Bike options for an 8 year old

I got my little girl a Cannondale Quick 24:
https://www.cannondale.com/en-gb/bikes/kids/7-to-12/kids-quick-7-to-12/kids-quick-24

She loves it, its light, doesn't have massively wide (heavy) tyres. Quality seems good, the only thing I grumble about is setting up v brakes.

Previously we brought Pinnacle (Evans own brand) which also were great quality, seemed equal to Frog, etc, but at a very good price point. Evans also had the advantage that you could pay with Tesco club card points (might be relevant to you)

I've got both of my kids Vitus Nucleus's. 24" for the 7 year old and a 27.5" XS woman's one for 11 year old daughter. Great bikes, definitely recommend.

K

Those Vitus look like good value for more off-road than the average kids bike. Good option

The Cannondale seems similar to other big brands kids 24 bikes like the Trek I was looking at. I guess main deciding factors are price, shifter type and if the little one likes the look of it???

We've had bikes for our two boys ranging from 14" to 26," taking in all the sizes along the way. We've had Specialized, Islabikes, Saracen, Vitus, Commencal, NS and Nukeproof, all of which got plenty of use.

Based on my experience of all the above and weighing up quality and value, it is very hard to look past Vitus now. Even at full price they are really well thought out bikes in terms of geo and kit. Given they are often discounted, seals the deal for me.

I bought Wild Bikes for my boy. Good value and light.

I used to buy Isla but for the riding boys do the Wild is fine.

Same boat here, got a Isla Bike Beinn 26". It's just so nice, simple and light. The narrow diameter bars, grips, brakes and shifter are very well deisgned for smaller hands vs lots of other which use adult components.

I did look at the Vitus - they look brilliant but wanted something really light that could turn it's hand to any kind of riding.

Came here to recommend the Vitus bikes as already mentioned.

Ours progressed from Islabikes Cnoc16 > Beinn 20 > Vitus Nucleus 24 > Vitus Nucleus 26. My 8yr old's already a giant at 146cm and 10yr old 150cm, both on the Nucleus 26 at the moment. Great bikes and much more off-roady than the Islabikes (but much heavier too). Dropper posts are the next addition for us.

Edit. Ignore me.

I’d recommend Early Rider bikes. They always seem lighter than their Frog and Islabike opposite numbers.

I have an Islabike Beinn 24 that needa a new home. Message me if you want more info.

Early Rider only if money no object!

Have a look at the Pyeauctions website for the Forme bikes that are currently being sold off - there might be the chance of a bargain, so long as you are happy with the lack of warranty/support that (presumably) goes with buying from an auction.

24 & 26" options on there at the moment.

PyeAuctionsForme

We have a Hoy Bonaly 24" and a 20".

Got them 2nd hand for IIRC about £120-30 each (Ebay & Gumtree). It's really good and much cheaper than Islabikes or Frog.

There's a Commencal 24 just appeared in the classifieds...  or the Cannondale Cujo 24 is also awesome.

If you're interested, I have a Vitus Nucleus 24" for sale. 2021 in Grey and in excellent condition.

My son's now outgrown it. He had the 20" version too, brilliant bikes.

from experience with my own daughter (just onto a Whyte 303) and from coaching kids at Go-Ride is that 24" wheel bikes seems to pose a real issue, manly the big differences in bottom bracket height/drop.

Frog are the worse for this with little/no drop (Frog really aren't worth the premium now with all the other options). Why is this an issue, well means to get a saddle height where they can still get a toe on the ground, results in a very poor saddle height for pedaling, Raise the saddle for better pedaling means feet far from the ground.

Cannondale's have the biggest drop which helps with this issue:

currently on offer:

Kids Cujo 24 Plus | 7 to 12 Bikes | Cannondale

current version:

Kids Trail Plus 24 | 7 to 13 Bikes | Cannondale

having seen riders ride a 24" Frog and then 24" Cannondale and other bikes with more drop makes a really clear difference for the better - plus they learn quickly about pedal strikes!

though must be said kids are pretty adaptable - Vitus 24+ is amazing value and lovely little bikes with a great spec

Hoy Bonaly 24 are great, also got ours s/h in excellent condition

Got an Orbea MX24 for sale if you are interested.

from experience with my own daughter (just onto a Whyte 303) and from coaching kids at Go-Ride is that 24″ wheel bikes seems to pose a real issue, manly the big differences in bottom bracket height/drop.

That is an interesting point and our daughter does struggle a bit with this even on the Frog 20.

The Trek she has her eye on is 2mm less BB drop than the Cannondale so very close.

Thanks everyone for the great suggestions and extra things to think about.

Thank you too for the SH offers- in this case this would be for a special occasion and her first "new" bike so I'm aiming for good value but new. I think the Trek still looks a good option but I'll give everything else another look over

There was a test on here a bit ago of something similar.

https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/trek-roscoe-24-review-great-little-trail-bike/

The roscoe is more of a fat bike, but read the comments carefully. I still think the cannondale is a much better option.

Squish are usually a bit cheaper than Frog. Also a little bit shorter top tube. My son was fin on the Frog 62 but I had to change the seat post to an in-line one fro my daughter as she has a shorter back relative to leg length. Our 26 inch wheel Squish is about the same length as the 24 inch wheel Frog bit a leg size bigger.

Frog do tend to be longer than most, this is generally not a good thing. Personally I think Frogs are overrated on price and thought given to their design (and saying as having bought quite a few) lots of better options out there.

Just collected a s/h Orbea MX24 and it’s a good looking thing. Most importantly - Pick the one the colour that your daughter loves!

It’s my sons 7th birthday on Sunday and there is a new Vitus 24+ in the garage for him (well, 2 actually but that’s another story) because it seems to be the best trade off in spec, weight and BB drop. He’s 1.4m tall and his sister has a Wild 24 that he still doesn’t look hugely confident on - maybe it’s a little long - will report back on how a kid his size suits it once he’s been on it.

PS, get the colour they want too!

Just done this. My eldest isn't yet grown out of her 20" vitus but soon will be, or younger sister will out grow the 16" early rider and force the move up even sooner so I've just researched and bought.
Vitus good, cannondale looked good, but I ended up with a cuda trace. A good bit cheaper, decent spec and impressively light (although it comes with narrowish tyres so fit some wide off road tyres and it'll be a bit heavier)
She's done nothing more than see and sit on it as her vitus is still just OK, but I'm very pleased, it should do my 2 kids well I hope.

I got a Carrera something or other off the classifieds for my daughter when she outgrew her MX20. Just a bare frame so can be built up to however she pleases.

Carrera Luna or something like that?
Here's my build thread and there are several more on here

https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/another-girls-bike-project-7-year-old-content/

Its my sons 8th birthday on sunday too, he also has a vitus (not the + one, the one with a suspension fork) waiting for him

Spec wise nothing else came close when I was researching

Its a bit heavier than his frog55, but I'm so looking forward to him getting it !!!

Number 2 is made up with his Vitus 24+. He’s 139cm talk and I’m not sure I’d put anyone much smaller on it - as pointed out earlier the BB isn’t as low as the cannondale Cujo or the Whyte but he’s just about comfortable on it. Saddle at riding height he can tip the bike over to get on and off and when he’s on it and going it looks great.
Forks look suspension corrected so can always upgrade at a later time.