I got my son a 2nd hand 13.5″ XS Rockhopper when he was 11… the basic build was pretty good (mostly Deore, with Dart 3s), but it needed a short stem and flat bars to get the front low enough, and the usual better pedals. Pretty soon we swapped the Darts for some Rebas which are worlds better and hopefully will make the next bike. He’s also now got XT shifters as the action is lighter and easier.

Now that he’s nearly 14 I’ll be looking for a new frame.

12 yr old MCJnr just moved onto a 16″ Inbred.

He is nearly as tall as me mind.

14″ Inbred would just about fit – they are a bit long, but a short stem and an inline post should be OK.

Seems to be crank length that is problem with younger ones

that’s a 16 456 vs a 14 inbred ? And the 456 has more standover and/or is shorter ?

Reba RLs – pah – my nephew won’t go lower than SID RLTs…

I did think about going down the route of a small 26 frame when I was replacing Lewis’s blast but wanted to get him an FS bike and there isn’t anything out there for his size so went for a Transition Ripcord. 100mm reverb, 1×10 with 40t expander, crest rims, haven bar and stem, slx brakes, SID RCT3.

we don’t get out as often as I would like sadly. He perfers the skills park at comrie and the freeride park at glentress to trail riding at the moment.

Loving these bikes. My 6 yr old son isn’t ready for a 26″ frame so I’m building up a Genesis 24″ wheel for him for this summers trip to the Alps and we’re both desperately hoping he’ll grow enough to ride it (which is a very good way to get him to eat vegetables and go to bed early, as “we only grow when we’re asleep”).

Last summer he rode his Islabikes Beinn 20 at Val D’Isere and Tignes and, apart from savage arm pump, was ok on the green singletracks… but bigger wheels, disc brakes and larger volume tyres will really help. I picked up the Genesis to build it up with lighter components and it’s a work in progress (and have a 24″ Spec Hotrock FSR frame for sale if anyone’s interested?).

I’ve done a lot of riding and been lucky enough to ride all over the world. There is still no trail, no ride that’s been as fun as riding behind him down a dusty singletrack.

@i_like_food I have decided to use them now – they’re SRAM XCT JR 152mm – only about £15 from a French MTB site. Triple rings but I’ll just fit a single NW. Had decided to just buy another Islabike but managed to get hold of a 13″ Rockhopper frame on ebay so building that up now. May end up as the only kids bike with 20mm axle and a pair of Rockshox Arygle Airs but that’s what I have so I’ll give them a try!

I think hughjayteens means Suntour XCT JR rather than SRAM! 😉

Have used them on 2 builds for my kids, around £20 delivered (from Germany) on Amazon…

no it’s not!

It’s a bit smaller than some of the others on this thread but I built up a 20″ full sus bike for my daughter.

Full build thread here – http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/build-report-custom-scott-spark-20-junior

Since these photos were taken it’s now got a longer seat post and different saddle and I might change it from 3 x 9 to a 1 x 9 transmission before we use it again.

I managed to pick up a Transition Ripchord 24 in the sales at the end of 2015 so I’m currently buying up a few bits to lighten that up e.g. tyres, and I’ve loads of spares like lighter rotors, bars, stem, pedals ready to be fitted.