24 inch Mountain Bikes - What's good for kid's?

worb68

I want to upgrade my children's bikes to 24 inch mountain bikes. What ones are good out there? Also what age did your children move to this size - they are 7 and all I seem to be doing on their 20 inch bikes is putting the seat up and they fit most 24 inch bikes.

Thanks.

BorisSpencer

Each of my kids moved up at about this age, what surprised me at the time were the appalling front forks fitted to kids' bikes. Some I had trouble getting any travel out of even throwing my, not inconsiderable, weight on them.
Also most still have heavy steel frames, and nice light weight ally bikes seem few and far between.

In the end I got my daughter a Raleigh Diva (quite girlie styling) but a nice plush fork, and a few years later my son got a Giant STP, but I still had to take the fork apart and reduce the length of the preload adjuster to get him any sag.

With a set of knobbly tires my son rode the STP round FTD at Cannock a good few times.

They're both now hanging in the shed (bikes not kids) and one day the STP may get rebuilt as a dedicated DJ.

iwilldoit

Hi All

My son has got a Giant XTC Jr 24" wheel and to be honest I think it is a good bike, I have swapped the revo gear shifter to rapid fire shifters and matching brake levers and better pedals.

poah

my 9 year old has a Carrera blast 24

viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=12952625

chrisw333

I found the Carrera a bit heavy and the disc brakes more a hinderence than a benefit.

Depending on your budget I'd look at Isla Bikes first, then Specialized Hotrock (A1 version) or maybe Orbea which are nice and light and look very good in my lbc.

Unfortunately unless you're prepared to pay adult prices you wont get a good fork on a kids 24" bike.

passout

This is an interesting option if you are willing to pay for it: http://www.whytebikes.com/2014/product. ... 9&xSec=134

Otherwise Isla bikes are excellent.

My girls have had the Luna from Halfords which is OK (but pretty weighty) at the cheaper end of the spectrum.

passout

Also see this forum: viewforum.php?f=40032

worb68

Ok thanks for the options. That Whyte looks awesome but way to expensive!

Antm81

My daughter has the carerra Luna, she loves it, took a little while to get the brakes set up properly, rear kept sticking which seems to be an issue between the cable routing and the Clark's design, kept causing it to stick partially on.

tarbot18

The ridgeback bikes have a decent spec and are lasting my 2 monsters well , mine have got the mx16 and mx20 great bikes.

JBA

Father Christmas brought my daughter a Focus Raven Rookie. It's fairly light and surprisingly the fork actually works under her light weight.