Wanted large or xl "progressive" hardtail for my kid to bring to college

[jhyatt]

Kid outgrew this medium honzo I bought here. He has been riding my bike this season but he goes to college in August and he is definitely not taking my bike.
I am looking for either a frame/fork and move these parts over or a complete bike then his little brother could ride this Kona.
This will be locked up around campus so nothing expensive ($1k) but there are supposedly good trails nearby (Virginia Tech) so something with a dropper and air fork. 29er. Modern. SLX-ish.
I am in MA and go to NH VT ME over the summer for in person hand off because shipping bikes is expensive and inconvenient.
Maybe someone has something extra hanging around and wants to turn it into some money.
Happy trails!

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[El Chupacabra]

IMHO get a cheap cheap cheap bike for locking on campus. And a second real bike for actually riding.

[toast2266]

IMHO get a cheap cheap cheap bike for locking on campus. And a second real bike for actually riding.

x2. Not too hard to find a functional bike to ride to class and bars for <$100 in a college town.

[VTskibum]

Kid outgrew this medium honzo I bought here. He has been riding my bike this season but he goes to college in August and he is definitely not taking my bike.
I am looking for either a frame/fork and move these parts over or a complete bike then his little brother could ride this Kona.
This will be locked up around campus so nothing expensive ($1k) but there are supposedly good trails nearby (Virginia Tech) so something with a dropper and air fork. 29er. Modern. SLX-ish.
I am in MA and go to NH VT ME over the summer for in person hand off because shipping bikes is expensive and inconvenient.
Maybe someone has something extra hanging around and wants to turn it into some money.
Happy trails!

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Southwestern VA has some incredibly good riding. Including fantastic trails right from campus, though does require a few mile pedal to a 800’ singletrack climb. A honzo would be a good choice, but a short/mid travel full squish even better. When I lived on campus I would never have dreamed of locking my bike up on the racks outside. I also never(?) used a bike for getting around campus, but if needed I would get something cheap cheap cheap for that.

I’m 20+ years out from graduating so maybe things have changed, but campus didn’t get bigger materially, they just razed the golf course to add buildings.


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[Wes Mantooth]

IMHO get a cheap cheap cheap bike for locking on campus. And a second real bike for actually riding.

x3. Even a free one off FB marketplace

As for a cheap frame I just spent some time looking for something similar to build up as a singlespeed and there's a decent amount on pinkbike in the $500 range, even in XL. I picked up a nice condition Chameleon frame for around that price

[EWG]

One of my kids has a singlespeed on campus, the other a fixie. Singlespeed is decent (old performance house brand.) Fixie is actually a nice bike (Bianchi Pista). They both have bolt on wheels and very sturdy locks. Neither would be the end of the world if it disappeared (though it would suck for sure.) No way they would ride a bike worth real money around campus or a bike with any hand removable parts. And the bikes don't get left outside overnight even locked up.

And then they both have a real mountain bike with them as well.

Has all worked well so far (knocks on wood.)

[californiagrown]

If you put the over under at 2 months for how long a $1500 bike remains in your sons possession/rideable, i would bet the house on the under.

[nickwm21]

One of my few vivid memories from college is realizing my most prized possession, a brand new $800 Kona Cinder Cone is not locked to the rack I left it at 45min before…


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[El Chupacabra]

The bike I rode to campus and locked outside - on campus or at home - was a decrepit road bike I found in a ditch. It didn't get stolen. The brakes barely worked, which was exciting.

[mcski]

Def a beater for campus and a different bike that stays in the room when not on a trail or just right me a chk now because that money is getting thrown away and it might as well go to a mag if you think a decent bike will last a month on campus unsupervised

[Andeh]

Even if it's locked in the room or the dorm storage, consider getting renter's insurance. One of the local bike shop kids had his Megatower stolen out of the supposedly secure bike lock room because no one stopped obvious tweaker guy who walked into it with bolt cutters. Luckily the cops found same obvious tweaker guy with the bike in his car a couple hours later, passed out.

[jhyatt]

Ok noted...
I'll look for a beater. I just want him to have a decent bike so maybe he goes riding on a Saturday instead of the usual college unhealthy habits.

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[El Chupacabra]

Ok noted...
I'll look for a beater. I just want him to have a decent bike so maybe he goes riding on a Saturday instead of the usual college unhealthy habits.

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If you want a slightly nicer cheap bike for campus, this sounds like a perfect fit for a cheap hybrid from bikesdirect. And a good U lock.