Best Bikes for Teenagers
Best Bikes for Teenagers
Having a bike is great way to give teenagers a sense of freedom. It’s a great way for teenagers to get some exercise, meet up with friends and get into a new sport. We sell a lot of bikes to teenagers (or their parents) and below we have rounded up some of the best bikes for teenagers. They are mainly mountain bikes as these tend to be the most popular option for teenagers.
Trek Marlin 4 - £525
Trek claim the Marlin is the best selling mountain bike in the world and with the number we get through we can believe it. They are especially popular with teenagers as they look fantastic and give them mountain bike styling on a bike that can also be used for getting to school. The bigger bikes (medium size and up) use a 29” wheel while the smaller sizes come with a 27.5” wheel. It is also worth knowing that the smallest bikes come with a curved top tube similar to the ones on the women’s version of the bike. The Marlin 4 is the base model in the range and comes with simple gearing and mechanical disc brakes.
Trek Marlin 5 - £620
The Marlin 5 is the second bike in the Marlin range. It comes with upgraded hydraulic disc brakes, better gears and a better fork. If your teenager is going to be using the bike for mountain biking then it is definitely worth stretching to this model if you can as they’ll have a much easier time, and the bike will last longer. The Marlin 5 is also available in an XXSmall size with 26” wheels which will fit riders down to 4’ 4” tall.
Specialized Rockhopper - £425
If the Trek Marlin is the best selling mountain bike in the world then the Specialized Rockhopper can’t be far behind. Like the Trek the Specialized comes with 27.5” wheels on the smaller bikes and 29” wheels on the bigger bikes. Unlike the Trek they all come with the same frame design. However, Specialized do ship the small and xsmall bikes with a women’s saddle fitted. Specialized are currently doing the entry level Rockhopper at £425, reduced from £525, in some colours which makes it a bit of a bargain.
Whyte 604 Compact - from £620
Whyte make award winning mountain bikes which are designed in the UK. They are known for their great handling. The 604 is their ‘compact’ model designed for smaller riders. It comes with a shorter reach and adjusted parts so shorter riders get the same ride experience as taller ones. The Xsmall size will fit riders from 4’ 9” and up. If you are buying for a teenager who is going to spend a lot of time riding technical trails off-road then this is a great option.
Orbea Laufey 27 H20 - £989
The Laufey is Orbea’s long travel hardtail mountain bike. It is designed for aggressive trail riding. The standard adult version comes with 29” wheels but they also do this youth version with 27.5” wheels. You still get quality parts Shimano gears and hydraulic brakes as well as a 120mm travel fork. It’s a great bike for serious off-road riders.
Specialized Sirrus 1.0 - £425
Not all teenagers will want a mountain bike. A hybrid bike like the Specialized Sirrus is a good alternative. With skinnier tyres and a lighter weight frame these bikes are quicker on the road but can still handle cycle paths and tracks. If you have a teenager who needs to ride to school, or to their Saturday job, this will be quicker than a mountain bike and take less effort.
Trek FX 2 - £690
While the Sirrus is a good basic hybrid the Trek FX 2 has a couple of nice upgrades. The biggest is that it comes with hydraulic disc brakes which give much better stopping power in the wet. If your teenager is going to be riding in all conditions this will make the bike a bit safer. It also comes with 18 gears instead of 14 so there’s a bit of extra range for getting up hills.
