[quote author="freedomCM" date=1241051405]I would go second-hand, but then take it to a bike mechanic for a check-up. Go for a simple design, like a BMX-type or one speed regular bike.
If you are paying much for it, you might take to for a pre-purchase check-up, just like buying a used car. If not, carefully inspect for any damage to the frame or other structural components (these cannot generally be fixed).
Finally, I strongly urge you to avoid buying at a big-box store. Do you really want your kid riding around on a bike that was assembled by someone making minimum wage, and which was purchased from china for 20% of the $100 you are going to pay for it (bad, bad materials)? I've heard too many stories of big box bikes self destructing while being ridden.</blockquote>
I agree...
I would suggest going to Performance Bike in Laguna Hills, let Him test-ride a couple and make sure it fits, which is very important, he will tend to ride more if he's comfortable...the Staff there are pretty knowledgable...
The part most People tend to miss when they think they are going to pay more initialy for a decent known brand is that if you take good care of the Bike, keep it clean and damage free they can generaly put it on Craigslist when their Kid has outgrown it or just doesn't want to ride anymore and probably get 50% of what they paid for it, so in the long-run a $300 Bike will only cost them $150.
Plus, Performance seem to build their Bikes pretty well and they offer free lifetime servicing on things such as drive-train adjustments etc, this can save $40 a pop trips to your LBS (Local Bike store).
