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cletuslol

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
I have a 7 year old (8 in March, hence this thread) who is 4'2" and about 55 lbs. He rides a Woom Off Air 4 which he has put over 1200 miles on and it has been a great bike but he is biking on gnarlier trails with me and outgrowing his current bike and I am eyeing a ~$1200 to $1500 budget as I really do think he will get use out of it and his 4 (5 this month) year old brother is super into biking as well. I don't think a full suspension like a Transition Ripcord jr or Jeffsy Primus would be worth the weight/cost penalty or the lower fork/shock spec that goes along with it and neither of those $1900 bikes include a dropper.

I've been looking at a few options such as:
Woom Off Air 5 - $1000 - 22.3 lbs woom OFF AIR 5 | 24-Inch Mountain Bike for Kids
Specialized Riprock Expert - $1500 $1200- 26.4 lbs Riprock Expert 24 | Specialized.com
Nukeproof Cub Scout 24 Race - $1399 - 25.8 lbs Cub Scout 24 Race
Spawn Yama Jama - $1425 - 24.5 lbs Yama Jama 24"
Commencal Meta HT 24- $1500 - 26.67 lbs COMMENCAL 2022 | COMMENCAL META HT 24 2022

I'm leaning toward the Commencal as it has a higher quality fork and includes a dropper or the Yama Jama which I would then need to source a dropper for. I also looked at the Trailcraft Pineridge but the LTD seems pretty low spec and the Pro is an astonishing $2300.

Any thoughts here from more experienced folks on the components or on options I am overlooking would be appreciated
 
#2 ·
I got a Cleary Scout 24 and a Diamondback Sync'r 24 for my boys and a Yama Jama 20 for my girl this Christmas. The DB is the best consumer product, slick and easy to assemble, cool tube shapes and graphics, well packed. But it's kind of a monster truck. The SX drivetrain and the mega size pogo stick fork and huge tires aren't bad quality for a kid bike, but they are so heavy and if they had cheaped out a little on those then the fork could be something lighter with a damper. The YJ is far better than the Diamondback and for the price it better be. But you can tell they are a smaller brand and they aren't spending much on design compared to DB (simpler tubing and graphics) and more getting a great spec where it counts (excellent tires and that Brood fork). The Cleary has the better spec on paper than the DB but ours seems to be tweaked, getting it checked out soon. Definitely comes out smaller with its lighter build and can't clear bigger than 2.2 tires.
 
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#3 ·
I think zulu heir or earlyrider hellion 24 are nice options too lighter than the meta, same price but they don’t come with a dropper which might make up for the weight difference…

My daughter have the 20” hellion and I have nothing to complain, she used to have a meta 16” and I regretted buying since it was heavier than most other kids bikes


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#4 · (Edited)
A new 2023 option to consider is the Polygon Xtrada 24. I don't see it for sale in the real world yet if that's a factor.
www.polygonbikes.com

XTRADA 24 | Polygon Bikes

It's the time to introduce your kids to exciting mountains. With the Xtrada DNA, Polygon Xtrada 24 comes with lighter alloy frame, 640mm handlebar for
www.polygonbikes.com www.polygonbikes.com

Just noticed they're releasing an Xtrada 20 too, cool.
www.polygonbikes.com

XTRADA 20 | Polygon Bikes

It's the time to introduce your kids to exciting mountains. With the Xtrada DNA, Polygon Xtrada 20 comes with lighter alloy frame, 640mm handlebar for
www.polygonbikes.com www.polygonbikes.com
 
#5 · (Edited)
Edit: Commencal is 26.67 pounds WITHOUT pedals. Over 27 pounds once you put pedals on it putting it at literally half your kids body weight.

Since you are listing weights and price (maybe slighly weight conscious) just to point out the three heaviest bikes on the list (Nuke Proof, Specialized, Commencal) all have the heavier boost Manitou fork. Not sure if you need that much travel or a boost front end but once you start with that heavier/wider fork and boost spacing then the wheels typically get heavier, and heavier tires are added and bike weight goes up. Several pounds as you can see. This might not matter if you are not doing much climbing and more bike park riding. Lighter wheels are the best perfomance upgrade for the $$$.

Aside from the RST fork on the Pineridge LTD (same as Woom uses) it's the BEST spec'd in the bunch for the $$$ and under 22 pounds. 21.75 pounds, $1399.00 Probably 22.5 pounds adding a dropper and putting it at $1598.
Pineridge 24 LTD | Trailcraft Cycles

The standard Pineridge 24 Special Build ($1599.00, 21.75 pounds) looks like it has a better component spec than LTD (Stans Crest wheels, TC30 fork) It's got the 80mm travel TC30 fork. Looks like basically it's the lighter Kenda Booster tires and fork drop even more weight. You can configure even lighter by selecting the Stans Crest MK4 wheels for $149.
www.trailcraftcycles.com

Pineridge 24 | High-Performance Youth Bikes | Trailcraft

The Pineridge 24 is a lightweight 24 inch mountain bike with custom build options for young riders looking to progress on real trail terrain.
www.trailcraftcycles.com www.trailcraftcycles.com


The Prevelo Zulu is another one not on your list and worth consideration. 25.39 pounds, $1049.00
The cool thing is you can also configure this one with the lighter stans crest MK4 wheels and the Heir fork for $450, so $1499 (weight drop not mentioned, probably close to 2 pounds)
prevelo.com

Prevelo Zulu Four｜24" Kid's Mountain Bike｜Hydraulic Disc｜Air Fork

Lightweight 24" Kid's Mountain Bike - Features ultra capable wide span drive train, hydraulic disc brakes, air fork, aluminum construction.
prevelo.com prevelo.com
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
GSJ1973 said:
Edit: Commencal is 26.67 pounds WITHOUT pedals. Over 27 pounds once you put pedals on it putting it at literally half your kids body weight.

Since you are listing weights and price (maybe slighly weight conscious) just to point out the three heaviest bikes on the list (Nuke Proof, Specialized, Commencal) all have the heavier boost Manitou fork. Not sure if you need that much travel or a boost front end but once you start with that heavier/wider fork and boost spacing then the wheels typically get heavier, and heavier tires are added and bike weight goes up. Several pounds as you can see. This might not matter if you are not doing much climbing and more bike park riding. Lighter wheels are the best perfomance upgrade for the $$$.

Aside from the RST fork on the Pineridge LTD (same as Woom uses) it's the BEST spec'd in the bunch for the $$$ and under 22 pounds. 21.75 pounds, $1399.00 Probably 22.5 pounds adding a dropper and putting it at $1598.
Pineridge 24 LTD | Trailcraft Cycles

The standard Pineridge 24 Special Build ($1599.00, 21.75 pounds) looks like it has a better component spec than LTD (Stans Crest wheels, TC30 fork) It's got the 80mm travel TC30 fork. Looks like basically it's the lighter Kenda Booster tires and fork drop even more weight. You can configure even lighter by selecting the Stans Crest MK4 wheels for $149.
www.trailcraftcycles.com

Pineridge 24 | High-Performance Youth Bikes | Trailcraft

The Pineridge 24 is a lightweight 24 inch mountain bike with custom build options for young riders looking to progress on real trail terrain.
www.trailcraftcycles.com www.trailcraftcycles.com


The Prevelo Zulu is another one not on your list and worth consideration. 25.39 pounds, $1049.00
The cool thing is you can also configure this one with the lighter stans crest MK4 wheels and the Heir fork for $450, so $1499 (weight drop not mentioned, probably close to 2 pounds)
prevelo.com

Prevelo Zulu Four｜24" Kid's Mountain Bike｜Hydraulic Disc｜Air Fork

Lightweight 24" Kid's Mountain Bike - Features ultra capable wide span drive train, hydraulic disc brakes, air fork, aluminum construction.
prevelo.com prevelo.com
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply! The trailcraft special build looks really nice and I think stretching for the lighter wheels makes sense.. I can see how he does on it then get him a dropper for Christmas or something if he continues to get rowdier on rides. Any thoughts on 10 speed vs 12 speed? We live in Austin which is hilly but not mountainous and honestly mostly we are just a huge rock garden, g-out area connected by xc trails so I am a little stuck on if 12 speed is useful. Our climbs are often like.. straight up so the extra range might be worthwhile but then again I suppose that depends on the selected chainring size I can do on the trailcraft.

The only problem with the Prevelo Zulu is that the Heir upgrade no longer includes a drivetrain upgrade yet they want to charge the same price. I emailed them and they said no ETA on the Heir colorway OR 12 speed drivetrain
 
#7 · (Edited)
One conclusion I came to, after putting together three of these things in a row, is that 12 speed adult gears on a 24" kid bike is kind of ridiculous. Once they get good they are going to want a low gear to pop a wheelie but it's a rare kid on a rare ride who's going to need 34-52 on a climb. On the other hand I'm absolutely convinced about suspension forks (even bad ones) and low tire pressure. Even better for newer, clumsier riders. 6-7 year old kids ride stupidly and anything that helps keep them upright when they ride over something they don't intend is good
 
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#8 ·
There is a LBS here in Minnesota that is building their own aluminum 24" bikes. I am not affiliated with the shop in any official manner. I did work with the owner up until a couple months ago and we'd talk projects they have in the works. I do not recall if they customized the frame at all or if it's straight from the catalog. They use the Manitou Junit fork. No idea on the cost. It might be worth looking into. It's a small, family owned and run shop. Good people.

cykelonline.com
 
#9 · (Edited)
cletuslol said:
Any thoughts on 10 speed vs 12 speed? We live in Austin which is hilly but not mountainous and honestly mostly we are just a huge rock garden, g-out area connected by xc trails so I am a little stuck on if 12 speed is useful. Our climbs are often like.. straight up so the extra range might be worthwhile but then again I suppose that depends on the selected chainring size I can do on the trailcraft.
Click to expand...
With the newer style direct-mount chainrings, you can have options on chainring size. Typically the cheaper the bike, the chainring can't be swapped as they are pinned or rivited - you would need to buy direct mount cranks from PreVelo, Trailcraft, Vpace, Alibaba, Ebay etc..

Don't be fooled by "more gears is better" - an 11 speed bike with 11-42 cassette and 32 tooth chainring (Commencal) is going to be a lot of bike to climb with if your son is 55 pounds and the bike is pushing over 27 pounds. A 28 tooth chainring would be ideal for Austin (been there once) or you could even switch out to a bigger cassette (fairly inexpensive) if you wanted to go that route.

I added the drivetrain spec next to what you are looking at. So the Woom is geared with flats more in mind with the 9 speed and 11-34. It does have a 28 tooth chainring, but the 11-34 wouldn't be steep-climbing friendly. The Nuke Proof has an 11-46 with a 32 tooth chainring. The nice thing about the Sunrace is is a lighter weight cassette, one spot to save some weight. Spawn is more park influenced with a 32 tooth chainring and 11-42 cassette. Again, not climbing friendly, but the chainring can be swapped I believe. (Edit, chainrings are here, but smaller appear out of stock Brood Direct Mount Narrow Wide Chainwheel )

Woom Off Air 5 - $1000 - 22.3 lbs woom OFF AIR 5 | 24-Inch Mountain Bike for Kids - 9 speed, 11-34 cassette, 28 tooth chainring
Specialized Riprock Expert - $1500 $1200- 26.4 lbs Riprock Expert 24 | Specialized.com - 11 speed, SRAM NX 11-42, 30 tooth chainring
Nukeproof Cub Scout 24 Race - $1399 - 25.8 lbs Cub Scout 24 Race 10 speed, Sunrace 11-46, 32 tooth chainring
Spawn Yama Jama - $1425 - 24.5 lbs Yama Jama 24" 11 speed, Sram NX 11-42, 32 tooth
Commencal Meta HT 24- $1500 - 26.67 lbs COMMENCAL 2022 | COMMENCAL META HT 24 2022 11 speed, 11-42 SRAM NX, 30T chainring

You have to really be careful on the 11/12 speed gearing and look at total bike weight. I'm of the opinion a smaller chainring and 11-46 cassette would be ideal for most kids unless park riding is the priority, which the above bikes seem to be more geared towards.

Cassette weight - 12 speed Deore level 10-51 cassette is a 600 gram cassette, the SRAM 12 speed NX and SX 11-50 or 11-52 cassettes are pushing 640 grams. BOAT ANCHORS! Those are the first upgrades I would do 11/12 speed with big cassettes on the 24" full suspension bikes (Minor Threat, Ripcord, YT Primus) takes weight up another level, 28-32 pounds in most kids 24" full suspension bikes. The bike is well over 1/2 your kids weight. This gearing does help for really steep elevations, but for most riding and most kids bikes it just ends up creating 28 pound bikes or heavier. Some kids are OK with heavy bikes and know no better, other kids (like my daughter) were able to ride literally 2x as far (with less complaining) with wheel and tire weight reductions, which led to lower bike weights. YMMV.

There is a great thread on "bike weight to rider weight" over on the general forum I've been following. Interestingly even 200 pound guys can feel a difference with a Double Down casing tire swap back to something 200-300 grams lighter. Bike Weight and Body Weight
 
#10 ·
cletuslol said:
I have a 7 year old (8 in March, hence this thread) who is 4'2" and about 55 lbs. He rides a Woom Off Air 4 which he has put over 1200 miles on and it has been a great bike but he is biking on gnarlier trails with me in the Austin area and outgrowing his current bike and I am eyeing a ~$1200 to $1500 budget as I really do think he will get use out of it and his 4 (5 this month) year old brother is super into biking as well. I don't think a full suspension like a Transition Ripcord jr or Jeffsy Primus would be worth the weight/cost penalty or the lower fork/shock spec that goes along with it and neither of those $1900 bikes include a dropper.

I've been looking at a few options such as:
Woom Off Air 5 - $1000 - 22.3 lbs woom OFF AIR 5 | 24-Inch Mountain Bike for Kids
Specialized Riprock Expert - $1500 $1200- 26.4 lbs Riprock Expert 24 | Specialized.com
Nukeproof Cub Scout 24 Race - $1399 - 25.8 lbs Cub Scout 24 Race
Spawn Yama Jama - $1425 - 24.5 lbs Yama Jama 24"
Commencal Meta HT 24- $1500 - 26.67 lbs COMMENCAL 2022 | COMMENCAL META HT 24 2022

I'm leaning toward the Commencal as it has a higher quality fork and includes a dropper or the Yama Jama which I would then need to source a dropper for. I also looked at the Trailcraft Pineridge but the LTD seems pretty low spec and the Pro is an astonishing $2300.

Any thoughts here from more experienced folks on the components or on options I am overlooking would be appreciated
Click to expand...
Personally fav is the Nukeproof sport . Not a fan of SRAM nx
 
#11 ·
We're real happy with the NP scout.. fork is excellent even though its not the top tier model. You canb loose some decent weight right off the bat if you swap to dhf's for a pair of rocket ron 2.35's, and save the dhf for park days.. or sell em
 
Discussion starter · #12 ·
I think right now given the discussion and reading up on gear ratios, the Trailcraft 24 "special build" with the 10 speed and a 28 or 30 tooth chainring is what I am leaning towards. I can upgrade him with a dropper for Christmas :)
 
#13 ·
cletuslol said:
I think right now given the discussion and reading up on gear ratios, the Trailcraft 24 "special build" with the 10 speed and a 28 or 30 tooth chainring is what I am leaning towards. I can upgrade him with a dropper for Christmas :)
Click to expand...
20% oneup deal end of the year and you have a dropper [emoji41]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#14 ·
I think 10 speeds is more than enough. My son rides just about everything in in the Golden CO area on a ridged bike with a sram 7spd dh drivetrain (16lbs). Keep the weight down and gear it down to get them up hills. Kids usually coast downhill anyway. Don't get carried away with huge rear cassettes and long cage derailers as they'll just about drag the ground with small wheels.
 
Discussion starter · #16 ·
TheGenErik1 said:
Why isn't the Trailcraft Pineridge 24 on your list? I found a used for my son and its super light weight and great quality.

Click to expand...
Wasn't on the original list but it is basically the bike I have decided on. What trim level did you end up with? Special/Pro/Elite etc? I am probably going for a special build with a 30t chainring unless I can find a used one somewhere
 
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