The Guide to Kids Mountain Bikes

The Guide to Kids Mountain Bikes

Introduction

Mountain bikes are not only a great way to get your kids outside and moving but also a great cross-training tool for skiing. They're also an excellent way for them to exercise and improve their health. If you're unfamiliar with mountain biking, you might be wondering how to size a bike for kids or which type of bike is best for your little shredder. To help answer some of these questions, we've put together this guide on choosing the perfect mountain bike for your child!

What Wheel Size

First, let's start with wheel size most kids' bikes are sized by the diameter of their wheels and go from 12" to 29". Most Mountain bikes are from 24"-29" with adult bike wheels starting at 27.5"-29" and sizing XS-XL or S1-S6 (Specialized).

Now what size for my kid?

Wheel size

Age

Height

Inseam

12”

2-3

2’10”-3’4”

14-17” 

14”

3-4

3’1”-3’7”

16-20” 

16”

4-5

3’7”-4’0”

18-22” 

18”

5-6

3’9”-4’3”

20-24” 

20”

5-8

4’0”-4’5”

22-25” 

24”

7-11

4’5”-4’9”

24-28” 

26"

12-13

4’9”-4’11”

28-30”

27.5" and 29"

13+

4’11”+

30”+

 

With this being a good starting point the next best thing to do is to measure your child. You will want to measure their height and inseam. With those numbers you will want to compare them to the bike's stand-over heights and min/max seat post heights.

The standover height is the height of the bike's top tube, this means your child's inseam needs to be at least as tall as the standover height.

The seat post height is how high or low your seat post can go. The minimum seatpost height should be at least 1-3" higher than their inseam. We recommend a dropper post for most mountain bikes(DJ's and DH bikes excluded) which can go from 90mm-250mm.

Do not buy a bike that has a minimum seatpost height higher than 1-3" longer than your child's inseam. this may result in your kids not having a good time or getting hurt.

What To Do When Your Child Is In Between Sizes

If you're in between sizes, ask for help at a bike shop. They'll be able to find a bike that's close to the right size and adjust it so it fits your child perfectly.

We typically see families wanting to size up, which is ok especially if you kid is a confident rider and growing fast.

What type of Bike Should my kids

The best trail bikes are lightweight, tough, and capable on both climbs and descents. So if you're looking for a bike that will let your kid tackle anything the trail throws at them—without compromising their comfort or safety a trail bike is the way to go. This is the quiver killer the one bike that can do it all. Trail bikes are a great starting point and should be able to handle any terrain your kid throws at it from single track to downhill/bike park and pump track to dirt jumps.

Downhill mountain bikes are the fastest and most aggressive bike on the market. They're designed to be ridden at high speeds down steep and rowdy terrain. Downhill bikes are awesome for the bike park but not fun to pedal. Consider a DH bike if your kid wants to starting racing Downhill.

Dirt Jumper or DJ for short. These are your pump track, skatepark and dirt jump bikes. Designed to be nimble and playful. Although they do have suspension they are not recommended for trails or any rough terrain.

E-Bike because lets face it you sick and tired of you kid complaining about the climb or tired of waiting. The reality is typically kids cannot pedal as fast because of their little legs and they all just hate climbing. Although most parents feel like ebikes are cheating, there are some benefits besides having to bribe your kid to ride to the top with you or drag them along with you. One of those is progression, imagine if your kid was able to ride the same trail over and over again. Next is safety, no more dropping in when your kid is exhausted. Another point is health, they will be able to ride twice if not three times as far.

Kids Mountain Bikes

It is a tricky task to pick a bike for your child. You have to consider many factors, including their age, size, and skill level. Here are some recommendations

  • Transition Ripcord
  • Commercial Meta
  • Specialized P-Series
  • Specialized Turbo Levo HT

We hope that this guide has given you the confidence to get out there and explore with your kids. Mountain biking is a fantastic way for families to spend time together, build relationships and create memories that will last a lifetime.