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Hoy Bonaly

7
£310.00

VERDICT:

7
10
Very light and competent, a fun bike for your budding cyclist, but let down by poor shifter choice
Weight: 
7,800g

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The weight – or lack of it – is the first thing you notice about Hoy's new Bonaly 20 Inch kid's bike as you lift it out of its box. At just 7.8kg it's impressive and a real benchmark against even its more expensive competitors. It's just a shame that its rideability is hampered by what I consider to be a poor choice of gear shifter.

  • Pros: Impressive weight makes for an exciting ride, quality frame and fork
  • Cons: Shifter difficult to use, fewer gears than competitors

First up, let me give you a bit of background about one of our youngest testers, Charlie. He's just turned six but has been riding a similar 20in wheeled bike since his fifth birthday when he graduated from the Little Big Bike.

> Find your nearest Evans store

He's a confident rider, probably bordering on fearless, and is a bit of a natural in the saddle so he's been able to push the Hoy pretty hard on the various tracks and quiet roads we've used for testing.

Ride

The weight of the Hoy is its main plus point. Give a child a bike that they can lift off the ground and they are going to be able to fling it around when they're in the saddle.

hoy_bonaly_-_head_tube_badge.jpg

The local park has a sweeping gravel path running around its perimeter with some descending, climbing and flowing bends, and it was here that I watched Charlie really get to grips with the Bonaly.

hoy_bonaly_riding_2.jpg

The steering looked to be slightly quicker than his Vitus Twenty and the Hoy's 1.5kg weight loss made it even more responsive.

hoy_bonaly_-_head_tube.jpg

Once he'd settled down he was taking the bends faster and much smoother as the lower weight allowed him to use his own bodyweight to correct the bike's line and direct it exactly where he wanted to go.

Descending was fun and, buoyed up by the confidence of the power on offer from the Tektro V-brakes, risks were soon being taken.

hoy_bonaly_-_rear_brake.jpg

Hitting the climbs, he was quickly out of the saddle, and even with a change of centre of gravity the Bonaly never became twitchy.

We did a few hour-long rides too and thanks to the position on the bike he was perfectly comfortably just tapping out the rhythm.

hoy_bonaly_riding_3.jpg

The Bonaly is a good all-rounder. It's easy to ride at steadier paces if your child isn't the most confident on two wheels, but once they start to blossom and grow in confidence the Hoy will continue to appeal.

Frame and fork

Like a lot of decent bikes for kids these days, the Bonaly has an aluminium alloy frame and it's a rather good one.

hoy_bonaly_-_frame_detail.jpg

You get a 1 1/8in headset up front for plenty of stiffness under braking and handling, plus you get internal cable routing for the rear brake and to the rear mech as far as the bottom bracket shell.

hoy_bonaly_-_internal_cable_route.jpg

You get bosses, too, for a water bottle cage, mudguards front and rear, plus what even looks like rack mounts on the seatstays.

hoy_bonaly_-_bosses.jpg

The welding looks to be decent enough, it's not super-smooth but well within tolerance for the price of bike, and then the whole thing is finished off with a thick paintjob and lacquered finish.

hoy_bonaly_-_top_tube.jpg

As you can imagine, this thing has been dropped and crashed a few times through the test period and it is pretty much unscathed.

The fork is aluminium alloy too, which helps reduce the weight over cheaper alternatives that use a steel offering. This follows the same theme as the fork, being well finished and comes with mudguard mounts too.

hoy_bonaly_-_fork.jpg

Finishing kit

As you'd expect on a bike costing £310, the finishing kit is to quite a high standard.

Gear-wise it's based around a Shimano setup with a Tourney rear mech and shifter and offers six gears with a range of 14-28t over the cassette, paired to a 32-tooth chainring.

hoy_bonaly_-_drive_train.jpg

The likes of Frog, Islabike and Vitus offer 7 or 8-speed gearing, with the last two offering higher and lower gears with a 12-32t cassette. It's not a deal breaker but the lower 32t sprocket can make a big difference to little legs making it up that hill.

hoy_bonaly_-_rear_mech.jpg

Pretty much the only real issue I have with the Bonaly is that choice of Tourney shifter. On his Vitus Twenty, Charlie has an Altus setup which uses two Rapidfire thumb shifters which are really easy to use while keeping both hands on the bar.

With the Tourney, the thumb button to change into a bigger gear is just as easy but the lever used to go back up the cassette is hard to push.

hoy_bonaly_-_bar_and_shifter.jpg

Things get even worse when the third gear is reached as it moves the lever well out of the reach of a child's thumb. To move into second or first gear, Charlie would have to remove his hand from the bar to try to change gear which caused all sorts of handling issues considering the amount of pressure needed to move the lever.

It's a shame, as he soon didn't bother using the gears at all and tried to smash every hill out of the saddle.

Back to the positives, though.

The Tektro V-brakes offer plenty of power for such a small bike and you know full well that your child is going to stop quickly if the need arises; you should also save a few quid on replacing shoes as well!

hoy_bonaly_-_front_brake.jpg

The Tektro levers are easy to use and they are reach-adjustable too.

The riser bar is 49cm across and paired with a 55mm stem seemed to offer a comfortable position without making the handling overly twitchy. Even the foam grips are grippy but squidgy enough to give a comfortable ride.

hoy_bonaly_-_bars.jpg

The Hoy branding on the stem and saddle is a nice touch as it gives a complete finished look throughout the bike. The saddle itself is very comfortable according to Charlie and it feels firm to the touch with just enough give to take the sting out.

hoy_bonaly_-_saddle.jpg

The Hoy uses Alex rims paired with Joy Tech hubs. It's a tough little wheelset with 32 spokes in a one-cross pattern throughout. The front wheel went a nudge out of true after a crash but it was easily rectified.

A neat touch is the wear line on the braking surface, so you can keep an eye on how the rims are doing and when they need replacing.

hoy_bonaly_-_tyre.jpg

Kenda makes some decent tyres for small wheels and these K1047 20x1.75 inch versions are a good example. The small knobbly tread works on gravel, grass and hard packed mud, plus they still roll pretty well on the tarmac.

Puncture proofing looks to be good too, as they are completely unblemished after plenty of off-road shenanigans.

Pricing

I've been down the cheap heavy clunker route with my eldest and it did nothing to enamour her towards cycling. With the arrival of her secondhand Islabike turning up, things completely changed. If your child is interested in cycling then it's worth the investment in a bike they can get the most out of.

Islabikes are often touted as one of the best for children purely thanks to some well-thought-out geometry and kit. Others have started to follow, though, and this Bonaly is near-identical.

The Hoy costs £310, which could be considered a bargain against the Beinn 20 at £389.99. We tested the 26in version here.

The Hoy is slightly lighter by a few hundred grams and while the Islabike has a better gear shifter setup, the Gripshift isn't the best either for smaller hands.

> Buyer's Guide: 16 of the best kids' bikes

Frog comes in with its 55 20in alternative at £310, the same as the Hoy, but you do get two sets of tyres chucked in and a five-year frame and fork warranty. You also get an 8-speed thumb shift setup, though the whole bike weighs an extra kilo over the Hoy.

Vitus's Twenty deserves a mention, too, and not just because I bought one for Charlie. Yes, it weighs 9.4kg but it's still light enough to be enjoyed and for Charlie to pop the front wheel up over a bump in the trail. You get those thumb shifters for the 7-speed system plus quality wheels and finishing kit.

And it costs just £219.99, which makes it a real contender.

Conclusion

The Hoy Bonaly is a really good bike, one of the best in this category with great kit, a lovely frame and a really impressive weight. It's just a shame that the gear shifter choice takes the shine off.

Verdict

Very light and competent, a fun bike for your budding cyclist, but let down by poor shifter choice

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Hoy Bonaly

Size tested: 20 inch wheel

About the bike

State the frame and fork material and method of construction. List the components used to build up the bike.

From Evans Cycles:

Frame

HOY Alloy 6061, 20'' w/bottle cage & mudguard mounts

Fork

HOY Alloy 20", 1-1/8" alloy steerer

Number of Gears

6

Rear Derailleur

Shimano Tourney 6-Speed

Shifters

Shimano Tourney 6-Speed

Chain set

Prowheel 114mm alloy w/single plastic Chainguard

Chain rings

32T

Bottom Bracket

Included with chainset

Cassette

Sun Race 14-28T, 6-Speed Freewheel

Chain

KMC Z33, 114 Links

Pedals

VP W/ Reflector

Brakeset

Tektro RX1, mini V-brake

Brake Levers

Tektro Levers

Handlebars

HOY Alloy, 25.4mm, Width: 500, Back Sweep: 6 Degree, Rise: 30mm

Stem

HOY alloy, 60mm

Headset

Prestine 1-1/8" integrated headset

Grips

Velo grips

Rims

Alex Z1000 20 Inch, 32H

Front Hub

Joy Tech 821, 9mm, ball bearings

Rear Hub

Joy Tech 822, 32H, ball bearings

Spokes

14G, Steel plain gauge

Front Tyre

Kenda K1047, 20x1.75 Inch

Rear Tyre

Kenda K1047, 20x1.75 Inch

Tubes

Kenda

Saddle

HOY, CR-MO rail with track stripe logo

Seatpost

HOY Alloy 27.2x250mm

Seat Binder

Single bolt lightweight design

Tell us what the bike is for

Evans says, "For keen junior Hoys, the Bonaly 20 is a simple go-anywhere ride that puts quality and easy riding first. The spec includes proper bearings, simple Shimano 6-speed gears with a double chain-guard for fewer (if any?) dropped chains and light integrated headsets for a neat, refined look. Making a great children's bike at Hoy starts with shorter cranks than most children's bikes are commonly specified with. This and the rigid forks used means we can drop the frame / bottom bracket as low as possible to make the frame as stable and manageable as possible for small riders. The Bonaly is named after the area at the foothills of the Pentlands where Sir Chris ventured off-road for the first time, so the Bonaly 20 uses semi-treaded Kenda Small Block 8 tyres with a large volume to make those first excursions in safe places like a park or flat woodland a little easier."

Frame and fork

Overall rating for frame and fork
 
8/10

Tell us about the build quality and finish of the frame and fork?

Neatish welds and finished off with a tough paintjob, exactly what you need on a kid's bike.

Tell us about the materials used in the frame and fork?

The frame is manufactured from 6061 aluminium alloy while the fork is alloy too, for the legs and steerer.

Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork?

Many bike brands rarely display geometry tables for their children's bikes but Evans does and you can see the full details here - https://www.evanscycles.com/hoy-bonaly-20-inch-kids-bike-EV203131

The Bonaly 20 follows pretty much the same sizing as Vitus' Twenty and the Islabike Beinn 20, and it is well suited to most children around the age of five.

How was the bike in terms of height and reach? How did it compare to other bikes of the same stated size?

Hoy gives a stack figure of 406mm and a reach of 317mm which is pretty typical for a bike of this size.

Riding the bike

Was the bike comfortable to ride? Tell us how you felt about the ride quality.

Yes, the frame isn't overly harsh and with the large volume tyres and comfortable saddle there were no complaints.

Did the bike feel stiff in the right places? Did any part of the bike feel too stiff or too flexible?

The frame had plenty of stiffness for the type of output it's going to see. Even with a 76kg adult aboard it for a quick sprint it felt surprisingly firm...

How did the bike transfer power? Did it feel efficient?

A good spread of gears and a low weight meant the Bonaly is a quick, fun bike to ride.

Was there any toe-clip overlap with the front wheel? If so

No.

How would you describe the steering? Was it lively Neutral but enough fun to excite a five-year-old.

Tell us some more about the handling. How did the bike feel overall? Did it do particular things well or badly?

The handling is controlled and smooth enough to give confidence to a young rider, and it'll remain enjoyable the more advanced the rider gets.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's comfort? would you recommend any changes?

The Hoy saddle got a mention for comfort.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's stiffness? would you recommend any changes?

You've got a bottom bracket shell the same diameter as an adult's bike so there is little flex to be found under power.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's efficiency? would you recommend any changes?

The light wheels and quick rolling tyres helped keep the speed up.

Rate the bike for efficiency of power transfer:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for acceleration:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for sprinting:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for high speed stability:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for cruising speed stability:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for low speed stability:
 
7/10
Rate the bike for flat cornering:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for cornering on descents:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for climbing:
 
8/10

The drivetrain

Rate the drivetrain for performance:
 
6/10
Rate the drivetrain for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the drivetrain for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the drivetrain for value:
 
7/10

Tell us some more about the drivetrain. Anything you particularly did or didn't like? Any components which didn't work well together?

Hoy's choice of gear shifter is a bit of a flaw as the lever to change to a lower gear is a long way in front of the handlebar if the child needs to go from third to second or second to first. Rapidfire shifting under the bar is a much better idea.

Most of the competitors have either 7 or 8-speed systems, too, which gives a bigger range or smaller gaps between sprockets.

Wheels and tyres

Rate the wheels for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the wheels for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the wheels for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the wheels for comfort:
 
8/10
Rate the wheels for value:
 
7/10

Tell us some more about the wheels.Did they work well in the conditions you encountered? Would you change the wheels? If so

The Alex rims are tough with their 32-spoke build and stood up to plenty of abuse throughout the test period. The hubs are smooth running, too.

Rate the tyres for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the tyres for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the tyres for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the tyres for comfort:
 
8/10
Rate the tyres for value:
 
7/10

Tell us some more about the tyres. Did they work well in the conditions you encountered? Would you change the tyres? If so

The Kenda tyres offer plenty of grip on a real mix of terrains like gravel, grass and hard packed mud without sacrificing rolling resistance on the road.

Controls

Rate the controls for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the controls for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the controls for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the controls for comfort:
 
8/10
Rate the controls for value:
 
7/10

Tell us some more about the controls. Any particularly good or bad components? How would the controls work for larger or smaller riders?

The alloy finishing kit is well proportioned and of good quality. The Hoy detailing gives a complete look to the bike as well.

Your summary

Did you enjoy riding the bike? Yes

Would you consider buying the bike? No, that gear shifter is a real pain.

Would you recommend the bike to a friend? Yes

Rate the bike overall for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the bike overall for value:
 
6/10

Use this box to explain your overall score

Probably one of the best children's frames on the market in this size with a really promising weight, but it's let down by that shifter which just isn't suitable for small hands.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 39  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

Add new comment

9 comments

Avatar
Natrix | 5 years ago
0 likes

My son loves his Bonaloy 24 and it is a great bike, but the rims wear quickly and I've had to replace the rear one already as it was down to the wear strip......

Avatar
BehindTheBikesheds | 5 years ago
0 likes

Hmmm, maybe Chris Hoy should have had a bit more of a think before he agreed to the end package?

Only 6 gears is not that a big deal however, younger kids particularly will tend to not shift gears that much even when they have them but the point about how difficult it is to shift is important, they'd have been better of with a decent gripshifter if not stumping for a rapid fire.

That said Is the 28T really a problem, are kids using this type of bike going to be going up really steep hills, did it actually prove to be too high a gear when in use by the tester?

The other thing that surprises me is why would you build a wheel one cross, surely on a bike of this type that is likely to get a hammering, get dropped, crashes etc you'd not want weaker wheels.

The fact the wheel went out of true from a minor incident tells you all you need to know regarding that IMHO, basically it's another cost cutting exercise.

Nearly hits the sweetspot but a couple of silly decisions puts it down to others.

Avatar
vonhelmet | 5 years ago
1 like

Ah, I retract my outrage. I remember that now.

Avatar
Chris Hayes replied to vonhelmet | 5 years ago
0 likes

Much appreciated.  Didn't want to upset anyone...

Avatar
Chris Hayes | 5 years ago
0 likes

It was a wry reference to Hoy's comments about middle-aged fat blokes in lycra, thats all.... not meant to be offensive to fat kids.  That's their parents' fault. 

Avatar
Chris Hayes | 5 years ago
0 likes

I guess that this is for fat little kids in lycra? 

Avatar
CygnusX1 replied to Chris Hayes | 5 years ago
7 likes
Chris Hayes wrote:

I guess that this is for fat little kids in lycra? 

It's for kids, wearing whatever they feel comfortable in and hopefully not having to worry about adults body shaming them.

Avatar
vonhelmet replied to Chris Hayes | 5 years ago
2 likes
Chris Hayes wrote:

I guess that this is for fat little kids in lycra? 

What on earth is wrong with you?

Avatar
bendertherobot | 5 years ago
0 likes

We have the Vitus in the 20 and the Bonaly (last year's) in the 24. 

At the 20 size the Vitus is a remarkeable bike. Very light, well made, good spec. Not perfect but an awful lot cheaper than its competitors. 

It's a shame about the shifter on the Hoy 20 as that does make a huge difference. 

The Hoy 24 is superb. It's lighter than the Vitus 20 and very well specced. At its list price it was knocking on the door of the Frog but not quite at Isla prices. Residuals will no doubt not be as good. But, a combination of Evans ebay vouchers and reductions saw it delivered for £200 which is just incredible.

 

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