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Currently looking at Early Rider Seeker 16” for my son's next bike, but comes with disc or v-brake option.
Most of the riding will be in the local woods and gravel tracks, and like the idea of disc brakes to go with the bigger off road tyres. But worried we could end up with some OTB moments with the extra power.
Wondered if anyone had experience discs brakes on a similar bike, and what would you recommend?
My children have discs on their bikes and have never gone over the bars. Just like on adult bikes, they are the better option.
Discs win every time for kids, no question.
My eldest niece, her previous bike had V-brakes (and various other "price point" components) and she was never entirely happy on it.
Her new bike is an ex-hire one in XXS - hydraulic discs, 1x, air forks that can be set up super soft. It has absolutely transformed her riding. Hydro discs bring her to a stop with way less effort than hauling on shitty flexy V-brakes.
She knows she's got way more control now and it raised her riding ability dramatically.
Discs are ace and better. Something like Deore can be adjusted down well for small hands.
Cable discs can be ok, but brands vary. Some of the ones we've had needed quite a strong pull.
V brakes can be ok, but one trip out in the rain/clag and you'll regret your choice.
It's probably more about the levers - but guessing Early Rider have decent levers for small hands.
Rim brakes are crap in the wet/mud, Disc brakes work better and look way cooler....
Child No2 (4) is on a 2nd hand belter 16( older generation), it has v brakes. It has smaller levers but I changed the Vs for a newer version with longer arms to make them easier to pull / have more stopping power. As it's the belter (and an older one) I doesn't have the clearance for chunkier tyres. I can get some 16" schwalbe black jacks on it.
He gets on fine. Did the glentress blue.
Child No1 is on a Vitus 20+ with discs and it's night and day.
I reckon both kids could use Shimano or hope tech3 levers as they have a chunk of adjustment, I don't know about other brands.
Discs will stop better and will be easier to pull so their wee arms dnt have to work as hard.
Hydraulic disc brakes. My two kids started with Isla and Frog bikes, then when they got to 16” wheels they had Hope Academy bikes (Early Rider with Hope brakes) and it was night and day how easy their little hands could stop the bike. They both now have a Vitus 20+ and I swapped out the Tekro cable discs for cheap Shimano hydraulic brakes (because the original ones always rubbed and were hard to pull) and both 6 year olds find them so easy to use in comparison. The Hope brakes were the best by far but I can’t afford 2 pairs of E2s like the Academy bikes.
If you’re worried about OTB moments then teach them that the left lever is the ‘skid button’. And explain that if they stick their fingers in the spinning rotor it will chop it off!
now if only I could afford 2 Hellion 20s for them.
My 10yo went over that berm in the middle of launchpad because he couldn't scrub the speed he needed to in the wet. He just couldn't pull hard enough. Was enough to make me fit cable discs. He's a much happier bunny ever since.
Kids will only nearly go over the front once, then they recalibrate. It's the schoolyard mantra of 'don't use the front brake' that causes problems IMHO!