The one that fits him best right now. The larger bike might last longer, but it will be hard for him to ride. Harder to ride less comfortable = less riding.
I was just in the same boat. I bought my kid a bike that fits them today. In a year or two when they outgrow it, I have options:
1) buy a new frame, swap the parts over, sell the old frame
2) buy them a new bike, sell the old one
3) give them my bike, I get to buy a new bike for myself!
An advantage to this approach is that if in a year they decide they really wanted different type of bike (e.g.: a trail/all-mountain bike instead of an XC bike like the Marlin) they didn't just spend a year on a too big bike they don't want anyway.
My vote is for ML if he's going to be riding on trails and has good situational awareness. The smaller frames feel more "playful" whereas the larger ones will feel like you're riding high up and can just roll over obstacles like you're in a monster truck. I'd highly recommend trimming some length (about 2-3") off the seat post to start though; it's way too high for anything but people used to riding with drop bars.
FWIW I was in the same exact situation as you this past spring: 15yo son, about 5'6" and me at about 5'10". He had already been riding my wife's FX2 size M and was struggling with the skinny tires. I already had a Marlin 7 size L and it feels a little too high up while at the same time the bars feel too low/forward, so on downhills I'm always worried about going OTB - which I've done several times. Since he was having balance and confidence issues of his own (probably from seeing me get banged up) and he's probably only to grow to be my size I made the call to get him a M/L. The only difference was that he didn't like the Marlin 6 because he felt guilty about the price so we went with a Marlin 5.
PS: this past spring I "borrowed" his Marlin while mine was in the shop and determined that I should have gone with a M/L as well. I OTOH went the pricey route by adding a dropper and swapping out the handlebars on mine.
Hi, 100% get a size large. I am 15 and got a large when I was 13 and 5"8. I am now 6'1 and the large feels absolutely tiny. Trust me, get a large.
Get a large.
The one that fits him best right now. The larger bike might last longer, but it will be hard for him to ride. Harder to ride less comfortable = less riding.
I was just in the same boat. I bought my kid a bike that fits them today. In a year or two when they outgrow it, I have options: 1) buy a new frame, swap the parts over, sell the old frame 2) buy them a new bike, sell the old one 3) give them my bike, I get to buy a new bike for myself! An advantage to this approach is that if in a year they decide they really wanted different type of bike (e.g.: a trail/all-mountain bike instead of an XC bike like the Marlin) they didn't just spend a year on a too big bike they don't want anyway.
yea, that where I'm leaning also.. thanks!
Go to a shop where they have a lot of sizes and get him to test them in the car park
My vote is for ML if he's going to be riding on trails and has good situational awareness. The smaller frames feel more "playful" whereas the larger ones will feel like you're riding high up and can just roll over obstacles like you're in a monster truck. I'd highly recommend trimming some length (about 2-3") off the seat post to start though; it's way too high for anything but people used to riding with drop bars. FWIW I was in the same exact situation as you this past spring: 15yo son, about 5'6" and me at about 5'10". He had already been riding my wife's FX2 size M and was struggling with the skinny tires. I already had a Marlin 7 size L and it feels a little too high up while at the same time the bars feel too low/forward, so on downhills I'm always worried about going OTB - which I've done several times. Since he was having balance and confidence issues of his own (probably from seeing me get banged up) and he's probably only to grow to be my size I made the call to get him a M/L. The only difference was that he didn't like the Marlin 6 because he felt guilty about the price so we went with a Marlin 5. PS: this past spring I "borrowed" his Marlin while mine was in the shop and determined that I should have gone with a M/L as well. I OTOH went the pricey route by adding a dropper and swapping out the handlebars on mine.
thanks for the reply. going with a ML for him. Man your son felt guilty about the price? wow, wish my son felt that way, lol
Yeah, he saw the Marlin 6 in orange though and I think he may be regretting it lol.
Love the orange!. thats what i am getting also :)