Forum menu
Daughter has ridden a Beinn 24 for a nearly a year now, having handed the Beinn 20 to her brother.
But I have finally come to accept that it doesn't fit her.
Even looking at the bar/seat heights for correct leg extension it looks weird. A new 40mm stem didn't do much.
Anyone else had fit issues on the Beinn 24?
https://images.app.goo.gl/kSKhrnBzT7c6msUUA
Not hers but example image showing how high the front end is.
I guess it's "optimised" to fit fairly well for a big range of heights ( or not really optimised, more compromised) rather than optimised for a particular height...
Inevitable really. Given the target market. Just imagine that you had to buy yourself a bike knowing that you'd grow 4 inches during that period.
Different stem maybe?
I picked up a 24 recently (secondhand but mint) and it came with a spare stem (longer and higher)
Shorter flat stem didn't solve it. I think the transition from 20-24 is the trickiest for kids, and beyond 20 inch there are better options than Islabikes.
Luckily I had a spare Ridgeback mx20 for her to ride (after the inevitable dad upgrades) that fits perfectly. Strange long frame on it.
There are definitely some good options in a 24in bike. I went with Islabikes though because the most comparable Frog bike, as an example, is apparently a kilo heavier. Light is right and all that, plus prices are pretty stable
My boy has just moved from a Beinn 20 to a Creig 24 without any issue - not sure if Beinn/Creig geometry is much different.
So if she fits an MX 20, maybe she wasn't actually big enough for the 24" Islabike? Reach / arm length is a big thing in addition to inside leg and height - all three measurements determine if a bike will fit or not.
The front end is only high relative to the fully slammed saddle - many kids bikes (especially with front suspension) are far worse. e.g. she would be years away from even reaching the pedals or floor on a 24" Carrera Luna.
It is already a short rigid fork and short head tube - there are physical limitations to how low you can actually make something around a 24" wheel. That one in the photo is also a bit misleading as there are stem spacers that could be repositioned. Do they still not make two sizes Beinn 20 to cater for this very issue, as some kids just aren't ready for the jump to 24" (even if their inside leg suggests it might be possible)?
Riser bars flipped upside down would gain you another inch or two. There are various stems with around 35 degree angle, but they'll not gain a great deal of drop as you'll also be needing a short length.
Please don't assume I'm an Islabikes fanatic - we had a 1st gen 20" and 24" before moving onto other options. I designed and made a couple of 26" kids frames after that (from scratch out of steel tubes) so appreciate more than most what goes into trying to make things fit.
If the saddle is set fully inserted that would suggest the bike is too big - looking at that photo the crank looks halfway up the seatpost height, even if it was a third that would be like me running 25cm cranks (I don't).
Another indicator is knee at top, is angle dropping less than 90 degrees? Again that suggests moving up too early.
Plenty talk about minimum saddle heights on kids bikes but you wouldn't do the same for an adult if you could help it.
I think Isalbikes have more trad MTB geom, like 80's 90 style, Isla was an XC whippet so I think that's the influence.
I'd recommend Whyte 303 as decent 24" option. My son is fast growing out of it, not sure where to go next. Their 26" bike (403/405) isn't massively bigger, so I'm wondering about skipping 26 and going straight to 27.5? All a bit academic at present of course.... last time I looked there were very few new bikes available, although a steady stream of second hand ones on ebay, at new prices!
I’d recommend Whyte 303 as decent 24″ option. My son is fast growing out of
Sounds like a stealth ad. I'd recommend this bike too, a mate had one and his girl loved it.
Not a fan of either Isla or Frog 24’s if you actually want to do MTB / mess around / jumps etc.
Something like the Trek Roscoe 24 seems more aimed at fun than the XC / tarmac / gravel of the usual suspects that are great first bikes.
@paul0 I'm interested. Mesaage me if you want to discuss selling.
Her seat isn't fully inserted, leg extension is correct. Just the reach seems too far. She is long legged I guess.
In line seatpost maybe. If you’ve shortened the stem you need to bring the saddle forward for balance and the seat angle isn’t that steep as standard I think.
@csb Sorry! It wasn’t a stealth-add, poor wording on my part , not selling just yet.