24 INCH FRONT SUSPENSION BIKES
As mountain bikers, we are definitely looking for suspension in a 24 inch bike for our kids. The question is Hardtail or Full Suspension for this 7-12 categorey? Like in 20 inch bikes, its hard to beat the weight and efficiency of a good hardatil. However, as the kids become stronger and more specific to certain terrain, the jump to a full suspension may be warranted. Here we run down some amazing hardtails that will rule the singletrack or the local 4 pack of Dirt Jumps. The Jump from 20 to 24 is big so choose wisely. In squeezing on the shorter inseam kids on a 24 , look for an overall light weight bike, low minimum seat height and shorter crank arm lengths (we like 130/140mm). Light weight wheel/tire combos that can be run tubeless are also great as it lowers rotational weight for the kids.
Prevelo Zulu 4
The 2024 Zulu Four is here! At this price, this bike is now the bike to beat for a premium hardtail. "Trail" Geo (66 HA, 74 STA, 380mm chainstays), 11-48T cassette, 12 mm rear thru axle make this bike an absolute beast. The New 2024 100mm RST first fork is now best in class suspension for kids hardtails (it is now lighter and the air spring works amazing). Microshift clutch derailleur, 140 mm cranks, small 19mm bar diameter grips, tubeless 2.2 inch Kenda tires on tubeless Rims, dropper post routing for optional pivotal seat dropper (first time we have seen pivotal seat dropper), Tektro Jr hydraulic disc brakes, the Zulu 3 is home railing corners and blasting jumps on the mountain bike trails. OUR FULL REVIEW OF HERE
Weight: 22 lbs | MSRP: $1299 | Min-Max seat height: 24.8"-31.1" | Where to buy: Prevelo | Prevelo Canada
Spawn Yama Jama 24
One of the nicest dedicated 24 inch trail bikes we have seen. The Yama Jama pushes the envelope with wide tubeless capable rims and rebound adjustable 100 mm Reba fork. Light Weight and progressive geometry with a 68 degree HA inspires confidence (380mm Chainstays, 72 Seat Tube Angle). With an 11-42 T sram NX drive train and 145 mm cranks, Spawn put together a raging 24 inch hardtail. Stealth dropper compatible.
Weight: 24.5 lbs | MSRP: $1550 | Min-Max seat inseam: 22"-28" | Where to buy: Spawn
Early Rider Hellion 24
This 11 spd (11-42T) hard tail is very impressive. Shimano deore disc brakes, 100 mm suspension fork, 150mm cranks, clutch slx derailleur, crown gem 2.25 tires, this little trail machine sits with the premium bikes in this class.
Weight: 23.5 lbs (w/o pedals) | MSRP: $1,499 USD | Min seat height: 25.2 inches | Where to buy: Early Rider
Woom OFF AIR 5
Same great frame and spec as the OFF 5, this bike includes the new and amazing 80 mm RST First air fork with rebound control. Amazing compound 2.35 in Schwalbe tires let you dump tire pressure out on the trail for a little bit of extra squish. Fantastic geometry (69 HA), 130 mm cranks, awesome pedals, great 9 spd 11-34T drive train and hydraulic disc brakes. Everything you want in a hardtail MTB. OUR FULL REVIEW HERE
Weight: 22.3 lbs | MSRP: $1099 | Min/Max Seat height: 28.3-34.3" | Where to buy: Woom
Forth 24 X1
This is a value hardtail in a 24 inch platform. 2.3 inch wide tires, mechanical disc brakes, 140mm cranks, 30 T front chainring, 11-34T 8 spd, 80mm Atlas air fork. 69 degree head tube angle and 390mm chainstays.
Weight: 26.8 lbs | MSRP: $600 USD $765 CDN | fit: 50"-58" | Where to buy: Forth Bikes
Forth 24 X2
Building on the frame of the X1, the X2 gets a really nice micoshift drivetrain with 11-48T cassette and shimano MT200 hydraulic brakes. Same air fork with rebound and compression adjustments.
Weight: 27.2 lbs | MSRP: $650 USD $845 CDN | fit: 50"-58" | Where to buy: Forth Bikes
Polygon Xtrada 24
Great frame with 1028mm wheelbase, slacker than usual 65 degree HA, 345mm reach and 583mm standover. Clark Hydraulic disc brakes, 140mm cranks, mircoshift 10 spd drivetrain (30T, 11-42T), suntour air fork and 2.25 MPC Grown Gems. This a good value hardtail for the 6-10 year old MTB kiddo.
Weight: 27.5 lbs | MSRP: $899 | Min/Max Rider height: 49-59 inches | Where to buy: Bikes Online
Specialized Riprock Expert 24
A really nice frame with a well balanced 67 degree head angel and 999mm wheelbase. This is actually a totally different frame than the rigid version as the addition of the 100mm travel Manitou Machete suspension fork warranted different design to maintain geometry. Lots of BB drop (30mm) add to the stability of the bike with its 140mm cranks. Much better brakes, an NX eagle drivetrain and better tires also differentiate from the rigid version.
Weight: 26.5 lbs | MSRP: $1,500 | Min/Max seat 27-32.5 inches | Where to buy: Specialized Direct
Pello Reyes 24
All the same features of the rigid Reyes (tubeless rims, cane creek headset), this dirt oriented bike has a 60mm RST 1st air fork, 140mm custom cranks, x7 derailleur, cane creek headset and optional kenda small block 2.1 inch tires. There is a lot of value in this bike. We took delivery of this bike and super impressed with the versatility and geometry...rad little machine here. OUR FULL REVIEW HERE
Weight: 24 lbs | MSRP: $888 | Min/Max seat 25.5-30.5 inches | Where to buy: Pello Bikes
Vitus Nucleus 24
This bike had a big price increase this year but still opens the door to more kids riding a rad mountain bike. 67 degree HA and 415 mm Stays, 65 mm spinner air fork, 140 mm cranks, 8 spd 1X drive train (30T, 11-34T), Box clutch derailleur, hydraulic brakes, and Schwalbe 2.1 tires all get our seal of approval at 25lbs and $799 USD. Chain Reaction ships this bike to North America.
Weight: 25.4 lbs | MSRP: $899 USD | Min-Max Inseam: 22"-26" | Where to buy: Chain Reaction
Scott Scale RC 400 Pro
Scott has a great little XC hardtail here with nice light wheelset/tire combo (2.25 Rocket Rons) , great XC geometry (69 HA, 73.5 STA, 354mm Reach, 400 mm chainstays), 11-42T tooth Shimano Deore 11 spd with clutch, 140mm cranks, MT 500Shimano Hydraulic brakes and Suntour 63mm travel air fork.
Weight: 22 lbs | MSRP: $1175 | Min/Max rider height: 120-130cm | Where to buy: Scott Dealer
Trailcraft Pineridge 24
A beautiful 24 inch hard tail for 7-11 year olds available in three builds. Carbon lower fork with 80 mm of travel and rebound adjustment, 11-42T rear cassette, 140mm custom cranks, tubeless 2.1 inch wide tires, great geometry (68.4 HA, 73.0 STA, 385 mm CS) and best in class weight make this an exceptional little machine. Stealth dropper compatible. OUR FULL REVIEW
Weight: 20.2-22.9 lbs | MSRP: $1499-2199 | Min inseam: 24" | Height Range 4'2-4'9 | Where to buy: Trailcraft Cycles
Cleary Scout 24
The all new Cleary Scout 24 is here and ready for singletrack, the bike skills park and the cul de sac. A great alloy frame with 80 mm Suntour air sprung fork, this little bike is ready for everything a 7-10 year old can throw at it. Microshift 10 spd 11-42 T drivetrain, 142 mm cranks, hydraulic disc brakes, tubeless compatible rims and 2.25 inch wide tires.
Weight: 25 lbs | MSRP: $1060 | Min-Max inseam: 22"-26" | Where to buy: Ready Set Pedal
Rocky Mountian Vertex 24 JR
Good value in this hydraulic disc brake, Tubeless compatible rims, 80mm air fork enabled (you can increase to 80mm), 68 degree head angle hardtail. We love the 2.4 inch wide Kenda tires, 11-46T cassette and 28T front chaining. The Suntour XCR air fork lacks external rebound but works well with kids in this size range. We would like to see shorter than 155mm cranks.
Weight: 26.2 lbs | MSRP: $739 | fit: Stand Over 644 mm | Where to buy: Jenson USA
Commencal Meta HT
Refined over the last couple years, they ditched the plus tires and shortened the cranks to 145mm. A JUNIT Machete 120 mm air fork, great J-UNIT small diameter bar, a 75 mm dropper post, hydraulic brakes, Sram drive train, Sram hydraulic brakes, maxxis minnion 2.4 tires, weighing at 27 lbs, short chain stays and a 67 degree HA. Much better build but at this price there are lighter options out there.
Weight: 27 lbs | MSRP: $1699 | fit: 50"-59" | Where to buy: Ready Set Pedal | Chain Reaction
Marin San Quentin 24
A hard charging descending oriented 24 inch hardtail here. 65 HA, 370mm chainstays, 75 STA, 540mm stack (on higher side due to fork axle to crown), and 345 mm reach. Rocks Shox Judy 100mm travel 26 inch fork, very nice mircoshift advent 9 spd 11-46 T cassette with clutch derailleur, 152mm cranks (would prefer 140/145mm), 2.6 inch Crown Gems, and Shimano hydraulic brakes. A member of the community helped us out with weight as the big brands sometimes don't provide. Suspect the weight is in wheelset, tires and cranks in addition to frame.
Weight: 29 lbs | MSRP: $1199 USD | Standover: 22.6 inches | Where to buy: Bikes Online
Fezzari Lone Peak 24
Great alloy frame with nice geo for a 24 inch hardtail. 67 HA, 350 mm reach, 411 mm chainstays, and 73 STA this little bike ticks a lot of boxes. 80 mm Suntour air fork, tektro hydraulic brakes, dropper routing, a nice flat bar for low stack all work well. The outliers here are the heavy SX drivetrain and bigger volume (heavier ) 2.6 inch tires. Not knowing the weight, we suspect it is on the heavy side. We would like to see a lighter drivetrain (we would take light weight cassette with less range any day and smaller front chainring in this size), shorter cranks than 155mm and option for the much lighter 2.25 Crown gems.
Weight: 28 lbs | MSRP: $1000 USD | Fit: 8 years + | Where to buy: Fezzari
Dirt Jumpers
Prevelo Bravo Four
This dedicated 24 inch dirt jumper is top shelf. Pivotal seat/post combo gets the seat low, bomber 100 mm travel Manitou Machete takes the edge off the big hits, 140mm cranks, kendo booster tires, bang-on DJ geo, hydraulic tektro rear brake...at a great price.
Weight: 21.5 lbs | MSRP: $1299 US | Min inseam: 24" | Where to buy: Prevelo
Spawn Kotori 24
A single speed dirt jumper (now has derailleur option included), this bike is made to boost the dirt jumps with steez. Think age 9 plus on this bike.
Weight: 22 lbs | MSRP: $1495 US | Min-Max inseam: 22"-29" | Where to buy: Spawn
Commencal Absolut 24
Great little dirjump for the pumptrack and local 3 pack. Manitou Expert 10mm fork, Rear sram hydraulic disc brake and 2.0 inch Schwalbe tires.
Weight: 21.6 lbs | MSRP: $1399 | fit: 4'5"-5'1" | Where to buy: Ready Set Pedal
Norco Rampage 1 24
A really nice 24 inch DJ with 140 mm cranks and 100 mm manitou machete fork. Comes with kids specific SDG pedals, bars, grips and seat. Rear hydraulic and front mechanical disc brake. You can order online and pick-up at your local bike shop.
Weight: N/A | MSRP: $1,499 USD | $1,599 CDN | Where to buy: Norco Bicycles
Norco Rampage 2 24
Like the 1 build, the Rampage 2 offers a great DJ frame with value build. RST 80 mm fork, house brand components, mechanical rear and front disc brakes.
Weight: N/A | MSRP: $999 USD | $999 CDN | Where to buy: Norco Bicycles
Little Shredder Icon 24
Fits kids 4'5" to 5', this 23 inch stand-over dedicated dirt jumper is extremely well built and comes tricked out with a top part spec.
Weight: 20- 22 lbs | MSRP: $2350 US | Where to buy: Little Shredder
VPACE DANNY 24 DJ
This is a fantastic bike. A ton of value in this light little machine that can spend hours pumping, cornering and logging air miles at the local bike park or dirt jumps. Really nice RST Snyper air fork and Magura brakes. Two frame sizes, both 24 inch wheels. UPDATE: No longer shipping to North America.
Weight: 20.2 | MSRP: $995 USD | Where to buy: VPACE
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4 foot 3 inch 7 year old, rides green trails in North Georgia, rocky, rooty, XC mostly but we do have a new lift assisted downhill park, called Jarod’s place. 900 feet of elevation gain. Anyway, good article / review. It’s amazing how heavy some of the 24″ bikes are. I’m looking to pick one up today for black Friday. There are some deals on the Rocky Mountain reaper 24 and the Polygon 24. $1350 and $999. Any thoughts?
Both those will be hard to manage on XC terrain for a 7 year old…but its nice to have FS for Downhill Park. It really comes down to compromise and where the majority of your riding is happening.
Looking for a solid bike for our 10 year old to move up to. He’s 54” tall and inseam of 25.5”. He’s been on a 20” Trek Precaliber that he’s rode hard. He’s always looking for little jumps to hit on the trails. I’m prepared to spend upwards of $1,000 which is a stretch to what I originally planned, but I realize it’s an investment the he will get a lot of use out of. He believes Specialized are the best, the P2 Trail just dropped in price making it feasible; I can’t find any reviews on it. I want to get him the best possible bike/components for our price. Any thoughts on the P2 Trail or anything better for our budget?
The P2 Trail is a good little mixed use bike. It has more Dirt Jump geometry so excels at the pumptrack, skills park and dirt jumps but it dressed out in trail tires and a drive train so low angle flowy/smooth single track is also doable. At is original price of 2K, it was way overpriced.
My daughter is 49″ with a 22.5 inseam, and a very competent rider. She’s currently riding a 20″ 26.5lb HotRock. Any chance she would fit the Zulu 4? Or, should we wait on that upgrade?
1/2 inch more and she would be on fit spectrum. If she is confident and skilled, should not be an issue.
Hey guys. Great site, fantastic info. Keep it up. Quick comparison question…
I have a 7 yr old, 52” tall and 65 lbs. Ready for the 24” ride, coming off a Guardian 20”. He’s capable and athletic, has been mainly a neighborhood street rider, and we’re looking to crossover into some trail riding.
What would be your preference between the Forth X2 and the Riprock? Some of the others on this list obviously sound great, but these two are more in our price range.
Appreciate the intel.
Cheers!
Price being equal, we would probably look to the Riprock but take note the rigid riprock 24 fits small.
If I’m looking at suspension, is the move to the Pello, Polygon, or Vitus worth the extra couple bucks? Thanks again. Really appreciate the time!
Depends on where kiddo is riding the most. The two standout forks for hardtails are the new RST fork on the Prevelo and Woom plus the fork found on the Spawn/Trailcraft. The suntour ad spinner forks are not as sensitive but do take an edge off for big compressions.
My son has just turned 8, he is in the 95 percentile for his age….~85lbs 54″ (4′-6″) with an inseam of ~25″.
I started him off on a Commencal Ramone 16″, and he has outgrown his Nukeproof Cub Scout 20″ (recommended max height for the cub scout is 51″…so he is due for a new bike).
I have been looking at a Commencal Meta 24 or even the Commencal Meta Jr (26″), as the recommended height range for the 24″ is 49-55″…and he is almost at the top end of that already. The Jr (26″) has a recommended height range of 53-59″…but it does list the stand over height at 28″ for the JR….and 26″ for the 24. Which has me worried as commencal is mail order.
I was also looking at specialized, as there is a local shop here and also considering the P2 (24″) and didn’t see that one listed on your site.
I also am now looking ath the Pinridge Trailcraft (wasn’t tracking that one until seeing it on your site).
My question is do you think that going from a 20″ maxed out 22lb bike without suspension, where a kid has very high confidence and is riding everywhere (streets, park trails only….no jumps or hard trails yet), directly to a kids sized 26″/JR bike is too large of a move? I do not want to kill his confidence….or get him into something that is so heavy he hates to ride it….but I also do not want to buy a bike and it only last a season.
Thanks for any help, and great site! Very Helpful!
Hi Steve, A bit of a catch 22 as he is big for his age and growing like a weed by the sounds of it. Advanced kids can usually handle a larger wheel size no problem but if kiddo is still learning the basics best to stay on something with lower standover available in smaller wheel sizes. The new P2 is heavy when compared to others and you can get more for less. I would suggest to look at the Prevlo Zulu series as they are light and offer good value in a premium bike. The new RST fork is fantastic and the build and geo will serve you well. I would say go 26 inch if you think he can handle the larger stand over and really want a bike that will last 2 seasons or go 24 if you know he needs to have comfort of putting his foot down at anytime.
First of all, thank you very much for the information shared.
My son (6 years old) currently competes in XCO races SPAIN (Catalonia). The bike he uses is a CUBE reaction pro 240 teamline with a rigid carbon fork. This year he changes category and the races are more complex. I thought of putting a Rockshoc Reba RL 100mm or VPACE SL 80mm fork. Do you think it would be compatible?
Thank you very much for creating this space.
Go with the VPACE fork since he is so light. Works great.
Thanks for all of the great info. I am looking for some input on a bike for my 7yo. He is just under 4′ 3″, 55 lbs and is currently on a 24″ Riprock. He is tall for his age and according to specs, he will likely outgrow the Riprock this year. I like the build of that bike, but we ride where there are lots of rocks and roots, so I am thinking of switching over to either a Commencal Meta HT 24 or a Marin San Quentin 24. Any input on which would be better? We ride trail and rarely – but sometimes – do mild lift-accessed rides. Any other recommendations are welcome. We do live in Canada, so our access to certain brands is a little limited. Thanks
He’s still really light so the RS Judy on the Marin won’t be the best. Both those bikes are heavy especially the Marin and both will be a handful for such a little guy. Have a look at the new Prevelo Zulu as it has the really great new RST fork (actually works for little kids) and has trail geo like the Marin and Commencal. The part spec is also better than both bikes and worth the $3000 premium over the Marin and I believe only $50 more than commencal. Between the Commencal and Marin, hands down the Commencal. The Marin would really be only a price play if its way cheaper but even still, a 30 lb bike for a 7 year old will be a challenge if any climbing is going to be attempted.
Thanks for the input. He is pretty strong, and I have a Shotgun tow rope. Most of our riding is flat within Calgary and then if we ride in the hills, it is either West Bragg Creek, Canmore or out around Comox/Cumberland when we visit family on the island.
My main concern about the Prevelo is that he would outgrow it within a year and it wouldn’t warrant the expense.
Between the Spawn Yama Jama, the Zulu 24 and the Pineridge, how would you rank them? Could you go wrong with any of these? They all come in around the same price. Thanks
You can’t go wrong with any of those bikes and difference is splitting hairs for most kids.
Dear Bike Dads!
Since I haven’t seen any comments on Orbea bikes, I am just wondering on your thoughts on Orbea Laufey 24 H10.
https://www.orbea.com/si-sl/kolesa/junior/laufey-junior/cat/laufey-24-h10-2023
Thanks,
Gasper Bratina
Great little bike, hard to find in North America.
Thanks for your thoughts! Had the same in mind, just wanted to know what you think!
Cheers!
Hello Bike Dads. Thanks for all the information. I cant decide between the Prevelo Alpha Four and Pello Reyes 24 for my 9 year old son which will be handed down to sibling in 2 to 3 years who is now 5. Will be riding bike on a pavement most off the time with the weekend camping trips and a local hiking/biking trail.
Main difference is the the mechanical disc brakes on the Pello which are defiantly better than v brakes. You do pay $80 more however and if not mountain biking, may not be necessary.
Thoughts on the current version of Giant’s STP 24 FS? It looks like a pretty good build spec with Microshift drivetrain and hydro brakes. It has a SR coil fork unlike the air sprung forks in most/all of these 24″ reviews, so that could be a differentiator. I’m not sure about the weight since Giant does not publish that — any idea what it might weight? At $630 (as of this writing), it looks to be a good deal, but I’m curious of your thoughts.
Picking the right bike really depends on size of kiddo and skill level of kiddo. That said, Giant has a really nice frame in the STP 24 FS and a decent part spec. The coil sprung fork is a no go for us and we would probably move to an air sprung fork for the more aggressive kiddo or a fully rigid set-up like the specialized riprock 24 and use air pressure in the tires to dampen the ride for not-so aggressive kiddos.
Thank you, I appreciate your feedback and love all the great info on this site!
I want to get my 7 year old son a good hardtail for trail riding and the first visits to a bikepark in the Alpes.
Having doubt between the Orbea Laufey 24 H10 and the Marin San Quentin 24. What bike should I buy for him?
Depends on his size but both those bikes fit big and are heavy compared to other 24’s. May be ok for lift access bike park but 29 lb hardtails will be a handful for most seven year olds to pedal and trail ride.
Thanks for your reply, he will mostly use it for trails and parks that have lift access.
So what do you think, Orbea or Marin?
If you are just riding lift access also consider a full suspension bike like the Polygon D24, great value.Otherwise both the Orbea and Marin are slacker than average bikes that will do well in lift access bike park setting. Pay close attention to min rider height for fit. Have Fun.
Really enjoy the site and reviews are always helpful! My son has the vitus 24+ has pushed its limits. Trying to decide if it makes sense to add a fork like the prevelo heir and take the tires to 2.2 – 2.3 or if I should just sell it and buy a Zulu. thoughts?
The Vitus is a really nice frame but from a cost perspective it may be better to sell and buy the Prevelo. Getting the Vitus up to a Prevelo heir standard would require a new drive train, hydraulic disc brakes, fork and potentially new front wheel to fit the air fork…and it likely still wont come in a the Prevelo weight.
I really appreciate this site and these reviews. Truly helps me as both my 6 year old son and I are both beginners together. I am gearing up (pun intended) to buy my son a 24 inch MTB. I am pretty dead set on a hardtail for him. After looking at them, I am torn between the WOOM OFF AIR 5 and the Scale RC 400 Pro. We ride mostly blue and green trails that flow nicely with some rocky and rooty features. There are some 5-10 foot assents in our trails around us, not as concerned with jumping yet, just want to have a good rider first.
Any unfiltered opinions out there on which one you would pick if in my shoes? (not concerned with 180 dollar difference, just buying the right bike)
Thanks for what you do!
Hi Chris, Welcome to MTB! Both of the mentioned bikes are fantastic XC bikes. Keep in mind 24 inch bikes usually fit a big 7 year old/8 at a minimum. That said, the Scott will fit a bit smaller because of its shorter headtube and low rise bar (shorter front end). The Woom does have a better performing fork for the kids but the Scott has a nicer drivetrain (clutch derailleur and more range). Otherwise, the bikes are similar enough in weight, tires and geometry to call it a wash elsewhere. Either one will be fantastic for your application…just make sure he fits.
Awesome! Thank you so much for response and the great guidance!
Hi,
I would like your thoughts on the Devinci Ewoc 24 LTD for my 8 yo kids who measures 46” height and does XC and trails. I am not able to see the crankset spec on their website.
https://www.devinci.com/en/bikes/junior/ewoc24-8s-ltd-red-dna/
Thanks!
Btw great work you are doing We love you reviews !
We are not so familiar with this bike but at 26+ pounds, its pushing the weight for an 8 year old that is looking to ride XC. We would look to something like the Vitus Nucleus that is lighter, has a better drivetrain for around the same price. I would think we are also going to see some sales after Christmas. The new polygon 24 hardatail should be in North America by then as well. https://www.bikesonline.com.au/2023-polygon-xtrada-24
Hey guys, love this thread. I’m based in Scotland and wanted your thoughts on either the Cubscout 24 vs Marin San Quentin 24. It will be for when son turns 8. He has ridden most of the trail centres in Scotland and is very keen/ week suited to a progression from his current 20” Whyte 203. Price wise cubscout race is £659 (down from>£1k). Keep up the great work 👍🏻🤟🏻
At that price, hands down Cuubscout race. Lighter, better fork. Unfortunately, they both come with too long of cranks, should be 140/145. £100 solves that problem.
Hi bike dad’s, I’m looking to get a bike for my six year old. He’s a big kid at 54″ with a 23.5″ inseam. He also weighs about 90 pounds. We’ll mostly be doing some easy single track or bike park rides to start. Just looking for a recommendation knowing that my son is an outlier for his size, and something he could progress on with his skills. Also he has 3 younger siblings so this bike with probably get some good use the next eight or so years.
Doesn’t matter so much with age, try and fit to his inseam. He would best be on a 20 now but will be into a 24 size in next 6 months. If he is skilled, he could probably manage a 24 now…
My daughter is 6, 47” 58lbs with a 21.5” barefoot inseam. Poor kid is still rocking her Spawn Yoji 16” which should have been replaced before now. If I can get away with it, I’d like to move her onto a 24. I put her on a Trek Precaliber 24 at the shop today and it seemed to me to be a decent fit (though I’m not impressed with the bike). She’s a bit of a timid rider, and has done most of her riding around the neighborhood but I’d like to get her on some of the local single tracks as well. I’m looking for the right bike to help her transition to more dirt than pavement. The Woom Off 5 or Off 5 Air stand out to me for the lightweight controllability, but I’d be interested in your thoughts. Thanks!
We would highly recommend the woom off 4 for her height and inseam, especially if she is a timid rider. The ability for them to put their feet down while pedalling is key for timid riders. She is below Woom’s Off 5 recommended sizing, she will fit the off 4.
Thanks for the reply! Thoughts on the Woom Off Air 4 vs. Prevolo Zulu 3 base? I like what the Heir offers, but I’m trying to draw the price line at $1k. The Zulu is in stock, the Off Air 4 is expected to ship late July. I don’t see many of your other recommendations as available right now.
Think of the woom off as a more XC bike and the Zulu as a descender, both great and can overlap use case.
Have you guys had a chance to review Fezzari’s 24″ bike? I haven’t seen too many bikes that size with a 1×12 drivetrain. Just curious to hear your take on it.
Aaaaand I just saw your review on it. Nevermind!
1×12 is a bit overkill on a 24. You don’t need the big 50/52 cog on the back as gain ratios are dependent on wheel size. Probably better to save weight with less cogs and smaller cogs.
Hi Bike Dads,
Thanks for the great site. I am looking at the Prevelo Zulu 4 Heir, Spawn Yama Jama 24 and Specialized Riprock Expert 24 for my 7 almost 8 year old. We ride in the Utah Wasatch – generally rocky single track cross country riding. He’s medium aggressive and keeps getting better. He rode the specialized and loved it! Problem with the Prevelo and Spawn is he can’t test ride them to compare to the Specialized – but the Prevelo and Spawn seem to have a higher recommendations. Of the three, which one you suggest?
Those are all great bikes but for the price, I would lean towards the Spawn and Prevelo. You also get a lighter bike with those two and a better performing fork (the Heir and RS Reba) for the really light kids (like an 8 year old). I have had tough times getting full travel out of the machete for the really light kids. If he is heavier and aggressive on the bike, not such an issue. The absolute best xc hardtail would be the Trailcraft Pineridge.
Hi guys, my 5yr old is about to turn 6. He rides the wheels off his Canondale Cujo so is not far away from stepping up to the 24. For a little kid he’s solidly built and an aggressive rider and I always have to take him on grown-up trails so I want something that he can have fun on. As much as i would have like to stretch his use of the 20″ out and make the step straight to a 27.5″ I am resigned to making the transition to 24″ but have seen a lot of non-user firendly looking 24″ bikes like Giant, Trek, Specialized etc. I like the look of the Marin San Quentin geo for a kids version of all-mountain and genuine trail but it seems a bit heavy and if anything the head tube angle might be a bit too far out? Do you guys have an opinion on the current Orbea Laufey Jnr H10? On paper another contender looks like the newly released Specialized Riprock 24 Expert? I’d appreciate your thoughts.
We can’t get he Orbea Laufey Jnrs in North America very easily and we have not seen one in person but they look very good, I would be concerned of weight in such a young kiddo as its unknown to us. Likewise for the San Quentin as it is heavy. Our advice would be generally not to skip a wheelsize. We have a new Riprock 24 rigid and it is a fantastic bike. I imagine the the Expert build will be great although you do pay significantly more for essentially a Manitou Machete fork.
Your website has been hugely helpful in researching bikes for my 8yo but I could use some advice. I have the opportunity to buy a second hand Trailcraft Pineridge 24″ and wondering if it be OK fit wise. Kid is ~47″ tall, 46lbs and inseam is around 23.5″ (he stands flat footed on current bike with the seat at that height and is comfortable on the balls of his feet with the saddle at 25″). Can’t try him on the bike as it’s interstate. He’d be moving from an Early Rider 16″ and I’m worried the 24″ bike might be too much for him. Buuut with travel restrictions, stock shortages and shipping issues, accessing most of the brands on your list (to source him a decent 20″) is impossible where we live. The Pineridge is looking super tempting.
Snap it up. He’s just a tad small now but if he is fairly skilled, he will manage immediately. It will be perfect come this spring. It is a big jump from 16 to 24 but by the sounds of his height he should have been on a 20 for the last year or so. The light weight of the Trailcraft will certainly help with the jump in wheel size. You can also get a lower profile seat post that will help with minimum seat height in the beginning. Have fun!
Thanks! We’ll try to grab it and look into a lower profile seat post. Yep, he’s needed a bigger bike for ages. We were under restrictions for quite a while and couldn’t get out to ride much, so we were holding out for Spawn to start shipping to Aus/NZ again. Kiddo’s had LOVED his old 14″ Yoji and he was dead set on a Yama Jama in the same colour. By this point though, he just wants a bike, any bike, in any colour. Hopefully we can get him the Trailcraft!
Thanks for the great info in this article. I am looking at a 2017 Rocky Mountain Vertex (10spd) vs a 2019 Diamond Back Sync’r (11spd), both have some upgrades. My daughter is just starting to grow out of her 20″ and is 52″. Any thoughts on comparing those 2 bikes? The DB has an upgraded trailcraft crank and BB while the RM has an XT 10 speed drivetrain.
Thanks!
I did just find the Geometry on the 2017 RM and the HTA is 70.5, while the Sync’r is 69. Given that slacker should be better that may lean me towards the Sync’r, even if a little heavier. Was also considering the VItus 24, but I am guessing the Sync’r beats out the Vitus with its SRAM 11spd drivetrain and trailcraft crank, but would love to hear your opinion.
I’de go Vertex if riding more XC oriented terrain and the Sync’r if descending more the priority. For drive train, it’s less the number of gears but the gearing and gain ratio and weight of the system. A 26 or 28T front chain ring and less range but lighter cassette can make a big difference. The best way to liven up a kids mountain bike is get a light weight wheelset, light weight tires and light weight cassette. Cheers!
Thanks Colin! Makes sense on gearing. I am now coming full circle and thinking of just going Vitus based on frame geometry, the cost of all three is about the same.
On the weight of the wheels that makes sense but was also wondering about stability gains over obstacles as more weight would have more angular momentum for the same speed so they could go slower through the chop. One of those things that cuts both ways. But in the end I’m guessing lighter is better.
How would you stack up the vitus against those 2, seems like the slacker HTA may win out?
Thanks!
Dave
If shipping isn’t too much, the Vitus is a great option. Yeah, really light bikes can deflect a bit on roots and rocks with the kids but the advantage far outweighs the cons. A good light weight 24 inch bike allows them to ride the bike (pick their line, change direction) and not them being taken for a ride by their bike (just holding on).
Hi,
Great article, very useful.
My son is 130cm (51 inches) and 25kg (55lbs). Getting near to out growing a 20inch scott scale with rigid forks which has been a good, lightweight bike for him to ride single track. Looking at the Vitus as a replacement.
Keen to get your opinion on effectiveness of suspension forks for light kids (especially in the lower price end for forks). Overall bike weight seems important when your not all that heavy and suspension forks can add quite a bit. Will he be too light to make it really work?
Thanks in advance
Nick
The best fork for a kiddo his weight is either the Prevelo Heir fork also sold under other brands and the manitou machete for a 20/24 inch. The RST works well too but a bit heavier.
Hi
Has anyone had a look at the orbea laufey 24 h10 or h20. Looking at it for my soon. He’s still little small for it but it’s from santa. The dropper would need to come out but I think weight it key at this age.
Hi! I have a 7 1/2 yo daughter who’s ready to move on from her 20 in cleary w no gears to something better suited for single track, rolling trails, pump track, and all around. Initially we’re looking at off airs (actually have a 4 for her brother and 5 for her preordered), but now thinking maybe a trailcraft or pello would be better suited. This is a family hobby that is slowly taking up more and more weekends and we want something she can use for more technical/uphills/rocks if we get there. Would love any insight.
The Woom Airs and Trailcraft hardtails would be great and are really light. The pello reyes with the RST First fork would also be great and is good value (has mechanical disc brakes but they are plenty for riding you are describing).
Hey,
There are not many bikes availble at the moment in Aus. I can get a second hand rip rock with air forks and hydraulic brakes. Its going pretty cheap, what are your thoughts on this?
It needs a new set of tyres and i thought i could put some 2.4s on it.
Thanks
Tough times so I’de go for it. It will do the job.
Would love your opinion on Trailcraft sizing. My son turns 7 in July, 48.5 inches tall, 21.5 inch inseam. Athletic, loves to MTB, this is his first real one. He rides greens and blues in Colorado on a Woom (non-Off) 4. 20 inch probably appropriate now but not for much longer. 24 might be frustrating now. Any insight appreciated, thanks!
Height wise he should fit on the Trailcraft and with shoes his inseam should work too. He is on the small size of the fit range but because of the Trailcraft’s low weight he will be able to manage the bike and get huge benefits out of the bigger wheel size. Worst case scenario, hang on to 20 inch for a couple months during the transition. That woom will sell in a few hours when you put it up on craigslist/marketplace be it now/mid summer/Fall.
My daughter had very similar measurements as your son (49″, 22″ inseam) and transitioned from a Woom 4 and she is ripping it up on the Trailcraft. It took her half of one ride to get used to the bigger bike(Note that the min seat height is around 25″ so no hanging out on the saddle all day like some younger riders like to do, but if your son is doing blues in Colorado he probably knows to get his rump of the seat when descending and dismounting). The bike has been a game changer for her, we just recently did some riding in Vermont and she was riding all but the most technical trails. The bike climbs like a Billy goat and she was climbing hills that adults were walking.
What’s thoughts on the RipRock Comp 24? I have an opportunity to get a mildly used one for $400. My son is 8yrs old; he primarily rides singletracks w/roots.
We are not big fans of the riprock as its a heavy 24 inch bike weighing in at 29 lbs…The traction benefits of the 2.8 tires are overshadowed by the slow roll and heavy rolling resistance making it a slug anywhere but rolling downhill.
Good Afternoon Gentlemen,
My son (7.5 years) is currently on a HotRock 20, but the seat is running out of travel and he’s starting to look like a teenager riding a kid’s frame… so it’s about time for a 24.
What is your take on the Cannondale Trail 24 vs Scott Scale 24? These two seem to be the only sub-$700 hardtail disc brake bike in the 24″ category. I also looked at the Polygon Relic 24, but that thing is a BRICK (30 lbs).
Got any suggestions/recommendations?
Both Trail 24 and Scale 24 have crappy coil forks, best go fully rigid and get much more bike like the Cannondale Cujo, Spawn Raju, woom off. Vitus Nucleus is best value Hardtail and is great.
Thank you for all this information and the comments, it has been incredibly helpful. I was hoping I could get some guidance. I have an 8 year old daughter who is pretty slight (48”, 50lb) but has really taken to mountain biking (northern Virginia, lots of roots, rocks, and has to climb a fair amount). She is currently riding a Vitus kids bike 20” with trail tires, right around 20lbs and does great.
I was considering the Woom Off Air 5 for her next bike, but found a used Specialized Hotrock XC Pro 24 locally that has been changed to a 1×10 with some stans crest wheels, claimed to be ~22lbs. It has a longer chainstay (420mm) and 70 degree head angle – would that be a noticeable difference from the woom or would it be worth it for half the price of the woom?
Thanks for any advice you can give.
Hi Mike, depending on the price, I would snap up that converted Hot Rock. Times are tough these days when shopping for bikes an the XC pro with 1X seems perfect for your needs. The woom off is great but you get the air fork on the xc pro. The woom AIR is a little more expensive but is more comparable with the RST Air fork. Don’t worry about the longer stays as this will add some stability which can be good for younger kids. The upgraded wheelset is worth at least $400 bucks so at half price of the woom, I would snap it up. Just make sure the fork is functioning, if you are mechanically inclined, its an easy service to get it the most out of it.
My small 11-year-old son is just the right size for a Woom Off Air 5. We have purchased one for him but it won’t ship until June 2021. Meanwhile he’s happily riding his brother’s hand-me-down Norco Storm (bought ~5 years ago, lowest-end model) with no complaints. The last couple of years he was riding a Prevelo Zulu 3, which was great. My son has been biking for a few years and we primarily ride on rooty, rocky, up-and-down singletrack here in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I’m just wondering if it is really worth it to shell out for a new Woom when it costs over $1,100 (incl. tax and shipping) vs just sticking with the Norco, which is already paid for. Thoughts?
Hi Ruth, you are asking the wrong guys if you should buy a new bike or not…LOL. In short, for the terrain you describe, the woom will do very well due to its light rotational weight wheelset and overall light weight package. The added benefit of suspension fork is ideal for rocky rooty terrain as well. Plus, you will be ale to sell it for 90% of what you pay for it if this demand keeps up.
Hi Colin,
I’m trying to decide which way to go for my daughter’s next bike. Right now she’s been riding a woom off 4 for about 7 months now, she joined a MTB team that meets 2-3x times a week and she’s loving every second of it . We went to a DH bike park (2 hrs away) and she LOVED it, she’s starting to gain some air in her jumps. The local terrain is more XC with some climbing involved to get to the good trails, our neighborhood bike park has a pump track, tabletops and drops.
She’s 7 y.o. (turns 8 in Nov)/weighs 46 lbs/46″/inseam 22.5″
I have no idea which bike comes next, would a zulu heir be enough for the DH bike park days/drops or is it more xc? would a meta HT be a good choice or too heavy? how much travel does she need in her suspension?
Sorry for all the questions, we’re learning as we go and trying to figure out what to do.
Thank you for all your reviews!
Hi Fer, if she is primarily riding bike skill spark and xc style terrain but occasionally toe dips into some downhill flow trails look to a nice light hardtail with 80-120mm suspension air fork, tires in the 2.1-2.3 width inch range and a head angle is the 68 degree range. Bikes like the Trailcraft Pineridge, Pello Reyes, Spawn Yama Jama and Vitus nucleus…The Prevelo Zulu is less XC more an “enduro” hardtail. The Commencal is too heavy and too wide of tires for your purpose.
Thank you for your answer! We’ll probably go with yama jama whenever it gets back in stock.
Piggybacking on a previous question about 26 vs 24. Really like the Vitus Nucleus. Can get 26 before 24 so even though my daughter is just 4’2” and 23” inseam, I’m tempted to go for 26. Is stand over or reach drastically different? Crank arms going to be a problem? She rides my wife’s ripmo 29er fairly well except getting on and off so I’m not too concerned but seek guidance.
I would wait for 24. The 26 is just too big for her at the moment. Vitus Rx for the the 24 is an inseam of 22-26 inches where the 26 is 25-28 inches. Add the 50+mm or reach on the 26 and it will be harder to handle.
Hi Bike Dads!
Thanks for all the great info. I am wondering what your thoughts are on the new Cujo series from Cannondale? These bikes all look awesome, but I’m not sure when they will be in stock for purchase, and those and the Riprocks are what are in stock locally. My daughter is only 6, but 49/5″ tall with a 22″ inseam. I’m looking for something she will fit in, but is lightweight enough she is still going to have fun. We live in Vermont on dirt roads, so all biking is on dirt. We head out onto trails a couple times a week. If she had a bike right now that could handle snow she would’ve been doing that, too! Other recommendations if you know something might be available in the next month or so?
Hi Kimberley, we like Cujo much more than the Riprock. Lighter, no crappy coil fork, and better/lighter rolling tires. She probably will fit a 20 inch better. https://thebikedads.com/20-bikes/
Thank you for this article and all the amazing feedback on comments. Super helpful. I am searching for a new bike for my son. He is 4′ 1″ with 22″ inseam. He has outgrown his Woom 4 in ability. He is riding greens and blues with me and is experimenting on teeter-totters and small drops. I am considering the Vitus Nucleus 24 for two reasons. Price and availability with the limited stock of other bikes due to covid. Do you think this will be too large for him to contend with? I put him on his brothers MEC Ace Limited and he was comfortable; able to move around, pedal comfortably sitting and standing, and get back into his ready position for downhills. Thanks for your thoughts.
Yep, he just fits as recommended inseam is 22 inches and minimum height recommendation of 4’1…snap it up quick! Keep the woom for a couple months to transition with the confidence you will be able to sell it at top dollar.
Colin, can i add another option for people?
Our daughter had an Orange Zest 24″ and its been a great bike. her sister will be having that now and she will be moving up to a trailcraft or spawn 26″ thanks to your help.
Keep up the great work .
Thanks
Descent looking little bike but unfortunately not readily available for us in North America. But at $1370 USD it seems way overpriced for spec. You can get better spec on a Vitus 24 for under half the price…
Hi! This info is so very helpful. I wanted to see if you could give me some more insight. We are upgrading my kids bikes this year. We recently moved to a mountain town and they have dove into mountain biking and haven’t looked back. They spend 1-2 days a week at the bike park, they bike on a mtb team once a week 5+ miles (when in season) then they bike all day everyday around the neighborhood and to and from the bike park. My boys are nearly 7 and 8.5. They currently ride woom 4 off air and woom 5 off air. My nearly seven year old will be needing an upgrade first as his birthday is in February so I’m leaning towards trailcraft pine ridge 24 as they are in stock. According to my 8.5 year olds measurements he also would fit the pine ridge 24 as the timber 26 is too large on him so I was leaning towards the spawn yama jama 26 which fits his measurements and his birthday isn’t until July and so there’s hope they will be in stock by then. Are they comparable bikes (the pineridge and the yama jama? Will one be jealous of the other? The woom 5 is just a really big bike, I was hoping the spawn 26 rode smaller if that makes sense? Thanks so much for your time! Greatly appreciate it.
The woom off’s are great beginner MTB’s but you are correct to look to other brands for bikes with lower stand over, stack and something with a clutch derailleur. The Spawns are the smallest fitting bikes due to their low standover and pivotal style seat. Bigger wheels roll over stuff better (both climbing and descending) but make jumping etc a little more challenging. The trailcrafts are extremely light which make them the best climbing bikes out there and the spawn although tad heavier are a little more planted descenders. Both amazing bikes.
What are your thoughts on the Norco Fluid HT+? Only 24″ I can track down right now.
Heavy not so good coil sprung fork and heavy sluggish tires…Trailcrafts in stock and you will get 75% back when you sell it. And they are Amazing. All other good 24’s on back order.
Thanks Colin. What about the Cub-scout? Are there any advantages that it may have over the Woom?
Awesome trail riding geo bike the cub-scout, great the hard charging kid. The value build is a tad heavy at 27+lbs for a 24 inch bike and both builds tad long cranks at 152mm(would prefer 140/145mm). The woom excels an introductory MTB that is lightweight and easy to ride for beginners learning to trail ride. The other two are for kids who are already on MTB terrain and looking to advance.
My son is about 53” tall with a 23” inseam and weighs 50-55 pounds. For the past two years he has ridden a 20” Trek Pre-caliber with coil shocks. The shocks have been busted for a year now and he has outgrown the bike. Last September I began searching for a 24”. I really wanted the Vitus Nucleus but could not order it fast enough after being notified of it being in stock.
Recently, I got my hands on the Nukeproof Cub-Scout sport and I’m on track to have a Woom Off Air 5 in mid-December. With the current situation, I wanted to be sure to have a bike for Christmas. I’ll plan on returning or selling one of these.
The Woom is lighter and has 9 speeds with a shorter crank. The Nukeproof has more travel and internal routing. I have read that the Woom feels like a larger bike. Assuming I’ll have both to choose from, Which one should I keep for him?
He rides single track trails with some climbing (in the Asheville area) and hits the neighborhood ramps with the other kids.
The woom is considerably lighter and will climb a little easier and quicker handling. The vitus is longer/slacker and will descend with more stability/confidence and quietly as it now has a clutch derailleur I believe.
Any thoughts on the norco storm 24 in??
The 4.3 is a great little bike (the 4.1 and 4.2 have heavy coil forks).
You guys don’t recommend Specialized, Trek or Giant. Why? Just wondering what’s not as great about those 24″ bikes or what I should avoid. My almost 8 year old is 51″ and trying to find a bike that won’t break the bank. All these are so expensive. Thanks!
Those big brands are getting better but on a whole they are coaster brakes on 16’s, too long cranks, heavy and not as good geo as other brands. This is a generalization as they have one off bikes that looking ok. For big Brands, we like what Norco Rocky Mountain and Cannondale are doing with some of their bikes.
Great reading all the comments and informed views on here. Im UK and its a struggle getting 24″ bikes this year for Christmas prezzies. Couple of points on the orbea mentioned a few times…. im staggered at the weight and no wonder they say they don’t publish as there is a lot more to bikes than weight! 14.1kg for a laufey 24 h30 aimed at 7 – 9 year old will be tough. Crankset seems a bit big too reading the repeated 140mm on here. The cube acid 24sl although not hard-core trail rider seems to be great in geo and weight is decent too. Its a stripped back and simple set up. May not be for some but good park bike.
Well. Just realized that nearly everyone we were looking at for our son won’t arrive until Feb/April!
What are your thoughts on the Frog 62″? Or should we just wait…
The Frog 62 is a very different bike. A hybrid bike, it is more for light trail use and pavement as the woom off air is a true MTB. Its a good light weight bike that may serve your stated purpose. But, if mountain biking is the goal I would look the Frog 62 MTB. It’s a great little bike. I’de snap it up if one in stock.
Thanks! It is the Frog 62 MTB that we found in stock.
We have been leaning towards ordering a Woom Off Air 5 for my 8 year old son, 25.5 inseam, 53+ tall, about 50lbs.
Though, I’m a bit worried about it being too big for him… Mind you by the time the bike actually arrives he could have caught up!
Any thoughts? Looking for something light to use for a 50/50 mix of trails and pavement. We are not really a mountain biking family, but he is pulling us onto the trails so we are kind of figuring this out while we go! He is already out pacing us! 🙂
Hi Laura, The woom off air 5 is a bigger fitting 24 inch bike due to its higher standover and min seat height to other bikes. With your sons measurements it is the right fit. It sounds like an ideal bike for him with the terrain you are looking to ride. Have Fun!
Thanks for the quick reply! Such a challenge as he is weight is so low in comparison to his height, trying to get the lightest bike we can for the price! 🙂
Thanks Colin,
I’m a weight weenie and my daughter is only 50 lbs.so will most likely go with the VPACE. Have you reviewed the woom 5 and is the stand over height really that much higher than the vpace max24 and the trailcraft pineridge?
The woom 5 Off is a bigger fitting bike with its stand over and higher stack. It’s a great bike to introduce kids to MTB, we have he bike now. A few things need tweaking as you will want a quick release at the seat post, change the grips as they slip and perhaps a wider bar. Down the road maybe even a clutch derailleur as it is a noisy bike on rough terrain. The VPACE probably fits the smallest with its shorter cranks/stand over/min seat height. Both the VPACE and Trailcraft are outstanding but that comes with a price. I would go with what fits your daughter best by following both VPACE and Trailcrafts rider heights.
Thanks again Colin, Looks like I’ll be dropping the extra dough on the VPACE or Trailcraft. At least I’ll get some extra gearing for the added $$.
Happy Trails!
Hi,
Great web site! I’m Looking to graduate my 7 year old from her woom 4 that I modified to ride single track to a 24″ rig with front suspension. The woom 5 off air seemed like the natural choice, but the min seat height of 28″ is a concern. If it is a matter of the seat post not going fully into the seat tuber I could cut the post, but I also called woom to inquire about the stand over height and they told me it was 27″?(something seems off here). My daughter is 49″ with a 23″ inseam so it seems like the woom 5 is a no go. Weight is big concern as she is only 50 lbs and we earn our descents. This leaves me with the choice between the trailcraft pineridge and the vpace max24. Locally we ride punchy rooty and rocky trails, but also ride in Vermont where there is quite a bit of elevation. Do you prefer one of these bikes over the other for technical single track?
Thanks,
Ed
Hi Ed, both of those bikes are amazing and similar in many ways. The VPACE is 1+ lb lighter and fits a little smaller with lower standover and smaller 120 mm cranks. It would fit her nicely right now. The Pineridege may be a smidge big now for her inseam but good to go in a month or two…I’de say no preference, go with what you can get and enjoy!
HI,
Thanks for taking the time to post and discuss a lot of great info on kids bikes.
I’m curious if you have you looked at the line up for Scott kids 24″ bikes? From an untrained eye they appear to have favorable specs and lower prices. Possibly good value.
My 5 year old has had a great time on her Raleigh Rowdy 20″. It’s a fairly light aluminum frame with rigid fork. I swapped out the bar clamp to shorten the reach. Also swapped out the layback seat post to a straight one and added Schwalbe Smart Sam tires (only $20 each from Schwalbe). We run the tires at 10psi which seems about right for a 50lb rider. They roll great and squish over rocks and roots with minimal wheel deflection. Good traction has been a great confidence booster. She has been on the bike for a year, about to turn 6 and will probably be ready for a 24 next summer.
Never tried the Scott line of kids bikes. Just make sure weight and crank length reasonable and check the geometry of specific bike to match terrain you are riding (XC/trail/DH)…and avoid heavy coil sprung forks.
Hi. Great list! I’m currently in the process of upgrading the kid from an Orbea MX20 Team to a 24-inch hardtail. Seems the Early Rider Trail build (no longer available?) is just the ticket, but is this just an “upgraded” Seeker?
Tough to say for sure as ER doesn’t publish geo but the T24 looks to now be teh seeker without a fork and the Hellion 24 is now the air forked hardtail.
Hi Esbjørn,
I’m in the same situation as u are, in more ways then one 🙂 My son who just turned seven is riding an Orbea MX Team 20” and myself I have a Laufey 29”.
Why would you not consider the Woom 5 off air/not?
Have you considered the Kubikes superlight 24?
or Pyrobikes 24 ultralight?
I spend hours on the internet to find out what’s the best next bike for my son. Woom 5 off Air comes across as a product designed for kids from scratch were as other established ”real MTB” companies products reflect moving down the customer ladder agewise and their bikes are also or even more are a pik of suitable than the Woom is, in my mind. At the end of the day how hard is it to ”design” a bike when Shimano, Fox etc does the main work? Essentially u have to ”design” a geometry and the cost of the frame comes down to the raw material and the cost of the whole bike comes down to the mark up the manufacturer have the guts to ask.
Would really consider and appryciate any input and considering the corona inpact on lead times I will order my sons bike within days.
Asbjørn, sorry
Looking for a good 24 inch HT for my almost 7 yr old and just spotted that Orbea have launched Junior versions of their Laufey bikes.
https://www.orbea.com/ie-en/bicycles/junior/laufey-junior/cat/laufey-24-h10
https://www.orbea.com/ie-en/bicycles/junior/laufey-junior/cat/laufey-24-h20
Interested to hear what you think of them. Geometry looks good and decent components. Can’t seem to find and published on the weight anywhere … There seems to be 2 specs H10 & H20. Is the difference between the H10 and H20 models worth it??
They don’t seem to be distributing in NA yet but they look really good. Only difference in builds appears to be fork…
I looked at these and contacted Orbea for the weights – H10 is 13.5kg and H30 is 14.0kg. I guess the H20 is somewhere in between. Pretty heavy, which I guess is why they hold back from publishing them. We went for the Woom Off Air instead.
Wow. That’s what my large H10 Laufey weighs, more or less.
Sorry but that’s completely nonsense. Laufey H10 is 11.5kg – which is pretty good given you have 100mm air fork, dropper, 1×10 and proper brakes.
I contacted Orbea for the weights and they reported me different data:
-Laufey 24″ H10 is 11,46 Kgs.
-Laufey 24″ H20 is 12,24 Kgs.
Hello, thanks for your great reviews and breaking bikes down.
I have a woom 5 non air on preorder for early oct but the Vitus 24” 2021 came in stock so I pulled the trigger on it.
Torn on which to go with. Could take delivery of both and sell one. The woom air is over our budget but I think he would benefit from a air fork. Also the clutched derailleur would help as his current prevelo 3 that chain bounces all around.
He just turned 7, is 54lb with a 23” inseam. 51.5” tall. He is a strong 54lb, really lean.
Any suggestions? Plan to move up to some Colorado trails vs what we have been doing lately which is dirt trails with some single track.
Thanks for the help!
The weight difference is big between those two bikes. If he has advanced bike handling skills he should be ale to handle the Vitus 24. If riding flatter, XC style trails I would take the weight advantage of the WOOM OFF and run lower tire pressures for some dampening
Hi, have you looked into the differences between the 2020 and 2021 Vitus Nucleus? from what I can tell the frame is the same, but for the paint – but some of the components have changed and price has gone up. I was wondering if there was anything that jumped out to you that would change your previous review.
Thanks!
Looks same frame to me as well. You get a better drive train with clutch derailleur. Less range on rear cassette but smaller front chainring.
Your website is very informative. Thank you. I’m fairly new to bike field and looking to get a good decent bike for my 9 yo son. He’s 54.5″ tall and 25″ inseam. Just got a restock alert email from chain reaction on vitus nucleus 2021. Is it still worth a look with a price increase to $599? I was looking at pello (pre order)/ prevelo (waiting for email)/ woom off(waiting for email)/ vitus nucleus(limited in stock). Any thoughts?
Thank you for your time..
Yes, definitely still worth a look. You get a better drive train in the 2021. Box clutch derailleur. You might even be able to Squeeze into a 26 inch wheel Nucleus that fits 25-28 inch inseam.
Thank you for your reply!
Yes, I tried to squeeze into a 26″ but they are taking order for that yet. So I ordered and delivered yesterday! Very excited but had a hard time putting them together:(
I have a question about disc brake. When I tried to attach the front wheel I noticed that the disc brake pads were very closed so disc brake rotor couldn’t fit in between that pads. surprisingly I could push them out so I can create a gap. Is this Normal? and I keep hearing rotor rubbing pads… IS this okay? or Should I bring this to the bike shop for alignment? Thank you so much for your thoughts!
Hi Jane, Sounds like the lever was pressed when the wheel was off causing the pistons to compress and hence the tight fit or misalignement. You can try and fix yourself by taking the pads out and forcing the pistons back in to caliper, then re-insert pads and wheel. Follow this turorial. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBdJYX8tICA. Otherwise if you know a serious mountain biker, they should be able to help you out, takes 10 minutes.
Hi I’m looking at building an NS Clash Jr 24 for my son he’s about 4’2″ and has nearly grown out of his Scott roxter . I’m struggling for a suitable fork at the moment and have seen a Rockshox Judy in 27.5 the thing I like about the Clash Jr is you can run 24 or 26″ wheels at 80-120mm I’m wondering if a budget fork like a Judy would be too heavy and not supple enough for a lightweight child.
I would spend the extra and get https://www.sram.com/en/rockshox/models/fs-reba-26-a1. Made for kids weights…a 27.5 fork will be a high stack height with 24 inch wheels as well.
I found an used Vspace Max24 near me. My son is 7 yo, 4’4, inseam 22″, 63 lbs. He’s currently riding a Hotrock 20 with a front shock that he really doesn’t compress much. We just weighed the the Hotrock and it’s 25.3 lbs. Do you think the Vspace Max24 will be good for him? The seller said it weigt 9 kg exactly, so that’s just under 20 lbs.
Absolutely, we just have not got around to listing the VPACE hardtails here due to availability in North America (they do ship now). They are top bikes for sure. Grab it quick!
Great page here, thanks for putting it together. 7.5 year old, 22 in inseam. Currently on a Cannondale Trail 20. He’s on the small side for sure but I’d like to get him a 24 that he could start on when he’s ready. Deciding between Pello Reyes, Prevelo Zulu 4 and Woom Off 5. Thoughts on which he’d be ready for first based on size?
All three are great. Pello most versatile as it ships with Suspension fork and rigid. The Geo lends to neighborhood, light trail, and dirt jumping. The Prevelo is the most capable mountain bike with its modern MTB geo and fantastic fork. THE woom is a great light weight intro MTB with a nice fork. Size wise the woom has the largest min seat height while Pello is lowest and Prevelo in the middle.
Hi, thanks for such an informative page! I’m in the UK where decent new kids’ bikes are like hen’s teeth at the moment and the secondhand market is just as crazy. My 9yo (53″ tall, 24.5″ inseam, 66 lbs) is keen to give MTBing a try. We skipped 24″ on the road by getting an Islabike Beinn 26 which is a tad big but she’s a capable rider so is doing fine with it. But for off-road I think a 24″ is a better bet.
Also — looking at secondhand on ebay, I may be able to find an older v-brake Merida Matts Champion or similar with an air fork, but I’m wondering if disc brakes are necessary? We’d be riding rooty/rocky forest trails in SE England, some are quite steep though I’m not sure she’d want to tackle those. Also we’d be fair weather riders I think, so not needing to brake in wet/mud.
I’m keen not to drop big money on this in case it’s a passing fad. But at the same time get the lightest and best bike I can so that it’s fun to ride (to give it the best chance of not being a passing fad!) Any suggestions for older/discontinued models to look out for?
My takeaway from reading the article and comments here is that we want:
< 400mm chainstay
< 26lbs
< air fork
< single chainring
disc brakes?
Anything else?
No idea about used bikes in UK. Your criteria list looks good. Don’t be too fussy on sub 400 stay length is she is just starting out. Disc brakes would be good in UK wet and steep terrain. If the Vitus Nucleus comes back in stock, grab it quick. With her inseam I would look to a 24 as well.
Great Site. Thanks!
For those that are interested, we started with a Riprock 24. It is a very stable bike great for real mountain biking, but very heavy and long chainstays suck the tricks and jumps right out of this bike. It is sad to watch my guy try to do anything fun on this bike. We are going to sell and go for a sub 400mm chainstay bike.
Also – it is an awful time to try and find new kids bikes. No stock. So good luck to all!
We agree, the riprok is not a recommended bike. Too heavy and sluggish…even for mountain biking. So much better out there.
Im looking for some advice in choosing between the Zulu 4 and the Pineridge 24. Most of our riding is on trails with lots of up and down. I am looking to make climbing as easy as possible without sacrificing too much on the way down. We do a bit of shuttling when we are with friends but have to earn most of our descents. I have also been considering the Reaper but worry about the climbs.
Both hardtails you mentioned are great. The Zulu heir edition has same rims and fork as pineridge. Both have cranks dialed. The Zulu is slacker so may be more stable on downs but this would be subtle. The Pineridge with steeper HA and shorter stays will be more nimble. I would look to Maxwell 24 or VPACE Mortiz if you want a climbing 24 full suspension.
Thanks for the reply! Your page is great and I often find myself telling friends to look you guys up for help with their kid-bike related decisions.
How much of a difference do you feel the wider range cassette on the Heir makes, along with its additional two gears? Is there a valuable difference between the Tektro and shimano brakes? Thanks
Both brakes are more than enough for kids. I prefer the Shimano as I have a bleed kit so I can service myself but I would put brakes at bottom of list for criteria for choice between these two bikes. Its the geometry which you should decide on. The big cassette of the Prevelo is nice and it is paired to a 30T front chainring vs Trailcraft Front chainring of your choice down to 26 T…so you can get them similar for a climbing low gear but you do get more range with bigger rear cassette (I find kids don’t need the range at high end). Again, for these two bikes, because you can choose front Chain Ring of Trailcraft, I would not make this a decision criteria. Go geometry, budget and availability for your choice.
Thank you. I was just notified by Woom after signing up for their waitlist that Off Airs can’t be delivered until about August and cannot be pre-ordered until June or July. Finding the right bike is tough given the current demand and everything that is effecting supply. The Cleary looks to be spec’d similar or close enough to the Trailcraft 26 that you listed under your 26 bikes and is less than half the price so I may jump on a Cleary if I can find one. Thank you again, your site is a tremendous resource for the novice.
Looking at a first hardtail for my son, just turned 12, 4’11”, 26 inseam. Looking at 26’s because he tried adult XS in the bigger brands and the geometry was not quite right. I’m between Cleary Scout 26 and Woom Off Air 6. A concern I have with the Woom Off Air is that it looks like their air fork is proprietary and not Suntour or RocShox. In the event we want to upgrade or replace forks, would we run into issues or am I totally off base? Also, are there any other 26’s or other fitting bikes for the age group you think are worth comparing ahead of any review you are putting together? Thanks!
Hi Paul, Look to our 26 inch hardtail page. The fork on the Woom Off air 6 uses a nice RST fork iwth rebound and compression adjustments but it is a non standard 1 inch steer tube so putting on another fork would be difficult. Woom is offering service for the fork so I wouldn’t see the need to change fork. For your son, a 26 inch inseam would likely be too small for the woom as the minimum seat height is 30 plus inches. The Cleary is a bit heavier than alloy bikes but the geo looks spot on, the min seat height would fit your 26 inch inseam kiddo and if you can wait a couple weeks, they are shipping the bike with shorter cranks arms (which is good). I’m hoping to get one to test soon.
Hi! Love your website and often look here for reviews an I have 2 question for you.
1. I recently purchased a Cleary Scout 24 for my daughter and she loves it. However, the crank arms are much too long as stated in your review. The rest of the bike is awesome and as I have six kids I know the steel frame will hold up and I purchased it for 20% off. Could you recommend some replacement cranks in the 140-150 range for the bike?
2. I have another daughter about the same height but slightly younger and she likes the bike as well. We want to purchase another 24″ bike for light single track xc (green and blue flow). I was looking at the Vitus Nucleus when I noticed the Nukeproof Cub scout 24 (non-race) what do you guys think of that bike? It seems close to the Vitus with a few upgrades and a decent price point at $699.
Wow, sounds like you will need a lot of bikes!
1)Try trailcraft for cranks…$150 bucks gets you best set going for kids.
2)The nuke proof looks like an nice little bike, bit heavier than some others in the category probably due to 2.6 inch tires and wheelset. Geometry looks really good. Shorter chainstays and slacker HA than Vitus. The Vitus is lighter, same fork and cheaper. The 2.6 inch tires may not be best for xc use…From yoiur description of xc flow trail use I would probably look at Pello Reyes as well for 30 bucks more. Its nice and light (3 pounds lighter than nukeproof and much lighter wheelset which matters if kiddo is pedaling xc), tubeless ready and fantastic geo.
I looked up Trailcraft and am checking on their cranks. I also contacted Cleary for their recommendations. They replied saying they are going to add 140 mm crank arms that will be available in the coming month. I was originally looking at the Pello. Thanks for the advice!
Hey, greetings from good ole Europe. I was wondering if you’ve heard of the Naloo Hill Bill and how you would compare it to say the Vitus, which is unfortunately out of stock everywhere here.
Our son is 8 years old (62 cm inseam, 134 cm height) and has been happy with his 20” Early Rider Belter, but really wants to do more hills and off-road with his dad in the forest and has his heart set on front suspension (like dad). Any thoughts?
Sorry, never heard of Naloo Hill Bill. Anything on this page is good. Just match fit and budget. Weight does matter as does crank length. Have Fun!
I’m approaching 40 I’ve jumped and raced 20″ bikes my whole life haven’t ridden a cruiser class since I was 18- 20 but remember them being far more forgiving im intrested in pump track and trail [dirt jump) riding would you suggest 26″ dirt jumper or a 24″ if so any advice on which one ? I’m fairly short 5’7″
26 dirt jumper but careful…tricks are for kids! Have Fun.
My son is 8 years old and is becoming a better rider fairly quickly; he’s currently riding offroad on a Specialized Fatboy 20 and around the neighborhood on a Guardian 24.
The rigid Fatboy at low tire pressure has worked decently for his lighter weight and our rocky/rooty more technical terrain. Steeper graded climbs are difficult for him and the heavy bike/tires/wheels probably don’t help much (bike has the X4 9-spd).
I’m considering putting him on a hardtail 24. I’m torn between a Vitus Nucleus 24 ($500 range) and an Early Rider 24 (either the trail or works). He’s not racing and I am caught wondering if a $500 Vitus is really going to hold him back over the next tier of bikes in the $1000-1400 range.
If considering Early rider, is the $300 upgrade to works worthwhile? Any should I wait for early summer as it seems that’s when the new models for many brands are coming out?
Woops looks like Early Rider is moving to the fully rigid Seeker 24 for 2020? Thoughts on that vs Trail/Works?
The new Hardtail from Early rider is the Hellion 24…not sure it is in stock. It looks good. The trail and works are great bikes too even though discontinued. Honestly, its whats available now that matters as everywhere is selling out. All of the bikes we list are good bikes, its a matter of finding your budget and nailing fit (minimum seat height, crank length).
I’m looking at getting my son the Vitus 24 hes has a 19’inch inseam and is 3’11 tall would you recommend getting the 24 or the 20
20 inch.
Very very helpful information here. Thank you very much gentlemen
Wondering your thoughts:
24″ bike w/ Front suspension vs. Rigid bike w/ Tubeless set up .
Trail type: 3-4 inch rock gardens, roots, and 1000+ ft of fire road climbing a day (Northern Cal).
Can a 70 lb. kid riding these trails compress the shock enough on the <$1000 bikes ( Vitus, Woom) to be a fair trade off of the 3-4 lb. weight penalty ? Or would a rigid, tubeless ready 24" be a better overall experience if the low pressure can provide perhaps 20-30mm of travel? Thanks for your thoughts, and keep up the great work!
BC
Depends on how hard kiddo is charging but usually in 24 inch wheel size, air forks work for these size kids. Some forks are better than others. The RST fork on the woom is really good. Rigid forks with low tire pressure on 20 inch bikes make more sense as there are only a few forks that actually work with kids on this wheel size. For terrain you described and 70 lb rider, go for an air fork. Anything on this page will work.
Great thank you. We went Woom off Air 5 and loving it so far.
Thanks for writing informational content such as this.
What is your opinion of the Orbea MX24? I’m interested by the short chainstay length.
The 2020 looks interesting. 152 mm cranks a tad long but the short stays would make it a fun snappy bike. Overall weight would be nice to know…
Hello, stumbled upon this in my quest for 24” mtn bike for my son. Ive done considerable research and have learned the importance of geometry. Appreciate the work you have done on this topic. My son is almost 9 with nearly a 26” inseam and 55” tall. A 24” has been recommended although i considered the Vitus Nucleus 26 (they are currently sold out of the 24”) but am concerned of the 160mm crank arm length and the standover height. Be curious to get your thoughts. I want him to be very comfortable to enjoy the experience plus he has a younger brother who will inherit the bike.
I would also like you opinion on the 140mm crank length. Ive stayed away from bikes with anything larger as i read that crank arms that are too long can be detrimental to body development in kids. That said, 150mm is only slightly longer.
Right now my front runner is the Zulu 24, but like the Nucleus 24, is out of stock.
Any other options to might suggest.
Thank you
We like anything on this page. Narrow down your budget, see what’s available. Our preference is 140/145 mm crank lengths in this category. I would stay away from anything over 150mm in length unless you are putting tall kid on a bike in this size wheel (ie. dirtjumper where you typically size down one wheelsize).
Hey you guys are killing here! I’m impressed. Nearly every kids MTB bike that is decent (of all price points) is listed here with no garbage. Highlighting stay length and crank length etc. Prob worth highlight the uber heavy wheels coming on bikes like the Commencal (we have their FS). The wheels/Vee Flow Snap tires are ridiculously heavy. And yeah, wow Vitus is killing it at that price point. Rocket Rons are sweet for most kids. Its great that you have some BMX stuff listed as well, critical bike for young guns needing skills. They go from passenger to pilot in no time with a used BMX that’s decent.
FYI Giant has a new 24″ Hardtail with an airfork, hydraulic brakes for 650$. I’d still buy the Vitus but its a start for the big box brands with LBS show rooms. Has a 2X which I don’t like but maybe it works. Cranks look right too! Cheers!
most dads in the know who buy commencals build up lighter wheelsets…and put on shorter cranks.
Bit negative that seraph??? The kid will shred and could be winning world cups in ten years time, so he can re-pay his dad then!!!
Found your website while doing some online research for my daughter. She is a tall 10 y/o at 58″ who has been riding on Giant/Liv bikes for the past few years mostly made for bike paths, streets, light offroad. We started getting into the woods last year and I would like to do more of that this year. The 24″ size bikes look like she would outgrow within a year so I am thinking a 26″ would be a better buy as I might get 2 years out of it. Is there a reason your website does not have a section of 26″ bikes? She rode a 24″ bike all year last year so I think she can make the jump to 26 this year.
Our local trails include a lot of roots, rocks, bridges, and varied terrain. It’s northern New England.
I was looking into the Woom Off 6; Rocky Mountain Growler Jr, Vitus Nucleus 26, Cleary 26, or the Nukeproof Cub Scout which is a new line not yet in the shops. I have a list put together to compare specs, weights, and prices but it hasn’t helped me make a decision. Can you let me know your thoughts?
Also I see you are putting a focus on crank length which had not occurred to me. I’ll have to look into that. She is lanky and tall. A little bit clumsy but overall a good rider. How should I weigh the importance of crank length?
Thanks – your website is really great.
-Erik
Hi Erik,
26/27.5 kids bikes are on the to do list. Our own kids are there yet so we haven’t allocated the time to make a page. That said, my nine year old might squeeze on to a 26 this year so we will likely get a page up soon. The only bike we have tired ourselves of what you mentioned is the Woom OFF 6. Come June, they should have an air fork for the bike which will make it more comparable to others on your list. Being she is only 10, weight still matters and we like shorter than longer cranks for kids as would much rather have a crank length too short than long. I would look for something with 150 to 160mm cranks, low weight, air fork, 67/68 Head Angle and hydraulic brakes that is in your price range.
Hi Colin-any idea where I can purchase a Vitus Nucleus 24? Looks like they have been out of stock for awhile.
Thanks
Steve
Hi Steve, looks like they just came back in stock over at chain reaction. I updated link.
Thanks Colin.
Have you tried the Frog 62 MTB? I’d be curious to see how it compares to this list.
Hi Carrie,
No, we have not tried the Frog 62 MTB…We know its 25 lbs, 880 USD, 69.5 HA (more XC), 74 STA, 416 mm Chainstays (quite long), and 65 mm travel air fork.
Hello Colin
Thank you very much for the list. Looking for a solid 24″ bike for my 7 year old. 21″, 42 lbs. He is currently on spawn 16″ and little bit of a shredder. Since he is at the edge of 20″ thinking of 24″. Which one out of Trailcraft, prevelo, spawn yamajama and early rider works would you suggest?
Thank you very much for your time
Regards
Deepak
Hi Deepak,
With a 21 inch inseam, a 24 inch will be too big. Of the bikes mentioned, the Trailcraft, Yama Jama and Prevelo Zulu Heir all share the same amazing fork. Tough to wrong with any of them. We have tried them all and can say they are all amazing little machines. Prevelo is slackest and thus most descending oriented, Trailcraft the lightest and Spawn the lowest minimum seat height. The new early rider Hellions look really good too but we have not seen in person.
What about the Norco CHARGER 24? We are located in Canada so a few of these options aren’t easily available to us! We currently have a Spawn 20″ but its time to move up. Our little guy trail rides with us and loves the bike park. It appears the charger weights about 24.5lbs.
Not sure about the 2020 but they have traditionally spec’d the 24 with 155mm cranks which is a bummer. Otherwise, a good little bike. They got the weight down which is really nice.
Hi Guys,
10 yo is 54″ tall, 75lbs. Mostly single track with downhill and jumping. He’s on a 20″ Trek rigid now. Would like to spend less than 1k unless going full suspension. Is it worth the stretch for the more expensive options, or is a Vitus the way to go?
The Vitus is the budget option for a great kids 24 inch bike. You could argue the stays are a bit long and its on the heavier side but its price is really amazing. For under 1K, Prevelo should be announcing a new 24 inch frame and spec soon…the updates look very good. Above 1K gets you a really awesome fork on a 24 (Spawn, Prevelo Heir, Trailcraft, Early rider works edition) which makes a difference if you kiddo is riding a lot…His age and size will probably put him on a 26 in a year so might play into the decision. Also, the woom off with air fork should be out summer 2020 at a price under $900. As always, picking a bike with good resale can take the sting out when having to size up. Cheers.
Do you see anything wrong with the kona honzo 24? It seems to have great geometry only thing i see is long cranks 165mm. Can those be changed for cheap? No idea what it weighs either?
Just get the Vitus Nucleus…similar geometry, 140mm cranks and decent weight…and way cheaper.
colin: my 8 1/2 year old is 54.5 inches; was looking at the commencal but not sure whether to go with the 24 or the junior which starts at 56inches; your thoughts??
I would think a 30 lb hardtail with 165mm cranks would be too much for her/him. I’de stay 24 commencal and even look at hardatils with 140 mm cranks…the 24 commencal has 155mm cranks which are too long IMO.
Hi Colin, My little guy (7 yr old 132cm) is keen on a Giant XTC SL JR 24. Can I have your opinion on this? Chain stay is 410mm. He is a bit of a shredder, jumps everything he can with his BMX and we have just started doing some downhill and trail riding – he needs a mountain bike but knowing how he loves to jump and throw the bike around Im not sure what I should be pointing him at geometry wise. Any help appreciated.
Hi Sam, I would avoid the Giant as it has front derailleur (extra weight and complexity) and HA is on the steep end. Check out the bikes above and look for 140 mm cranks because he is on the smaller size for a 24. Shorter the stays holds true for the kids too, shorter stays easier to lift front end. Cheers, Colin
Hi
Yama Jama 24”, Kona Honzo 24” or Commencal 20” HT?
Which would you pick.
Thanks
Joe
Would have to know more…like what terrain ride and size of your little guy (inseam).
I’m trying to pick a 24” hardtail for my small 9 almost 10 year old. He has 22” inseam and is 4’1”, 54 lbs. The bike will be passed down to his younger brothers eventually. We ride VT single track (rocks and roots), he does a weekly mtb race series too, gravel bike path and around the neighborhood. It’s so hard to pick! I looked at all our bike shops and they were all heavy and well marketed junk 👎🏼 What’s your suggestion?! I ride a Kona hardtail and I refuse to spend more on his bike than mine 🤣🤣🤣 I love the price point of the Vitus but was looking at the Pello too. Can you help me out?!
The Vitus is a longer rear center and longer bike where as the Pello has shorter stays. I’de say Pello better for around the neighborhood an equally capable of MTB minus the mechanical discs for super fast descents. Both hace 140mm cranks which we love. Pello takes it on weight, Vitus on Price.
What are your thoughts on the Diamondback sync’r 24? Looks pretty good other than the fork. I didn’t know if it was worth the buy then replace the fork or if there was more value in just buying a different bike. The ones you have list here are probably better bikes but didn’t know if the Diamondback is a worthy contender. Thanks!
it’s heavy, almost 28lbs…
Do you know anything about Tair? I have an extremely light child and in search for a low weight trail bike.
Look at Trailcraft and VPACE for lightest weight trail bikes. Have not seen the Tair in person yet…
Great article!! My son is 8 and rides half paved trails and in the neighborhood and half green and blue mountain biking trails with my husband around Northern MN with some rocks and elevation but not doing much jumps or park stuff yet. He’s 4’7″ now, grows 3″ per year on average, won’t bike again for a few months due to snow. He’s 65 lbs, 25″ inseam. Looked at woom 5 vs trailcraft vs Rocky Mountain edge jr 26 from our local bike store. Worry about him outgrowing a 24″ in 1 year. Is 26″ too big? What are the smaller 26″ bikes or larger 24″? What do you recommend without breaking the bank? Thanks
Hi Katie, I would plan for a 26 especially if it will be a few months for now. He will definitely outgrow a 24 in a year or less. Check our out 26 inch page. All kinds of budgets listed, https://thebikedads.com/26-front-suspension-bikes-2/