Kids 26 MTB

[aberdeeneuan]

Both my boys are just over 140cm and outgrown their 24" Isla Benins. We're doing more MTB stuff now and looking at replacements but it's not as straightforward as I thought!

Been looking at Whyte 403 but not sure I can justify it, Vitus Nucleus 26 looks OK but has Box 8 gearing on it which I know very little about and a bit apprehensive about it. Anyone got any experience of it?

Or any alternatives I've not thought about? Weight is important for them as my eldest is fairly slight so don't want a clunker, and for the same reason a bit apprehensive about putting him on a small adult bike.

[Matt_N]

Voodoo Nzumbi?

https://www.halfords.com/bikes/junior-bikes/voodoo...

I’m probably getting my 7 yr old a 24” mtb and looking at the Voodoo Nantai.

[SwissJonese]

I bought 13" framed 26" wheeled MTB's for my kids, they couldn't easily ride a XS adult bike.

Are you looking to buy brand new?

I got an ex-rental Whyte 403 for £300, it was immaculate as the bike hire company said they rarely rent kids bikes out. We also bought a second hand Dawes Academy MTB for £170 with hydraulic brakes and air fork. Again hardly used. Look on PinkBike for 2nd hand or FaceBook marketplace.

Vitus are a good brand and their kids bikes I see regularly on trails so I doubt you will have any issue with the Box 8 Gearing.

[aberdeeneuan]

SwissJonese said:

I bought 13" framed 26" wheeled MTB's for my kids, they couldn't easily ride a XS adult bike.

Are you looking to buy brand new?

I got an ex-rental Whyte 403 for £300, it was immaculate as the bike hire company said they rarely rent kids bikes out. We also bought a second hand Dawes Academy MTB for £170 with hydraulic brakes and air fork. Again hardly used. Look on PinkBike for 2nd hand or FaceBook marketplace.

Vitus are a good brand and their kids bikes I see regularly on trails so I doubt you will have any issue with the Box 8 Gearing.

Cheers, not restricting myself to new, just can't find a decent 403 nearby used (I'm in the West Mids). By any chance did you get the 403 from Forest of Dean? I saw them advertised when they were changing them over last year but were too big then! Might just jump on the Vitus in the meantime so we have some wheels for summer.

[aberdeeneuan]

Matt_N said:

Voodoo Nzumbi?

https://www.halfords.com/bikes/junior-bikes/voodoo...

I’m probably getting my 7 yr old a 24” mtb and looking at the Voodoo Nantai.

I did look at them but they're a chunk heavier than the Whyte and Islas they're used to, don't want to put them off the climbs on something that's 2/3KG heavier than they're on now.

[Fat hippo]

If you are into retro mtbs then there is someone looking to sell an xs Fat Chance. Loveley bit of kit.
I can dig out details.

I also built up a Fat Chance for my son a couple of years ago and now am doing the same with an xs Klein Attitude

Gratuitous pics

[Sunnyone]

We carried on with Isla bike and got the Creig, I think they are a great mountain bike, really light weight, hydraulic brakes and an air fork .

Like all Isla bikes if you buy them second hand they won’t cost you much overall as they hold their value so well.

[towser44]

Recently bought my daughter a small adults bike for her next one. She is just over 140cms too. Hopefully this will last and grow with her for a while now! Bought the Carrera Subway 2 Hybrid from Halfords

[SwissJonese]

aberdeeneuan said:

Cheers, not restricting myself to new, just can't find a decent 403 nearby used (I'm in the West Mids). By any chance did you get the 403 from Forest of Dean? I saw them advertised when they were changing them over last year but were too big then! Might just jump on the Vitus in the meantime so we have some wheels for summer.

I bought it from Afan Bike Shed, but the bikes at Pedalaway at FOD are mint too. They have a sale coming up soon so you might be able to get something there? But in general 2nd hand bikes are still up for silly money.

[moonigan]

I bought an XS 650b hardtail frame (Cube Acid) for my son and built it to a lighter and better spec than an Isla Creig for a fraction of the cost. He helped me put it together as well, so he also learned something at the same time.

The biggest issue was the shorter cranks which I managed to purchase direct from Islabikes but they didnt stay on for long and he soon jumped up to a 165mm Deore crank so if I was doing it all again I would just go straight onto the Shimano crank.

[TT1138]

aberdeeneuan said:

Both my boys are just over 140cm and outgrown their 24" Isla Benins. We're doing more MTB stuff now and looking at replacements but it's not as straightforward as I thought!

Been looking at Whyte 403 but not sure I can justify it, Vitus Nucleus 26 looks OK but has Box 8 gearing on it which I know very little about and a bit apprehensive about it. Anyone got any experience of it?

Or any alternatives I've not thought about? Weight is important for them as my eldest is fairly slight so don't want a clunker, and for the same reason a bit apprehensive about putting him on a small adult bike.

A bit of an odd way of doing it but have a look at some of the older jump or 4X frames or complete bikes. Many of them had provision to run gears. Completely unwanted nowadays so should be able to pick up one up relatively cheaply.

They’re small, very tough and generally very well made. Change the bar and stem for something newer, the tyres for something modern and a 1 by Box or Microshift drivetrain with modern Deore brakes. Suspension might not be great, but you always replace it relatively cheaply with an Identiti rigid fork. When they’ve outgrown it, split and sell.

[benny.c]

aberdeeneuan said:

Weight is important for them as my eldest is fairly slight so don't want a clunker, and for the same reason a bit apprehensive about putting him on a small adult bike.

I recently had the same choice to make and one thing I would say is they do grow and get stronger very quickly. My boy is a bit taller at 150cm ish but skinny and he went from a 10Kg Trek Wahoo 26 kids bike to a 13Kg small adult Nukeproof Mega - an older one with 26” wheels..The first few rides he really noticed the extra weight but within a few weeks he was leaving me for dead on the fire road climb at Llandegla. Last week he suggested I take the Levo instead of my Orange so I could keep up with him

Edited by benny.c on Thursday 28th July 19:34

[In the sticks]

Bought two Whyte 405 for my children. Great bikes, one was second hand but perfect condition.

Look around and call some stores to see if anything comes up, you never know.

[ADogg]

Just got my nipper a Whyte 403, Balfes bikes had a sale on a few weeks ago so pulled the trigger. He’s about 133cm tall and just fits on it, and loves it! Eta we looked at a similar sized Cube, and some 24’s but the Whyte was far nicer and far more future proof. This was after I’d built “him” a Planet X Jack Flash from my old bike, but it’s still way too long etc, so is now the wife’s bike!

Edited by ADogg on Thursday 22 September 23:09

[Percy Cushion]

I bought my 7 year old a Cube bike, 7 gears, disc brakes etc., I don’t think he appreciates it as much as I do

[Hoonigan]

The 403 is a great bike, I’ve spent all afternoon making my son’’s one look as close to new as possible before it gets passed down to his sister. Bloody brakes still squeal like a pig though

I’m not sure any bike this size are future proof though, my lad went from just fitting to looking daft on it in in a little over two years…

He’s gone from that to a 29’er Bizango now, eats me out of house and home that one.