Looking for recommendations for kids mountain bike for my lad who's nearly 6. He's currently on an isla Beinn small which he's had for ages
So far have seen these new and 2nd hand (prices shown are new)
Vitus 20+ (very difficult to get hold of 2nd hand) 324
NukeProof scout - 424
Kona honzo 20 - 559
Whyte 203
Cannondale Cujo
Commencal Meta HT 20
struggling a bit with sizing. Often they don't list a size guide.
Anything else to bear in mind?
we've got a specialized riprock (older model). the front suspension is useless but the plus tyres are really good for absorbing roots/trail chatter, so I'd reccomend looking for one with them. Trek have something similar
Cujo 20 is an amazing little thing. But quite small.
My (confident, quite tall) girl got a 24" for her 6th birthday. It was big, but she'd pretty much grown out of the cujo IIRC.
How tall is he?
My son, just turned 7, is about 120cm and I got him the Vitus 20+” at Christmas from CRC. A total bargain at £230 at the time. Used everyday on the school run (bumps up curbs nicely on the 2.6” tyre) and did some proper woodsy single track over the weekend.
Rich S> I reckon he's about 3' 4" or 3'5" - will double check tonight
My other son who's 8 is on a Hoy Bonaly which is 24" and that seems far too big
Yeah, I think miss_s was about 114cm at 6, and she was perched on her Trek 24". So the Cujo would still be good IMHO.
The other commentators above have said about the "plus" tyre size being good. I'd 100% agree. They can bounce up things with impunity at 2.6 or 2.8" tyres.
I have a used but good Carrera Blast that I'm looking to move on.
The manitou forks on our little one's Orbea are great and proper volume Rocket Ron's. We did consider the +size Vitus as brilliant VFM but a good Orbea came up 2nd hand! The dropper is pointless as she's too light to put it down.
We previously bought a Nukeproof Cub Scout 20 but it was damaged out of the box - but having had it in hand we found the Box shifters were too bug for small hands.
HTH.
Another vote for the Vitus 20+. Here's my 6yo living his best life on it.
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He's now riding easy blue trails with his big brother and the fat tyres do a way better job than a cheap suspension fork at his weight. I upgraded the freewheel to a Mega-range one off eBay and the Clarkes Clout hydro brakes were dead cheap in the sales, but both these are only really necessary if venturing onto proper trails.
We had an Early Rider belter trail 3S with a hub gear. Kids that age tend to fall off a lot so having no rear mech was very handy and no chain meant no oil stains in the back of the car.
Orbea Laufey H30 has been pretty good for our 5 year old. Stock tyres are meh, so put dhf/dhr combo on and he's had fun in all weathers as a result.
Orbea Laufey as above, or Orbea MX20 if on a small budget. Can choose between v-brakes, discs, or suspension fork + discs
Vitus 20+ - equally at home on the trails or cruising to the mini disco
A friend’s daughter has gone from an Early Rider Belter 16 to a Spesh Rip Rock and the weight of the thing has totally put her off riding.
What about a 20” Early Rider?
+1 for an Early Rider Belter.
My lad had one I bought 2nd-hand, kept for a couple of years and sold on for pretty much what I paid for it.
Orbea MX20, I have a Team Disc due to be listed on the classifieds as well.
My 7 year old has a Cujo and my 10 year old has a Vitus, but the 24+ inch wheel. They are both great bikes, I'm really chuffed with them and would recommend either. The 2.6 tyres are a better option that a cheap suspension fork imo, and keep the weight down at the same time.
My two are riding trail centre blues on them now, as well as bits of the Quantocks and easy sections of the enduro stuff at Triscombe. The bigger tyres work a treat.
Another vitus 20+. My lad loves his, moved onto a BMX now though. Great quality little bike, I don't think you'll get anywhere near bang for buck on anything else.
Not for sale second hand says they are well enjoyed. My lad doesn't use his too much so could be a possibility to get rid of. It's a silver with tan wall tyres, needs a new rear tyre and has plenty of scuffs and scratches which is to be expected with any kids bike I guess.
Just got one of these for my little one, disc brakes, suspension fork, low stand over. Can’t complain for the price.
https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/16600971/polygon-relic-20-kids-bike-16600971
Forgot earlier: trigger shifter > gripshift every time. Then get one of these https://sureshift.bike/ so you can shout yellow/green/blue/whatever button as required
Rich S> I reckon he’s about 3′ 4″ or 3’5″ – will double check tonight
checked this morning and h'es actually 3'11
Just a quick random question I had last night. Why are kids bikes made with really old geometry? Is there an actual reason they don't have slacker head angles or steeper seat tubes or is it just a case of the bike industry not really bothering? I can't remember the last time I rode a bike with a 70* head angle like the Polygon.
Genuine question.
Tom KP
@keefezza, I'd be keen on this, depending on where you are. Sent you a pm. Cheers!
he's got an Orbea MX20 (front suspension) we were gifted by a friend, but it weighs a ton. bafflingly heavy. had to check the frame wasn't full of water.
Been keeping by eyes out for an Early rider Seeker 20 s/h but they hardly ever come up, and get jumped on when they do.
@zerocool Not sure if the geometry translates directly with wheel size? though smaller wheels would be easier to turn anyway. Either way, I guess easy turning for kiddies is more important than stability at speed and confidence on steep tech!
Wheel size probably makes a different to geo, but either way the cast majority of kids aren't doing anything more tech than a blue, so modern geo has no advantages.
Op.. budget for a tire velo as well. Absolutely the best kids tow rope as it's the only one that's stretchy and retractable. With a bit of practice you can hook/unhook it without stopping
either way the cast majority of kids aren’t doing anything more tech than a blue, so modern geo has no advantages.
And the majority of adults? 😀
he’s got an Orbea MX20 (front suspension) we were gifted by a friend, but it weighs a ton. bafflingly heavy. had to check the frame wasn’t full of water.
Been keeping by eyes out for an Early rider Seeker 20 s/h but they hardly ever come up, and get jumped on when they do.
I intentionally went for the rigid v-brake version, of the MX20, because of that. So big tyres on now and loving it.
Seeker is the 3 speed gripshift? We love tje 14” Seeker we still have for the wee one, but don’t love the idea of gripshift on a kids bike at all
@nedrapier are you on the pre-owned pearly rider Facebook page. Loads of 20" on there.
A friend’s daughter has gone from an Early Rider Belter 16 to a Spesh Rip Rock and the weight of the thing has totally put her off riding.
Weight is the key specification on kids bikes (assuming solid build quality). Islabikes and Early Rider are great examples. Frog bikes are solid but comparatively heavy to these (I don't rate them, I think there are better options for less money).
The market really opens up at 20", I'd always check the weight as a key factor
Have been trying to work out how much longevity we'll get from these bikes. My son is 3'11. It's hard to gauge what height/inside leg or age it will last for.
Liking the look of the kona honzo 20 and the orange zest. The honzo i only £59 more brand new nbut comes with suspension forks
also looking at the vitus +
Just a quick random question I had last night. Why are kids bikes made with really old geometry?
Nukeproof cub scout is 66.5 unsagged.
Anyone wanting a very cheap Ridgeback mx20 in fluoro green, in Bristol?
The orbea mx20 city can be has for £300 ish new - just search for a 2021 model which is very similar to the current one.
£300 gets you reflective hybrid tyres, a kickstand and good mudguards. £25 gets a pair of decent mtb tyres for trips off road - the frame is the same as the mx20 xc / mtb version.
It’s a great bike and much enjoyed by my eldest.
Sadly my youngest insisted on a cube acid 200 which cost the same and looks cool but weighs an absolute tonne.
edit: just found the orbea in the mtb version for £299
I got a BMC Twostroke 20’’ for my 7 year old boy. RRP is a bit steep but got a really got deal on it - really impressed with it and now have a 29er matching model for me! Will look for a 24’’ model when he outgrows this one.
Anyone wanting a very cheap Ridgeback mx20 in fluoro green, in Bristol?
This will be in the classifieds later if anyone is interested.
Have also stuck an Islabike 24 in the classifieds in case of interest to anyone.
Still looking.. and still trying to get the best size for my lad (currently 3ft 11 / 119 cm)
I like the look of the or Orbea Laufey 20 H3 but sites say it's suitable 4 - 7 or 110cm – 135cm (reach 322, stack 447, ett 450)
The orange zest 20 states 5 - 9 but doesnt give height/inside leg sizing (reach 312, stack 456, ett 443)
or there's still the vitus 20 plus which states 120 - 136cm (reach 335, stack 387, ett 461)
I guess they are pretty similar. Its just the '4-7' that put me off thinking it would only last a year but then the other bikes are similar sizing
My daughter is on an Orbea MX20 Dirt - I think a 2020 model with rigid fork & v-brakes.
She's about 122cm & has the saddle virtually at it's lowest. I reckon it will be good for at least 18 months if not longer - depends how many growth spurts she has!
We got this bike of ebay for £84, and it's a great bike for the price - although quite a bit heavier than the 16" Ridgeback Dimension that it's replacing.
kids grow fairly slowly and steadily at this age - my (just) 7 year old is 128cm having been 115cm 2 years ago. if you go 6cm per year, your kid will last on a -135cm bike for ~3 years. if he's got a younger sibling it may be given up to that kid before then anyway.
he's on this bike
https://99spokes.com/bikes/specialized/2021/riprock-20
and its only really just getting into optimal sizing this year. Before then he was (imo) too stretched out for mtb whilst seated (and getting them standing is tricky)
sophie has had her Laufey 20 since she was six (now 8). She is a a small kid.
Thread here https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/new-bike-day-sophie-age-6/
only recently put on a longer dropper and bigger pedals.
If you can find an older second hand one, my kids used a Kona Makena, which seems to be one of the smaller sized frame 20" bikes.
My lad's been absolutely riding it everywhere since he was 5 1/2, think my daughter was on it from 6.
@5lab first short one was a 75mm KS lev then replaced it with a 100mm brand X
<p style="text-align: left;">islabikes did have some kids bikes heavily discounted. down to the prices of vitus and the like. maybe some still left</p>
Found a bike on FB marketplace which states its a commencal.
I however can't find out what model it is. i've only seen ramones and meta HT and this doesn't look like those
??
Any ideas?
Ah looks like its an older ramones
Ended up buying this bike! well chuffed with it. In spotless condition.
Thinking of whacking on my old deores and 9 speed stuff as spotted this post on another forum
https://www.mtbr.com/threads/commencal-ramones-20-custom-build-for-my-5-years-old-boy.1124885/
Have wondered about getting a fork as well. Wasn't sure on axle to crown length
Fork isn't worth it on a 20" kids bike. They simply don't generate enough force to get through the friction. Bigger front tyre on the other hand is worthwhile
@5lab - you're probably right and something i've always thought to be honest but i did get carried away with this thread https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/new-bike-day-sophie-age-6/
and love tinkering with bikes
Can't wait until my boys are on 26" as i have loads of parts
My lad got a good inch out of his basic forks, he's on rigid ones now but I'd have no issues putting some super soft ones back on.
Got to say i'm impressed with the bike. So much better than his isla bikes Beinn. The massive tyres make a huge difference in handling. He was able to ride the whole blue at Forest of dean. I upgraded the brakes to full hydrualic and they are awesome
