I ended up getting my almost 8 year old a Scott Roxter 24. He had a Benin small previously that he’d outgrown. I figured the plus size wheels were a better bet than the coil suspension available in the same and higher price range. The air fork bikes seemed very expensive. He absolutely loves it, the level of grip is tremendous which (with the cable discs) gives him so much confidence going down stuff,and the added weight over the Isla doesn’t seem to cause him any problems. I had anticipated making it tubeless to save a pound or so, but the 2.6 tyres were just too loose for it to work. For less than £350 i’m very pleased.

If you’re interested I’ll be selling a 24″ Blast frame (in original battered green), carbon forks, and Islabike Creig wheels shortly.

Have sent you a DM about this.

Hi

This was my list below.

I went to try the bikes out and the Whyte 403 and frog 69 were too big.

Got this down to Whyte 303 or Frog 62 MTB. The Frog is £130 more expensive but come with forks where are the 303 doesn’t. They are both pretty much the same apart from that.

My son liked them both.

The Isla I can rule out as new range is out an is up to £899!!

Any advice on the 62MTB and 303 welcomed.

No Suspension Forks or Discs –

Frog 62
https://www.edinburghbicycle.com/frog-62-kids-bike
£340
24”wheels
12” Frame
10.1kg
No Discs
No Suspension Forks

Isla Beinn 26
£439
26” wheels
13.5” frame
9.4KG
No Discs
No Forks

No Suspension Forks but discs

Hoy Bonaly 24
https://www.evanscycles.com/hoy-bonaly-24-inch-wheel-disc-2020-kids-bike-EV306434
£435
24” wheels
?? frame
10kg
Front Discs 160mm
Rear Discs 160mm
No Suspension Forks

Whyte 303
https://www.edinburghbicycle.com/whyte-303-2020-kids-mountain-bike
£499
24”wheels
12” Frame
10.3kg
Front Discs 160mm
Rear Discs 160mm
No Suspension Forks

Suspension Forks and Discs

Frog 62 MTB
https://www.edinburghbicycle.com/frog-mtb-62
£630
24” wheels
12.5” frame
11.3kg
Front Discs 160mm
Rear Discs 140mm
Suspension Forks

Isla Creig 24
£899
24” wheels
12” frame
11kg
Front Discs 160mm
Rear Discs 140mm
Suspension Forks

Saracen Mantra 24
https://www.saracen.co.uk/bike/mantra-24
£580
24″ Wheels
?? Frame
11.2kg
Front Discs 160mm
Rear Discs 160mm
Suspension Forks

Orbea MX 24 (various choices with/without suspension forks, discs)
https://www.orbea.com/gb-en/bicycles/kids/mx-kids

Suspension Forks and Discs Maybe too big for 8 years old but good value

Whyte 403
403 PETROL
£599
26” Wheels
13” Frame
12.7kg
Front Discs 160mm
Rear Discs 160mm
Suspension Forks

Frog 69 MTB
Frog 62 MTB (24 Inch) Kids Mountain Bike
£640
26” wheels
12.5” frame
11.4kg
Front Discs 160mm
Rear Discs 160mm
Suspension forks

The Whyte 403 is a lovely bike… if you are going to step up from a rigid bike to a hardtail then it’s a great choice. The Islabikes hardtails are awesome, but very pricey indeed (£899 now). They have just added a Creig 20 to the 24, 26 and 27. If you want a cheaper air-fork hardtail then the Vitus 24 (and Vitus 26) are much more affordable.

For Info:
(1) I work for Wiggle – and the Vitus bikes are ‘ours’… but I do think they are excellent, and I’ve had many conversations with the designers about what makes a great kids bike.
(2) I run a kids MTB Club with 50 riders 7-15, so I’ve seen the Creig, Whyte and the Vitus 26 in action (but not yet a Vitus 24).

I got my wee lad (7) a Cannondale Cujo 24+ bike in April after he knackered the rear derailier on his old 20″ job riding in Aviemore over the easter hols.

Its a little beast and he loves it. Chunky plus size tyres, mechanical disc brakes and no added weight up front from a cheap suspension fork (he’s as light they don’t work anyway). Big shout out to Dom at the Bike Bothy in Forres for getting me it.

and no added weight up front from a cheap suspension fork (he’s as light they don’t work anyway)

That’s pretty light then as mine was using a cheap RST F1rst Air from before his 6th birthday.

this next bike should do next couple years?

I thought that when I bought mine a 24incher for her 7th Birthday. 1 year later it’s looking pretty small on her. (FWIW Rigid Orbea MX Dirt – https://www.orbea.com/gb-en/bicycles/kids/mx-kids/cat/mx-24-dirt)

I must confess I’ve avoided any suspension on kids bikes. Rightly or wrongly I think the extra weight/pedal effort for a youngster is far too big a sacrifice for a small bit of downhill speed.

Incidentally will be selling this once I rip off the forks, brakes, drivechain and hope headset and put the originals back on…(Assuming this embed works)
Would have a brand new spare shock for £375

https://www.instagram.com/p/BxuKi-uH5ri/?utm_source=ig_web_options_share_sheet

Or with the SID forks / wheels / drivechain (still less than a Creig)

the last bike he had was fitted with Suntour XCM (i think) forks and they did absolutely nothing, all they did was add weight he didn’t need up front. The plus size tyres help to absorb some of the smaller bumps anyway.

My boys both had Saracen Mantra 24s for a couple of years and we were pretty happy with them for the money.

Suspension forks were basic but actually worked, the disc brakes were OK and 30.9 post so you can fit a dropper (we fitted Brand X externally routed posts).

We also fitted some Schwalbe Rocket Ron tyres which were lighter and much more suitable to the UK Slope and Grime than Kenda Small Black 8s

Sold them now but their riding came on in leaps and bounds with them, by the end they were riding laps of Monkey and Follow the Dog at Cannock on them.

I assessed most of th above mentioned bikes and it ultimately came down to the Creig 24 and an Earlyrider Trail Mx24.

Settled on the earlyrider in the end after great experience with a Belter Trail 3 and poor experience of a Beinn 20.

Also was able to get the Trail 24 at a decent discount from France.

It’s a beautiful thing! A proper MTB!

Cant wait till his 8th birthday in november.

Hey

Thanks for all the comments, the Earlyrider Trail Mx24 looks great but more than I want to pay out, but looks great.

I think I have pretty much settled on the Whyte 303, the 403 is about 18 months off in size.

The Cannondale Cujo 24+ looks good similar to the whyte 303