Trail bike for 7+ year old. 20 or 24 inch? What's out there?

[I've seen black diamonds!]

^^^^ Didn't know about SMBA. I may sign him up for a camp later this summer when he is free. Might do the fall too if I can make the schedule work.

[stapes]

Anyone have experience with the Commencal Meta HT?

There’s a used one for sale at a pretty good price not too far from me. 24”. My kid is good on his 20” Trek Roscoe for now, but is going to outgrow it in the next year. Considering jumping on this now to be done with it.

[EWG]

Any chance you could put out a price you're looking for on these bikes? Might be interested.

Realized I never followed up with the note that they both sold mid-June. Sorry rudy.

[Dantheman]

Anyone have experience with the Commencal Meta HT?

There’s a used one for sale at a pretty good price not too far from me. 24”. My kid is good on his 20” Trek Roscoe for now, but is going to outgrow it in the next year. Considering jumping on this now to be done with it.

Current model with the Manitou JUNIT fork and dropper post? It's a pretty solid bike.

[stapes]

Current model with the Manitou JUNIT fork and dropper post? It's a pretty solid bike.

It’s a few years old. No dropper I don’t think.

If it were a bit closer to me I’d probably just go get it.

[Dantheman]

It’s a few years old. No dropper I don’t think.

If it were a bit closer to me I’d probably just go get it.

What's the component spec and price?

[stapes]

What's the component spec and price?

Not sure honestly the posting isn’t that detailed. May have to just go check it out. Asking $450.

[Dantheman]

That's a pretty good price regardless. I don't know how the geo compares to the current model but Commencal has generally been pretty dialed on that front for a while. Ultimately, it's a hardtail, so your top priorities are a good fork and decent brakes. Definitely budget for adding a dropper.

[stapes]

Well, I ended up grabbing the Commencal for $400. Figured might as well. Mostly Ride Alpha components, their Prodigy fork. py brakes, which I'll replace eventually. Needs some new rubber fairly soon. I may try to hold off on giving it to him until Christmas if he doesn't grow too fast before then! He may need it as a backup bike prior too.

Overall feels like a solid bike. Thanks for the input DtM.

[Dantheman]

Nice. The Ride Alpha fork isn't as nice as the JUNIT stuff but it works.

[canyonrider]

Thought I would throw this out here - I'm selling my kiddo's Spawn Yama Jama 24, located in Boulder. I bought this as the stock build from Spawn a few years ago, including Reba fork, NX 1x11 drivetrain, Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, and 2.3 tires set up tubeless. Well maintained with nearly new chain and grips. A few paint scuffs on the frame but no dents. I have this listed elsewhere for $600, thinking $500 for the TRG price. Local pick up only.

[stapes]

Dang. If you had posted that last week I would've grabbed it in a heartbeat. I'm still kinda tempted, ha.

[carlh]

Tempting but I’m up in Seattle. Hopefully someone local needs it.

Thought I would throw this out here - I'm selling my kiddo's Spawn Yama Jama 24, located in Boulder. I bought this as the stock build from Spawn a few years ago, including Reba fork, NX 1x11 drivetrain, Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, and 2.3 tires set up tubeless. Well maintained with nearly new chain and grips. A few paint scuffs on the frame but no dents. I have this listed elsewhere for $600, thinking $500 for the TRG price. Local pick up only.

[I've seen black diamonds!]

Ended up signing my kid up for SMBA on Mondays. He loved the first week. They rode around in the Valmont bike park and the coaches told me he was doing great. This week the Monday session was cancelled for the holiday but they had a Wednesday makeup session. Not many kids showed up and he went off with a group of bigger, older more experienced kids. They took him here:



Oops. I'm sure they skipped some of the sections featured in the vid, but my kid weighs 50 lbs, is too small for most 24" bikes and is new to the sport. He's starting to do well carrying speed through corners on smooth trails and even getting his wheels (barely) off the ground on bike park features, but this was waaaaaaay too big a step up for him. He ate shit a bunch of times going up. He said going down was pretty fun until he fell off a rock onto a cactus that left dozens of thorns in his side.

Anyway, he still wants to go back (as long as the next trail they ride is less rowdy). It's cool that this program exists, and I'm all for pushing kids, but this was pretty dopey. They admitted to my wife that it was a bad decision to take him on the trail. According to my wife, who has done the pickup and drop off, no one has asked her any questions about his skill or experience. I'm going to talk with the director about how they make decisions about where kids should ride, because the teenagers/college kids leading the groups don't seem like they're capable of making good decisions. I'm just glad he's willing to get back on the bike.

[Danno]

ISBD, I had a similar experience with SMBA, where they took my then very inexperienced daughter on her first day on a trail that was way too hard for her (but not Hall Ranch, holy fuck!). We also talked to the director about it, but he'll talk nice to you while not being helpful.

We've done other SMBA stuff since, and she's generally liked it, but I'm not terribly impressed with them as an organization. I am curious to hear what happens when you talk to the director if you're willing to share (here or in a PM).

[stapes]

Dang ISBD. That is too bad. At least he is ready to get back on the horse. That's good.

My 8yo is in SMBA on Tuesdays. So far they've been at the S Boulder stuff (Marshall, Flatirons Vista, Dowdy). I think they do VBP soon, then a Heil and Betasso at some point. No way would he be ready for the rock garden!

It definitely seems like they could do a better job of grouping kids in similar skill level together. Seems like in my kids group there are a few rippers, then a bunch of less skilled riders who slow them down. There are 3 'coaches/instructors' for the group. From what I've witnessed there will usually be one up front with the solid riders, followed way behind by the other 2 with the slower riders. Kinda seems like some of the kids don't even want to be there tbh.

I'm wondering if there are other options to get my kid in that are better suited for his skill level. He loves it and wants to ride harder stuff. I know there is Boulder Junior Cycling as well. I'm going to look into what else is out there next spring.

I did end up getting him on the Commencal too, and he loves it so far.

[canyonrider]

because the teenagers/college kids leading the groups don't seem like they're capable of making good decisions.

This has been our issue with SMBA as well, although fortunately my kids didn't get thrown into the rock garden (!) IME their staff was much more professional and better trained before the pandemic, but perhaps we just got lucky. We had great experiences with the Avid summer bike camps at Valmont for building basic skills, with SMBA being a nice follow-up to push the kids a bit more physically.

[Danno]

This has been our issue with SMBA as well, although fortunately my kids didn't get thrown into the rock garden (!) IME their staff was much more professional and better trained before the pandemic, but perhaps we just got lucky. We had great experiences with the Avid summer bike camps at Valmont for building basic skills, with SMBA being a nice follow-up to push the kids a bit more physically.

My first experience was in summer 2018, so pre-pandemic. And yeah, my kid didn't get thrown into the rock garden (holy fuck!). But her very first session, as a 7 year old on a 20" wheel bike, a kid who had barely mountain biked before (and they knew this of course), their intent was to bike up Doudy Draw and then do an evaluation of rider skills on Springbrook. Which is totally in line with the experienced biker view of those trails as beginner trails, but they are not true beginner trails for never-ever small kids. I dropped her off and assumed they would have her on Community Ditch (and do some initial rider evaluation), and was shocked that they took a complete newb 7 year old up Doudy Draw. Needless to say, my kiddo did not do well (didn't help that they had her with older more accomplished boys and she was the only really little kid and only girl). Doudy Draw may not seem like a big uphill, but it is for a little kid who has never done anything like that. Total (and obvious) error in judgement, and the director barely took responsibility while offering platitudes.

Oh, and when she struggled mightily, rather than readjusting the plan, the coach just threw in the towel and called my ex to come get her.

They are not terrible, my kid has had a lot of fun with them over the years. But sometimes they have terrible judgment.

[carlh]

Bumping since I’m looking for a 24 for my 7yo for Christmas. He is 51” and probably 55lbs. He has been steadily improving on his spawn yj 20 this year and a size up will be needed next summer. I had him sit on a friends woom off air 5 (28” saddle to ground) and he was on tippy toes to touch the ground but a lower stack seatpost might fix that.
Considering the woom, prevelo Zulu, and spawn yj24. Erring towards buying the best deal but could be swayed if anyone has strong thoughts.
Also wanted to buy, if the green spawn up thread is still available I’m happy to pay shipping.

[meepmoop24]

Anyone have thoughts or experience on turning a Giant Trance Jr (26") into a mullet by putting a 27.5 fork and wheel on the front? I want to get a bit better rollover capability and there are more tire options in a 27.5.

It looks like I can find forks with the same axle to crown (A2C) measurement as the stock fork, and the wheel diameter is ~25mm larger, which means the A2C would effectively increase by 12.5mm. This would slack out the head angle by roughly half a degree which doesn't seem too extreme.

[One (+) Sentence]

Anyone have thoughts or experience on turning a Giant Trance Jr (26") into a mullet by putting a 27.5 fork and wheel on the front? I want to get a bit better rollover capability and there are more tire options in a 27.5.

It looks like I can find forks with the same axle to crown (A2C) measurement as the stock fork, and the wheel diameter is ~25mm larger, which means the A2C would effectively increase by 12.5mm. This would slack out the head angle by roughly half a degree which doesn't seem too extreme.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the fork on that bike isn’t already designed around a 27.5” wheel. I’d be more surprised if it was 26” specific.

[schuss]

Bumping since I’m looking for a 24 for my 7yo for Christmas. He is 51” and probably 55lbs. He has been steadily improving on his spawn yj 20 this year and a size up will be needed next summer. I had him sit on a friends woom off air 5 (28” saddle to ground) and he was on tippy toes to touch the ground but a lower stack seatpost might fix that.
Considering the woom, prevelo Zulu, and spawn yj24. Erring towards buying the best deal but could be swayed if anyone has strong thoughts.
Also wanted to buy, if the green spawn up thread is still available I’m happy to pay shipping.

I thought the construction of the prevelo's was better than the kids woom's I've seen, but I know plenty of people that love theirs. Also, if you have AAC or access to expertvoice, woom bikes are on there. Woom off air looked to be 274 off list there.

[carlh]

Yes I can get that discount, prevolos are also on sale right now. Also looking at a used trailcraft on pink bike that might be the winner pending shipping costs.

[grskier]

Not in line with the name of the thread, but the spirit.

My 11 year old is too big for the 24" bike. I'd like to keep it around a grand and have until May-ish... should I just look for an old, good spec 26" bike. Go for the tweener modern 26" bike?

[VTskibum]

I think you're best doing tweener 26" as there are many part options around, especially cheap used XC wheelsets perfect for kids!

I'm in that situation now. My 12 y/o was too big for his 24" but not really interested enough to drop big $ on an expensive trailcraft/spawn etc. I watched FB market and other areas around for a while until I stumbled into an aluminum Giant frame + parts. Got it for cheap enough and built up w/ a decent used stans crest/hope+mavic wheelset, fork, and old 10 spd drivetrain I had laying around. Bought 150mm crankset w/ narrow-wide ring and some Shimano 201 brakes for pretty cheap. All in probably $300 excluding most of my parts and is much lighter than I'd spend even for a used 26" bike. Has worked out great and is somehting like 22 lbs.