24 INCH BIKES
Full Disclosure: We are mountain bikers and our goal is to get our kids riding singletrack and mountain bike specific trails with us. By the time we get to 24 inch bikes we are looking for suspension to get the most out of our days on the trails with the kids. But, for fully rigid mtb, jaunts around the neighborhood, longer paved rides and trips to school, here are the 24 inch rigid bikes of choice.
Neighborhood/Light Trail
Prevelo Alpha 4
Following the trend, Prevelo's 24 inch bike is a perfect build for 7-11 year olds. Trigger shift 8 spd 11-34 cassette with a 32 tooth front chain ring, you also get 130mm cranks and 1.5 inch kenda small block tires. This bike also uses 1 1/8 headset so you can play around with spare stems and bars laying around the garage or throw on a suspension fork if you are so inclined (we know we are)! OUR FULL REVIEW HERE
Weight: 21.2 lbs | MSRP: $539 US | Min-Max seat height: 25.8"-31.2" | Where to buy: Prevelo | Prevelo Canada | Backcountry
Woom 5
One of the lightest bikes for the 7-11 crowd that has gearing, the Woom 5 is an amazing bike. 8 Spd Sram Gripshift with 11-32 cassette and 32 tooth front chain ring, adjustable stem and you get 1.85 inch Schwalbe tires. Kickstand and bell optional it comes in four color options.
Weight: 18.08 lbs | MSRP: $649 | Min-Max seat height: 26.38"-33.27" | Where to buy: Woom
Polygon Premier 24
So much value in this 24 inch bike. Factory direct, the Polygon premier 24 is a light weight alloy frame, 140mm cranks, kenda 1.75 inch tires, short reach v-brakes, 7spd tourney derailleur w 14-28T cassette, quick release seat post, 70 HA, and 410mm chainstays. This is a lot of bike for a very low price. Plus, a lifetime frame warranty, free shipping to lower 48 and 14 day no question asks return policy. OUR FULL REVIEW HERE
Weight: 23 lbs | MSRP: $349 US | Min-Max ride height: 4'1"-4'11" | Min Seat Height: 25.5" | Where to buy: Bikes Online
Guardian 24
A quality Shimano 7spd speed bike that offers the same unique stopping mechanism for novice and new riders. Think anti-locking front brake that is actuated by a single lever (rear is activated first followed by front brake). Kids specific parts, freewheel and budget friendly steel version.
Weight: 25.5 lbs | MSRP: $429 USD | Min-Max seat height: 25"-33" | Where to buy: Guardian
Cannondale Quick 24
Cannondale has upped their game this year and delivered some good light weight rigid bikes. Good geometry, light weight and quality parts make this bike stand out compared to other big brands. Seven Speed grip shift, 145mm cranks, kenda small block 1.5 inch tires, 69.5 HA.
Weight: 20.8 lbs | MSRP: $400 US | Standover: 23.1" | Where to buy: REI
Specialized Jett 24
Specialized has upped their game for kids bikes. The Jett 24 has spot on geometry and ergonomics. Highlights include adjustable crank length, narrow q-factor, adjustable handlebar, kids size seat, tool-free brake lever adjustment, 8 spd micro shift drivetrain and great 2 inch wide tires. They provide a fit tool specific for the new kids bikes to make sure you purchase the right size.
Weight: 20.5 lbs | MSRP: $550 US | Min Rider Height: 44"-62" | Where to buy: Specialized Direct | Competitive Cyclist | Backcountry
Cleary Meerkat 24
This is a nice little 24 that can handle the neighbourhood, the skills park and trails in equal doses. Hydraulic disc brakes and an easy maintenance 5 spd geared hub set this whip apart. The robust steel frame should last a lifetime and the geometry of 70 degree HA, 363 mm reach and 410 mm chainstays make it nice handling all rounder. 152mm cranks (would prefer 140) and 1.95 inch tires. You can run as large as 2.35 inch tires and even add a suspension fork should you want something with a bit of squish.
Weight: 27 lbs | MSRP: $500 US | Min-Max inseam: 22"-26" | Where to buy: Cleary Bikes | Ready Set Pedal| Competitive Cyclist
Priority Start 24
Great Value in this 3 spd belt driven/grease free almost maintenance free bike. Short reach V Brakes, adjustable reach stem, freewheel and light weight great geometry frame ticks all the boxes. Oh yeah...and free kickstand.
Weight: 23.3 lbs | MSRP: $399 USD | Min-Max seat height: 27"-34.5" | Where to buy: Priority Bicycles
Norco Storm 4.3
Good little bike with 7 spd shimano drivetrain, 152mm cranks (we prefer 140), tektro v brakes, 1.75 inch tires. Together, the alloy frame with 350mm reach and light alloy part spec is great for the around neighborhood scene that sees moderate hills and some light trail use.
Weight: N/A lbs | MSRP: $679 USD | Standover 23.7" | Where to buy: Jenson USA
Vitus 24
Good value in the 8 speed (11-32T) neighborhood and light rail bike. V-brakes with adjustable lever reach, 140mm cranks, 1.95 kenda small blocks, light alloy frame/fork, narrow Q-factor and good geometry (67.5 HA, 72.5 STA, 390mm CS, 331mm Reach)
Weight: 20.7 lbs | MSRP: $379 US | Min-Max inseam: 22"-25" | Where to buy: Chain Reaction
Trek Wahoo 2
A decent all rounder hybrid from Trek. A 1x8 drive train with 152 mm cranks (tad long), this makes a nice neighoburhood ride and light trail use bike with 1.95 inch tires and a 70 degree head angle.
Weight: 21 lbs | MSRP: $499 US | Min Rider Height: 51"-59" | Where to buy: Trek
Isla Beinn 24: NO LONGER AVAILABLE IN NORTH AMERICA
An 8 speed Sram X4 grip shift equipped speed demon, very light and excellent part spec. Sram x4 grip shift 11-32 Cassette with 32 T front chain ring. Isla stocks with their own 1.45 inch tires.
Weight: 19.9 lbs | MSRP: $649 US | Min-Max inseam: 22.5"-27" | Where to buy: Isla Bikes
Mountain Bikes
Woom off 5
These super light weight bikes are fantastic. Carbon Fork, amazing compound 2.35 in Schwalbe tires let you dump tire pressure out on the trail for a little bit of squish. Fantastic geometry (69 HA), awesome pedals, great 9 spd 11-34T drive train and hydraulic disc brakes. Everything you want in a neighborhood ramp charger combo MTB...except a suspension fork you say? Coming late spring 2020 for $200 more. OUR FULL REVIEW HERE
Weight: 18.9 lbs | MSRP: $849 US | Min-Max seat height: 28.2"-32.28" | Where to buy: Woom
Early Rider Seeker 24 Limited
Very nice Rigid 24 inch mountain bike here. A Box 3 9 spd clutch derailleur makes a lot of sense with a 11-46 T rear cassette and 150mm cranks. Light weight and great 2.25 inch Crown Gem tires makes this a single track dominator. Promax hydraulic brakes provide the stopping power. Great all round bike for the adventurous kid!
Weight: 22 lbs | MSRP: $899 USD | Min seat height: 26" | Where to buy: Early Rider
Cannondale Cujo 24+
We usually are not that keen on plus sized tires for kids bikes as it makes for a heavier rotational weight and sluggish ride (especially around the neighborhood). However, there is no denying the plus size wheels at a lower pressure will smooth out the bumps. The Kenda 2.6 tires on the Cujo are actually a decent weight and the total weight of the bike is very respectable. Good geometry (69.5 HA, 430mm chainstays, 339 mm reach) with a nice low BB will make it a stable MTB ride, this is a great bike. Smart 130 mm cranks, 8 spd 11-34 T and mechanical disc brakes round out a value build.
Weight: 24.5 lbs | MSRP: $580 US | Standover: 23.4" | Where to buy: REI
Forth Park 24
Great value here in a bike that rides the neighborhood and trails very nicley thanks to great geometry. Kenda small block 2.1 inch tires are great on/off-road rubber and when paried with tekro mechanical brakes, you have a nice do-it-all machine. Eight spd shimano drivetrain, 140m cranks, 69 degree Head Angle, 972mm wheelbase, 387mm reach...
Weight: 22.5 lbs | MSRP: $400 US, $535 CDN| Min Seat Height: 25" | Where to buy: Forth Bikes
Commencal Ramones 24
Another wider tire (2.6 inch Crown Gems) rigid mtb. Mechanical disc brakes, 140mm cranks, Sunrace 7spd 13-34T drivetrain on a 24 inch alloy frame. The Geometry sports a 69 degree Head Angle, 347 mm reach, nice -30mm BB drop and 380mm chainstays.
Weight: 24.5 lbs | MSRP: $520 US | Min-Max Rider Height: 50"-59" | Where to buy: Ready Set Pedal
Pello Reyes 24 Rigid
A nine speed all alloy rigid MTB! The stand out here is the 1.95 inch kenda K-Rads for dirt and the stopping power of mechanical disc brakes. Great build quality and finish on this gem.
Weight: 22 lbs | MSRP: $599 US | Min-Max seat height: 25.5"-30.5" | Where to buy: Pello Bikes
Vitus 24+
Yep, another Crow Gem 2.6 inch wide Rigid MTB. Vitus delivers on value here with Shimano 7 spd drivetrain, and mechanical disc brakes. Geometry is a 67 Head Angle, 350mm reach, and 390mm chainstays.
Weight: 24.5 lbs | MSRP: $400US | Min-Max rider height: 133 cm-148cm | Where to buy: Chain Reaction
Giant STP 24
Nice mountain bike frame with 69 Head angle, 335 mm reach and 410 mm chainstays. Well spec'd crank length at 140 mm, you get mechanical disc brakes and 2.6 inch wide kenda tires. This bike is also available with a suspension fork but its a heavy coil one (we advise against coil forks for kids, better rigid). 12x32 T revo gripshift shimano drivetrain rounds out the build.
Weight: N/A lbs | MSRP: $460 US | Min/Max Rider height: 4'1-4'9 | Where to buy: EVO
Specialized Riprock 24
This is a great bike. The old Riprock was sluggish and heavy, this is a fast/quick handling bike with great spec. Highlights are the fantastic specialized 2.35 tires, 140mm narrow Q factor cranks, hydraulic disc brakes with tool free reach adjust, kids saddle, small diameter grips and 9 spd microshift drivetrain with clucth derailleur (keeps the chain on over the rough stuff). This is a small fitting bike with a 68 degree Head Angle and a low stack 449mm. This low stack combined with a low standover and min seat height (you can cut down seat post if needed) allows the smaller kids to take advantage of a bigger wheel size and weight the front end properly for cruising single track. You can always grab a riser bar as kiddo grows. OUR FULL REVIEW HERE
Weight: 24.5 lbs | MSRP: $700 US | Min/Max Rider height: 47'-55' | Where to buy: Specialized Direct
Based on some comparison of Geo, spec, reviews and info on this site, we purchased a Zulu 4 for my 8yr old. Ordering process and delivery were very good. In putting the bike together noticed a 2mm wobble in the rear wheel. While still on the stand I reached out to Prevelo. Their reply was to bring it to a LBS and have it trued, its only $25. I realize that these were machine strung wheels and 1mm seems right to me,,, 2mm out of tolerance. Still a decent bike, just surprised at the level of service. After dropping $1300 on a higher end kids bike and then asked to bring it to a LBS for service seems to me like poor service. I should have went with my instincts and bought the frame and built it up – and this would be my recommendation to others if you are considering this bike.
Hello,
I’m looking for a good all-around bike for my 8-year-old. Wondering your thoughts on the Pello Reyes (Special Edition). It seems like a simple bike with great value.
https://www.pellobikes.com/bike-shop/reyes-se
Fantastic Bike.
Hi Bike Dad!
Thank you for your amazing effort putting all theses bikes specs available ! As you have been a great inspiration for the choice of my daughter’s 20 inches bike a few years ago, I would like to contribute.
I had to choose recently a 24 inches as she is now tall enough and I found an absolute gem. I don’t know if the german brand CUBE is distributed in north america, but you should have a look at the ELITE 240 C:62 SLX. I bought it a few month ago and even if it looked perfect on paper, I had a real doubt regarding the annonced weight. The specs are really high end for a kid’s bike (carbon frame and fork, good transmission, very light weelset…) and suprise, it stopped my scale at 6.7kgs (13.2lbs) without pedals !
It’s not cheap (2400€ retail price), but beeing such a niche bike it is easy to find around 1700€. It might not fit every use case (fully rigid) but is certainly (IMHO) one of the best of its class.
Have a nice day!
Hi! My daughter is 7.5 years old and about 48” tall and 45 pounds. She’s been on an early rider 20” seeker for neighborhood rides and blue/green mtb rides. We are thinking of moving her up to a 24” so our 4yo can move to the 20”. We’ve loved the early rider and previously loved woom. I wonder if you think there is a clear “winner” between the woom off 5 and the early rider 24”. The price and weight seem similar so I wonder which you think gives more confidence to young mountain bikers? She doesn’t seem to weigh enough to justify suspension yet (I think?). Thanks for your thoughts!!
Both great, can not go wrong with either. note, the new woom air RST fork works extremely well for kids and may be worth the expense if she is rdiing blue trails.
Our daughter is very similar to your daughter. Which bike did you end up with? Did you get a 24 and how did things go?
I have a question about the Trek Precaliber 24 and the Trek Wahoo 24. I mean the two models without a suspension or special fork. They both have 152mm cranks which I know you are not fans of. The Wahoo costs a bit more and I don’t believe it has a twist shifter. My child 4’6” tall and is going on 9 years old this summer and has been using a Trek Precaliber 20 single speed for the past two years and is ready to size up. Real mountain biking isn’t an interest at this point but riding through the neighborhood as well as dirt paths and mud puddles certainly is. I am not sure how hard of an adjustment to using gears will be but I’m sure they will miss the ability of a coaster brake to produce powerfully skids and power slides. Your thoughts on the Wahoo versus the Precaliber if you are familiar with the Wahoo? I’m leaning toward trek because we intended on trading in the Precaliber 20. Ofcourse I could sell it outright and buy whatever brand if needed.
We would skip them both because of crank length but they are very similar, either one will suit your needs albeit with long cranks. Lots of options out there with proper crank length.
HI, What is crank length? My son the same he is 4’8″. Would you recommend this type of bike or a BMX type of bike. Need balance and stability.
Hi Shari, Crank length is the length of the crank arms (what the pedal attaches to). Avoid BMX bike if you are looking for balance and stability. Cheers.
Hi Bike Dads. Perhaps I’m pushing it here, but I’m looking for an all-in-one solution. Kids bike around the neighborhood, we do some bike touring on crushed limestone and we do mountain biking in Colorado and in Arkansas (more XC stuff with roots and rocks, no downhill). I myself ride a rigid drop bar Kona Sutra ULTD pretty much everywhere, just changing tires as needed. We often get comments about our completely rigid fleet when we are out in the trails.
Right now I have both kids on Woom 4 originals. They love them. Biggest tires I could fit are 1.95.” They love the light weight, which helps a lot for climbing steeper stuff on dirt. Works great for neighborhood. I put the original tires back on for touring. They are starting to get more aggressive on roots and rocks, which I love to see, but I can really see where they’d benefit from front suspension, as I can hear them both say “ow” when they go over something a little too big too fast.
Size wise, they are ready for 24” bike. Any recommendations for our scenario? I’m not in a position to spend $1K per bike at the moment. One thought I had was get the Prevelo Alpha 4 with normal tires for our upcoming bike tour. Then I save up and get them some 2.1” tires and then save up some more and get them suspension forks in the fall. Bad idea? Seems to be the best combo of cost, weight and tire clearance I can find.
No, that is a great idea. The alpha is a rear disc brake mount away from becoming the perfect bike you described. Also check out the Pello Reyes 24 which has a rear disc mount and the new RST fork that is optional (buy later) is really really really good. The Pello is equal to the Alpha in our eyes, we have tried them both.
Your review got me excited about the Polygon Premier 24, but it looks like they’re out of stock at the moment.
A local shop has the Cannondale Trail 24 and Specialized Jett 24 at a decent price (mid-300s). That happens to be across the street from Trek, which has their Precaliber 24 for just a bit more. I don’t see you mention the Trail 24, but it’s clear you guys do like Cannondale in general.
My little rider will mainly be doing neighborhood and maybe offroad riding at the park. He’s moving up from a much cheaper 20 inch (Schwinn Falcon) bike. We don’t have any big trails around, but we’ll probably find a couple chill trails before the end of this bike’s life. Between those three options (Trail, Jett, Precaliber) and assuming comparable prices, how do those rank?
Thanks. Great content, as others have said.
I read through more of your comments. It looks like the Trail isn’t your favorite mainly because of the fork. The shop has the Quick for the same price as the Jett. But I’m guessing you’d go with Jett over Quick if off-roading and some trail riding is likely?
Thanks again.
Jett and Quick both great but at equal price, we would go Jett. Both will suit your needs.
I don’t see the Precaliber recommended even though other Trek bikes do make it onto your site. Does the Precaliber just have worse geometry for kids?
Thanks again.
152mm cranks are too long on a 24 and the value at $529 MSRP is just not there. Better bikes available.
Thanks. The Jett 24 has been a success. Though now my younger son is having a tough time keeping up with dad and big brother! I will probably move kid #1 up to a 26″ tire soon and move kid #2 up to the Jett 24″. I think the only weird thing about it is that the shifter levers, up and down, are both operated by the thumb. That’s different than any bike I’ve owned and will be a small adjustment as he moves to a new bike.
If it’s okay to post, here’s our local shop that has 3 colors of the Jett 24 for $350. It looks like they might ship anywhere in the USA.
https://www.contebikes.com/product/specialized-jett-24-391570-1.htm
Hi guys. Purchasing new bike for 7 year birthday. He’s been on a 16 inch Guardian since he turned four. He learned on a balance bike and transitioned to the two wheel guardian in a just a couple days and has been riding fast and aggressively ever since. He is in range for a 24 inch guardian and think it would be a great bike for him but I am slightly concerned that he will be riding a relatively big kid bike for 3-4 years without learning how to operate 2 hand breaks. Do you think this puts him at a disadvantage when he turns 10-11 and makes another transition? Thanks for all the great content!
If he is just riding around the neighborhood, to school, family bike rides etc another Guardian is a great option. If trail riding is in his future, best to start on 2 separate hand brakes.
Hi guys, my son is 55″ with a 25″ inseam. The Cleary Meerkat inseam range has a slight overlap with 24 model (22″-26″ inseam) and 26 model (25″-29″). What would you recommend?
Also, I would plan to swap the stock 152mm cranks for 140mm for either model (10% of height thumb rule?). But on the 26″ page, you say 152mm is perfect. Does that only apply to kids on the taller end of the range? In other words, 152mm is too large for a kid with a 25″ inseam?
Definitely the 26, bigger wheels will allow him to carry more speed and no need to swap cranks. 152mm will work just fine. 140’s may be ideal right now but he will grow in no time, not worth the hassle to purchase/change for a neighborhood/light trail bike.
Dear Bike Dads
Thank you for the site. I’m obsessively reading What you’re putting out.
At 4 years, my son went from a cheap grocery-store bought bike to a Woman 4 20 in. He’s now 6 and has outgrown it easily. He loves riding fast in our well paved neighboorhood, and the only trail we might do is well tended pathways in parks.
His only wish is going fast. I can access all bikes on mainland Europe, but I’m considering whether I should just go for a Woom 5/6 or a Jett Multispeed 24.
Do you have an opinion on what might be the fastest childrens bike as well as whether most can be upgraded to more narrow, faster rolling tires?
Kind regards
Simon
We are more MTB focused but if you want to go fast and live in Europe, check out the isla bikes:
https://www.islabikes.co.uk/collections/childrens-road-bikes
Looking to upgrade bicycles for my two boys this Christmas. Can you tell me the difference between the Cannondale Cujo and the Trail Plus? Also, has REI refreshed the REV since this article was written? Or do you still not recommend the REV?
The Rev is still heavy at 28.5 lbs. We would go either cannondale over the Rev. The Trail plus looks to possibly be replacing the Cujo. Its very simlar to Cujo with difference being a better drivetrain and a revised frame with less bottom bracket drop and longer cranks (145 vs 130mm of Cujo). The frame with the hyrodformed top tube also has a slightly less standover than the Cujo.
Thanks that is helpful! I stopped in at a local independent bike shop and they steered me toward a Kona Hula for my 7yo and an extra small Kona Lana’i for my 9yo. I’ve never heard of Kona bikes and not sure how they stack up against the recommendations you’ve made on this page. I haven’t made a decision yet, but they look like quality bikes.
The local bike shop will steer you to what ever they can stock…beware.
Hi there,
Thank you so much for all these great recommendations and insights! Do you have thoughts on the 2023 Cannondale Trail Plus 24? My main goal is to get my 8yo doing longer trail rides while having fun. If she catches the bug, then I’ll invest in a higher cost/quality bike. She has just outgrown her Woom 4.
The Trail plus is a great choice and a very good price. You can always throw on some narrower tires for neighborhood riding as well.
What do you think of the new Norco Storm 24 Disc model (https://www.capsbicycles.ca/product/norco-storm-24-disc-414022-1.htm). I’m considering it for my 10 year old daughter and would like to hear your thoughts?
I’ve got a 55” tall 7 year old who has done a lot of biking around the neighborhood and I would like to get him on flat single track. He’s been on a 20” Trek precaliber and obviously needs an upgrade bad (grew so fast!). I’m considering the Riprock 24 but he’s already at the upper end of that bikes size range. However, 26” bikes are pretty limited and there I’m worried it will be a lot for him to maneuver coming from from 20”. Thoughts?
The Riprock 24 is one of the smallest fitting bikes going in 24 inch wheels. Definitely stay at a 24 inch for him for this year.
Hi Bike Dads!! My kid is 9 and has been riding a Trek Precaliber 20″, but he is obviously in urgent need to upgrade. He has almost destroyed the Precaliber, I can’t even get $100 out of it. He is 51″, so on the small side. What I have available locally is trek, norco, cannondale and giant out of your list. We do light trails from time to time, but he mostly uses it around the neighbourhood with friends. The concrete does most of the damage. Any suggestions?
We like the Cannondales due to the low BB and short cranks.
Had to study what BB and cranks are, lol, but thanks, I have learnt in the process. Unfortunately, the lack of color options is making it very difficult to sell this bike to my kid, LOL.
Sorry about that, we have a few videos on the smaller kids bike sizes that explain the Jargon and what makes a good kids bike. The lower bottom bracket height allows for a smaller fitting and more stable bike for the kiddos. This can be accomplished by using shorter pedal cranks arms so as kiddo won’t smackthe ground while pedaling. The Cannondale comes in a few colours I believe.
What are your thoughts on the Woom Off Air 5 Vs. The Pello Reyes 24? I have a soon to be 8 year old who currently rides a woom 4 and is looking ready for a 24″ bike. She has ridden some light MTB trails on the woom 4 and I want to peak her interest a bit more in trail riding with me. I like the idea of the Reyes that comes with both the rigid for and the suspension fork. They look very similar weight wise, within 1lbs of each other and are very similarly priced. Thoughts?
Good Eye Dad! The Pello Reyes 24 is probably the most underated 24 inch bike going. It is so versatile. We love it. We used it on blue flow trails, around the neighborhood and even converted it to a dirtjumper/pumptrack bike. The woom off is really great for first time mountain bikers that are just hitting the trails. The long head tube raises the bar height which makes it great for new riders who want an upright position. The Pello’s geo allows for more weighting of the front wheel which is really important for more advanced kids or kids looking to advance. The RST fork is the same, it works really good for kids weights. The Pello has the edge for versatility with the included rigid fork and the woom has the edge of hydralic vs mechanical disc brakes. Our advice, if you are not sure where she will take to most (around the hood, pumptrack, starter MTB trails) get the Pello. If you are sure she will be mostly on green to easy blue MTB trails, consider the woom off air.
Thanks for the confirmation as I was leaning that way! I’ve also found a great deal on a Frog 62, any thoughts on that bike as I didnt see it listed above?
We have never tried the Frog 62 so can’t comment on the fork performance but it looks pretty good. Worth the extra $200 over the Pello????
It was a used one, asking $550 which is why I was interested. Seems like Frog makes a good bike so thought I’d check it out. Thanks!
Thanks so much for this great info. I’d like a bike for my son (65 lbs) for both pavement and light to medium trails, and stay under $500. I’m between the Vitus 24+ and the Commencal Ramones 24. Any thoughts would be appreciated!
Such similar bikes, flip of the coin really.
Hi there – this is a great roundup Thank-you! We are from the UK and have always had Frog bikes/Isalbikes – love them for being lightweight so wanting the same quality. My son is turning 9 in a few weeks so want something that lasts, hes sat in the Trek Wahoo 24 and its great but he already needs the seat up a little. Sat him on the 26 Wahoo and its too big. Of the bikes listed which have the largest frame on the 24in wheels – want something that will last 2 years without overfacing him right now! Much appreciated!
We usually recommend to sell and size up as soon as they look too big on a bike. Fit is complicated as it involves many factors like top tube length, stack height, crank length, bar height, stand over, min/max seat heights etc. Our advice is to get something that fits now (by recommended inseam or rider height) of quality and flip and buy as soon as he/she fits the next wheel-size up. Buy the right bike and you should be able to sell at 70-8% its value in a year or two.
I just bought a new riprock 24 spontaneously when i saw it discounted to $525 ($125 down from the current $650 sale price).
Rigid disk bikes are an in between i imagine most kids are into. A kid going off roading is going to want a fork rather than weight savings. These bikes all have big tires. Its like mid fatties for kids.
The big reason i leaned toward the riprock is that it is designed to be like a modern 29er making other kids frames seem outdated.
I think my daughter would have enjoyed the jett 24 more, but i want her to try some light single track with a stair drop. Just want to keep the door open in case she wants to tow rope someday
Where did you find it for $525? My LBS and online is still listed for $650.
This a great list! Question on the Polygon Premier review…does this great review apply to the mountain bike version or only the standard premier? https://www.bikesonline.com/2022-polygon-premier-xc-24-inch-kids-bike-grey
Hi Angie, we are not fans of the fork on the mountain bike version. Our preference is the rigid fork, especially for around the neighborhood.
My 8 year old is outgrowing his little Diamondback Cobra 20″ (will be passed down to his little brother) and I found a used 2017 Giant XTC JR 24 Disc on FB Marketplace for $50 which was quite the the deal! Im currently fixing it up to give it to him as a Christmas present. So far it seems like a solid bike and Im working to lighten it a little and make it a little more trail capable. Right now we just ride very beginner and pretty flat single track in Southeast Virginia. Im switching it to a 1x and I swapped out the grip shifts for a Shimano Altus shifter, added slightly wider handlebars and new lock on grips. I think its going to be a pretty cool little bike for less than $100 all in.
This article is incredibly helpful. I would prefer to shop local. An option locally available for me for my talk 8 year old is a Giant XTC JR 24 LITE. What do you know about this bike? If I buy online, I’m looking at the Polygon Premier 24. Would you be able to compare/contrast?
We recommend aiding anything with a heavy coil sprung front fork like the the Giant XTC JR 24 disc. Best to stay with a rigid fork, save some money and save some weight The Giant XTC Jr 24 Lite would be more comparable to polygon but polygon wins on price and has a proper thread-less headset (more robust). The giant ARX24 is a nice bike with thread-less headset but is considerably more than polygon.
Nice stuff but out of budget…really really expensove for a kid s bike they will use 3 years….our world….
Why don t you talk about Btwin from decathlon who proposed a nice 24” bike with hydraulic fork and steel frame for 250 euros…?
We are North American, have not seen the BTwin at US or CDN Decathalon. The premium bikes are worth it in our experience. The cost of ownership is often the same as value bikes as the resale is high on the used market.
Colin – great blog. Thank you.
Considering a Polygon premier for my 8 y/o daughter who’s on the small size for a 24″ – 4’1″ and a 22 inseam… can you tell me size of the rider in your review video for reference? thx!
Best, Pete
hmmm,can’t recall his exact size at the time but he was under 4 foot. At 4’1, it will be a great fit moving forward as she is just on the low size of height recommendation.
Hi! I spend a lot of time researching kids bikes, but I’m not finding a whole lot on the Scott line-up. We are very familiar with Woom and love them, but shipping delays put a damper on the excitement. We want to support our local bike shops this time around and are in-between a Scott Contessa 24 Rigid (I believe it’s the same as the Scale) and RipRock 24. Primary use is on non-technical mountain bike trails. My daughter has been riding for about 4 years (she’s 7) and fairly confident. She’s 4’4.5″ so within the size range on both. We’d have to swap the Contessa’s shifter, but the 2 lbs less bike weight is very appealing – as well as the color (to her). Have you heard much about the Scott kids bikes? Any insights would be great, thanks!
The Contessa is a great little XC bike. Perfect 140mm cranks, disc brakes and respectable weight. Sounds perfect for your needs. Yes, you may need to change grip shift out if its sticky. The riprock is a great bike as well and fits nice and small. It definitely is the better part spec of the two. Either one will work great for you.
Thanks! I think we’re going to go with the Contessa – at this stage, the aesthetics matter and she’s been riding hand-me-downs without color choice (always red). She’s excited and so am I! I’m glad to see that more companies are making decent kids bikes now!
I don’t normally throw questions out because it’s usually easier to determine my path. But this time I am looking for some added opinion.
I have a 6 year old who is well beyond his 16″-er and we’re making the move to a 24. His brother has a Vitus Nucleus 24 that he fits well and for the past week he doesn’t want to get off it. However, I bought that before the big jump and my 6yo riding style is more timid than his older brother. His biggest request was a green bike, or a greenish blue. Given budget mindedness, but also quality, we were looking at the Vitus 24 for a mostly-neighborhood, but possibly some smooth to rough trail riding. However, I noticed the Specialized Jett 24 is on sale right now at a few places. The Satin Redwood is far from green, but the 2-position crank arms and slightly taller seat post seems like it might last longer. The $139 shipping on the Vitus isn’t easy to swallow, but the Specialized still comes in a bit pricier by about $30 once shipping and taxes are factored in.
Given those 2 bikes as my primary options, do you have an opinion to offer on what might be the smarter choice for someone who wants to get the most longevity out of the bike?
Thanks in advance.
Hi David, I would go with the JET for the riding you described, mostly neighbourhood with smooth trail riding. The Vitus is a full on mountain bike that best performs on the trails but will be a little overkill for around the neighbourhood for a 6 year old. The Jet will hold its value especially if you get it for 25% off and you can flip it for a mountain bike in a year if he progresses that way. You may lose 10% what you paid if you get it on sale.
Thanks for the opinion and reasoning. I took that route and with any luck in about a week or so my 6yo will be cruising on a new bike. The info you guys provide has been great and I’ve been using it for a while, so thank you for the time and experience you guys share.
What are your thoughts regarding the Rocky Mountain Edge 24?
Good little bike with great geometry for introduction to light trail riding and ripping around the neighbourhood. Cranks are a tad long, would like to see 140mm rather than 152mm.
Hi Bike Dads,
great block with a lot of useful information!
I live in Switzerland and a very popular Bike brand is Naloo – Have you heard about them? In particular Naloo Hill Bill 24″?
I am now looking at buying a bike for my 7 years old son (24″ bikes). The bikes I am considering are Naloo Hill Bill 24″, Woom off 24″ and Early Rider Seeker 24″. All 3 bikes are similarly priced and all 3 are very light where Woom is the lightest one.
We mostly ride in the woods, not really single trails rather normal outdoor dusty roads. Important aspect of the bike is for me the ability to climb a steeper hills, be comfortable to ride and light weighted. Can you please advice me what out of those 3 bikes cold be best equipped for that? If I understand well, the ability to climb a steeper hills is driven mainly by the wheel size, weight, the cassette right?-which bike would be best for the hill climb? Additionally, how shall I look at the suspension fork for small kids? Is that important to ride in terrain or this can be well compensated by thicker tire?
Thank you for your opinion and your advice!
Cheers and good luck!
Hi Tomas,
Not familiar with the Naloo bikes as they are not in North America but from first glance, they look really good. That said, from what you describe as your daily riding terrain I would not bother with a suspension fork. You can use lower air pressures in the tires to get more than enough dampening on the terrain you describe. Both the Woom Off and ER seeker are great bikes. The Woom’s overall lighter package, upright/more comfortable position and smaller 140mm cranks might fit the bill perfectly for you…plus is it less expensive. The Seeker has the advantage in drive train with an easier climbing gear due to the 46T rear cassette and a clutch derailleur to keep the chain on while descending. However, unless climbing really steep hills and descending fast down trails, this may not be your main priority.
Thank you Colin, very much appreciated and very helpful! Looking at the availability of on Swiss market I will most probably have to go either with Naloo Hill Bill 24″ or Early Rider… 🙂 But based on your comments, either bike would be OK, just the Naloo would have more than I need but still will do a good job, right?
Thank you again and I really like your blog! 🙂
For what you describe, I would go for the woom off 1st followed by ER seeker. If you are doing more agressive mountain biking I would look to the Naloo or the woom air. The Seeker kind of spits the difference if you will doing a little mountain biking and mostly riding on dirt roads.
Thanks for this blog–very helpful in looking at bikes for my kids. The Pello Reyes Rigid 24 rigid looks like a good option. I also see the Vitus 24 listed, but not the Vitus 24+. The Vitus 24+ looks similarly spec’ed to the Pello Reyes–is this a bike you would recommend as well?
Yes, the Vitus+ is a very good bike especially for the price. The increase in price for the Pello gets you a lighter wheelset and some nicer smaller parts like a Chris King headset. Plus it’s a full 3 pounds lighter than the Vitus (although 1/2-1 pound is probably tires alone). Both great bikes.
I’m glad I found this website, there is a lot of good info here! My son is turning 9 in a few weeks, so my wife and I decided to get him a new bike. He currently rides a cheapo 16″ (Huffy? It’s spider-man branded, lol) that we bought him when he was 4, so anything will be an improvement. Initially, I was thinking of getting him a BMX bike, because, well, that was all that was available to me when I was a kid. The more I thought about it though, for the type of riding he’ll do, a 6 or 7-speed will be better than a trick bike.
I’m liking the Guardian 24 because of the easy breaking system and the Polygon 24 because of all the great reviews. Both bikes are about $100 over our budget of $250-300. I have a Trek 4300k that I bought in 1997, so I am looking for a light trail bike that will keep up with me. Is there anything that you would recommend in my price range not listed here? Anything over $300 might be a hard sell for my wife, when she sees (to her) perfectly good $150 bikes at Target and Walmart. We don’t go mountain biking, just light trail riding and pavement in the neighborhood.
Hi Dan, everything we recommend is on this site. We work hard to keep it up to date as possible. Both the Guardian and Polygon are great budget bikes and if he is just learning braking with hand brakes, the Guardian really has an ingenious little braking device. Let your wife know that the resale value of the Guardian or Polygon will actually lead to lower operating cost compared to a heavy walmart bike that you get 10 cents on the dollar when you sell or just throw in the garbage.
Hi Bike Dads,
Great stuff, thanks for your work. I’m looking for a rigid, entry-level mt. bike for my 9 year old daughter for under $600. I came across the Trek Roscoe 24 and it looks like a great option. May be a tad heavy with oversized tires, but I’m thinking the sacrifice of a little weight for cushion/ sturdiness on the downhill may be worth it. Also, the mechanical disc breaks aren’t as great as hydraulic, but other than that it looks like a great entry-level mt bike. Do you have any thoughts on it?
Hi Peter, Mechanical Disc brakes can be more than adequate for flow trails and blue/intermediate trails that most nine year olds ride. The Roscoe is a decent bike but you are correct, the tires and wheelset, albeit cushy will be slow and cumbersome outside of descending trails. At this pricepoint, the Pello reyes is a phenomenal bike that is very versatile. The Alex wheelset is super light and TR ready and the rest of the build is far superior to the Trek. That said, it’s difficult to find bikes these days, and it you are stuck, the Trek will do fine.
I would like a rigid bike for my son with a 12 speed 10-50T cassette (or something like that). Kids just struggle with climbing so much a very wide range seems to me to make more sense for them than a adult. Of course you can get range with front and back shifters but its too much for my six year old. I see the closest your list comes to this is the early rider seeker 24 & seeker 20. I see there are more gear choices with full frame suspension bikes but I don’t want that extra weight and expense.
10-50T is available on the Prevelo zulu 4 if that is what you are after. Its more gain ratio which is dependent on the wheel diameter, crank length, front chain ring and cassette range…so its more than just getting the widest range and biggest cassette. With a smaller chainring upfront and a light weight 10/11 speed 42 or 46T cassette you can get a good gain range in a 24 inch wheel for kids and keep the weight down. The weight of the the bike and specifically rotational weight of wheel make a huge difference in a bike fork kids as well.
Hey,
Great site with lots of welcome insights – thank you. I love to ride and have. YT Jeffsy. My oldest is 8 (turning 9 in January) and is just getting in to riding trails with me. We recently moved to Bentonville, AR and she is flying around the green trails here. She wants to try some of the blue trails but she needs a new bike to tackle them. I love riding with her and I want to keep it going. The local stores stock Trek, Giant and Marin. Im open to ordering online too and building on delivery. Biggest concern is getting a bike on budget (around $500) and yet not wanting one that she’ll outgrow (physically or with her ability) in the near future. I’m open to spending a little more given the incredibly rich trail options in Bentonville/Bella Vista/NWA, but Im struggling to calculate the value/opportunity or cost/benefit (however you want to put it). What would the bike dads do in my position?
Living in Bentonville, if you get a good bike, it will resell no problem at a good price. The trails are relatively flat and pedaling efficiently is key. Getting a fully rigid light weight 24 inch mountain bike with disc brakes is the way to go at your budget. Plan to selling 1 or 2 years time for a 26 hardtail if she is into it. Cheers.
Thanks Colin. It looks like we have the following options locally:
Trek Roscoe 24 $539
Marin Bayview Trail 24 $569
Rocky Mountain Growler 24 $779
Prevelo Zulu Four $969
Stock appears to be limited due to demand. I’m not finding any decent used options.
Online:
Commencal Ramones 24 $598
Vitus Nucleus $689
With these options, what would you do? Thanks!
Ramones 24 or Trek Roscoe if you want something at the lower price in a rigid MTB. Zulu four or Nucleus if you want a suspension Fork.
Hi,
Another person mentioned the Haro Flightline that you didn’t recommend because of the heavy fork. The 24 Plus DS version (2021) comes rigid, without the heavy coil fork you noted for the other version. Would it turn your mind around about this bike? it is around the 25lbs, with 2.6 tires, hydraulic brakes and rapid-fire shifter. At this price point I think it is a pretty decent deal, even if competitors’ availability was not an issue. Thought? Am I missing something?
thx
It will do the job for neighborhood and light trail use for sure. I wouldn’t expect too much for resale. Personally, I’d spend the extra 40 bucks for the Giant STP 24 for disc brakes and better crank length at 140mm (opposed to 152)if looking for a plus tire mtb. If neighborhood whip you are after, I’d look to something with narrower/lighter tires.
Hi there. Awesome and very informative website. Recently, I was on a hunt for a new 24inch bike for my older son. Everything good was sold out (canyon, woom, orbea), and second hand bikes in good condition were also hard to find, some in terrible condition are being offered for a premium prices compared to the new price tag… Finally, I was lucky to find something which I believe could be a good candidate for the list here. 2021 Scott Scale RC 400. Claimed weight is 8.7KG\19.2Lbs equped with 11 speed Deore RD-M510 and Shimano BR-MT500 hydraulic brakes. After testing a couple of lower end bikes, my sone was in love with this bike and how it rides. For the moment we decided to keep it rigid to keep the weight low, but I already have my eyes on Suntour XCR LO 24 inch as also recommended here.
Yes, that bike is going to put on the updated list. Too busy riding during the summer!
Hi, I know you said go with Prevelo over Woom for more aggressive trail riders, but I’m wondering how Scott fits in there. My son is super short for his age. He rids BMX and is reasonably aggressive on trail, though not a mainiac. I’m trying to split the difference between weight and performance for a 24″ bike. Do you think the Scott scale RC 400 is a reasonable choice or will he destroy it quickly? Of course my 1st choice is a Yama Jama, but who knows when that will happen . . . he’ll be 13 by then, LOL!
RC 400 is a great bike. Little steeper HA so a more quick handling xc style bike. The Zulu is a more descending bike that is stable with the heir build having a top fork and build kit.
Hi Bike Dads!
I need help here. My son is 54 inches (9yr old). I am torn between a Woom 5 refurbished (which is $30 less than original $530) or a new Guardian 24. He would be riding it in the neighborhood and parks for now.
I feel like I am already late in buying a 24 inch and would be moving to 26 inch in a couple of years.
Would a refurbished Woom hold resale value when we are done using it?
Any other bikes you would suggest other than Woom 5 or Guardian 24?
Both those bikes will do well for the riding you described. Yes, the used woom 5 will hold its value especially in these time times where bikes are hard to find. We recommend everything on the page, its just a matter of nailing down where kiddo will be riding most, budget and fit. The obvious difference between the two bikes you are debating is Guardian’s surestop one lever front/rear brake which is great for beginner/novice/casual riders. Also, he is an inch or two off a 26 inch bike like the woom 6 which will fit better moving forward.
Thanks Colin, I just ordered a Polygon Premier 24. Hope the kiddo likes it!
Hi there!
Have you any experience with BMC kids bikes ?
This BMC Blast 24″ could be an option for the list perhaps?
All the other bikes on the list are sold out and i am looking for something for my boy.
https://www.bike24.com/p2366220.html
Have not personally seen the BMC kids bikes but the Blast 24 looks really good, Geometry looks really good with 68 HA and 350 Reach. Cranks perfect at 135mm and and weight of 21 lbs. I’de snap it up.
Has anyone tried the new Scott Scale RC 400 or RC 400 Pro?
I already have Woom 4 OFF Air which is great, but my kids are growing and the Woom 5 OFF Air won’t ship for a looong time as it looks now.
The Scott is 10% more expensive but available now in Sweden and it weighs less(!) than the Woom.
I would snap it up, both bikes similar in their XC utility. Better gearing range and clutch derailleur with the Scott and the weights are impressive like the wooms. Perhaps a better fork with the rebound adjust in the Woom but not a massive difference as usually not rebound dampening forks much with the little kids as you are running such low pressures.
Hey
Wandering what are your thoughts on the commencal rammones 24 as an option?
Thanks
Good option for a rigid MTB, comparators would be giant STP 24 and Cannondale Cujo. Tad long cranks at 152mm for a 24, would prefer 140’s on a 24.
Thanks for the reply!
We cant get the rigid giant stp in australia, only the fs and im not that keen on my son having hydraulic brakes or coil suspension.
I thought we could add some air forks to the rammoned in a year or so, would that be possible?
Also what impact does the crank length have?
Thanks
Too long of cranks displaces the hips (hips will drop) when pedaling. 140/145 or less is ideal for a 24 inch bike.
Looks like the folks at commencal agreed with you. The new 2022 RMNS24 has 140mm cranks . Thanks for your website. Great resource.
Hi Colin,
Thank you for the webpage.
Our twins that just turned 10, and they have heavily outgrown their 20 bikes. They are little bit smaller than then avarage. We bike mostly around neighborhood with occasional terrain biking.
I have a possibility to buy Raleigh Cadent 24 in a pretty good shape for $120. Is it worth in comparison to the bikes you have shown here?
For another boy there is a possibility is to buy Quick 24 in a very good shape for $325. I asking if it is best to buy a new Polygon Premier 24 or several years old Cannondale Quick 24? They are almost in the same price range.
Thanks,
Mark
At $120, the Cadent is a good price. Not sure the the total weight but its probably pretty good with alloy frame and the part spec. The only downer is 152mm cranks (140-145 would be ideal) but not the end of the world. Quick is a really great bike and super light, great spec. The polygon new is a really great price and tough to beat value at the MSRP when comparing other bikes sub $350 new. All the bikes would suit your needs really well.
Thank you Colin for your comment. I bought Cadent 24 and Quick 24. Both look like new. In the end the boys decided on those two because of … the color. I’m happy because of the prize, just $400 for two good bikes. Thank you for pointing the 152mm cranks on Cadent. It went to the taller boy, but still sometimes I see him biking in the hula dance style, but he loves his bike, and mostly probable because of the color.
My soon to be 8 year old who is 54 inches tall and a lot of leg. Rides trail with me on a salsa timberjack 20+ she climbs well in the local trail network. Looking go bump up to a 24 inch bike since she is feeling big on the timberjack.
Also any suggestions on up grading a marin hidden canyon 20 drivetrain? The 7 speed is thouroughly wore out from her and her 6 year old sister.
For 24 inch, I would look to a hardtail. Check out our Front suspension 24 inch page. I’de probably replace the drivetrain with same HG20 7 speed Cassette and tourney derailleur for Marin 20 to keep the cost down and assurance you wont have chain line issues with something else.
Hi! My 9yo daughter is going to a 24″ bike for the summer and I want to get her a proper mountain bike, or close to it. But she’s small for her age and I want to keep the bike light. I was thinking about getting her a hardtail and putting on a rigid fork, or getting a rigid bike and putting on a suspension fork later.
Basically she’d end up with a rigid bike for now that I’ll convert to a hardtail next year when she’s bigger and stronger. Does that make any sense? How much weight do you think I could actually save?
Thanks, this site rules.
Yep, great idea. In fact, you are describing the Pello Reyes. You have an option to buy suspension fork and they would ship with the rigid as well. Its a fantastic bike we have tried ourselves and its sounds perfect for your application. The suspension fork used to be a Spinner Air fork which did the job and was light, double check though and avoid coil forks. If they are offering the coil, I would still look to this bike but purchase a suntour XCR LO fork. It will fit on the bike and you can use same front wheel. https://thebikedads.com/kids-forks/
My 7.5 yr old is starting to get into technical Mtb riding. Im signed up for the woom off and pello
preorder. But is the woom off worth the extra $ vs the woom 5? He will do mostly single track and xc type terrain, but I want him to be able to learn dirt jumping and more technical downhill in the coming years. The hydraulic discs are very appealing for assured stopping power, and the carbon fork seems like it will work really well until he graduates to an air fork.
For sure the woom off is worth the extra money over woom 5 for the riding you are describing.
Hi bike dads, Thank you for an informative and helpful site! I have a 10 year old who has recently decided he’s allergic to anything wheeled. 🙁 Two years ago, he was doing pretty well riding his bike and feeling proud of himself (a heavily used novara 24-inch) but after a rainy winter, I could never get him back on it. I suspect that if he had a lighter bike he felt more comfortable on, it might help him get over the hump. I’d buy him a woom 5 if I could find it and if he liked it. I’m thinking about the Polygon but it’s hard without him being able to test ride. (My husband doesn’t think buying him a new bike is a good idea, since he won’t ride the one he has.) Any advice?
Yes, a lighter bike would totally help. The Novara is almost 30 lbs with over complicated gearing and heavy/useless coil sprung fork. Check his inseam and height, he may be able to fit a woom 6, my ten year old fits it.
Thanks Colin! The Woom 6 is even more heavily backordered than the 5! (Not available till August, according to their site). I was thinking that the smaller bike would be easier for him to navigate (and then I could re-sell it and get him the Woom 6), but I’m not certain if that’s really true. Do you find the smaller bike is easier to navigate for reluctant riders? Thanks again.
For a reluctant riders, the best bet is to match inseam to minimum seat height (inseam should be 1 inch more or greater than min seat height). They are way more comfortable/less nervous if they can put both feet down flat.
Thank you again! I used your measurement system and happened to find a used Woom 5 that I think will fit him well for a little while and get him riding again!
Great Choice!
What are your thoughts on the Frog 62?
Nice little neighborhood/light trail bike. Alternatives would be Cannondale quick, Polygon Premier, Prevelo alpha, woom…
Thank you! My son is 4’5″ (53″) tall with a 25″ inseam without shoes. I think I’m down to either the Cannondale Quick 24 or the Polygon Premier 24. Would you recommend one over the other? The Cannondale appears to be about $150 more, but I’m fine with that if it’s a better bike. Your website is a great resource; very helpful.
Such similar bikes. You are paying 150 more for 2 lbs less essentially…and a tad lower minimum seat height.
Great site. Quick question: I’m debating between the Guardian 24 and Polygon Premier 24 for my 10 year old son (inseam 27), mainly because Vitus and Woom don’t seem available for awhile. He knows how to use front and rear handbrakes and so I was leaning toward the Polygon. Does that make sense? Any other bikes to consider? Thanks!
Hi Jay, we recommend any bike on this page. It’s just a matter of budget and the terrain your kiddo will ride the most. If MTB is in his future I would keep to independent front and rear brake for a 24, not leaning MTB then either bike will do. At his inseam he will fit any 24 listed here. All these bikes offer a great ride for kids…
Dads..
My daughter is 53″ tall (10 years old) and ready for gears and offroad. She has pretty short legs vs torso and will probably grow to 63″-64″ as an adult. She’s a pretty strong cyclist and I’ll was leaning toward a 24″ rigid with a 1×8. The Vitus looks perfect (light, nice groupo, good price) until I visited the Chain reaction site and they recommend this bike for riders between 49″- 54″. Just wanted your thoughts on sizing. Is the 24″ still the right size or should I be looking at a 26″ in a XXS frame? If 26″ any reccos for a 1X8 rigid?
Yeah, unfortunately not a lot of fully rigid 26 options for kids. Woom has the Woom off 6 which is really nice with a min height of 55 inches (she can probably squeeze on it, a lower profile seat and post would work). The other option is keep her on a 25 for a year or so and move up to Adult XXS 27.5 when she hits the approx 57 inch height requirements. Giant makes a 26 rigid plus bike that may work…https://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/xtc-jr-26-plus. Fro bikes makes a 26 as does Trek I believe (the Wahoo).
Frog also have three different frame sizes of rigid 26in hybrid bikes that are all 1×8. PRetty similar to the Wahoo. Though probably sold out now. Ready, set, pedal might have them.
Thank you for all the information.
We are looking at a new bike for my 8 year old son who mostly rides the streets and occasionally trails. Will the cannondale quick work well or should I look for thicker tires? Polygon Premier?
My sons friend also has the specialized rip rock bike?
Appreciate your feedback!
The quick and premier are very similar bikes but yes the extra width tires of the premier will be a bit better for trails use. Conversely the lighter weight Cannondale will a tad easier to get up hills and carry speed on the streets. We are not fans of the Riprock as it uses a big heavy coil fork and heavy slow tires.
Hey Dads!
Thanks for this page and for all of your helpful responses down here in the comments! We have narrowed the bike choices for our 8 year old neighborhood bomber to the Polygon Premier 24 (thanks to this list) and the Haro Flightline 24 (thanks to a local bike shop, and our general lack of bike assembly/maintenance prowess). Wondering if you can point me in the right direction in terms of quality between these two options.
Your Bike Dad wisdom and guidance is much appreciated!!
The Haro is no go for us because of the heavy coil fork and 152mm cranks. We like the polygon because its lighter, proper crank length (140) an less expensive. We always recommend avoiding heavy coil sprung forks for kids. Better to invest in some nice wider tires (2.25 inch) and use low air pressures to dampen ride. You will have no trouble doing the minor assembly as the polygon is 100% pre-built then wheels, pedals and handlebar are removed for shipping. The one or two tools needed is provided.
We had a similar question. We found a used Haro Flightline for about $125-$150 and are debating it vs the new Polygon. Is the difference so big that we should forego the Haro altogether?
Even discounted, we would avoid haro flightline due to the crappy coil fork and crank length…we would possibly go the flightline plus with rigid forks and 2.6 inch tires and forgive the 152mm cranks. Its still a 25 lb bike however and we would choose 140 cranks and 23 lb polygon if we could especially if its primarily a neighborhood bike.
Hi Bike Dads!
Your breakdown here is very informative, but of course I’m still struggling with decisions. Our daughter (turning 6 in April) learned to ride last year on a Woom3. Great bike, however she had definitely grown out of it by the end of the season. She’s a big strong kid. Without shoes, she is 50″ tall and her inseam is 21.5″. I was very happy with the woom, but the spawn bikes are appealing too (although $$$). I’m a bit thrown off by the sizing as Woom specs put her in a 4 (20″), whereas Spawn puts her in a 24″. Is that right? As for riding, I’m anticipating mostly around the neighbourhood, with maybe some trails. She was trying to do tricks at the end of the season last year. Any info on Park cycles (a less expensive Canadian option?). I’d like to get a bike that will hopefully last longer than just the one season (if possible), especially with the demand being so insane these days. Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.
Hi Nancy, our advice is buy the right size bike now and flip it when they outgrow. If you buy a quality bike, you will not have an issue selling it at 70-80% value. Our advice is not to skip a wheels size. At 6, I would put her on a 20 inch bike that suits the terrain she rides. From your description of mostly neighborhood riding, I would go Woom 4, Prevelo alpha 20 inch (more capable off road than woom 4), Cannondale quick 20, or Polygon premier for a great budget neighborhood bike. No need for disc brakes or suspension fork for what she is riding. I would save the money and put it towards a nice light rigid bike that you can resell in 12 months and buy a nice 24 inch. Cheers.
Thank you!
Hi Bike dads!
What is your opinion on the Vitus 24.. my 9 year old does neighborhood riding and family bike rides, trails would be light. Thank you!
Hi Kim, great little bike the Vitus 24. Would suit your needs perfect.
Great post! I’m torn between a Pello Reyes with suspension and a Woom Off 5 Air. The Off 5 is lighter but the Reyes is more flexible with rigid and suspension forks. My son is quite aggressive around the block and getting into trails. With the Reyes, I would start off with rigid and then install the suspension when he is ready. What would you recommend?
Both great bikes, similar suspension forks. The Pello has a lower min seat height and standover and is a better all rounder for dirt jumps, pumptrack and single track. The woom is a tad lighter (not much), but does have hydraulic disc brakes which are a better than the mechanical disc brakes on the pello. The woom also has a higher stack height which is good for beginner MTB’ers but the aggressive kiddo may want a wide bar and lower stack. We see the woom off as a great extremely light weight beginner XC MTB and the Pello reyes as an amazing all rounder (neighborhood, skills park, dirt jumps, light trails).
Awesome site guys !
Question: what to pick for 9 year old girl’s 24 bike. Mostly paved roads around neighborhood. We will possibly venture out to trails in a year or so. I looked at Cannondale, Woom and Prevelo. What do you think between these three? I saw you comments on the Cannondale being too heavy ? They had a nice pink color for girls. :-).
So if not that which one is better – Prevelo/Woom ?
Thanks a lot
We recommend anything on this page. Its a matter of fit, intended use, budget and this year…availability. All three mentioned are great bikes and would serve your daughter well for use described. The cannondale quick is not that heavy, it’s a great bike. The alpha series will have a small edge for trails with its geometry.
I saw before between the Prevolo, Cannondale Quick and Trek Wahoo you suggested the Prevolo..we have the Cannondale Quick and Wahoo avail @ local stores.. Would you suggest one over the other? We have a hilly neighborhood and super chill trails, but wouldn’t be doing any mountain.
Thank you, your expertise is super helpful!
The Quick and Wahoo very similar bikes. Either would suit your needs just fine but we do like the 145mm cranks on the Quick over the 152mm on the trek. Have Fun!
My 7 year old daughter (22″ inseam) is ready to hit the trails. I’m torn between the Pello Reyes and Cleary Meerkat. You guys are obviously big fans of the Reyes. However, I’m really drawn to the simplicity of the Meerkat. How would you compare the two? FYI, Cleary also offers a 140mm crank (for about $1 per mm).
By simplicity to you mean 5spd geared hub? keep in mind the meerkat is 28 lbs and you would be better served with 140mm cranks for a seven year old.
Great blog so many options. Considering the REI Co-op Cycles REV 24 Plus Kids’ Bike VS. the Trek Rouso 24”. Trek has 1 more gear and .2” wider tires but the REI looks like it could accommodate a wider tire. The trek is a couple lbs lighter. Like the voom OFF but it’s hard to justify 2X the price of REI with twins. Thoughts.
We are not fans of tires wider than 2.4 as the are sluggish and heavy. Both bikes are heavy (26 pounds plus) and the REI has a too big 36T front chainring, the treks cranks a tad lengthy at 152mm. I would look to the Pello Reyes if you are going to being hitting the trails. Much lighter, better components and proper crank length and much better resale. If you really want plus tires, look at the 24.5 lb/$499 USD Cannondale Cujo 24 as it uses a “lighter” weight 2.6 inch wide tire and has crank length and geo nailed.
You guys aren’t fans of any of the kona kids bikes? Thought they used to pump out decent spec’d bikes at low price points….too heavy? Trying to find something for my 7 year old to keep her options open, but looking at rigid 24 as she will mostly be out bombing around the neighborhood.
Yeah, they have been really heavy, long stays with really long cranks…the new rigid ones look ok but have 2.6 inch tires, might be a bit sluggish around the neighborhood.
I am waiting for some of the 24″ models to be in stock. What do you think of the Opus Thumper as a stand in?
Not familiar with the thumper, sorry.
Dear BikeDads,
Now with most bike supply delayed, we are contemplating and researching all the light 24in bikes on the market. As much as I am leaning towards the Woom Off 5, I also attracted to the the Scott Scale 24 rigid that is priced far lower than the Woom and probably not much heavier if bike stand is removed. Do you have any opinions of this bikes geometry and information such as the minimum saddle height ?
Not so familiar but it looks descent without the coil fork. If its in stock and you can not wait, I would go with it as times are tough for stock. It would serve purpose for a good neighborhood and light trail use bike. Don’t expect the resale value of a woom however.
Are you familiar with the Norco Storm? What are your thoughts? I lean toward the Woom 5 as our next bike, my son is currently riding an Isla bike (we wish they hadn’t left the US!). My husband found Norco but I can’t find much about it.
The storm is a great bike with rigid fork. will be a bit heavier than woom 5.
I saw you guys have done a review of the Norco Fluid, but what are your thoughts on the Norco Storm 4.1, 4.2 or 4.3? My son has outgrown his Frog 52, and we would put him on a Woom 5 like his sister but they are sold out for the foreseeable future. I’m also considering a Cannondale Quick 24 if i can find one in stock. Our son doesn’t really mountain bike, so this would be more of an all purpose bike for streets and some basic trails. So a rigid bike is all he needs.
I also can’t find any information on the weight of the Norco Storm, but I would like something similar in weight to our Woom 5 if possible. Our son is about 50 inches and his inseam is between 22 and 23.
I think the rigid storm is around 24 lbs which is not that light. Probablue due to heavy wheelset (36 spokes) and perhaps cranks. The cannondale offers shorter cranks which we like, 4 lbs lighter due to lighter wheelset (28 spoke count). Nothing is equal to woom 5 weight but the quick comes within 2 lbs.
What do you guys think of the Salsa Timberjack 24?
https://salsacycles.com/bikes/timberjack_kids/2019_timberjack_24_sus
We have the orange rigid 20″ and its a great bike, but my oldest has grown out of it, the youngest has grown into it, and now we need to get a 24″ . I’m not too interested in the coil fork 24″ Sus, but thinking on getting that blue rigid 24 as Ive had many Salsas and my LBS is a salsa dealer. That Vitus Nucleus 24 Youth Bike 2020 you suggest on the 24″ hardtail page looks like a great deal, however.
Salsa is heavy and we are not fans of plus tires for an all rounder- sluggish to pedal around. Get the Vitus.
What your recommendation for a 8 year old boy, inseam about 24”. He currently has a Trek. We mostly ride in our neighborhood that is very hilly and has paved and crushed granite gravel trails. I was looking at the Guardian, Prevlo Alpha or Woom 5 ( seems it won’t be available in time for Christmas) Budget is around $400-$500. Any other recommendations? Thanks
Hi Tamara, I would also add the cannondale quick to your list. Any of the bikes listed will suit your needs perfect.
Ah, shorter cranks = better spinning/control for him? I agree about the trigger shifter. Never been crazy about the grip shift. Thanks so much for your quick reply! Do you guys do a podcast? You’d be great!
Shorter cranks keeps their feet closer together, more comfortable/control for descents and for the shorter inseam kids keeps their hips aligned/level for pedaling. No Podcast, just a couple of working full time dorky dads here nerding out on bikes. Maybe if we quit our jobs and blow the bike dads up! LOL. Have fun out there!
Awesome site you guys have! My son is 8 and grew out of his Isla Beinn 20”. LBS has us narrowed to the Trek Wahoo 24” and the Cannondale Quick. Pretty similar and in our price range. We ride mostly paved but love singletrack when we can get there. Disc worth the upgrade? Gripshift ok? Love to keep it near or sub 20#. Would the Prevelo be worth the extra $50? Thanks for your advice!
Bill
All three similar bikes, where the Prevelo comes on top is the 130 mm cranks (the cannondale has 145, trek 152) and the trigger shifter (better if getting the kids used to riding singletrack and MTB). The 50 bucks is worth it for us…
Hey guys, this web site is great and your content has been incredibly helpful in navigating our next steps for a 24” bike for our son. Most of our riding has been on rail trails to date (paved), but I’m hoping to continue/expand upon that while also introducing him to off-road/trail riding over the next few years (he’s about to be 9). Based on everything I’ve read, I’m currently leaning towards the Prevelo Alpha 4. I was considering the Woom 5 also, but that looks like it has less of a ‘trail riding position’. Thoughts? Our max budget is $500. I’d love to go with the Woom Off, but its more than we can spend on a bike at this time. Any other thoughts or recommendations are much appreciated!
Hi Chris, the Prevelo alpha seems like the best fit for your needs and budget. It is robust and will handle trail use with no problems and you are correct, the riding position is more trail oriented than woom 5. You could even put on an air suspension fork later should you want. Happy Riding!
I’m in a bind and need help. After a lot of research we ordered a 24” Vitus for our daughter on sale I was really excited about and just found out it’s now out of stock and they’re cancelling our order. It’s 2 weeks to Xmas. Now I’m back to square one. Our budget isn’t huge. In the $350-400 range. She’s a somewhat timid rider that mostly does neighborhood but we are hoping to do more easy trail with her (we live in CO) this year now that she’s gained confidence.
Bikes in consideration: Raleigh Lily. Great price ($320), weight, but maybe too aggressive a stance for her? Cannondale Quick. Light but tires a bit thin at 1.75. Our LBS also has a Cannondale Trail on sale (in colors she would like better) but the suspension bumps the weight up from around 21 to 26 lbs. i could pick up either for $320. I know there are the two Guardian bikes, though the cheaper Ethos ($339) maybe harder to grip shift? and heavier. The Original at $439 has their cool braking system, but I don’t know enough about bikes to know whether that alone makes it a winner over the Raleigh or Cannondale.
Open to other suggestions! Please help me choose a bike so I can get it ordered in time.
Definitely Cannondale Quick if she is timid and rides primarily around neighborhood. Cannondale Trail is too heavy with the fork and the fork doesn’t perform well. The Trail will be just fine for light trail use as well. Upgrade tires to Kenda Small Block 2 inch wide if you find yourself on mountain bike trails a lot. Happy Riding!
Hi, what do you think of the Scott Roxter 24 plus (2.6 inch tires)?
A bit heavy for a fully rigid 24 at 25 lbs and we are not fans of tires over 2.4 for kids as they become heavy and drag. Cranks a tad long at 152 mm. We like 140-145 mm cranks. I would look to Pello Reyes 24 for a mountain bike capable rigid 24.
Hi – glad i found your site. I have a younger 8 yr old riding a 20″ woom-4 w/ wider tires. Great bike, super light. He is now ready for a 24″ bike and i’m back on the net searching for once again a good bike for him.
What is your opinion on rigid front vs front (air) suspension for a 24″? I don’t like coil forks on this size bike due to extra weight. However, will he feel a noticeable difference w/ front suspension (based on his weight …probably 50lbs) or is the extra $$ more suited on better brakes (discs).
He has never ridden a front shock bike to compare to his brother’s woom-5 so not sure which way to go on this.
thank you.
Depends on terrain they ride. 24 Front Air Suspension forks make sense as the kids are bigger and the shock actually works under their weight. If they are riding MTB then definitely worth it. If more neighborhood, light trail use…I would invest in disc brakes. Check out the Pello 24 as it ships with both rigid and air suspension fork and disc brakes at great price.
Thanks for the write up. My kids are ready for a 24” bike. I’m looking at the Pello. I’d like to put on bigger tires maybe 24×2.4. Will they fit?
Hi, Jon. Have not tried 2.4’s but 2.25 vee tire crown gems fit no problem.
I love your site and the list of quality bikes on your lists. I was wondering if you have any thoughts on the Whyte 403. We are trying to make a decision between the Whyte 403 and the prevelo Zulu 4. I think it deserves a place on this list.
https://www.whyteusa.bike/collections/youth-hardtails/products/405-20
Hi Ashu, we will be flushing out 26 inch wheel bikes soon. The Whyte 403 and 405 look good. Keep in mind the zulu 4 has 24 inch wheels, shorter TT and reach, 140 mm cranks and comes in at 25 lbs. The 403 has 165 mm cranks on 26 wheels. This makes a huge difference in fit along with reach difference, not sure the weight on the 403 but would think around 27 lbs.
Colin,
Thanks for the response. Isla mentioned using his current 16in bike as a balance bike (taking the pedals off of course). We will give that a try but that bike is about 20lbs – heavy for a balance bike. The Woom, Isla or Prevelo in 20 in will be about 3 lbs lighter, which might make a huge difference. I think using a 20in from those brands as a balance bike is a great idea; thanks for mentioning it.
You mentioned the Woom and Prevelo having wider tires and geometry better suited to beginners – are you comparing them to the Isla?
Thanks
Hi Adam,
That’s right, wider tires (also more grip for dirt with kenda small blocks) and more upright geo on the Woom and Prevelo compared to the Isla. This is really a first world problem, they are all fantastic bikes just have subtle differences in geo and spec. Have Fun!
Hi, thanks for putting together this great blog!
I wanted to ask your advice on sizing for a new bike for our 7yr old. He is tall for his age with about a 22.5in inseam. The issue is that he is still learning to ride. He never used a balance bike; we went to a shop a couple of years ago to get one and walked out with a size 16 pedal bike that he insisted on because of the color. He has used it with training wheels, and we’ve tried without the wheels with no good results.
Time to get something bigger, and I want to get something good quality and easier to learn on. Based on reading reviews of the different brands/models covered here and similar blogs I think Woom or Isla are the best bet as they seem to be a bit more intended for novice riders or those with less confidence.
The issue is the sizing. Isla recommended the Beinn 24 due to our sons’s size, but I think the Beinn 20 Large might be a more manageable step. Woom’s online tool recommended the Woom 5, but again I think the Woom 4 might be better. I understand that the 20 Large or Woom 4 will be usable for maybe only 1 year or so, but I want to get whatever will maximize or son’s chance of learning to ride and building more skill and confidence.
If you think the Beinn 24/Woom 5 will be just as easy to learn on as the 20 Large/Woom 4 then I’d get the larger size probably as it will be usable for much longer. In a tangent though, perhaps a year from now our son becomes skilled/confident enough to need something more aggressive in geometry like a Clearly or even a full-on mtb like a Prevelo Zulu, and using the less-aggressive bike for only 1 year is just right.
Anyway, any thoughts you have will be much appreciated.
Cheers!
Hi Adam,
My advice is 2 options:
1) a 16 inch Balance bike like the Stampede and then on to a 20 or low minumum seat height 24 inch once he has balancing.
2) a 20 inch pedal bike (woom/isla/prevelo), take the pedals off (or even cranks off) to use like a balance bike until confident.
Key for learning is the ability to tough the ground flat footed at the first sign of unbalance. My big 7 year old fits and has an Isla Beinn 24 but is capable of riding a 20 for a couple more years, his Flow MTB is a 20. I’de focus on getting him comfortable first. The woom and prevelo have wider tires for light trail use and have a more upright/low center geometry more suited for beginners in my opinion.