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My eldest has outgrown his 24" Orbea and needs a new bike
He's about to turn 11, 155cm (5ft 0inch) and approx. 40kg
Most of our riding is single track in a local forest, but I want to start taking him and his younger brother to trail centres (Llandegla closest to me)
His brother is 2.5 years younger so I am comfortable spending on a decent bike as it will be passed down
I think I've narrowed it down to two choices:
Woom Off Air 6 - seems a fantastic kids trail bike, 90mm travel and only weights 11.2kg but 26 inch wheels
Woom Off Air 6
Orbea Laufey 27 H20 - current bike is an Orbea MX24 and I've nothing but good things to say about it. 120mm travel fork and 27.5 inch wheels, my only worry is the weight at circa 14kg....
Orbea Laufey
Kind of leaning towards the Woom - he could then progress to an adult bike in 2 years and his brother can use the Woom
Other possibilities (all 27.5 inch) include Giant Talon 0, Kona Cinder Cone or a Whyte 802 Compact v4 (unfortunately he hates the colour) BUT all are going to be similar in weight to the Laufey at circa 14kg
Love to hear peoples experiences and recommendations!
Sorry, budget up to circa £1,000
Rift Zone is lovely but a bit more than I wanted to spend and max recommended height is only 157cm (he's 155cm now)
The Woom and Laufey both say they can accommodate riders up to 165cm
Following.
I'll likely have the same decision to make in 12 months or so time. Idly browsing recently and frustrated by lack of stated weights on most bikes. That'd be my worry about any small 27.5 bike given kids weigh so little.
You haven’t mentioned budget, but Marin do a Kid’s FS.
Heigth range only up to 157cm, so at 155cm it'd be the 27.5 version in XS I'd look at: https://www.marinbikes.com/gb/bikes/2023-rift-zone-275-1. Unknown weight though.
The Vitus Mythique 27 in small fits from 158cm: https://www.wiggle.co.uk/vitus-mythique-27-vr-mountain-bike-1. We've been impressed with the Nucleus 24 and 26 we've had, hence looking at Vitus again.
my only worry is the weight at circa 14kg….
I found weight to be a lot less significant above 7-8 or so... what used to be over riding when they are 5 just becomes less of an issue. Of course that means using gears and climbing more slowly
His brother is 2.5 years younger so I am comfortable spending on a decent bike as it will be passed down
So if they are together can't see it being the most important thing.
Mine got a light XC 24" at 6 and then a much heavier FS at 7. We did a decent climb (Penhydd at Afan) one day on his light bike and he snapped a pedal at the top... we went down and got his heavier FS bike expecting he'd struggle but there wasn't a real difference (on the climbs) measured against his mate. We could have swapped pedals the next day when we did y Wal but he was perfectly happy on the heavier bike
He was on an adult sized small 27.5 bike when he was just over 9 .. though with 26" wheels for a year.
Personally I'd be avoiding kiddie centric bikes at that age / height, my just turned 11yr old is a tad shorter and the same weight and he's on a Scott Scale 950 29er in small, its pretty much perfect for him and I know it'll fit until he's about 5'4" or there abouts so should last him at least another year or so. He's got a 100mm dropper in there too so there's plenty of post out as the seat tube is well dinky.
He absolutely flies on it both up and down the trail as the weekend gone by can attest when he hit 56kph on one of the descents at the Built Wells MTB Marathon course. We picked it up off eBay (for £300 less that that Woom) at the end of last summer in near new condition, 1x11 GX drivetrain, tubeless wheels, Fox 32 (Air) Rhythm fork, so a far better spec so long as you can accept a 2nd hand machine.
By sticking with 27.5 & 29" wheels, you're in the world of decent (tubeless) tyres and easy to find spares, plus the added benefits of the bigger wheels.
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budget up to circa £1,000
This, and 70,000 penny chews....
https://flic.kr/p/2ot5kLP
Am busy trying to buy a new bike for the kid and realised I still haven't got rid of the old old one!
I got a small Cotic Soul Gen 3 with Fox Kashima, Full XT Groupset, Hope/Stand wheels, carbon bars, etc for £700 from ebay.
It was immaculate and fits my 11yold of similar stature perfectly. It's 10.4kg.
Personally I’d be avoiding kiddie centric bikes at that age / height,
This.
Eldest is about 155cm and he's on a Scott 740 size small. 100mm dropper which he's only just fitted into. Shorter stem fitted too. 27.5" wheels. Paid 700 for it and had a relative pickup for me.
No idea what it weighs, but like has been mentioned, kids don't care!
Took him and little bro round the red at llandegla this week and they loved it. Decent suspension is a must imho as it's pretty rough round there. I'd worry that the Woom would struggle.
Middle kid is on the Marin Hawk Hill junior that's been mentioned. Think it's 27-28lbs. Bloody good bike! But he's been on it for nearly 2 years now (he's 10) and it'll last him till he's 12 when I put it on 26" wheels. As 155 I think it'd be too small.
No idea what it weighs, but like has been mentioned, kids don’t care!
I think it's really important at 5-6 (can make or break a ride).. but as they get stronger it gradually disappears (obviously unless they are racing XC)
I'd disagree with the comment tbat weight does not matter.
My 12 year old has a 27.5 specialized pitch for commuting to school which is about 15kg and a 26" whyte 405 with dropper for MTB which is just under 12kg.
It makes a huge difference for him to lift the front wheel or to wheelie as a lot of the weight is the front wheel and fork. Perhaps some if it is geometry though, the pitch is a small adults bike whereas the Whyte is kids sized modern geometry bike
Non of the above. Buy a second hand small adults MTB from a known manufacturer. Plenty about on Ebay well within budget.
EDIT: (Sorry meant the op's options)
I might buy this for my boy
Non of the above. Buy a second hand small adults MTB from a known manufacturer. Plenty about on Ebay well within budget.
You mean exactly what at least me and another poster have said then 🤦🏼♂️
This is beautiful and doesn't look like it's ever been off road
You could sell the Salsa for the price of a decent second hand suspension fork.
Thanks all, continued to look on eBay and ended up buying a virtually new (still got the stickers on) small 2020 Cannondale Habit 29er for £1,100
He had a ride of a mates small 29 Stumpjumper on Saturday and looked fine on it, so that convinced me the larger wheel size wouldn't be a problem
Weight IS important, and a 14kg bike for him would be the equivalent of a 27-28kg bike for an audit male.
IMO nothing wrong with 26" bikes, especially as you should be able to buy bling for bargain money - and don't under-estimate the need for low gears, appropriate bars/cranks/brake levers for smaller folk.