Kids 24" bike recommendations

[Dan_1981]

Our eldest appears to get through bikes like he does shoes.... at a rather alarming rate.

He's shortly going to turn 9 and has outgrown his Vitus 20"

Looking for what comes next in the recommended list? We've had Easy Riders, Vitus, Frogs etc as he's grown up but things are now starting to get expensive!

The 24" early rider is over a £1k which is a bit steep for a kids bike....

He's not out there bashing trails - just standard family rides, canal sides, parkland etc

So what do we go for this time?

[Rough101]

Go down to Decathlon and try a few out, they’re fine if they are still growing and cheaper than Frogs etc., plus they usually have most in store built up to ride round the shop.

[Rusty Old-Banger]

I've recently bought an Ammoco Kreed 24 for one of ours. Nothing fancy, but front suspension and plenty of gears to make him feel like it's a "proper" bike. Cable-operated disc brakes which seem plenty good enough too. And cheap enough that he can fall off it over jumps and massive muddy puddles that we won't cry when he chips scratches and dents it, leaves it out in the garden overnight in winter etc.

[benny.c]

My lad had a Trek Wahoo 24. Proper little bike, not expensive and lighter than the Early Rider. You can get them new for around £350 when on offer and second hand £150-£200 on eBay. He used his at Llandegla, local bridleways etc.

https://www.cyclesuk.com/shop/bikes/sub/kids/trek-...

Halfords, Decathlon etc bikes are OK but are pretty heavy for a 9yr old at 12.5+Kg vs 9.5Kg for the Trek. At the time I nearly purchased a Hoy Bonaly which is another 9Kg bike and looks quite funky. Not available new any more loads on eBay for £200.

The Giant ARX24 looks decent too.

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/arx-24

Edited by benny.c on Tuesday 18th November 09:51

[Matt_N]

24” is a bit of an in between size, if you can, get him on a 26” as it will last much longer.

[Liamjrhodes]

Just got my daughter a 24" Specialized Riprock to move up to from her 20" version.
It is reasonably light and has a very low top tube which helps
Picked it up second hand and have replaced all the wear items

Second hand makes sense to me as kids don't always grow consistently so may have a spurt and outgrow the bike before their next birthday

[journeymanpro]

bought my daughter a merida matts j+. cracking bike and very lightweight.

[PomBstard]

Matt_N said:

24 is a bit of an in between size, if you can, get him on a 26 as it will last much longer.

If he’s already 9 then this is what I would suggest too. I bought a 24” bike for PBJnr3 when he was 7 and he was on his sister’s size M 26” FS Trek when he was 10. At 11.5 he’s now on a size M Giant Trance 27.5” - you’re right in assuming the bikes will come fast at this age!

See if there are any used size S (or even XS) 26” bikes around and try one of those - likely to last a bike longer, and there might be more choice

[Shaoxter]

My 8yo has the Frog 61/24in one and he loves it. It was under £400, not sure what extra things you would need on a £1k kids bike!

[Joe M]

Check out the Specialized Jett range, they are designed with a wider range of adjustment to last longer with growing kids.

[TwistingMyMelon]

FB MP all the way / ebay

I got a £60 Kona Jake - ace bike - just a mini CX bike

Plus my daughter can leave it anywhere without it being nicked /worried about when she scrapes it etc

[Dan_1981]

Thanks all - some good pointers there - i'll try a 26" as that would be preferable but i'm not sure he'll be big enough.

Been searching around the internet along with looking at the pointers above...

Hornit Hero
Shyre Eastie
Shyre Hopton
Yomo 24
Trek Wahoo
Woom Explore 5

All seem to be really well regarded.

He likes the look of the Shyre Eastie but Shyre seem to be a very new brand, and also it's quite heavy at over 13kg....

[Davie]

I think it depends on your definition of outgrown?

I've seen local kids taller than my little boy still riding 20" bikes and they look massive on them... and conversely, I moved mine from his 20" bike to a 24" Vitus Nucleus when he'd just turned 6 and a few weeks back I convinced myself he was now too big for it and he's riding a 27.5" / small framed Bossnut now. Similarly my little girl is 5 and rides a 20" Scott MTB and her little school pal is on a pink 14" bike with stabilisers.

Point being, kids are all different sizes and ability so picking the "correct" size is a bit of a minefield. If he's outgrown his 20", as in is the seat right up at it's highest point and his knees are hitting the bars... in which case he could possibly jump to a 26" wheel with small frame however if he just starting to look a wee bit big on it, then a move up to a 24" might be better?

Like many, I've only ever bought bikes used and sold them for pretty much the same money, if not for a small profit... kids outgrow bikes rapidly and depending on their attitude, potentially wreck them very quickly too. Plenty used bikes for sale, however I'd be getting him in to the local bike shop to try and couple of frame size options and bear in mind, different geometry etc can all have an effect.

[PomBstard]

Can you get Polygon in the UK? The 24” we bought was a Polygon Relic (I think) which was good value and could also accept 26” wheels later if that’s something you want to try

[Craikeybaby]

My lad is 9, and starting to look too big for his Vitus Nucleus 24 - he is one of the bigger kids in his class though (no idea why, both wife and I are short). It has been a good bike, albeit not hardcore enough for the mountain biking we do. He also has a Frog bike for riding to school etc.

[magpie215]

Have a look at the Boardman junior range at Halfords.

[Pablo16v]

My son had a 24" Whyte 303 aged 8 and he managed to ride it until he was ready to jump to a small 27.5" hardtail. It was a great bike with really good geometry, and he progressed loads on it.

[plynchy]

Always, always, always buy used in their younger years, went through a bike a year with my lad, grew like a weed from age 11, always got close to purchase price back when I sold the bike on.

He's 15 and now on the same size frame as me, so spent a bit more on the last one, which should last a few years.