Review on Raleigh Bikes Rowdy Youth Years by David Dreher

I bought this bike because I wanted a reputable manufacturer to meet the needs of my growing son. I've built several bikes from bare parts and serviced many others. Raleigh truly builds a quality frame with options essential for the youngest kids venturing into more challenging terrain. I chose this bike because of the brakes. I checked local bike shops before buying but there was nothing else with front and rear handbrakes and a mountain bike friendly geometry. That's what this bike offers. After a major overhaul the bike is acceptable and will hopefully last my son for a few years. Pros: - quality frame - front and rear handbrakes - free play (obviously) - perfect crank length - no threaded stem - good saddle Cons: - brake levers are sloppy - brake cantilevers are slanted (can be fixed with a couple of shims) - wheel axles were replaced with missing ball bearings and loose brake cable covers supplied - cheap tires (asymmetric) - cheap chain guard (broken without significant repercussions) Generally if this is your only option for a bike with a handbrake AND you know how to work with bikes this is the normal option. If you have a local dealer who has a bike that fits, use that.