I know it’ll have been done before but the search runch ain’t great…

Need two bikes for our 8 and 10 year old lads. Previously has Isla bikes but I’m not keen on the 20″ plus models.

Specialised Hot Rock look ok, as do the Canyon models, any others I should think about?

I guess we are looking for a 20″ and 24″ model, tough as the kids are kids and either with usable and light suspension forks or fully rigid.

Thanks

Whyte, Orbea, or get an xs frame, eg a cube attention or a commencal do a 26er or 27.5 homebuild. ( Last option for your 10yr old probably)

any 24 inch wheeled mountain bike will do

It’s not about money, my kids have two of these each

https://www.evanscycles.com/trek-fuel-ex-jnr-2017-kids-bike-EV286613?esvt=54362-GOUKE2243596&esvq=&esvadt=999999-0-1215458-1&esvcrea=183877385026&esvplace=&esvd=m&esvtg=pla-302088628253&esvo=EV286613-26-BLK&esvaid=50080&gclid=CjwKEAjwse7JBRCJ576SqoD7lCkSJABF-bKuF0XXO3zog5FiDlv0PsWAPfmn_wUIm8sMLVmnm4hwHhoCobfw_wcB

Actually you could try the Raleigh performance range or the Scott Jnr. But I suspect you’ll come back to the Isla

Since you’re posting on STW not Mumsnet it would probably help to give the intended use(s) for the bikes.

As a guide my 7 yr old was on a 24er a few months before his 7th birthday (at a small stretch) and is currently 130cm and slap bang in the middle for size.

There is on the face of it little to choose between frames for weight.
Geometry can differ quite a bit.

You have 2 (or 3) basic choices … that overlap.
1) Cassette or freewheel
2) Disc brakes or not
3) Working suspension (or rigid)

Depending on height and “outer leg” the 8yr old will most likely greatly benefit from shorter cranks than are available on most budget bikes … that said you can buy and modify cranks or buy shorter cranks separately.

If you want to ride single track with your kids (and you’re reasonably fit) it’s not the same bike as something for them to knock about on.

One note on rigid vs suspension, this really depends on the riding you do. My boy (8yo) does a lot of robust singletrack riding and I think it would be a little cruel to deprive him of his suspension forks at this stage. If your riding is more typical of this age range (canals, sustrans routes, that sort of thing) then a rigid bike is probably completely fine, lighter and way, way cheaper too.

I can’t help you with your choice, but my boy’s main bike for offroading is a Creig 24 and it’s been superb (even if the stock Avid brakes are bloody terrible). He’s really happy with it and I can highly recommend it, if you can stomach the stiff initial purchase price. On the other hand, look after it and you’ll see most of it again when you sell the thing later down the line…

jonnyboi – Member
It’s not about money, my kids have two of these each

https://www.evanscycles.com/trek-fuel-ex-jnr-2017-kids-bike-EV286613?esvt=54362-GOUKE

I’ve read that a few times, but still can’t work out what you mean.

What do you mean?

Saracen mantra 24 is pretty cool and well specced.

I’ve read that a few times, but still can’t work out what you mean.

What do you mean?

I think he has four of them

On the ‘money ‘ note, I agree, but for my the lightness of the Islabikes and the fitting of the components really made the difference in my kids being confident and mobile on their bikes rather than struggling with a heavy old gate. I’ll check out the recommendations, but gears and suspension are likely a need as we’re in Spain and the hills are real and lumpy 🙂

Creig 24 Pro is it then 🙂

One other “off the wall” idea – have you looked at the Hope Academy bikes? Look lovely and not insanely priced, albeit on a rental (i.e. pay monthly) model.

Edit: Oh, damn. They’ve sold their entire 2017 allocation already! Wow!

Depends on how heavy the kids are really, may be a rigid bike with fat tyres might be an option, if they are not heavy enough to make the suspension work.

Re the Trek and Creig 24…

The Trek is pretty good, wouldn’t fancy one for RRP, but with a decent deal it’s worth consideration. Vey heavy, and surprisingly narrow bars though (13.5kg)

Creig 24 is pretty good, but the stock tyres are way too narrow.

My lad is having a ball on Saracen Mantra 24. Disc brakes are a godsend for him on uplifts… he can do a full run without stopping now, do. Brakes killed his hands. Wee air forks and 1×9 too

Creig 24 is pretty good, but the stock tyres are way too narrow.

Stock on ours was Conti Explorer 1.75s. Seem well in proportion to the rest of the bike.

Remember that fat tyres are draggy tyres and for kids (especially younger ones) you really want to do everything you can to optimise their energy – light bikes, low drag groupsets and fast rolling tyres. Obviously, it’s all a compromise, but I would say that the 1.75s aren’t a million miles off.

That said, the Explorers aren’t the lightest tyre, so you could always change it anyway 🙂

I should quantify, I meant ‘money’ is relative but I’m not spending £1.5k

Stock on ours was Conti Explorer 1.75s. Seem well in proportion to the rest of the bike.

Yep, they’re in proportion…. but they’re completely useless for decent mountain biking. Ours has got the 1.75 Contis as well and they just skid and slide all over the place.

Wean one could never do the switchback climb at ‘degla on his Creig. The first day he tried it on the Trek linked above he sailed straight up it. Fair enough the wheel size probably helped but the main difference was the biggish fattish grippy tyres on the Trek (even though it was about 4kg heavier than the Creig.

Similar experience on TNF, Saalbach, Ochsenkopf, Whinlatter, Hamsters; Dragon’s Back, MBR, Red Bull etc

The skinnies are great for fire road or grass, but too skinny on tech rocky routes IMHO

Yep, they’re in proportion…. but they’re completely useless for decent mountain biking. Ours has got the 1.75 Contis as well and they just skid and slide all over the place.

IME, “completely useless” is somewhat of an exaggeration, but there are definitely lighter and better (and more expensive!) tyres out there should you wish.

I just wouldn’t rule out an entire bike just because you don’t like the factory rubber…tyres you can easily change, but a bike with a heavy frame will always be a heavy bike.

I just wouldn’t rule out an entire bike just because you don’t like the factory rubber…

<<<edited>>>
I don’t think I did rule it out…
I just said the stock tyres are way too narrow.

Not a major problem as you say. We’ll replace ours before the alps trip this year.

Acyually you’re right. The “but” implied that the tyres were a showstopper. They’re not.

My 7 year old is very pleased with his Hoy Bonaloy 24″ and doesn’t find the lack of suspension a problem at Swinley and on the local Gorrick trails.

The Frog bikes are well worth looking at and maybe even the Wiggins bikes in Halfrauds………………..

You’re in Spain?
Orbea it is then. Readily available from most Lbs.

One note on rigid vs suspension, this really depends on the riding you do. My boy (8yo) does a lot of robust singletrack riding and I think it would be a little cruel to deprive him of his suspension forks at this stage. If your riding

The important thing for suspension really is what does the OP ride….

Same with brakes….
Same with tyres…..

Where and what you ride really determines what is sensible for the kids if the idea is to be able to go out and ride with them…

My daughter loves her Orbea MX trail 24. 10 speed, air forks that work and it’s not heavy.
Really good little bike, should be cheaper in Spain too!

lister – Member
My daughter loves her Orbea MX trail 24. 10 speed, air forks that work and it’s not heavy.
Really good little bike, should be cheaper in Spain too!

POSTED 2 DAYS AGO # REPORT-POST

They look good, is it the MX 24 Dirt? If so whats the weight as the website isn’t clear?

It’s the Trail version. I haven’t weighed it but it didn’t feel ‘much’ heavier than the Beinn 24 it replaced.*
The only thing I’ve done is replace the chainring with a small NW one and removed the outer chain guard.
Gearing is still a little high but better now.

*it obviously is heavier but my daughter hasn’t mentioned it and the fast rolling tyres and suspension forks have made her feel faster…which is what is important! 🙂

maybe have a check on the sizing. Many 10 yr olds at our kids bike club are on 26/27.5 wheels with small frames. My youngest went onto a small framed Genesis Core 20 (27.5) on his 10th birthday last year.

+1 on sizing…. my kids been on a 24 since 6 1/2 (he’s probably a bit taller than average but not astoundingly so) (what-ever average means at that age… )

I can’t see him still on a 24″ HT at 10…

There is a XS 26″ on pinkbike at the moment (albit FS Giant Trance)
https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/2195775/ for £375 …. just wish my 7yr old was big enough or I’d have bought it! (I’d considered actually buying it anyway and leaving it at Grandmas for a couple of years)

If so whats the weight

Unless you are really into riding stock from experience I’d say it’s more important WHERE the weight is. (Taking from your question you are concerned about weight)

Just for reference, last night I swapped 24″ wheels out on a used bike I just bought. (Also changed the crank and took off a chain retainer but that was minor weight saving) and the bike dropped 1800g overall… at least 1600g of it must have been wheels… (I didn’t weigh separately)

Typically (haven’t looked in detail at Orbea) price points are hit by sticking in cheap components that can be upgraded… the trick is (IMHO) to find the bike with the best value to upgrade.

I’ve got figures somewhere but my kids Cannondale 24 lost an amazing amount of weight in bars, stem, saddle, seatpost (all of which were replaced for less than £50-£60 in total)

The stuff I took off was really terrible…. (the £15 saddle was 1/3rd the weight for example) We paid £35 for pedals one of the more expensive items but 1/4 of the weight… and we had to change cranks anyway as it came with 152’s…

Wheels were the big item but we only paid £250 for the frame and forks ..and I was always going to change those anyway.

from experience, it’s important to remember, you’ll need the shock and forks revalved to work for little peoples lighter weight.

I have three XS Giant trance bikes, running 24″ wheels in them for my boys. Without having TF sort the forks/shocks they were next to useless as suspension. Now, they’re really effective and help the boys on rough/roots etc:

from experience, it’s important to remember, you’ll need the shock and forks revalved to work for little peoples lighter weight.

The RST F1rsts are already built for kids weights…. you’d probably need to re-valve to get them to work for an adult but good point on using adult forks! (I’ve always had to lock them)

Do you have any recommendations for changing the valves?? (e.g. Who)

I just got an “Enduro bike” (Norco 4.2) for the kid and a little surprisingly the stock fork and shock both work (adult ones)… so I guess Norco must replace the valves before shipping? (I’m guessing the seller would have put this in the ad had they done it as I was expecting to have to do it and pay anyway..but thought I’d wait until I’d got some new forks.)

The fork however is fairly heavy so looking to replace it with a REBA or SID .. but then expect to need to have the valve changed… and if I buy used then combine with a service?

My 8 yo has a 24″ Hoy Bonaly and we’re both really impressed. I’m jealous of the (stock) Small Block 8s he has on there.

I only wish I could persuade him to stand up on the rough stuff instead of being bounced out of the saddle 😆

The fork however is fairly heavy so looking to replace it with a REBA or SID .. but then expect to need to have the valve changed… and if I buy used then combine with a service?

Yes, i have SID 100mm forks on my three. They are very light and active and do a great job now they’ve been serviced. They are pretty stiff too, as my eldest only weighs 40kgs.

bougt the fork for #120 in mint condition, paid 100 for the custom tune @ TFTuned.

cheers lardman….

(Did you decide on the dual air specifically ???)

well, as a big ‘biffa’ who only runs, or knows anything about, coil forks……. I just got whatever i could find in good nick. So, dual air? maybe. not sure. They’re light tho’