The orbea 24 has been a great bike but its looking a little smallnow for my soon to be 10yr old.
What are the forum thoughts on next wheel size given hes only going on a 14inch frame? Recommendations and/or experience welcome.
Happy to build from frame too if any ideas? Thinking lightweight hardtail rsther than full sus at this time.
what ever fits him
I'd go 26 if you want it to fit properly, after all we were all mostly comfortable on 26" bikes for a long time. I'd only do 27.5 if you want to save hassle and money and do the "must push to the next thing" thing.
I'm currently building a small 26" for my 11 year old as he's starting to look a bit big for his 24". I'd rather he was on a bike some would consider a bit small than something he can't control because I want him to get left behind in the pushy parent arms race. I understand people may have different priorities.
Depends on his size. My oldest went on to a 27.5 xs and hasn’t looked back. Definitely wasn’t worth finding a 26”. At that age they grow out of things so quickly anyway.
Oh, and that definitely wasn’t me being pushy. He sat on a bike in a shop which I was expecting to be way too big and it was spot on.
It was a relief when my 2 could fit 650b wheels for the simple reason that tyres for 26" can be hard to find and expensive, especially tubeless.
Depends on size / fit and what's in stock. My lad was on a medium 27.5" Saracen at 10. He's tall though - that had changed to a large Bird AM9 when he was 12.
There's not a lot of difference between a bike with a 27.5" or a 26" wheel really.
Blimey, he must be big with the reach on a bird as well!
Straight to Xs 27.5 for my nine year old. Have made a 26 inch rear wheel to mullet it to improve standover (along with reducing the fork travel). However she is over 140cm in height.
Our daughter is on an XS 26" hardtail with 24" wheels on it at the moment. that'll eventually get bigger wheels & be the "school bike" for the foreseeable.
She did 3x blue Doon on Sunday, we are heading for Glentress reds this weekend (age 7), so deserves a FS for days out.
Lots of kids going straight to 27.5" now, however I recon their are some bargain 26" bits out there so that'll probably be the next step.