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Done with searching for quality 24" bike!

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KeithASR

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
So happy to be done with the search for quality 24" bikes for my kids so we can focus more on riding now! If you have searched for the same thing, you probably know what I am talking about. Many of the upgrades came from my old parts bin.

The Cannondale Race 24 is a great frame and the RST F1RST Air forks are excellent. That said, many of the other stock parts were junk and have been upgraded. Using an XT 9 speed drivetrain and custom built XTR/Velocity wheelset which makes a huge difference. I found the Wellgo WR-1 pedals to be the perfect size for both of my kids and super light as well compared to most flats. Not many good 24" tire choices, but managed to find 24" Kenda SB8 2.1 folding version (not wire). Nice Raceface bars, stem, and seatpost to round things out. Ended up around 22.8 lbs after all upgrades, and could still lose a little more going 1X9, eventually.

The Opus Fever 24 is a great frame and had a little nicer stock components, but the Spinner Grind forks are not much better than the low-end kind you usually find on kids' bikes. A little disappointed with Opus on that and already ordered an RST F1RST 24" Air to replace so he can have suspension that actually works. I wasn't too sure about disc brakes on a kids bike, but they work great and he loves them so far. Set his bike up with my old XTR 1x9 drivetrain with MRP 1.X chainguide which was collecting dust anyway. Stock wheelset is pretty decent and he likes how they look. They came with 1.95 Kenda SB8 (wire bead) which we'll eventually replace with the 2.1 kevlar version after he wears the stock tires out. Ended up around 23.5 lbs after all the changes, which is pretty respectable.
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
Thanks. Never had a chance to just weigh each frame. Surprised the Scott Scale RC was heavy, unless you're talking about the Spark instead? The Scale was one we definitely considered, assuming it was also light weight...just harder to find where we are at. Best thing I did with any of the upgrades was to have my kids do the work with me. Everything took longer, but they seemed to like working on their own bikes. Post a pic of the Scott when you get a chance.
 
#4 ·
KeithASR said:
Thanks. Never had a chance to just weigh each frame. Surprised the Scott Scale RC was heavy, unless you're talking about the Spark instead? The Scale was one we definitely considered, assuming it was also light weight...just harder to find where we are at. Best thing I did with any of the upgrades was to have my kids do the work with me. Everything took longer, but they seemed to like working on their own bikes. Post a pic of the Scott when you get a chance.
Click to expand...
The Scott Scale RC frame is 1504g (3.31 lbs). Unfortunately for 2014, Scott switched from the RST F1rst to the Suntour Air fork which made it so I had to buy the RST fork. The Cannondale Race @ $550 may be the best buy all around. Especially if you just plan on using the frame and forks.

Here is a link to my Scott Scale RC Jr thread.

http://forums.mtbr.com/families-riding-kids/scott-scale-rc-jr-w-mods-weights-883229.html
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
That's awesome, and I have definitely seen that post before! Wish I could have found 24" Rocket Ron's, but they are not available anywhere. The folding version of SB8 are really light and 2.1 width has nice volume for pretty good traction. Had to order the F1RST from Germany, but not too painful of a process (assuming it arrives).

The best thing is that I feel much less OCD after seeing all the details of your build! For me, bottom line is that my kids are proud of their bikes and that they work properly off-road. Some of the crap they sell for kids as MTB are honestly not safe to ride off-road and take away from the enjoyment of riding. Some will disagree, but that's my opinion.
 
#7 ·
KeithASR said:
And I agree the Cannondale Race 24" is a great starting point if you plan to swap out alot of parts anyway. I think it's the best frame/fork of almost all of the choices we considered.
Click to expand...
Actually the chainstay length of the Cannondale is an absolute mind-blowing dragster length at 420mm. Yes, 420mm. Same as my 26" wheel bike!

Sure you have a good fork with the Cannondale, but honestly that is about it. If you want a solid frame platform since we are basically stripping these all down anyway check out the Marin Bayview Trail Disc. Chainstay length is only 400mm - close to an inch shorter in length which help with flick-ability, manuals, tight corner turning, learning to ride wheelies and that sort of thing key for developing young riders.

Marin Bikes | Bayview Trail 24" Disc | Mountain Bikes, Road Bikes, and City/Commuter Bicycles | us
 
#8 ·
If I am going to spend that kind of money on a 24" bike no way id buy that Marin. Trek superfly 24 is way more bike for $10 more. 8speed driveline, Shimano 445 brakes (1st level hydros that work well) and so on. Get some air forks and good.
Sent from my Nokia Stupid Phone using Tapatalk
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
If you look very closely at the picture, you can clearly see his disappointment with the chainstay length and how poorly his new bike handles (ha)...

GSJ1973 said:
Actually the chainstay length of the Cannondale is an absolute mind-blowing dragster length at 420mm. Yes, 420mm. Same as my 26" wheel bike!

Sure you have a good fork with the Cannondale, but honestly that is about it. If you want a solid frame platform since we are basically stripping these all down anyway check out the Marin Bayview Trail Disc. Chainstay length is only 400mm - close to an inch shorter in length which help with flick-ability, manuals, tight corner turning, learning to ride wheelies and that sort of thing key for developing young riders.

Marin Bikes | Bayview Trail 24" Disc | Mountain Bikes, Road Bikes, and City/Commuter Bicycles | us
Click to expand...
 
#10 ·
Can you post the link to the site you ordered the SB8 from? I'm trying to drop some weight on my daughter's race! Also, where did you find the rims for the wheel build? I was thinking of using Stan's Crest, but that would mean switching brakes as well.

Also, did you stick with the stock crank and BB? Small cranks are very hard to find, but if you can get to under 23 lbs with the stock set that would work for me. Thanks!
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·
Below is the link for Kenda SB8 24 x 2.1 folding (not wire bead). The Opus cranks are stock and are 152mm length, but just converted to 1X. The cranks on the Cannondale are 152mm Lasco. If they were any longer, I would have replaced already, but 152mm is close enough.

The Velocity Aeroheat 24" with older XTR hubs was fairly cheap and should be a very solid wheelset. The Cannondale is rim brake, so the Velocity Aeroheat rim was one of the very few good options, if you can find them. If I ever replace the stock disc wheelset on the Opus, would definitely consider Stan's Crest 24" built up with some decent hubs. That would likely get the Opus closer to the Cannondale's weight, but both bikes are already pretty light and actually weight less than their previous 20" bikes!

Kenda Small Block-8 K tire, 24 x 2.1 in. DTC, Tires
 
#12 ·
lamazion said:
Can you post the link to the site you ordered the SB8 from? I'm trying to drop some weight on my daughter's race! Also, where did you find the rims for the wheel build? I was thinking of using Stan's Crest, but that would mean switching brakes as well.

Also, did you stick with the stock crank and BB? Small cranks are very hard to find, but if you can get to under 23 lbs with the stock set that would work for me. Thanks!
Click to expand...
for small cranks look at BMX. They use standard bottom brackets and so it isnt too hard to put something together.

Im currently upgrading a 24" specialized hotrock - I replaced the easy bits, bar, stem seatpost and tires. The tires are smart sams which were easy to find. They are more aggressive than rocket rons, but pretty light. I ordered the 24" crests and am probably just going to use XT hubs.

BMX cranks come in much smaller sizes and can also be very lightweight. The triple on the hotrock probably weighs 5 pounds :)

My current plan is BMX crank with raceface narrow wide

I have an XT 10 spd drivetrain and an extra wolftooth 42t, so Im going to go 1x10.

Will get hydro brakes, and will probably go slx or XT.

The bike started at 28-29 lbs and I think ive dropped about 3-5 pounds so probably at 24/25 right now.
 
#13 ·
tigris99 said:
If I am going to spend that kind of money on a 24" bike no way id buy that Marin. Trek superfly 24 is way more bike for $10 more. 8speed driveline, Shimano 445 brakes (1st level hydros that work well) and so on. Get some air forks and good.
Sent from my Nokia Stupid Phone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Not sure where you got your pricing, but I didn't pay $649 dollars for my son's Bayview, it's was $499. So for $150 you get low end hydros.
Sorry but it's not a lot more bike for $10. Take the $150 and you almost have an air fork. Big whoop 8 speed vs. 7, either throw on a mega range freewheel or replace the drive train like most of us do anyway.
 
#14 ·
GSJ1973 said:
Actually the chainstay length of the Cannondale is an absolute mind-blowing dragster length at 420mm. Yes, 420mm. Same as my 26" wheel bike!

Sure you have a good fork with the Cannondale, but honestly that is about it. If you want a solid frame platform since we are basically stripping these all down anyway check out the Marin Bayview Trail Disc. Chainstay length is only 400mm - close to an inch shorter in length which help with flick-ability, manuals, tight corner turning, learning to ride wheelies and that sort of thing key for developing young riders.

Marin Bikes | Bayview Trail 24" Disc | Mountain Bikes, Road Bikes, and City/Commuter Bicycles | us
Click to expand...
KeithASR said:
If you look very closely at the picture, you can clearly see his disappointment with the chainstay length and how poorly his new bike handles (ha)...
Click to expand...
I agree on CS length. Keith it just depends on what kind of riding he does and he may not know the difference because he hasn't ridden anything else.

I'm in a unique position to compare both bikes. I bought the Marin for my son, because he was jumping even back on his 12 inch bike. He's bunny hoping, learning to manual etc.. My daughter on the other hand is timid on the trails, so for the money I went with a Cannondale Race for her since the longer cs would add some stability and she didn't really need a shorter cs for her ridding.

Now they've switched bikes several times, she doesn't notice a difference, but my son came to me and asked if her bike was bigger. All he knew was that they were both 24 inch bikes. I asked why he asked and he told me hers felt harder to do things on.
 
#15 ·
goodmojo said:
for small cranks look at BMX. They use standard bottom brackets and so it isnt too hard to put something together.

Im currently upgrading a 24" specialized hotrock - I replaced the easy bits, bar, stem seatpost and tires. The tires are smart sams which were easy to find. They are more aggressive than rocket rons, but pretty light. I ordered the 24" crests and am probably just going to use XT hubs.

BMX cranks come in much smaller sizes and can also be very lightweight. The triple on the hotrock probably weighs 5 pounds :)

My current plan is BMX crank with raceface narrow wide

I have an XT 10 spd drivetrain and an extra wolftooth 42t, so Im going to go 1x10.

Will get hydro brakes, and will probably go slx or XT.

The bike started at 28-29 lbs and I think ive dropped about 3-5 pounds so probably at 24/25 right now.
Click to expand...
Consider good mechanical, like BB7. Not sure how well he's learned modulation, but the nice thing with mechanicals is you adjust them so they can't lock up the front. You can adjust in more power as they learn how to use a front brake properly.
 
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