Kids Bike Buyers Guide
That time of the season has come again and your child has inevitably grown out of their current bike faster than you thought. It's time for a new one, so here is a guide to Contender kid's bike selection.
The Little Senders Option
Does your kid like to go big or go home? Send it without thought? Full-suspension (shocks on the rear and front) might just be the way to go. SCOTT and Mondraker offer alloy full-suspension equipped for the roughest trails. Frames built around all-mountain/enduro geometry, 140mm of front travel, and 24” wheels they are set to jump, drop, and hit rock gardens as needed.
The Mondraker F-Trick is the nicer spec of the two, built around X-Fusion Velvet air suspension, and SRAM SX/NX 12 speed shifting. Four-piston SRAM G2 brakes provide ample stopping power for any kid, and tubeless tires come stock from Kenda to keep pressures low and flats away.
The SCOTT Ransom 400/600 is not super different, but it is slightly easier on the wallet. With 140mm of travel, an alloy frame, and X-Fusion suspension, it’s a capable mini-trail slayer. The X-Fusion Slant air fork provides ample travel for absorbing big hits, though it offers slightly fewer adjustments than the Velvet fork on the F-Trick. Equipped with a Shimano 11-speed 500 series drivetrain, this Ransom offers a wide gear range, perfect for young riders tackling varied terrain. The two-piston Shimano 500 series brakes provide reliable stopping power, ensuring safety and control on the trails.
Both of these bikes would be great options for a kid who likes to get after it, or has some daredevil in them. Both the F-Trick and the Ransom come in 26 or 24-inch wheel options, on the same frame so they could in theory be swapped to the other wheel size if needed.
The Popular Rigid Route
As cool and fun as full-suspension bikes are, not every kid wants to send it right out of the gate. In fact, most are still learning the sport and building up their confidence on the trail. As a rule, we only carry bikes we believe in, so even the kids' full-suspension models have quality, built-to-last parts, which comes with a higher price tag. Considering the cost of a quality full-suspension and the fact that many kids may not need that much travel, fully rigid bikes tend to be the more popular option.
We pretty consistently get asked why we don't have kids' hardtails, but we truly believe that a fully rigid bike is the way to go. A bigger 2.4 tire will do more for the rider than a fork and skinnier tire will do in most cases. Not to mention, most suspension forks on kids' bikes that are coil-based don't have little to no adjustment and are very, very heavy. The fat tires keep traction high, comfort in place with a little built in suspension, keep weight low, and keep the price lower. All rigid kid's bikes we carry use 2.4” tires to achieve this.
The BMC Twostroke AL 24 and 20 both share an alloy frame, SRAM X4 drivetrain, Tektro Brakes, and a full rigid frame. Built around a bike that will be let kids transition easily into an adult bike, as it uses short-levered hydraulic brakes and a trigger-style shifter. A lot of kid’s bikes use mechanical brakes and grip shifters. The BMC’s forgo this so kids can learn the habits that will apply to their adult bikes eventually.
SCOTT also makes a full rigid bike, the Roxter. Also in 20 or 24 options, the SCOTT Roxter has cable-based brakes and grip shift but keeps the wallet a little heavier. But just like the BMC, no suspension means less parts, maintenance and cost upfront and down the road compared to a full suspension.
Kid E-Bikes?
Yes! You read that right, kid e-bikes. Mondraker and Specailized both make e-kid bikes. As fun as they are, where they really come into the picture is so you as the parent can ride closer to your normal pace, even with your kids tagging along!
Specialized has a hardtail e-kids bike, the Turbo Levo SL Kids. With 24-inch wheels, a RockShox fork, and a dropper post, this bike is ready to rip and can be a game changer when riding with the young ones by adding some speed to the mix. As mentioned above, the owners have twins they love to get out on the trails. They chose this route, opting for e-power to equalize the ride, and a hardtail setup so the twins can work on their trail skills as well!
If you're looking for a little more suspension, Mondraker has the F-Play, a full-suspension e-kids bike. Full X-Fusion suspension, SRAM 12-speed shifting, and four-piston SRAM Level BRZ brakes. This is for the kids who forgot what fear was and like to get out and rowdy on the trails! Fully decked out, the F-Play isn't missing anything.
However, do keep in mind that if your kids are more tentative about riding, adding a motor might not lower the fear factor. For a more cautious approach, it may be best to stick with analog bikes at first for young riders who need a gentler introduction.
Wrap Up
If you are having doubts, bring your kids in to try some bikes out! Most of these options are built and on hand. Any more questions or want to make sure something is in stock? Feel free to call in or shoot us an email at info@contenderbicycles.com