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My boy is 10, average height, and suddenly his 24" wheel Scott scale is beginning to look a bit small on him. Can anyone who's kids have gone onto adult frames tell me what size frame and fork travel worked for them? Any recommendations would also be appreciated as I'll be looking for used kit to build up. Thanks.
I didn't even bother with 24 for my tall 9 year old, just went for a 26 trek 4500 size 13.5 frame, looks like a mini 29er. Forks are 100mm suntours. I did look at building up a cheap on one 13 inch but after adding up all the components worked out quite ££££.
This came up when I was looking to replace his 20", but I got a good deal on the scale and the fit was good. But I do think its time to move on, and if I can get a good frame I plan to use a load of my old but good parts (I can the. Justify new parts for me).
Revski what size cranks do your kids use?
Small spesh rockhopper frame. Great comfy frames, my son started on a 13.5" one at age 9. He now has a 15" (womens) rockhopper frame (the older ones don't look girly). Women's frames are good for kids as they have a short top tube.
Bought the first frame of eBay for about £28, second one came from the classifieds, wasn't much more.
We use 170 cranks, seem ok. 165 with 68bb is a bit hard to get. I think bikediscount may have some deore ones.
Also used 80mm rockshox duke air forks on the first frame (£50), we have 100mm Magyars on his current frame.
Good luck!
A few options; but try them out. On small frames, a few mm makes a big difference in geometry and 'shape', that is really noticeable...
Also, one brands XS is anothers 15" which is smaller than the next brands 13.5" (and top tubes seem to vary massively)
We have (in biggest to smallest order...)
Cannondale F900SL - long TT, highest geometry, lightest and fastest bike overall. mrs_oab's ride (she is 5')
[url= http://farm1.staticflickr.com/145/369276368_2f6e89b1ea_b.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/369276368/ ]Cannondale F900SL[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/matt_outandabout/ ]matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr
Eldest OAB's new Specialized XS/13.5" WSD (womens, don't tell him!) Short, very upright but quite 'big' in shape. Good as he stretches legs and steepness of rocks...
[url= http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5541/9985916753_3d3924a3b3_b.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/9985916753/ ]The day Ben discovered he likes berms...[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/matt_outandabout/ ]matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr
Trek 4300 - great little bike, quite light (apart from wheels) and low shape, and rocking a nice set of old Skool Marzocchi X-flys and some cheap 8-speed XTR 8)
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[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8114/8613789916_9b39b40b1c_b.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/8613789916/ ]Comrie Croft[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/matt_outandabout/ ]matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr
Smallest 26er is the Islabike Beinn 26 - low, short and great shape /geometry. Light due to components, and a nice plush set of old Manitou Mars Elite air forks on it...
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8081/8345835509_8d982fec45_b.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/8345835509/ ]Carron Valley[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/matt_outandabout/ ]matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr
We looked at old Kona's as well - low, loooong and overpriced it seems.
We would also have gone for the small on-ones after the Islabike - again, long but lowish. None suitable.
I forgot to say - they are all sub £250 bikes....