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Oldest daughter has very much outgrown her 20" wheeled bike. She's approximately 138/139cm tall.
Rather than go to a 24" bike which she will outgrown pretty soon, I'm thinking if buying an xxs/xs 26" frame.
I have everything needed to build it up too, so would keep the cost down (and use up some of my large pile of slightly retro spares!)
What size frame should I look for - would 13/14" fit?
Also frame type? Something like an older DMR Trailstar springs to mind - think they took Vs and discs?
Anyone else gone down this route and had success?
Vitus Nucleus 26 https://vitusbikes.com/collections/kids-big-rider/products/vitus-nucleus-26-youth-hardtail-bike-2022 though I did swap the forks for old Reba teams and pro2/717 wheels were already had. The one thing that you'd perhaps won't to address is shorter cracks as IMO the cranks on it are too long.
I went through the same earlier this year for my then 10yo. She is 140cm tall and the vitus fits nicely. I looked at all kinds of ideas with buying a smaller old frame but in the end the Vitus won as it has things like internal dropper post routing and wider rims. She loves riding it.
Incidentally if you were wanting to go the frame route I have the straight steerer forks and wheels from the above to sell.
Edit, just read about you having spares, in that case still the Vitus but sell off the parts. The box drive chain is worth selling as well if you had a alternative to fit (I had deore 10 speed to use).
My daughter had an xs Commencal from 10-12, but all obviously height dependent rather than age
my 11yr old is on a planet x jumping jack flash frame. i paid £50 for the frame!!
She is very tall though and will probably need a bigger bike soon but its been ace for her for the last 2yrs.
i wouldnt go too retro with frames as the geometry is crap (i tried)
a brandx HT frame of a suitable size would be great. you can run it 26 for now and go to 27 when she gets a bit bigger. i would have done this had they had been in stock.
we went straight to 27.5 with an xs small frame when my son was 10. he may have been a little taller but not much
Brucie Bonus I only have carry one set of spares.
Old DMR Trailstar will be pretty dead feeling/heavy... if looking at stuff like that then there'll be an endless supply of suitable frames of an older jumpy style. I've got a small Kona Shred frame and some DJ3 forks in the garage if you're interested? My 10 year old is in a similar place - on the verge of out growing his 24" bike but I've already almost finishing building him a small 26" Cove Hustler. Think any small 26" frame would suit - my eldest had a small (think it was a 14" or 15") Sunn Vertik for a bit when he was a similar age which was great - lightweight steel XC bike.
Our 8 year old (very-tall, about the same height as yours) is on an old XS giant with 24" wheels & short (frog bikes) cranks.
It'll probably be mulleted soon as the next stepping stone, full 26" would still be to big at the moment though.
My daughter is nearly 10 / 137 cm and I’ve been pondering about the next bike. Her current Kona Process 24 should last until she hits 150 cm and it still looks fine. She’s had a go on friends XS 26 and 27.5, she could ride them but they were definitely too big, so at her height she would need an xxs. Although there is obviously a fair bit of variation in frame sizes 🙂
What I really shouldn’t have done is look at the new Propain Yuma…
If you are anywhere near Halifax I have a “vintage” trek WSD in xs you can have. Fittings for v and disc brakes. My girls used it around that age.
Cheers for the advice, etc. Confirmed what I was thinking.
Think I've found something ideal on eBay - modern enough to fit discs, and have okish geometry (my daughter doesn't need a LLS frame quite yet!) But old enough to be usable with most of my spares - 26" wheels, 1 1/8 headset, etc.
I used a 14" inbred.
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Worked well.
Whyte 403 is a 13" frame. The OEM fork is rubbish and heavy, I swapped it for an old 26" fox fork and it's now the perfect size for for my 150cm tall 11yr old 👍
I am selling a 14” One One Inbred bike on Ebay at the moment. It’s in great condition and has full Shimano Hone groupset.
My 143cm tall daughter is on a Nukeproof Cub Scout 26, she likes it and feels comfortable/confident on it.
No cheap at RRP but often in the sale
Anyone tried one of the 14” BXT frames you can get for a £400 on eBay? Been eyeing one of them up for next kids bike.
Cub scout is a good call. Nearly went that way but didn't think daughter needed the more aggressive geo and longer travel.
I’m about to sell my son’s Vitus Nucleus 26. Will advertise in next few days
It’s in great condition. Message if interested and I’ll send some photos
Ta
Woody
My just under 140cm daughter is on a 13" trek aluminium frame and 26" wheels, but as with many others the forks were shocking. Replaced them with a set of bomber MX pro from years ago, but they have an air spring which still works well with low air pressure.
My girls just moved from an XS trek marlin 650b to a medium xcaliber 29er. Two smallest lads are both on XS rockhoppers also 650b
Tallest lad is on a jack flash built from all my old tarty spares - great for him but no way could the smaller ones ride it
Benefit of the xs American bikes is they’re super easy to sell on when they inevitably outgrow them
I was initially worried about the Cub Scout being a bit overkill, but thought the geo would be confidence inspiring as her riding progressed.
It is a bit porky for the climbs but I'm happy to help with a tow rope. Ive been impressed with what she will ride on the Cub Scout compared to her last bike, she's got round a handful of red routes since the bike change
Just been building up the bike for my daughter...pics to follow at some point.
Frame off eBay arrived today. Very tidy 14" DMR Trailstar. Disc only, so probably circa 2010/11.
I have a soft spot for DMRs, I have a couple and the wife has one, so keeping it in the family.
Having some fun putting slightly retro, but totally OTT parts on a kids bike 😁
Hope headset and stem; tubeless Mavic wheelset; Salsa Moto Ace bars; Paul Components chain tensioner; Manitou Minute 100mm fork.
She truly is my daughter...we were discussing the bike earlier, and she insisted it be a single-speed, "just like yours". 😎
Spec myka do 13” and it has a low curve top tube or pitch xs
14" DMR Trailstar (MK3? It's disc only)
Single-speed - but with a Paul's tensioner and a 2nd sprocket on the back, so it can be changed with a bit of faff.
The head angle isn't as steep as it looks in the photo, but it's not modern slack geometry.
First ride today and she loved it 😎