The boy has outgrown his 20" wheel Scott Scale, so he needs a bigger 24" wheeled bike. We like the look of the Kona Stinky 24 but not the price tag, plus it comes with coil suspension and big heavy tyres.
I had the idea that I could get a small suspension frame, maybe little Turner, Kona or Giant 14" and fit some 24" wheels. I'm worried about bb height, he will be using 165mm cranks... has anyone done something similar to this and how did the bike handle?
Oh and if anyone has an old Turner 5spot lying about in XS... emails in my profile.
You will be dropping the bb 25mm but only shortening the cranks by 5mm so clearance may be an issue .I would have thought a child of 8? should /could use shorter cranks say 150 or 155 that would pull another 10/15mm back and then you are only talking 5 or 10mm less ground clearance.
I used to have a 14" Blunt aluminium frame that I had 24" wheels on. Was a reet little hooligan - had no issues with the lower bottom bracket & 175mm cranks, but that might've had something to do with the maahoosive tyres on it as well... So probably not much help there!
Used 24" wheels on a DMR Sidekick years ago - fine with 80mm Rock Shox Pilots but with 24" BMX forks fitted pedalling around corners was not an option (I too run 165s). As said above, on a frame designed solely for 26" wheels, bottom bracket height may be a problem unless you run even shorter cranks. The Stinky 24 is an absolute blast though but weighs a ton.
I have a Norco B Line for sale, looking for about £375 posted. Spec is Manitou Nixons, Van R with 300 and 450 spring, Hayes Soles, barely used transmission w/ double and bash, DMR DeeVee on Atomlab GI hubs, A few tyres; 3 Swamp things, 3 Panaracer Fire FR, 1 Halo Choir Boy, some tubes, spare mech hanger, any other spares I can find.
Good little DH/FR bike for small people (I'm 5'1") but not an xc cruiser! I took it to the alps, has been to Cwm Carn etc.
See the Bikeradar review here http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/b-line-jr-2006-12849
If you want pics or more info let me know: tompeterhughes at hotmail dot com
Tempted Tom... yhm
It'll certainly keep him fit riding that up the hills!
We've spoke about the differences between downhill bikes and XC bikes and he definately wants a bike thats more DH orientated, I have 165mm cranks lying around so they can go on whatever I build or buy him, shorter cranks seem a bit thin on the ground, his current mtb has 140's and his road bike has 150's. Ideally I would fit some 155's but I havent come across any yet, apart from BMX cranks which wont take a granny ring.
Just spotted a Stinky on eBay too, although at £699 starting price it seems a bit expensive considering I can get last years model brand new for the same price.
you can get crank shorteners but they are 'kin expensive
My son has the B-Line also, and he's got friends with the Stinky 24.
My middle son, and the little ones' bike.
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Neither is an XC bike, but as long as its a granny he will be able to winch up anything - my son has done both the red and black at Glentress, with me only having to push it a bit.
But, be warned these are not light bikes. His came with Swampthings and DH tubes, the tubes weighed 500g - altogether 38lbs - its now at 33lbs...
I'd have no hesitation in recommending the B-Line, but also take a look at a Trek MT220, maybe a better step-up from a 20" - he's still got this an uses it day-to-day.
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He also has a Dr Jekyll running 24" wheels, about 5lbs lighter than the B-Line, and uses it for fun, 4X and jumping.
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