24" or 26" for sons next bike?

dirkpitt74

Hi all,
My 8yo currently has a 20" wheeled bike and don' t think it'll be long before he needs something bigger.

Not sure whether to get a 24" wheeled MTB or build him a XS (14") framed 26".

Worried that if I get the 24" he might not have it too long before he needs something bigger.

If I build an XS when he grows I can just get a bigger frame and swap the components over.

Anyone done this? Any recommendations for frames?
Was thinking either dirt type frame or maybe even a women's as they seem smaller overall.

Thanks

taff..

I'd say 24" unless he's particularly tall.

my 9Yo is on a hotrock and it's plenty big enough to last him atleast another year.

don't forget that it's not just the wheel size that increases, it's the crank length (152 to 165) and the reach to the bars that can cause issue.

dirkpitt74

Thanks for the advice guys.
Will try him on a 24" and see how it fits.

baudman

Yes, trying is the only option.

There's 26" frames built 'big', and others built 'small' - irrespective of whether they're an XS or an S. There's a lot of variation.

Same for 24".

taff..

I put my boy onto the wifes 26", Small, Ghost yesterday on the road outside our house to see how he'd get on for size, he could ride it but it was way too big and he wont be comfortable riding it off road. it'll be another year at least before he's big enough for it

Yakboy

I've only just seen this thread. Have a look at my 24" build for my 9 year old (final piccies coming just before christmas). It may give you some inspiration. Watch crank length, kids struggle if cranks are too long.

viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=12982278

dirkpitt74

Thanks Yakboy - have been following your build very impressive.
Think I'll go 24" and try and build him something from a decent frame.

bartimaeus

My son went up from an Islabikes 24 to an Islabikes 26 when we was about 9, and moved on to an XS 26" Rockhopper just before he turned 11.

But the Rockhopper is a very different bike to the Islabikes 26 - the front end is much higher... so to get it manageable I had to put on a shorter 55mm stem and some 600mm flat bars. It's a joy to have him on an 'adult style' MTB as it's much easier to improve and customise - but I would definitely avoid the temptation to do it too soon... as both size and weight can be an issue. The Rockhopper weighs in at just over 27lbs, so not too bad.

And yes, the plan is to swap the frame for something bigger when he outgrows this one - which is why the steerer is cut a bit long, with a stack of spacers above the stem. Air forks are definitely the way to go - my son can get most of the 100mm out of the Rebas, where most of his friends get maybe 20-30m travel from their coil forks.

Here's the bike earlier this summer - with 100mm Rebas added, but before the latest change... some 685 flat bars!


Original build, last summer...


Islabikes 26: