Issue 145 Bike Test – Mountain Bikes For Kids

Sorry to say this but I wouldn’t choose any of these bikes as proper mtb for my kids.
Being father of two I almost look for a new mtb every 2 years and have learned a few things, specially riding with them during the last 5 years.
It’s a good start looking for manufacturers who only make bikes for kids but Frog and Isla Bikes only make good city bikes.
Early Rider make good bikes but I never choose a rigid bike for mountain biking. Have you ever rode a rigid bike down a techy trail?
Also at the price range of Early Rider bikes, you can find better options from their competitors out side the UK

If you’re listening Frog Bikes, great bike, but change the tyres and fit a shorter stem please

Also in line post. Its a great bike in many ways, although the fork seals leave alot to be desired, but can be swapped out for relatively small beans. For anyone thinking of upgrading their Frog 62 MTB for even more off road capability I would recommend (Probably before its ridden, and especially if the child is only just sized onto it)

30-40mm stem
2.3 tyre up front
2.1 tyre out back – Im using Smart Sams for both as a good balance on trail centre/paths but you may want more/less tread option.
Inline post. At least to start, you can save the lay back post for later
You can also reverse the cable routing to save it from cable rub too, but that will mean expertise with hydraulic brakes.
You also need to set the brakes up for small hands

Id also swap the bars out to an SDG or Answer junior set to get the thinner grips, but now you’re talking lots more money. Before anyone says why not buy something different if you spend that extra; all the above bikes and in fact pretty much every kids bike would get the same treatment – bar/grip widths are crazy on kids bikes.

I think Nukeproof deserves a mention. Bought my son a Cub Scout 24 Race recently and on our first ride on local off piste trails (the easier ones, so plenty roots and stuff but not too steep) I just had the giggles for an hour or more. I couldn’t believe his speed even on the first trail, how much fun he was having and just how he seemed to be riding a hardtail like an adult on a trail hardtail, the back wheel skipping over stuff and the fork properly working. I was gobsmacked.

I was a suspension fork skeptic on kids bikes and I think we were right to go rigid thus far but the fork is really working now. I thought I’d want to replace the back tyre (DHF) with something faster but he needs all the braking grip he can get. And the Clarks brakes can be adjusted to work really nicely with little hands.

It’s well worth considering alongside the Islabikes Creig 24 if your trails suit losing a bit of the lightness for some more capability. Or if you’re happy with some weight penalty for price compromise vs the amazing looking Early Rider Hellion 24.

back a few years ago instead of new fitted wardrobes we bought 4x mtb’s for the family after a few years away from the sport and sold all the mtb bikes off.

So the kids, were 8 year old twins who had had a range of rigid mtb’s since they both could walk.

One son is much taller then the other, so we bought a new Whyte 403 for tall son and a Frog 62 for not so tall. I have to say (not being religious) that god gave me something back. We did loads the first year, Surrey Hills, Swinley, Afan etc.

What I learnt. The Frog was just not up to the job, geometry, gear range and the forks. Sorry to say.

The Whyte was much better, gears still not quite there and still a bad fork, and quite heavy.

Fast forward a year and soon as I could fit them onto, I bought one and then a second used Orange Zest 26. They have been amazing! 11 speed proper Sram gears and a big range, RS fork, Sram brakes etc etc. I paid £500 for each and actually made money on the Whyte when I sold it in lockdown (guy was over the moon, I was embarrassed on the price).

Be careful what you buy and your expectations.

This year we have done Bike Park Wales, and two weeks in LenzerHeide. Amazing year

…other 24″ bikes worth considering, purely hardtails as not sure full suspension is needed at this age, Vitus Nucleus, Commencal Meta, Nukeproof Cub Scout…

Don’t automatically discount the value of a good FS for younger kids, depending on the riding they do, it can give them more grip and comfort. My daughters Hellion was very agile, a bit better at climbing and “easier” for her to jump; the FS Process is much more pleasant, stable and less tiring on fast descents, as well being much better at soaking up drops, bigger jumps and hitting surprise roots and rocks. Obviously in the perfect world, she would have a FS and a hardtail. 🙂

Just purchased a Vitus 24+ for my son. Really well made bit of kit and the plus tyres with rigid fork is a great combination. Recommended on here and a bargain at the price paid

There he is

My son is absolutely loving his Hope Academy 16” bike. Got it last week and he’s absolutely flying. Luckily his twin sister is an inch shorter so she can have his Frog 40 for a few months and weMll sell her Islabike CNOC 14s.

I get quite jealous of people who can buy one expensive bike and hand it down through several kids to get the full value of the bike.

For us the Hope Academy means we won’t have to fork out for 2 decent bikes upfront at the same time.

He’s currently flying around the pump tracks in Bristol (and Mountain View Bike Park near Cardiff) and it’s lighter than the smaller Frog (which we preferred to the Islabike).