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My son is fast outgrowing his wiggins 24" wheeled thing..
Clearly 26er is the way to go!
He reckons he wants a full susser, but I'm wondering it that'll be too heavy, and as he's a waif little thing, probably won't work...
Any good deals on kids bikes with working air forks about, or what second hand FS should I be looking at?? Giant trance perhaps? in 26er guise?
DrP
Whyte T403
Liv Embolden is ace in an XS.
XS adult 26" work well for my son - he's 10, and rides a marin hawkhill (with short cranks and 26" wheels) and I just picked up a XS specialized hardrock frame for virtually nothing, built up with garage spares and bits from his old 24" bike.
As you suspect finds the longer days on the suspension bike harder (esp with big tyres), so we save that for windhill/flyup/BPW/FoD and use the HT for general riding.
Won't be long before he's grown into the Stumpy. 😉
Oi..that's mine! But... he can already ride it with the dropper right down... but he looks right 'oikey' bandily pedalling about on a large 29er with 800mm bars!!! 😀
DrP
I've a 16 inch GT Peace SS with reba's or rigid fork if you want it. Start him on the true path early on😁
As kids hardtails go, https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/junior-bikes/voodoo-nzumbi-mountain-bike-26-wheel are supposed to be decent spec for the price when they are on promo at ~£325... Not so good when £475, like they are currently.
ooh..seen a nice 27.5 wheel Gian LIV on FB market place... white, so not too girly!!
DrP
Most xs 26er or 27.5 hardtails should be fine. Get one and throw your spare bits at it to get it spot on. Or get a frame and build it? XS cubes are pretty good light xc bikes.
My eldest is 8 and I was idly thinking about when he would need a new bike.
I was helping my parents move house at the weekend and took an old cooker to the local recycling centre. Poking out of one of metal recycling skip were a pair of Hardrock Pro's! The guy at the recycling place told me to help myself so I did. They have rusty chains and moss on the seats but should build Into a nice bike with a spare frame left over for my youngest son 😁
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/vitus-nucleus-26-kids-mountain-bike-2019-altus/ if it comes back in stock in time!
The Whyte 403 is a lovely bike.
See also:
http://www.cyclesprog.co.uk/bikes/mountain-bikes-for-kids/kids-mountain-bikes-under-500/
and if you are feeling flush:
http://www.cyclesprog.co.uk/bikes/mountain-bikes-for-kids/best-kids-26-wheel-mountain-bikes-2/
http://www.cyclesprog.co.uk/bikes/mountain-bikes-for-kids/best-kids-27-5-wheel-mountain-bikes/
Whyte T403
+1 Kryton Jnr loves his and I was surprised at the build quality and "properness" as an MTB. He's a little short for his current 10 years at 135 CM but I reckon theres at least 2-3 years of seatpost in there. Its a proper, small MTB.