My wife has one and in stock form it was around 32-33 lbs. I swapped to an xt 11 speed drivetrain and ditched the maxxis tires for 2.35 bonty xr3’s and it’s right around 30 lbs now. I know it’s more money, but have you looked at the trail craft bikes?
YT Jeffsy Primus 26
Long shot but curious if anyone has any direct experience with the YT Jeffsy Primus 26? Not much out there other then a review on the 24" version: Reviewing the YT JEFFSY PRIMUS JP 24 – a full susser for ambitious baby shredders | ENDURO Mountainbike Magazine
My oldest is on a Ripcord but is growing fast and YT allows a pre-order with 10% down and targeted shipping of May next year which works pretty well with our timeline. If I find an alternative used in the meantime it's cancellable at no cost so I put a pre-order order in today.
Specs and geo look good - 140mm Junit fork, SX drivetrain, Duroc wheels, DHF/DHRII tires, - and price is quite a bit lower ($2299) than other youth bikes, e.g. Norco Sight, RM Reaper (which has weirdly short reach). Have a few parts in the bin and from her Ripcord that will help drop weight.
Went back and forth on whether to go straight to 27.5 but I figured the second kid will use it to so don't mind doing another step in wheel sizes.
My oldest is on a Ripcord but is growing fast and YT allows a pre-order with 10% down and targeted shipping of May next year which works pretty well with our timeline. If I find an alternative used in the meantime it's cancellable at no cost so I put a pre-order order in today.
Specs and geo look good - 140mm Junit fork, SX drivetrain, Duroc wheels, DHF/DHRII tires, - and price is quite a bit lower ($2299) than other youth bikes, e.g. Norco Sight, RM Reaper (which has weirdly short reach). Have a few parts in the bin and from her Ripcord that will help drop weight.
Went back and forth on whether to go straight to 27.5 but I figured the second kid will use it to so don't mind doing another step in wheel sizes.
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Thanks for the insight - that's super helpful. Any feedback on how it rides etc?
Have looked into Trailcraft and love what they are doing for kids bikes. It might be an option for us if they offered frames only but their completes start at $3800 without a dropper. Pretty sure I can get close to the Trailcraft weight with a fraction of the price difference and have a more capable bike. Her Ripcord is ~26lbs with a dropper so adding a bit of weight shouldn't be a huge issue.
Have looked into Trailcraft and love what they are doing for kids bikes. It might be an option for us if they offered frames only but their completes start at $3800 without a dropper. Pretty sure I can get close to the Trailcraft weight with a fraction of the price difference and have a more capable bike. Her Ripcord is ~26lbs with a dropper so adding a bit of weight shouldn't be a huge issue.
She’s still very much a beginner and still needs to get over her fear from breaking a collar bone two years ago. She does enjoy the bike but can’t really comment on performance characteristics.
Normally it hasn't been that interesting as there was no JUnit fork in the 26" line. It was only the regular Machete which has a not so great damper and the Solo air spring (no neg chamber) that isn't so great either. Fine stuff but not nearly as killer as the JUnit line stuff that got so much development.
I'm not exactly sure what you are getting with that fork now tho. The 24" JUnit (expert and pro models) is pretty unreal. They built a custom airspring with neg & postive chambers tuned for 70lb kid and then tuned the damper as well. Its very very nice.
Looking at the pictures of the 26" bike, it doesn't look like its an Expert level fork. Is it just the previous Machete with a JUnit label? It seems to have the ABS+ damper top cap (rebound knob at the bottom) but the pictures definitely show that it has the Solo air spring (air valve on top rather than bottom). I'm not sure on the damper but the airside def doesn't have the Expert or Dorodo spring like the real 20/24" JUnits do. It seems more like the OEM JUnit comp that is the more value JUnit fork which could be cool too.
In the end, it'd be wise to clarify what you're getting there. If its a full blown custom tuned JUnit Expert/Pro, that's a sick bike (aside from the junky brakes and SX drive train). The wheels are the Sunringle Durocs that are sweet too (part of the Manitou/Hayes/Protaper/Sunringle/Renolds family). I know supply chain stuff is crazy but also that Manitou is developing new stuff for kids (again) this season so perhaps when the bikes ship, they will come with a sweet updated JUnit Expert/Pro fork. Hard to say.
Commencal just dropped a new kids bike. Its going to be spendy (next year) and has a Fox 36...which I doubt will be tuned that well for kids since Fox never developed a kids tune (I've asked Ed there a few times).
I've seen kids go straight from 24" to 27.5" and totally slay freeride stuff the first day. They were pretty talented on a bike already tho. We are gonna go to XS 27.5 frame and likely try 26" wheels on it for the first year maybe. Crazy seeing Rampage get won on a 27.5/26 mullet lol.
I'm not exactly sure what you are getting with that fork now tho. The 24" JUnit (expert and pro models) is pretty unreal. They built a custom airspring with neg & postive chambers tuned for 70lb kid and then tuned the damper as well. Its very very nice.
Looking at the pictures of the 26" bike, it doesn't look like its an Expert level fork. Is it just the previous Machete with a JUnit label? It seems to have the ABS+ damper top cap (rebound knob at the bottom) but the pictures definitely show that it has the Solo air spring (air valve on top rather than bottom). I'm not sure on the damper but the airside def doesn't have the Expert or Dorodo spring like the real 20/24" JUnits do. It seems more like the OEM JUnit comp that is the more value JUnit fork which could be cool too.
In the end, it'd be wise to clarify what you're getting there. If its a full blown custom tuned JUnit Expert/Pro, that's a sick bike (aside from the junky brakes and SX drive train). The wheels are the Sunringle Durocs that are sweet too (part of the Manitou/Hayes/Protaper/Sunringle/Renolds family). I know supply chain stuff is crazy but also that Manitou is developing new stuff for kids (again) this season so perhaps when the bikes ship, they will come with a sweet updated JUnit Expert/Pro fork. Hard to say.
Commencal just dropped a new kids bike. Its going to be spendy (next year) and has a Fox 36...which I doubt will be tuned that well for kids since Fox never developed a kids tune (I've asked Ed there a few times).
I've seen kids go straight from 24" to 27.5" and totally slay freeride stuff the first day. They were pretty talented on a bike already tho. We are gonna go to XS 27.5 frame and likely try 26" wheels on it for the first year maybe. Crazy seeing Rampage get won on a 27.5/26 mullet lol.
Thanks Svinyard for the insight on the fork. Did a bit of searching around and this it what I found in this thread: Manitou Machete Junit Forks for juniors
"The 24" Machete J-unit has positive/negative air (expert air system) and an ABS+ damper. It's a 110x15mm boost axle.
The 26" Machete J-unit has positive air and negative coil (TS air system) and an ABS+ damper. It's a 100x15mm non-boost axle.
It's the same chassis as the Circus Expert jump fork but lighter and with negative spring and damper tuned for lighter riders."
The non-boost axle fits the specs described on the YT Jeffsy Primus 26 so this looks to be accurate. Pity it's a negative coil - we've been running a dual air Reba on the Ripcord and it's been great to be able to dial in the negative/positive chambers separately for better small bump compliance for lighter riders. Interestingly there is a Circus Pro 26" version that uses a Dorado air spring so it may be upgradeable down the road
"The 24" Machete J-unit has positive/negative air (expert air system) and an ABS+ damper. It's a 110x15mm boost axle.
The 26" Machete J-unit has positive air and negative coil (TS air system) and an ABS+ damper. It's a 100x15mm non-boost axle.
It's the same chassis as the Circus Expert jump fork but lighter and with negative spring and damper tuned for lighter riders."
The non-boost axle fits the specs described on the YT Jeffsy Primus 26 so this looks to be accurate. Pity it's a negative coil - we've been running a dual air Reba on the Ripcord and it's been great to be able to dial in the negative/positive chambers separately for better small bump compliance for lighter riders. Interestingly there is a Circus Pro 26" version that uses a Dorado air spring so it may be upgradeable down the road
Update after writing to YT if it's helpful to others - here's there response:
"The Jeffsy Primus 26" uses the Expert air version of the Manitou Machete JUNIT fork."
So they must have updated since the initial version or it's a YT spec
"The Jeffsy Primus 26" uses the Expert air version of the Manitou Machete JUNIT fork."
So they must have updated since the initial version or it's a YT spec
Do you know if this is true of the 2021 Jeffsy Primus 26 as well? There's a used one available fairly close to me. From searching online the Fork listed on that model is the Manitou Machete Comp.Update after writing to YT if it's helpful to others - here's there response:
"The Jeffsy Primus 26" uses the Expert air version of the Manitou Machete JUNIT fork."
So they must have updated since the initial version or it's a YT spec
Doesn't sound like it but I would write to YT to confirm - they were very responsive when I wrote to them
Put up some pics. The expert spring fork has the little black air knob sticking out the bottom of the air side. The TS Solo spring (not nearly as nice) has it under the top cap of the air side.
Do you know if this is true of the 2021 Jeffsy Primus 26 as well? There's a used one available fairly close to me. From searching online the Fork listed on that model is the Manitou Machete Comp.
Just ordered this bike last night, here in Canada which will supposedly will ship by May 9. I'm liking the price point compared to the other 2 I have a deposit on: Norco youth Sight 27.5 and Chromag Minor Threat 26". We'll see which bikes actually show up!
Drivetrain and brakes are nicer on the Minor Threat but my soon to be 11 yr old won't significantly benefit from GX verses SX. And at 80ish lbs he'll do well on Guide R instead of G2 brakes.
The Norco has room for a bottle which is a HUGE plus for us as I hate carrying their water and hate maintaining Camelbacks. But its seat tube insertion depth is tiny (only 180mm). I like its super slack HTA of 63°.
At the end of the day my oldest son will ride very well on any decent bike I get him, and I kind of don't want him to progress any faster cuz he's already out riding me
Sent from my ELE-L04 using Tapatalk
Drivetrain and brakes are nicer on the Minor Threat but my soon to be 11 yr old won't significantly benefit from GX verses SX. And at 80ish lbs he'll do well on Guide R instead of G2 brakes.
The Norco has room for a bottle which is a HUGE plus for us as I hate carrying their water and hate maintaining Camelbacks. But its seat tube insertion depth is tiny (only 180mm). I like its super slack HTA of 63°.
At the end of the day my oldest son will ride very well on any decent bike I get him, and I kind of don't want him to progress any faster cuz he's already out riding me
Sent from my ELE-L04 using Tapatalk
Hi All, I just ordered a YT Primus 24 and 26 for my boys and was wondering what recommendations you all have for cutting some weight? @stevelim I too looked at the Traicrafts but had to buy two and it was getting up there. I am hoping to make some upgrades to hit the sweet spot.
Wondering if I should upgrade both to GX, maybe some lighter cranks, and then wheels, but that might be a lot of dollars. Anyway hoping someone here might have some suggestions to cut some weight here or there Thanks
Wondering if I should upgrade both to GX, maybe some lighter cranks, and then wheels, but that might be a lot of dollars. Anyway hoping someone here might have some suggestions to cut some weight here or there Thanks
I had a look at this before canceling our pre-order. Cranks (~700g), cassette (630g), handlebars (~400g!). maybe brakes seem to be the easy spots. Not sure wheels are worth it to upgrade - I wasn't able to find the 26" wheels specs but the 24" Junit wheels aren't that heavy (1679g). You could probably get it to around 30lbs but I think it would be pretty costly to get it much below that
I just ordered a 24" Primus for my daughter. YT have said that you can't fit a dropper post, the insertion depth for the seat post is only 190mm. Has anyone been able to find a dropper that works?
The OneUp 90mm should work, so long as the YT accommodates internal routing. The max insertion depth is only 167mm.I just ordered a 24" Primus for my daughter. YT have said that you can't fit a dropper post, the insertion depth for the seat post is only 190mm. Has anyone been able to find a dropper that works?
I too have a 24" on order and I think I plan on getting the KS Lev 31.6 100mm. According to the chart, its max insertion is 190mm so it will be a perfectly tight fitI just ordered a 24" Primus for my daughter. YT have said that you can't fit a dropper post, the insertion depth for the seat post is only 190mm. Has anyone been able to find a dropper that works?
. It looks like the 27.2 dropper is longer, but the 30.6 is only 190. KS LEV Integra Dropper Seatpost | Jenson USA
www.jensonusa.com
oneup V2 is also an option, but I cant find the 90mm in stock anywhere.
I was just looking at that - would the internal routing work do you think? Also looking at at another of their options to really simplify things ETEN Dropper Seatpost
Don't do it. ETENs are junk in my experience. And I wouldn't have the kiddo taking his hands off of the bars to drop the seatpost every time.I was just looking at that - would the internal routing work do you think? Also looking at at another of their options to really simplify things ETEN Dropper Seatpost
I just bought the Ks Lev, but the bike wont be here for a while. Since the are available now, I figured these are going to go quick. I think there is 1 left at Jenson.I just ordered a 24" Primus for my daughter. YT have said that you can't fit a dropper post, the insertion depth for the seat post is only 190mm. Has anyone been able to find a dropper that works?
Are you confident the internal routing will work?
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