   I will keep an eye out though! 
 

Originally Posted by ShyDaisi 

If you find one the right color underneath all of the stickers, you could assemble it yourself or request the stickers not be put on. My son is pretty short for his age, so I was desperately looking for a 10" bike which did not require the training wheels to be attached. I finally found a Mickey Mouse bike at Toys R Us. I didn't realize the decorations were stickers, so didn't say anything, but when I got it home and realized they were, I removed them. We now have a primary colored, character-free bike (that only cost $45)! :)

I never thought of that, good idea!   I also think I could just peel the stickers off, sand it down and re-paint in whatever color he chooses (some shade of purple!)