[bdamschen]

So... a little while ago my kid got to ride his buddy's 20" Early Rider Hellion on a short trail ride with me. He's got a 16" early rider right now that is pretty cool, except it's single speed(not many 16" whips out there with gears). Breaking into the 20" wheel bikes, I can finally get one with gears. It was a little big for him (his buddy is almost 6 and he's almost 5), but with the gears he pedaled it places that normally he would just rage quit and want to go home on his current bike.
It looks like that ride is gonna cost me about $1,400 since a bike with gears is all he talks about:

So now here comes the dilemma: I've been looking around and that Early Rider Hellion is pretty dialed. GX derailleur and cassette, 22lbs, decent air fork up front, legit slack head angle, etc. Hellion 20


I also found Flow bikes that also seem to be legit, but they don't really have a price tag on them. 21 lbs, build whatever. I like them because they're based in Truckee, Ca and I like to support US businesses: Flow 20" Custom 10 spd Bike with Manitou Junit fork | flowkidsbikes

Then there's the nukeproof cub scout. It seems to be the cheapest and also has the cheapest parts, but the geo looks dialed. It's also the heaviest at 23.7 lbs and I've found with little kids, the weight is really important for them to feel confident on tech stuff. Nukeproof Cub-Scout 20 Race Bike (Box 4) 2021 | Chain Reaction


Still on the hunt. Any bike dads out there have other recommendations?

 

[jonKranked]

this thread is mostly focused on 24" kids bikes, but i'd wager most of the brands also have 20" models.

24/26" Kids Bikes Currently Available - 2021

I updated this because I'm doing the research for Haley right now and a bunch of us have kids in this range, I might as well pass it along. Feel free to link it out to MTBR, Pinkbike, etc. if it's helpful to others. I think I got all the major and boutique manufacturers who are currently...

ridemonkey.bikemag.com

 

[FlipSide]

My son is now 11 and riding an adult (Small) 26" bike, so I am a bit out of the loop regarding kid bikes.

Several years ago, he had a Spawn Cycles Banshee (16"). That was a truly amazing kids bike. Super light and well thought out. I suggest you check them out.

The 20" Yama Jama is probably an awesome high-end bike for a kid if you have the budget for it.

Yama Jama 20"

20" front suspension bike for kids 4-7. Great for singletrack and technical trails. 10-speed, 80mm travel air fork, dropper post routing, tubeless-ready, ~21.5lbs, minimim height 42"+ tall IN STOCK. SHIPS IN 1-2 DAYS.

spawncycles.com

 

[jonKranked]

fwiw my son just turned 7, and last year when he was 6 we got him on a Giant STP 24. they make 20" models as well. maybe not as high end builds or as light as the ones you listed, but also much less expensive. i have taken my son on some easy local trails and it has had no issues. came with hydraulic disc brakes (kid size levers too), 42t 9 speed 1x drivetrain. anything that may brake on it would easily be replaceable.

STP 20 (2022) | Giant Bicycles US

From the driveway to the bike park, STP 20 helps young riders build their skills and make the transition from wobbly laps around the block to fun trails and off...

www.giant-bicycles.com

 

[bdamschen]

fwiw my son just turned 7, and last year when he was 6 we got him on a Giant STP 24. they make 20" models as well

STP 20 (2022) | Giant Bicycles US

From the driveway to the bike park, STP 20 helps young riders build their skills and make the transition from wobbly laps around the block to fun trails and off...

www.giant-bicycles.com

I do like the giant. I'm so anti grip shift though that I'm not sure I could bear the thought of it being the first thing my kid learns to shift on.

 

[daisycutter]

Its a but heavy but Jamis has the xr20 with gears for much less $s. https://www.jamisbikes.com/xr20/

 

[jonKranked]

I do like the giant. I'm so anti grip shift though that I'm not sure I could bear the thought of it being the first thing my kid learns to shift on.

you could swap it out for a regular shifter and still come in at under the cost of most other options.

the stp 24 we have came with a microshift drivetrain with a normal style trigger shifter.

 

[bdamschen]

you could swap it out for a regular shifter and still come in at under the cost of most other options.

the stp 24 we have came with a microshift drivetrain with a normal style trigger shifter.

yeah, that's an option. His little shredder buddies all have suspension forks and all that jazz. I was toying with the idea of buying a cheaper bike with different geo, selling off the parts and then putting good stuff on. He actually goes pretty hard on his bike, so I don't mind coughing up money for a good one. That and he's got a little brother 3 years behind that'll inherit everything, so it's like a 2 for one deal.

 

[jonKranked]

yeah, that's an option. His little shredder buddies all have suspension forks and all that jazz. I was toying with the idea of buying a cheaper bike with different geo, selling off the parts and then putting good stuff on. He actually goes pretty hard on his bike, so I don't mind coughing up money for a good one. That and he's got a little brother 3 years behind that'll inherit everything, so it's like a 2 for one deal.

my son is quite tall for his age, enough so that i skipped 20" and went straight to 24". by the time he outgrows this bike i'll just put him on one of my old 26" bikes.

 

[Andeh]

I got my kid a Commencal Ramones 16" for Christmas 2020 (he was 4 at the time). I should probably start looking for a 20" given lead times and him starting to grow again (he's only like 42"), but he hasn't been super into riding other than in parking lots. I've been really happy with the Commencal though... it had suitably narrow bars & thin grips. I did replace the cable disc brakes with hydraulic Tektros though so I could run the levers closer to the bar for him. Build kit on the Meta HT 20" looks pretty good for a little guy who actually rides trails.

Since my kid isn't really expressing interest in riding on dirt yet, I'll probably just get a Spec Riprock 20, which is way cheaper than anything with a suspension fork. And, it comes in red. Because for little kids that matters a lot.

 

[jonKranked]

I got my kid a Commencal Ramones 16" for Christmas 2020 (he was 4 at the time). I should probably start looking for a 20" given lead times and him starting to grow again (he's only like 42"), but he hasn't been super into riding other than in parking lots. I've been really happy with the Commencal though... it had suitably narrow bars & thin grips. I did replace the cable disc brakes with hydraulic Tektros though so I could run the levers closer to the bar for him. Build kit on the Meta HT 20" looks pretty good for a little guy who actually rides trails.

Since my kid isn't really expressing interest in riding on dirt yet, I'll probably just get a Spec Riprock 20, which is way cheaper than anything with a suspension fork. And, it comes in red. Because for little kids that matters a lot.

the ramones 24 was on my short list, but the giant won out because it was actually available at the time.

 

[bdamschen]

the ramones 24 was on my short list, but the giant won out because it was actually available at the time.

The commencals are super rad. They are pretty heavy tho. One of our neighbors bought their kid a ramones 14 when he was 3 and it was beefy as heck. Probably weighed twice as much as the 14" woom my kid was on at the time.

this thread is mostly focused on 24" kids bikes, but i'd wager most of the brands also have 20" models.

24/26" Kids Bikes Currently Available - 2021

I updated this because I'm doing the research for Haley right now and a bunch of us have kids in this range, I might as well pass it along. Feel free to link it out to MTBR, Pinkbike, etc. if it's helpful to others. I think I got all the major and boutique manufacturers who are currently...

ridemonkey.bikemag.com

I just discovered the 20" full suspension norco through that link. Nope nope nope. Not healthy for me to have that list at all. Gonna have to put the blinders back on.

 

[jonKranked]

I just discovered the 20" full suspension norco through that link. Nope nope nope. Not healthy for me to have that list at all. Gonna have to put the blinders back on.

wait till you see the transition ripcord

 

[djjohnr]

My kids were on Spesh hardtails through 20", no complaints. When my daughter was able to ride a 24 I got her a Rocky Mountain Reaper FS which has served her well. She's outgrown it now so it's going to my son. The biggest PITA is finding dropper posts that work with lightweight riders. There's more options for that now than there was a few years ago.

 

[bdamschen]

wait till you see the transition ripcord

Yeah, when my oldest is big enough for a 24", it's gonna be hard not to go completely off the rails and get him something really nice. I kinda want him to actually care and try to work for something like that first though.

Right now his biggest ask is a bike with gears and a front shock. Not too bad for a 4 year old.

My kids were on Spesh hardtails through 20", no complaints. When my daughter was able to ride a 24 I got her a Rocky Mountain Reaper FS which has served her well. She's outgrown it now so it's going to my son. The biggest PITA is finding dropper posts that work with lightweight riders. There's more options for that now than there was a few years ago.

Looks like the trailcraft bikes come with an optional KS 75 mm dropper that I'm guessing is pretty kid specific?

"KS LEV Si 75mm "

 

[djjohnr]

Yeah, when my oldest is big enough for a 24", it's gonna be hard not to go completely off the rails and get him something really nice. I kinda want him to actually care and try to work for something like that first though.

Right now his biggest ask is a bike with gears and a front shock. Not too bad for a 4 year old.


Looks like the trailcraft bikes come with an optional KS 75 mm dropper that I'm guessing is pretty kid specific?

"KS LEV Si 75mm "

Yeah, KS and PNW have options now. There's probably more.

 

[jonKranked]

Yeah, when my oldest is big enough for a 24", it's gonna be hard not to go completely off the rails and get him something really nice. I kinda want him to actually care and try to work for something like that first though.

Right now his biggest ask is a bike with gears and a front shock. Not too bad for a 4 year old.


Looks like the trailcraft bikes come with an optional KS 75 mm dropper that I'm guessing is pretty kid specific?

"KS LEV Si 75mm "

Personally I'm not convinced the amount of benefit a 20 suspension fork provides is worth the weight.

 

[bdamschen]

Personally I'm not convinced the amount of benefit a 20 suspension fork provides is worth the weight.

Yeah, that one is more his request than anything because he has a few homies running around with squishy forks.

 

[jonKranked]

Yeah, that one is more his request than anything because he has a few homies running around with squishy forks.

Typical mountain biker. "Well I don't need it, but I sure as hell want it"

 

[toodles]

Personally I'm not convinced the amount of benefit a 20 suspension fork provides is worth the weight.

I got my kid one of those fat tyred Trek Roscoes. Every kids suspension fork I saw did more harm than good in my opinion.

 

[bdamschen]

I got my kid one of those fat tyred Trek Roscoes. Every kids suspension fork I saw did more harm than good in my opinion.

The RST spex on his little buddy's 20" seemed to work decently well. Gotta make sure you got the right air pressure and all that, but I don't see why it would be a hinderance

 

[dump]

Good running conversation in that previous thread. My two cents are:

Purchased a 20" bike used for my 6yr-old when the uncertainty of when or if the Spawn I ordered would arrive. Was a Commencal Ramones with 2.5" tires, aluminum frame, rigid, grip shift and 7 speed gears. Cost me $250. Prior to purchase I thought the tires were too wide, and the gripshift was corny (and potentially difficult to use). I was wrong. The tires are fine, plenty of grip, not too slow and perfect for riding all winter long... with a bit of trail thrown in. He immediately got used to the gripshift and required no instructions from me on how to use it. He loves the bike. Shortly after this one arrived, Spawn's cargo ship got unloaded and they sent the bike. He doesn't know about it yet, but there's an even sweeter ride in a box under the stairs. The rigid fork with fatter tires has been just fine for him. Light enough that he can pull it up a bit, and overall the bike is not too heavy.

The Spawns do have a nicer parts spec. Whatever you get though, the kid will love it. The experience is 100% more important than the equipment. These bikes we're talking about are far and away better than what I rode at this age, and it sure as hell didn't affect me in any way. We weren't comparing bikes and quality/spec with each other either... maybe the color or bmx vs not. My bike at this age had solid tires and a coaster brake, and wasn't a cool bmx like my neighbor or brother. Yet, it's what I caught my first genuine air on... and it was great.

 

[jonKranked]

The RST spex on his little buddy's 20" seemed to work decently well. Gotta make sure you got the right air pressure and all that, but I don't see why it would be a hinderance

as long as its got rebound so its not a pogo stick it should be fine.

 

[SylentK]

Here ya go

To be fair, my little Princess (7yo) does the Woom thing. Looking to get her a front suspension bike next. If not an ebike w/ front suspension. That's pricey tho.

 

[Electric_City]

yeah, that's an option. His little shredder buddies all have suspension forks and all that jazz. I was toying with the idea of buying a cheaper bike with different geo, selling off the parts and then putting good stuff on. He actually goes pretty hard on his bike, so I don't mind coughing up money for a good one. That and he's got a little brother 3 years behind that'll inherit everything, so it's like a 2 for one deal.

Pshhhh, by the time your 2yo turns 4, that bike will be so out of date...

 

[Gary]

He's 5?
Youre mostly greatly over thinking it.

 

[bdamschen]

He's 5?
Youre mostly greatly over thinking it.

Well yeah. I'm a bike nerd- it's what we do, remember?

And to be fair to him, he's pulling up off of every rock, every broken piece of sidewalk, and every curb he can find right now. So if he's stoked, I'm stoked.

Shoot, he tried to thrown a whip on his stacyc last weekend, and with the 6 inches of air he got, it worked out for him. He barely got the tire back straight, but he actually did it. We had to have a talk after about not trying new shit at WOT, but I think he could tell I was more excited that he pulled it than angry.

 

[Gary]

Yeah. and it's nice to be able to buy them nice things.
Mine all had second hand and hand me down speciailized hardtails at that age. Not the lightest but perfectly capable little bikes meticulously maintained by their bike nerd dad. Even got the cheap forks working well for them.

 

[englertracing]

The commencals are super rad. They are pretty heavy tho. One of our neighbors bought their kid a ramones 14 when he was 3 and it was beefy as heck. Probably weighed twice as much as the 14" woom my kid was on at the time.


I just discovered the 20" full suspension norco through that link. Nope nope nope. Not healthy for me to have that list at all. Gonna have to put the blinders back on.

how about a used one?

 

[bdamschen]

how about a used one?

Depending on the price, I could be down for that

 

[Sandwich]

Yeah. and it's nice to be able to buy them nice things.
Mine all had second hand and hand me down speciailized hardtails at that age. Not the lightest but perfectly capable little bikes meticulously maintained by their bike nerd dad. Even got the cheap forks working well for them.

this is what I did. Nicely fitted little hotrock or whatever. Sus forks are mostly useless at this age and pricepoint- the weight is worse than the performance...but it's got light alloy rims, a nice fitting saddle, good bars and stem and the brakes work. It's better than any bike I had until I was 15 and spent $650 on it, and even that is questionable!

that being said, it sounds like your kid is a ripper, so get him what he needs. My son will barely touch a bike and my daughter isn't really interested in off-roading, so it's mostly bike paths and shredding the front yard. No need for disk brakes there.

 

[bullcrew]

I stuck Kai on a skuut bike at 2 and a ktm pro 50sr at 4...wasn't alot of choices 10 years ago...so we opted mx...

I look around today and there's a ton of badass little bikes now ..buddy has one with a single crown shiver lol...his kid rips he just moved up to 26"...

Now that these kids can start earlier the future is going to be fun to watch...they won't know they can't....

 

[sbabuser]

Personally I'm not convinced the amount of benefit a 20 suspension fork provides is worth the weight.

You likely haven't seen a Spawn Brood or Trailcraft tc30 up close yet. They work like real forks and are fairly light (cf lowers!).

 

[jonKranked]

You likely haven't seen a Spawn Brood or Trailcraft tc30 up close yet. They work like real forks and are fairly light (cf lowers!).

Should add the disclaimer: at a price that's reasonable for a kids suspension fork.

 

[dump]

Should add the disclaimer: at a price that's reasonable for a kids suspension fork.

I just looked at the price. $500 US for a kid's fork is pretty steep!

 

[sbabuser]

I just looked at the price. $500 US for a kid's fork is pretty steep!

You're not going to get quality for cheap with the quantity they're building. And every now and then there are used ones for sale.

 

[dump]

You're not going to get quality for cheap with the quantity they're building. And every now and then there are used ones for sale.

Yeah, it’s just stunning. I suppose in my mind it’s smaller, less refined somehow, and therefore should be cheaper, but it is the same price as a regular mtb suspension fork.

 

[Redwood Mulch Chucker]

Bit late to the party, but since moving to Colorado another vote for Trailcraft. These things are everywhere here!

Blue Sky 20 | Kids 20 Inch Mountain Bikes | Trailcraft

This bike is considered best in class and is custom-built just for you from the frame up in Fort Collins, Colorado. Due to the overwhelming order volume, please expect a shipping date of approximately…

www.trailcraftcycles.com

They are set up well, use custom short cranks that are size specific, you can get them with a dropper and the bikes are light. I see them in the elementary school bike racks with XTR brakes and other craziness.....

I've got a Ripcord we held onto from the older boy, but the little one's only 5 so a ways off from riding that. I found a 26" front wheel for it so it's currently juniors first mullet.

I think a Trailcraft 20" will be a perfect pre-Transition transition from his single speed bike.

 

[bdamschen]

Kiddo's Prevelo showed up yesterday. We chose no dropper since at the time of ordering he was just barely able to put a leg over one, but now a month later, he could totally use a dropper with 3" of stroke. Might have to go hunt for one.
My wife had him put it together(she did a bolt check after) before I got home from work so we could go ride as soon as I got home from work.

 

[dump]

Bit late to the party, but since moving to Colorado another vote for Trailcraft. These things are everywhere here!

Blue Sky 20 | Kids 20 Inch Mountain Bikes | Trailcraft

This bike is considered best in class and is custom-built just for you from the frame up in Fort Collins, Colorado. Due to the overwhelming order volume, please expect a shipping date of approximately…

www.trailcraftcycles.com

They are set up well, use custom short cranks that are size specific, you can get them with a dropper and the bikes are light. I see them in the elementary school bike racks with XTR brakes and other craziness.....

I've got a Ripcord we held onto from the older boy, but the little one's only 5 so a ways off from riding that. I found a 26" front wheel for it so it's currently juniors first mullet.

I think a Trailcraft 20" will be a perfect pre-Transition transition from his single speed bike.

Price of those things is mad. Are the stickers removable? Trailcraft sounds adjacent to mastercraft/huffy