Bit of background - MiniMonkey is tall for her age. She's six and a half and 130 cm. She's currently riding a 20" Vitus at places like Sherwood Pines (she'll happily ride the full Green, and some Blue sections). The Vitus is starting to look a bit like a clown bike, and she's getting bounced around on anything vaguely rough on the tiny wheels.
So, I want to upgrade to a 24" for her birthday in February. She's in the height range for some of the ones I've looked at already.
Must haves:
- Trigger shifter (who thought twist grips were a good idea?)
- Decent brakes - she struggles a bit with the rim brakes on longer bumpy descents, so I think probably discs
- Reasonable weight
Things on the radar include:
- Merida Matts J.24
- Orbea MX24 (disc version)
- Vitus 24+
What else should I be looking for? Second hand ideally, she'll be grown out of it in a year or so...
Depends on how much you are happy to put into it £ wise, I have tended (and I realise I am fortunate to be able to do this!) towards more expensive options that I could then sell afterwards for a minimal loss, sometimes I’ve broken even (Hellion!) and sometimes I’ve made a bit of a loss, but nothing big…
We had the normal starter bikes but once we switched to the Early Rider Hellion 20, it changed the game, mountain biking became a serious passion and as a family its hard to overstate the ridiculous number of golden hours we’ve had biking. After the Early Rider we went onto the Kona Process 24 FS, and now (at 12 and 146cm) a Canyon Neuron Young Hero and Merida e-one-sixty. If you want a 24 now and not FS, maybe consider a Hellion 24? Excellent bikes. If you can get one in a sale then resale should be pretty solid, so worth checking used values, although they are hard to find… any will benefit from a kids dropper if they don’t have it! Lots of fun times ahead, my daughter gets home from school nowadays, grotty and dark outside, and she just wants to chuck lights on and go and hit some jumps! 🙂
Pics, Hellion to Kona to Neuron!
Yeah we've seen a massive improvement since we got the Vitus 20, not quite the same level as the Hellion but it's well-specced and not too heavy.
Don't mind spending a bit BUT she'll also be riding it to school and leaving it locked up there in the rain so I'm loathe to get anything *too* nice (and we're running out of space just to have a crappy school bike!).
I was eyeing up a lovely Hellion X (the FS version) on Pinkbike but I don't think she's at that level yet. Maybe in a couple of years...
The orbea MX24 disc is good, youngest is still on hers at 136cm, though the stock cranks are a bit on the long side. We have a 127mm fitted instead. I also shortened the reach with a 35mm stem and narrower flat bars.
Second hand Orange Zest. My three have all or are progressing through the Zest 24 and 26s we have. The 24 is a gorgeous little bike with great brakes, sram 11spd and nice junior fork that isn't too heavy. Kids-specific dropper is so sweet. An immensely confidence inspiring step up from an islabike.
Good to hear some decent feedback from the Orbea! I'd not seen that Orange before, it's added to the search list...
Yeah we've seen a massive improvement since we got the Vitus 20, not quite the same level as the Hellion but it's well-specced and not too heavy.
Don't mind spending a bit BUT she'll also be riding it to school and leaving it locked up there in the rain so I'm loathe to get anything *too* nice (and we're running out of space just to have a crappy school bike!).
I was eyeing up a lovely Hellion X (the FS version) on Pinkbike but I don't think she's at that level yet. Maybe in a couple of years...
Ahhh the left at school in the rain is a thought, we were lucky, we had undercover areas to leave her bike at school! The Hellion X looks awesome…
Was going to suggest my daughters old MX24 but it doesn't have the disks. Does have the pink SDG kit on it though so it's pretty cool.
The big tyred 24's gives loads of confidence, so you're definitely onto the right thing. We had a Commencal Ramones 24, friends had a Cannondale Cujo 24 which I think was a bit better as had a lower bottom bracket (the 20" we had was amazing).
They're both a lot like the MX24, but good to have options if you're hunting second hand.
My daughter's both used a mx24 and it was a great bike although the eldest did notice the my 26" wheels were way lighter than hers. We got the one with the air fork but it was a bugger to set up as they are so light. It also weighed quite a bit but I've nothing to compare it to so don't know if that's all 24" bikes or not.
Cub scout 24 are great. Seem to be commanding strong money second hand though.
Hope academy, then when she grows out of it you get the next size up via hope academy. Easy peasy.
Orbea also do a 24" Laufey which gets 10 speed and hydraulic discs on the base model. Found one second hand at similar prices to MX24's. Didn't have suspension as it's the base model but picked up some second hand 26" SID to go on at some point (and will transfer to the next bike). If I can drop the travel 20mm it will have the same axle to crown.
The Merida Matts was on my search list as good spec, often undervalued as a lesser known brand. Also Whyte 302 / 303 and Cannondale Cujo.
My son had an Orbea MX24 and it totally transformed both his attitude to bikes and actual riding.
We got the rigid one secondhand, and I fitted an old 26" RS dual air fork, spaced down to about 80mm travel and with a lot of pressure in the negative. Rebuilt the front wheel onto a disc hub and ran a cable disc Awesome bike, and not too pricey all in.
We have a Cube 240 Acid and Scott Roxster 24 at our house, both bought secondhand and both great little things. Spec wise the Cube looks better with suss forks and hydraulic brakes but actually it's the Scott that is the go to for my son and the one all his mates think is cool! The chunky tyres make up for the suss and for my two the cable discs are as good as hydraulic. Both do a great job though.
I wouldn't get hung up on the shifter as changing to Shimano trigger is about £20. I did that with the Roxster.
Stealth ad alert, I might be selling the Cube if interested or my mate has a lovely Liv Tempt for sale (via me) that although it's 27.5 my daughter, who's not much taller than yours can ride. It's up on eBay atm but open to offers. Trying to decide which one to keep for her.
We've got on well with the Hoy Bonaly range, no suspension but for light riders I question the benefit anyway. They're very light, don't look too flashy, hydraulic disk brakes. Youngest Natrix has recently won two xc mtb races on hers, so they're nimble bikes.
Just added the Liv to the classified on here if you want to check it out?
Some good food for though there and I've added some stuff to the saved searches...
Cheers for the offer @Speeder but I think we're pretty set on discs - she struggles a bit with speed management on descents and I think a bit more power might help.
Off for a look now @chestrockwell, I'd kinda written off anything bigger than 24 but who knows...
My daughter is a touch bigger than yours and can ride it but it's certainly on the cusp of being a bit big and my girl prefers her scooter tbh which is the reason I have not bought it off my pal.
Let me know if you are interested mate as someone else is after it.
I think it's gonna be too big (or at least a bit of a size risk) so if someone else is after it go for it! Cheers for the offer though, s'much appreciated.
My eldest is on a virus 20+ and loves it. He is a champion at not listening and stubborn so I've kinda given up for the time being on teaching gears.... It may as well be a 2 speed cassette.
I have an early rider seeker 24 in bits in the garage for his Christmas I got second hand in market place then I've overhauled all the bearings. He loves building stuff and figuring out how things work so I figured it could be a good father son task to build it together, or it could be a stressful hateful time.
I think it's gonna be too big (or at least a bit of a size risk) so if someone else is after it go for it! Cheers for the offer though, s'much appreciated.
No problem mate.
Our MX 24 disc might be for sale. Need to check daughter on the Vitus 26 we have waiting for her but as she has just upgraded to 700c on a CX bike I think the 24 maybe too small now 😂.
Might well be interested @nixie - let me know if it does come up for sale
Will do. I've got the bigger bike out to try for size so we shall see :D.
Thanks for the Laufey recommendation @timber, you've just cost me £400 🤣
I have a Genesis Core 24 looking for a new owner.
Ususal scuff and scrapes of a kids bike but with a couple of upogrades too. (Trigger shifter, seat, possibly bars but I forget)
Located in Sheffield.
Looks like (but isnt) this one
No idea what I'll do for the next one, everthing 26 is either crap or subject to retro tax.
@flyingmonkeycorps I spent ages holding my nerve for one to crop up unidentified amongst all the MX24's. Still not as cheap as the top spec one I missed out on though.
Still need to solve the squeaky front brake and see if the new tyre I bought is too big for the rigid forks.
@timber I got the top spec (I think - H10) one from a guy who's clearly a proper mtber down the road in Lincoln. Frame protection since new, proper air forks, dropper, wide range 10 speed... She'd better not fall out with biking now, that's all I'm saying!