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Howdy all,
My son (12) needs a new stead, being close to outgrowing his 24inch Orbea Trail MX - which has been a great bike BTW.
He's 140cm tall so in that 'too big for kids' bikes but 'too small for adult bikes' stage.
I've been looking at options for him - he likes riding jumps (way better at it than me) and is more on the gravity/enduro side than XC. I think we'd ideally go for a 27.5 so he can get a good few years out of the bike and then move the components to a bigger frame when ready.
Things I've found so far are:
Commencal Clash Jr
https://www.commencalusa.com/clash-jr-pearl-white-electroplate-lagoon-2021-c2x31920161
Norco Sight Jr
Can't find anymore detail on this than
https://mtbwithkids.com/norco-sight-275-review/
YT Jeffsy Primus
https://www.yt-industries.com/uk/detail/index/sArticle/2395/sCategory/73653
Orbea Laufey
https://www.orbea.com/gb-en/bicycles/junior/laufey-junior/cat/laufey-27-h10
Keen to hear of any other bikes that might be suitable for this interim age/size or any experience people have had with any of the above.
Many thanks
Rich
Vpace (out of Germany) have a very good reputation.
Also I think Propain do one?
Rocky Mountain Reaper - get's good write-ups in Canada.
If he's keen on jumps the leap from 24 to 27.5 could be big? There's no right answer to this though. I'm going through the same exercise but with the smaller size of 20 to 24"
Thanks @swearman2
The Vpace Moritz275 does look like the right kind of thing - next available spring 2021 so bit of a wait 🙂
https://www.vpace.de/produkt/moritz275-kinder-trail-fully/
Propain have the Yuma in 24/26
https://www.propain-bikes.com/en/bikes/kids/yuma/
An XS Reaper might be good option too:
https://www.bikes.com/en/bikes/reaper/2021?tid=77
We really want to test ride some junior 27.5s to get a feel for the size vs. a 26 and how jumps might feel - that might prove to be a bit of challenge with the availability of bikes at the moment.
I think we’d ideally go for a 27.5 so he can get a good few years out of the bike and then move the components to a bigger frame when ready.
Yeah, sounds like what I do when buying shoes for my daughter. "Quit complaining, you'll grow into them".
As you say he's more into jumping, wouldn't you think a 26er would be a better option? Bit lighter and more nimble in general. In your position, I'd be looking at used now, then go for 27.5 when he's grown 10-15cm. That demo 8 might not fit my definition of nimble tho!
My nine year old boy is about 142cmanhe just tried a xs adult 27.5 Trek in a shop last weekend. Great fit.
My 8yo just fits his Moritz 26, moving up from a 24" Ripcord (with midway mullet ripcord) There's no way he's riding his 10yo brothers XS 27.5 BMC trailcrew, it's way too big for him
We really want to test ride some junior 27.5s to get a feel for the size vs. a 26 and how jumps might feel – that might prove to be a bit of challenge with the availability of bikes at the moment.
Pretty much as you'd expect ... more speed / less whips...
The Vpace Moritz275 does look like the right kind of thing – next available spring 2021 so bit of a wait
Feels like you are a bit late buying into a Yuma... though it does allow you the option of converting between the two with the dropouts.
I just stuck mine on a 27.5 frame with 26" wheels on his 9th B'day but he's 11 now and been riding 27.5 for a while. [inbetween he ran a 27.5/26 mullet for jumps]
One of his best mates has a Yuma though, currently in 26" so I can give some of his feedback.
On the same trail he needs more speed than his mate on the Yuma but he carries more speed. Not a surprise really but ....
It's swings and roundabouts but something he needs to consider when he's riding big gamp jumps behind his mate.
My daughters 10 and about 143cm. She's just got an islabikes 27.5 creig which she loves. Still seems a little big on her and we can't fit a dropper post as it would be down all the time at the moment but she's able to take on obstacles on the trails with more confidence and roll things easier with the bigger wheels. If she was into jumping I don't think I'd have gone for as big a bike as I think it might be unwieldy in the air until she's bigger. It's so light compared to her last bike though it's great. The issue with buying a bike for a 12 year old is he may well shoot up a foot in height in the next 18 months so whatever you get him might not last that long.