20 INCH BIKES
Once you hit 20 inch wheels, coaster brakes are a thing of the past and the options are endless! With many great bikes in the 20" category, narrow your search to what suits your needs. Disc brakes, front suspension, rear suspension...there are many things to consider. That said, weight and geometry are still a priority as is being realistic in the terrain you and the kiddos are riding. Here we look at the fully rigid 20 inch bikes we like for both neighborhood/light trail use and mountain biking.
Neighborhood/Light Trail
Prevelo Alpha 3
Following the trend, Prevelo's 20 inch bike is a perfect build for 6-9 year olds. Trigger shift instead of Grip, the shifting is great and we prefer trigger for future mountain bikers. This bike also uses 1 1/8 headset so you can play around with spare stems and bars laying around the garage is you are so inclined. A 68 degree head angle and new 11-38 cassette (tons of range!) make this one of the best all round neighborhood/light trail bikes. OUR FULL REVIEW HERE
Weight: 17.8 lbs | MSRP: $569 US | Min-Max inseam: 19"-23" | Where to buy: Prevelo | Prevelo Canada | Backcountry
Woom 4
The lightest bike for the 6-9 crowd that has gearing, the Woom 4 is an amazing bike. Like all Woom's, the geometry for a neighborhood machine is nailed for kids. Gripshift with adjustable stem and water bottle mounts, any 6-9 year old will be loving this amazing machine. *Note- The new 2024 woom 4 comes with a microshift 7spd gripshift which we don't have experience with but our hearing from other parents it suffers from being a really tough pull. This would point us to the Prevelo alpha for a sure easy shifting bike at a premium price. OUR FULL REVIEW HERE
Weight: 16.1lbs | MSRP: $599 US | Min-Max seat height: 22"-28" | Where to buy: Woom | REI
Guardian 20 Large
A high quality little Shimano 6spd speed bike that offers the same unique stopping mechanism for novice and new riders as the small version. Think anti-locking front brake that is actuated by a single lever (rear is activated first followed by front brake). Kids specific parts, freewheel and budget friendly steel version. OUR FULL REVIEW HERE
Weight: 22.9 lbs | MSRP: $ 399 US | Min-Max seat height: 22.5"-28.5" | Where to buy: Guardian
Guardian 20 Small
A high quality little single speed bike that offers a unique stopping mechanism for novice and new riders. Think anti-locking front brake that is actuated by a single lever (rear is activated first followed by front brake). Kids specific parts and a freewheel! Budget friendly steel version.
Weight: 20.7 lbs | MSRP: $ 339 US | Min-Max seat height: 20.8"-26.8" | Where to buy: Guardian
Polygon Premier 20
Tremendous value in this little whip. Factory direct, the Polygon premier 20 is a light weight alloy frame, 127mm cranks, kenda 1.75 inch tires, short reach v-brakes, 7spd tourney derailleur w 14-28T cassette, 69 HA, and 370mm chainstays. This is a lot of bike for a very low price. Oh yeah, a lifetime warranty on the frame, no hassle 14 day return policy, and free shipping to lower 48!
Weight: 21 lbs | MSRP: $299 US | Min-Max ride height: 3'5"-4'3" | Min Seat Height: 21.4" | Where to buy: Bikes Online
Cannondale Quick 20
Some of the big brands are finally redesigning and putting out quality bikes. Cannondale has a nice light weight bike with alloy parts and good geometry (69.5 HA, 72 STA). 7 Speed grip shift, Kenda Small block 1.5 tires, V Brakes and a freewheel make this a very good option.
Weight: 18.7 lbs | MSRP: $435 US | stand-over height: 20" | Where to buy: REI
Cleary Owl single speed
Same great bike as the 3 speed geared version but this time in a lighter single speed.
Weight: 19.2 lbs | MSRP: $ 430 US | Min-Max inseam: 19"-23" | Where to buy: Ready Set Pedal
Cleary Owl 3 speed
Steel frame and fork for a damp feel and long lasting bike. This is complemented by sealed FSA headset and low maintenance internally geared hub. Really nice 127mm cranks, 1.9 inch kenda tires, alex rim wheelset and kid friendly v-brakes round out a great bike. This bike will be handed down multiple times with ease. A fantastic ride to bomb around the neighborhood and light trail use.
Weight: 21 lbs | MSRP: $ 500 US | Min-Max inseam: 19"-23" | Where to buy: Ready Set Pedal | Competitive Cyclist
Pello Reddi 20
Fantastically light singelspeed neighborhood whip and pumptrack destroyer. Everything is perfect here from weight to crank length to brakes to geometry. You throw on a 20 inch air fork on this bike and you have a low cost amazing dirt jumper on your hands perfect for the skills park.
Weight: 17 lbs | MSRP: $419 US | Min-Max seat height: 21.75"-26" | Where to buy: Pello Bikes
Priority Start 20
Great Value in this 3 spd belt driven/grease free almost maintenance free little bike. Short reach V Brakes, freewheel and light weight great geometry frame ticks all the boxes.
Weight: 19.5 lbs | MSRP: $379 USD | Min-Max seat height: 22"-12.8" | Where to buy: Priority Bicycles
Specialized Jett 20 Geared
Specialized has upped their game for kids bikes. The Jett 20 has spot on geometry and ergonomics. Highlights include adjustable crank length, narrow q-factor, adjustable handlebar, kids size seat, tool-free brake lever adjustment and the mircoshift trigger shifter and great 2 inch wide tires. They provide a fit tool specific for the new kids bikes to make sure you purchase the right size. Also on offer is a 20 inch single speed for $425. OUR FULL REVIEW HERE
Weight: 19.3lbs | MSRP: $500 US | Min Seat Height: 23" | Where to buy: Specialized Direct | Competitive Cyclist | Backcountry
Frog 52
A long stable light weight bike with tektro v-brakes and a shimano 8spd drive-train with thumb shifter. Great for rolling around the neighborhood and light trail use with 1.5 inch tires and nice short cranks.
Weight: 19.3 lbs | MSRP: $510 USD | Min inseam: 20" | Where to buy: Ready Set Pedal
Frog 55
Same as above but a bit bigger frame for a larger child wanting to roll on 20 inch wheels.
Weight: 19.4 lbs | MSRP: $520 USD | Min inseam: 22" | Where to buy: Ready Set Pedal
Early Rider Limited Belter 20" 4 spd
Cool bike that differentiates itself with a 4 spd geared hub that is not much heavier than an conventional hub and it is belt driven for almost no maintenance. Great quality build as we have come to expect from Early Rider.
Weight: 17.6 lbs | MSRP: $529 USD | Min seat height: 22.8" | Where to buy: REI
Isla Beinn 20: UPDATE- No longer sold in North America
A 7 speed Sram X4 grip shift equipped speed demon, you can nail the fit with 2 sizes of this 20 inch bike. Very light and excellent part spec. Bigger wheels do make a difference in kiddo's ability to keep speed and endure longer rides. It's nice that Isla recognizes this and aims to get 5 year old's on 20 inch wheels with great design and light weight bikes.
Weight: 17.8 lbs | MSRP: $549 US | Min-Max seat height: 18.5"-23" (small) and 20.5"-24.5" (large) | Where to buy: Isla Bikes
Mountain Bikes
Forth Park 20
The Canadian born Park 20 offers some great value for the aspiring little mountain biker. Mechanical disc brakes for more powerful stopping bower and great set of kenda small blocks that are a great multi-surface tire for the kids. 69 degreee head angle and 375mm chainstays make it a kids all rounder. Add in 8spd derailleur from shimano, 25 T front chainring, 127mm cranks and you have pumptrack/skills park/trail bike on your hands.
Weight: 23 lbs | MSRP: $305 US | Min-Max seat height: 21.5"-28.5" | Where to buy: Forth Cycles
Woom off 4
These super light weight bikes are fantastic. Carbon Fork, amazing compound 2.25 in Schwalbe tires let you dump tire pressure out on the trail for a little bit of squish. Fantastic geometry (68 HA), awesome pedals, great 9 spd 11-32T drive train and hydraulic disc brakes. Everything you want in a neighborhood ramp charger combo MTB...except a suspension fork you say? Available for $200 more. OUR FULL REVIEW HERE
Weight: 17.2 lbs | MSRP: $799 US | Min-Max seat height: 23.9"-29.5" | Where to buy: woom
Spawn Raiju 20
A proper mountain bike, the Raiju is a robust frame, 127mm cranks paired with a sram 9 spd trigger shift drive train with a 11-34 cassette. Mechanical disc brakes and wider 2 inch kenda small block tires really separates this bike as trail oriented beast. Any 6-9 year old with a taste of single track will love this bike.
Weight: 20.9 lbs | MSRP: $760 US | Min-Max inseam : 19"-24" | Where to buy: Spawn Cycles
Cannondale Cujo RACE 20+
We usually are not that keen on plus sized tires for kids bikes as it makes for a heavier rotational weight and sluggish ride (especially around the neighborhood). However, there is no denying the plus size wheels at a lower pressure will smooth out the bumps. The Kenda 2.6 tires on the Cujo are actually a decent weight and the total weight of the bike is very respectable. Good geometry (69.5 HA, 375mm chainstays) with a nice low BB will make it a stable MTB ride, this is a great bike. Smart 110 mm cranks, 10 spd 11-42 T and hydraulic disc brakes round out a value build. There is also a lower spec build at $550 with mechanical disc brakes, 11-34T Tourney drivetrain.
Weight: 21.5 lbs | MSRP: $550-$750 US | stand-over height: 20.6" | Where to buy: REI
Pello Rover 20
Very nice bike here with aluminum frame, sram grip shift drive-train and mechanical disc brakes. We have tested the older version of this bike with v-brakes and can say the geometry is bang on. Its a versatile little machine that can handle proper trails and ripping around the neighborhood in equal doses. Tubeless ready rims, cane creek headset and 1.95 inch Kenda K-rad tires make this bike stand out. Also available with a suspension fork (see 20 inch hardtail page).
Weight: 20.3 lbs | MSRP: $559 US | Min-Max seat height: 22.5"-27.5" | Where to buy: Pello Bikes
Scott Roxter 20
Nice little 8 spd alloy bike with disc brakes, 2.6 inch Kenda Slant six tires, mechanical disc brakes and 127mm cranks. 69 degree head angle and 370mm chainstays.
Weight: 22.7 lbs | MSRP: $699 US | Standover: 20.1 in | Where to buy: EVO
Nukeproof Cub-Scout Sport
Nice trail geometry bike here with 355mm stays and 66.5 HA. Hydraulic brakes, 2.6 inch Vee tires, and bang on 127mm crank arms. 32 T front chaining with a 8 speed Altus derailleur, 11-36 T rear cassette.
Weight: 22.3 lbs | MSRP: $629 US | Standover: 20.4 in | Where to buy: Chain Reaction
REI Co-Op Rev 20
On the heavier side, we would usually steer towards something a little lighter for this wheelsize. However, this bike does have decent geometry and the 2.6 tires although heavy and sluggish on longer rides and climbing hills, they will dampen the trails at lower air pressures. Mechanical disc brakes and a 6 spd 14-28T drivetrain round out a build centered around value for an entry level mountain bike. Likely towing kids uphill at this age so grab a tow rope.
Weight: 24.5 lbs | MSRP: $369 US | Min seat height: 25.5" | Where to buy: REI
Specialized Riprock 20
This is a fantastic frame with some great spec and some not so great spec. The old Riprock was sluggish and heavy, this is a fast/quick handling bike that allows smaller kids to get on bigger wheels. Highlights are the fantastic specialized 2.35 tires, 115mm narrow Q factor cranks, kids saddle, and small diameter grips. It falls short with a derailleur with too long of a cage and the hydraulic C-STAR brakes that always gets air in the system. This is a small fitting bike with a 68 degree Head Angle and a low stack 385mm and 30mm of BB drop. This low stack combined with a low standover and min seat height (you can cut down seat post if needed) allows the smaller kids to take advantage of a bigger wheel size and weight the front end properly for cruising single track. You can always grab a riser bar as kiddo grows.
Weight: 22.8 lbs | MSRP: $650 US | Min/Max Rider height: 41'-52' | Where to buy: Specialized Direct
Marin Hidden Canyon 20 inch
Great little offering form Marin. 7 spd tourney gripshift, mechanical disc brakes, 2.125 inch tires and 140m cranks make this a smart little bike. 70 degree HA, 298 mm reach and 380mm chainstays.
Weight: N/A lbs | MSRP: $399 US | Standover: 20.15 in | Where to buy: EVO | Jenson USA
Giant STP 20
Nice looking frame with 69 Head angle, 313 mm reach and 365 mm chainstays. Well spec'd crank length at 127 mm, you get mechanical disc brakes and 2.6 inch wide kenda tires. This bike is also available with a suspension fork but its a heavy coil one (we advise against coil forks for kids, better rigid). 12x32 T gripshift shimano drivetrain rounds out the build. This bike is very similar to the commencal but better crank length.
Weight: N/A lbs | MSRP: $415 US | Min/Max Rider height: 45-51 in | Where to buy: Giant
Commencal Ramones 20
7 spd gripshift with price point Shimano tourney derailleur, this is a value bike with upsides of good quick handling geometry (69 HA, 375 chainstays) and mechanical disc brakes. Downsides are the long 145 mm cranks that should be in in the 130mm range. The wide 2.6 inch crown gems are nice on the dirt and you can lower the pressure for a damp ride but will be a little sluggish around the neighborhood due to increased volume and weight.
Weight: 22.3 lbs | MSRP: $480 US | Min/Max Rider height: 45-53 in | Where to buy: Ready Set Pedal
Early Rider Seeker 20
Fantastic 8 spd 11-42T trail bike. Light weight, Box drivetrain, mechanical disc brakes and wide 2.25 Vee tires make this a great trail bike. This is a true mountain bike for dirt oriented kids 6-9 years old.
Weight: 19 lbs | MSRP: $829 US | Min-Max seat height: 22"-26" | Where to buy: REI
BMC TWOSTROKE 20!
I can not find any reviews on this bike there is very little info out there about these bikes and basically only stock pictures. They are $499 on clearance and disappearing. I bought one because of the parts spec and price, I pick mine up tomorrow. It comes with the SDG jr pro kit that is an award winning product for kiddos. Sram x4 shifting. Tektro hydraulic brakes. Kenda tires that match bikes at double the price. The bike compares to others that are priced way more and from what I have found online they weigh 20.28lbs which is lighter than many. It might be a hidden gem that no one really knew about. I am way more excited than my kid about this bike.
good find.
Have you guys had any experience with the Saracen Mantra? (Here’s a link to the 20in Mantra 2.0) It looks like it has great components in almost every respect, though possibly just a 114mm crank? The price point is a little better than some of the other bikes with similar components. (https://www.tikesbikes.com/collections/saracen-bikes/products/pre-order-mantra-2-0r-youth-mountain-bike-by-saracen)
I have a 5.95yo and 8 yo. The 8yo looks so good on his 24in Jett (see comment in the 24in page) that I don’t want to push either of my kids up to a bigger size. I know the almost-6-year-old will grow out of this before too long, but I definitely see the benefit of bikes that are lighter and NOT oversized. I’m looking for a good 20in for an upcoming birthday as long as I can get good bang for the buck (i.e. close to the $300 range). The Guardian Large is only $319 right now, vut it may be the Ethos and the weight is some concern. That Saracen at about $400 looks favorable to the Cleary Owl 3-sp but I’d love to hear your thoughts on the geometry, cranks, or other things I haven’t considered. Thanks!
The other option is to get the 6yo a 24in Jett (available in my area for $350) and skip the 20in altogether, but it’s likely too big for him…
Sorry to keep spamming these comments 😛
But I overlooked the Forth Park, which looks like also good bang for the buck. So I’m still curious about some of the geometry differences and those crank lengths (seems like they can vary from 114mm to 140mm). For more info on my kiddo, he’s a decent size boy, 49-50 inches tall and 21 inch inseam. I expect he would get 2 summers out of this bike.
He’s fairly happy riding a heavy and aging 1sp 20in “big box” bike that we bought used. It’s really painful watching him try to keep up with dad and big brother, but he barely even notices. So the cheap option is to let him stay on that through the summer, but I feel like it’s a missed opportunity for him to get some quality time on a better bike.
Thanks again. I’ll stay quiet now 😀
Deals can be had this year so be patient and jump on a quality bike when you find one. Big Box bikes won’t allow him to accelerate his skills after a certain point.
We have tried the 24 Mantra. Great little bikes. Good for those experimenting on light trails. Cranks at 112 are perfect and geometry is good.
Hi Bike Dads. Thanks so much for the advice. We’re moving our 6 year old son up from the Prevelo Alpha Two (16″) to a 20″ bike.
We love Prevelo, but don’t want to pay $600 for his next bike. Based on many reviews, we’re deciding between:
– Specialized Jett 20
– Cannondale Quick 20
– Priority Start 20 (unfamiliar with the brand, so most skeptical of this one)
He’ll be primarily riding in the city and on pavement. Let me know what you recommend between those 3 and if you have any better recommendations in the $300-400 price range.
All three are great bikes for you use case. Can’t go wrong here. Priority is differentiated with belt driven the 3 spd geared hub. The other two are equally great traditional derailleur. Specialized wins for tires, grips and seat for the kiddos.
Hello. Looking for a replacement for our son’s cnoc 16 islabike. He’s gotten into some dirt trails and enjoys riding with us on paved slightly hilly trails also. Found a frog 55 for $300 used , cleary owl 3 speed in their website for $340 and specialized Jett is on sale locally for $300. Leaning toward Cleary due to internal gearing. Which bike is best for hybrid type of activity?
Thank you!
Thats by far the most advanced bike but unfortunately it is missing in this list: https://www.federleicht-bike.com/en/bikeshop/id-20-er.html
All the best
Chris
http://www.aac-research.at
That bike is pretty niche at that price and not available in North America.
Hi Bike Dads! Our five year old will soon outgrow his current Woom 3 and I have a question: we have a Kona Shred with front suspension and disc brakes which our daughter used, but she found it very ‘clunky’ after a Woom. We are debating: do we sell the Kona which he will grow into next summer and opt for a simpler lighter bike or use it despite the weight? He is a more aggressive rider but will likely only weigh 45 pounds next summer. (In Northern Canada so bike season is almost over here)
At 45 lbs, that fork will juts work with big hits. If it is in the budget, we would sell the Shred and move on to something lighter (rigid or front suspension) and a lower bottom bracket.
Thanks!
Earlier this year I was asking for your thoughts on 16″ bikes and after getting Forth Park 16 in spring, it looks like my 5 year old is already outgrowing it (luckily, his younger brother will grow into it). Norco Roller is on your 16″ bike list. What are your thoughts on Norco Roller 20 or the other Norco 20″ bikes? They are having a sale now and I’m looking for a 20″ bike for next year when he’ll be 6 years old. His current inseam is 19″ and he’s turning 6 in about four months, but we won’t be biking in Canada until the snow melts in spring. Thanks.
A 20 inch will usually last longer than a 16 (2/3 years vs 1). The Norco Roller 20 is a good bike and at the sale price, a good buy. It won’t be as refined as some of the others listed here and we would recommend something with gears in a 20 if riding in varied terrain.
I really want to get my son the OFF 4, but he’s not tall enough yet. And probably won’t be for least a year (5 yr old, 19″ inseam, 42.5″ tall, 40 lb).
I would love to get him on larger wheels and gears to make hills and bumpy terrain easier for him to handle. He will be on the small end of any 20″ bike, so I’d like something that will keep up with him as he progresses over the next 2 years or so.
I’m considering one of the 20″ bikes that are on the smaller side:
• RipRock 20 – Fits with cut seat post
• Jett20 – Fits well, but not as rugged
• Alpha 3 – Might fit, but can’t test it
• Raiju – Probably fits, but can’t test it
Is there a bike here that’s a clear stand-out? Or any that I’m failing to include?
Thanks for the great info and all the help you give so many rad families!
Really depends on where you will be riding the most. The Jett and Alpha are more neighborhood bikes that can do do light trails where the RipRock and Raiju are more MTB focused with disc brakes and wider tires that also doble as good neighborhood whips.
The new Prevelo Alpha Three allows 2.1″ tires on front and rear. My daughter rode the old one as her “starter” 20″ mountain bike from 4.75-5.5 years old. We had a 2.1″ on the front and the standard issue 1.8″ on the rear in a bit of a mullet style and it was perfect for the green-blue(ish) trails she was riding.
What bike did your daughter go to after the alpha 3?
My daughter will be 6 this summer, has been pedaling since age 3, and is fairly competent. She is on the big side, at 48 inches now. I’m on the fence about 20 vs 24, she seems to be stuck in the middle.
I was thinking about buying the COOP 20 until I read this. My son is 6, 47” tall and is a very aggressive rider as he also motocross races. In fact, he’s done some black diamond trails here in MN up at Cuyuna on a 16” single speed and has no issue. What I’m running into is he’s having a hard time getting up hill without gears so I think it’s time to move to a mountain bike. We’ve tried the grip shifters and he’s not a fan so I’m looking for sometime with normal shifting. Trying to keep budget around $300-$400. He also likes doing a lot of wheelies so I think more of an upright position will feel more natural to him but he could get used to something longer as he adapts quickly. Was thinking the Specialized Jett 20 or the fourth Park 20. Any other ther recommendations if neither of those sound like a fit? Second question, should he have disk breaks since doing steep hills and burms already?
For sure disc brakes for use case you are describing…unfortunately you may have to expand budget for what you are looking for.
Would you pick a Prevelo Alpha 3 or Specialized Jett 20 at the now reduced $300 price for almost 5 year old that’s a solid rider. Mostly riding around the neighborhood with longer rides up to 10-15 miles on bike paths, but hoping to branch out into some dirt/gravel/singletrack.
At that price, its the Jett.
Depends on how tall / confident of a rider. Most 5yo / even some 6yo can’t reach on the Jett due to the high minimum seat height (it is probably 3-4 inches different!) The Prevelo Alpha Three has the lowest minimum seat height of any 20″ bike I know of!
Thanks for this awesome resource! My 6-year-old (about 48″ tall) recently became comfortable pedaling. He’s a little too large for his current bike, so I’m looking to get a 20″ bike for his next bike. Based on our budget of $350, I’m considering the following:
– Polygon Premier Ultralight 20
– Guardian 20 Large
– Priority Start 20″
– Specialized Jett 20 (currently on sale for $300)
The area we live is relatively flat and paved, but I’d like to introduce gears to him with this purchase. I understand that all 4 of these bikes meet these needs, so I was curious if you had recommendations over others.
Thanks for all your hard work!
At $300, no question, it is the Specialized Jett.
Hi Colin,
Would the norco storm 2020 20inch version vs park cycles forth bike 2023 version work better for neighbourhood biking, and maybe 1-2x use on a pump track and trail biking
Love this resource! But choices in Australia are still very limited.
My kids are quite small for their age. Older brother (8 soon) has been enjoying a Norco Charger 2.1 for a couple years which is no longer available to purchase. Looking for something similar for younger sister (6 soon). Super keen on hydraulic disc brakes for modulation and ease of use (small kids hands struggle with mechanical brakes). Looking at:
– Giant STP 20. $749 AUD. It now has hydraulic disc brakes and a coil fork. But I’m really not keen on the grip shifter. https://www.giant-goldcoast.com.au/au/stp-20-fs
– Specialized Jett 20. $670 AUD. No hydraulic disc brakes or fork. Everything else sounds great from your review.
– Specialized Riprock 20. $925 AUD. No fork and brake issue you mentioned in your review.
– Merida Matts J. 20 disc. $638 AUD. Seems to have the features I want, but not sure about the geometry or the Power DS100 brakes. There’s a rigid fork version with oversize tyres, too. https://www.merida-bikes.com/en-au/bike/3074/matts-j-20-disc or https://www.merida-bikes.com/en-au/bike/3075/matts-j-20
Or maybe bump older brother up to the 24″ Norco Charger 4.1 ($699 AUD) which is still available (we’ve been super happy with the 20″ version) and hand me down the Norco Charger 2.1.
He is still only 122cm tall, but he has started every bike at the very low end of the sizing scale and has always been confident and capable. 3rd kid will also inherit these bikes in 4 years time.
We are riding on/off road around the neighbourhood and light trails.
Bikedads,
My son is 6 and he has nearly outgrown his 16″ Guardian bike. This bike was great but he is starting to be a little big for it, especially the crank length. We already have a 20″ bike for him to move to, which is a Specialized Hotrock. The problem is, while he makes the Guardian look small the Hotrock is just a massive bike that looks like he wont grow into until he is 10. I am thinking about selling the Hotrock and getting him a more modern offering. Would you agree that the more modern offerings may fit him better? The main issue with the Hotrock seems to be the standover height/min seat height. I am hoping the newer bikes have a lower minimum seat height.
Yes, the newer bikes have lower standovers, Bottom Bracket heights and min seat heights which make them fit smaller.
Hey Bike Dads, I am at a bit of a loss. I really appreciate your lists and have been doing some research. I have a 6 almost 7yo as well as a 4 almost 5 yo and they both ride very well. Started on the woom 1 and went to the 2 and now a 3. My younger is now riding the 3 and my older is able to go fast enough that her little 16” front tire is no longer staying very stable. That’s how I have judged in the past that she needed something bigger lol not sure if it’s a good metric but it’s what i have noticed. They are excellent on the bikes and we just recently found an awesome pump track pack with some dirt options as well. The pavement stuff the older one is killing it on and im chasing the younger one as the speeds are quite high for her. I was thinking woom 4 but now Im wondering if something a bit more capable. We’re not bombing mountains any time soon as Im only just now in the Parker for something myself but we will become regulars at this pump track. I was looking at the Cannondale Cujo 20+ or race 20+ as they are on sale at REI and I have a few hundred in rewards points but now Im wondering if suspension is going to be important. Are pump tracks better enough with suspension to justify the mark up? Is a Cujo good enough for now and focus on suspension when when she moves to a 24”? Thanks in advance for your time and support!
Hi Steven, No need for suspension on pump tracks. In fact, the best bikes for pump tracks are dirt jumpers and BMX bikes. Tires make a huge difference so you can make a tire change and really tailor to the pump track for any bike.
can i put an eldorado fork on a raiju without messing up the geo?
Totally, it will be fine, its a longer fork (385mm to 358mm)so will slack the HA a degree or two (bring line with Yama Jama). But under Sag the fork isn’t that much longer ATC. It will also slightly raise BB but nothing crazy. Go for it! Other Dads have done it to great success.
Considering swapping forks on the raiju and kotori. Raiju fork would drop the front end a bit. Changes the feel
Hello Gents,
What is Your opinion about Specialized Riprock 20″ rear derailleur?
In my opinion that is too close to the ground, which could possibly snag a rock or other object on the trail. Do You have any kind of impressions?
Thanks in advance,
best regards:
Áron
Yes, it’s too long. Probably a spec issue from when they developed the bike over Covid. Hopefully we see the new short cage Microshift derailleur once they get rid of all the inventory. And hopefully new brakes too, the C-Stars are terrible for getting air in the system.
Thanks for Your response.
I have a 340€ offer for a brand new Riprock 20″ So if I can find a shorter rear derailleur which fits the other parts of the original set, it could be a fair deal. Do You have any suggestions to the replacement part?
Quite different point of view. My another choice is a Mondraker Leader 20″ for 410€.
What is Your toughts?
The Riprock is a better bike form frame and part spec perspective. We would just use the derailleur as is and if for some reason the cage gets bent, then perhaps look to change to a short cage microshift acolyte, sram x9 or shimano zee/ keep in mind you may need a new cassette and shifter to accommodate new derailleur.
I just got the Prevelo Zulu Three Heir for my soon to be 6yo. She is 46” tall with an inseam between 20” and 21”. Bike is a beast and fits just fine. But the brake levers it came stock with are adult size levers. Went to the bike shop and there are shorter levers spec’d on adults’ bikes. Any idea about kids-specific brakes? I am throwing a line to the company, as well.
Thanks.
Tough to beat Magura MT4/trails 2 piston or Shimano Deore brakes for kids. Even better are hayes domoion 2 pistons short lever if you want to spend more. With the stock Tektro’s you should be able to dial in the reach adjust to make it work on the Prevelo. 6 year olds will not be one finger braking so if you can get the lever close to the bar it should not be a problem.
Hey there, planning to get my son on a 20 inch mountain bike to start riding the beginner trails on the North Shore of Vancouver.
I was mainly considering the Kona Honzo, Rocky Moutain Soul/vertex, Specialized Riprock/hotrock and possibly a Commencal. Any thoughts on these bikes.
My son recently rode a 20 inch Trek Pre-calibur, maybe a 2015 and handled it no problem on the trails. he did struggle a bit with the grip shift as it seemed to be pretty hard to shift, although this could have been a maintenance issue.
It would really depend on his size/weight, the trails you will ride the most and if you are looking for a suspension fork. Defiantly avid the Honzo as it is really heavy, has way too long crank arms and a carp coils sprung fork. The Rocky Vertex is a nice little MTB and the RipRock is a really nice rigid 20 which allows kids to get on bigger wheels earlier. Avoid the Hotrock.
Hey Bike Dads!
Thank you in advance for any advice you have!
I have a six-year-old daughter who needs to move up to a 20 inch. Her inseam is 20.5 inches and 45 inches tall and 40 lbs. She is still a new rider, she learned how to ride last August on a Spawn Yogi 16.
I would like to get her a good all round bike for her to master the gears and breaks and then work towards a mountain bike. Or do I get and get a mountain bike now?
She doesn’t have the confidence yet, and not a risk taker yet. We will only be going on paved trails, some dirt paths, maybe some gravel, and maybe a little bit of small grass downhills.
We live in Canada and I was hoping to not have to order a bike, but I would if it was the best choice.
The bikes I have been looking:
Cleary Owl 20″ 3-Speed – local
Prevelo Alpha 3 – USA
PARK 20 – local
Frog 53 – local
Spawn Raiju – somewhat local.
For what you are describing, less bike is more. Get a light weight 20 with v brakes. Save the the MTB for a 24 inch…
My 6yr old starting to get into biking with me and I am hoping to start getting him onto some easy single track by the end of this year. He was glued to strider balance bike and got on pedals last year but on a cheap big box store bike that was not great geometry and i know its holding him back. He is on the smaller side with a 19.25″ inseam and 43″ tall(No shoes). Most of his biking has been on double track walking trails with a bit of uneven terrain. I would love to get a spawn bike but the price is a bit steep. Curious of what your recommendations would be?
With that inseam he fits more a 16 inch bike. One exception would be the Spawn 20’s due to their really low minimum seat heights. We would probably look to a 16 inch rigid Prevelo Zulu 2 if trail riding is what you two are going to do the most (the geo is great and the disc brakes and wider tires a huge plus for MTB although this ads some weight)… and grab a tow rope. Otherwise most other light weight 16’s (Spawn Yogi, Woom , Prevelo Alpha 3, Pello etc will do the job for the year on light trails if he is just learning, then flip it and buy a nice 20 inch MTB if he is into it. Premium kids bikes hold their value and most can be sold at 70-80% of their MSRP after a year if you take care of them.
Hi Bike Dads
What are your thoughts between the Early Rider Seeker vs Spawn Yama Jama?
Thanks in advance!
Both great bikes, similarly priced, geo, weight and intention. Yama Jama slightly better fork, ER slightly better brakes. Perhaps better tires on the Spawn as the ER is not using the 120 TPI really light weight crown gems. Really a coin toss here or see which one you can get for cheaper.
Thanks for the all the reviews and info Jack and Colin, much appreciated!
I like the Spawn Bikes as they are available locally however curious as to your thoughts on Rocky Mountain Edge / Soul and Scott Scale / Roxter? They are also available locally but can’t find many reviews about them. Thanks!
If you could be more specific about the skill level, inseam of kiddo and what terrain you ride the most, we could offer some insight. In general, the Spawns are much more refined and nicer builds but you do pay for it with higher price.
Inseam is around 20-21” without shoes. Looking for a versatile bike, mainly pump track and light trails, gravel and some pavement. He is a confident biker and is currently on a spawn banshee 16”. Curious about the Rocky Mountain and Scott options but a used raiju/Yama jama isn’t too far off for price so considering those as well
From what you are describing, the perfect bike would be a used Spawn Kotori and mount a derailleur (it comes with a hanger). The geo suits the pumptrack and light trial use. Faster Rolling tires also great for on/off pavement. The others will work of course but I would look to fast rolling tires like kenda small blocks or bmx 20’s for the Rocky, Scout and Yama Jama. He’s coming of the banshee which is basically a bmx with lower BB so a 16-18 inch BMX may be an option as well for the pump track and around neighborhood.
Just curious what’s the main difference between the katori, raiju and Yama jama? I’m able to pick up a used Yama jama for similar to a katori. Would the Yama jama be more versatile?
Slight differences in geo make the Kotori a true dirt jumper that is also a great trail bike with a drivetrain. The Yama Jama is longer wheelbase and longer stays and steeper seat tube making it more stable/easier to climb, a trail mountain bike. Both are very versatile. Go with the Kotori if you spend more time at pumptrack, riding around the neighborhood, go for Yama Jama if you spend more time riding trails.
Hello, was wanting to upgrade my kids bike to a 20″. We primarily ride around the neighborhood, with some occasional pump tracks. I want to introduce gears, disk breaks, and keep the fork rigid.
Delivery to Aus is a challenge, so was thinking either: COMMENCAL RAMONES 20, SCOTT Scale 20 rigid, or Forth Park 20. Appreciate any advice on which is better, or additional suggestions?
The Forth park 20 is certainly the most value of the those bikes and the new 2023 redesigned frames are really nice. The Park 20 also comes with kenda small block tires which would serve your described riding best out of the 3 bikes. If you go with either the commencal or scott, we would definitely look to a 2-2.3 inch wide bmx tire that roll faster for the neighborhood and pump track.
I was comparing the Commencal Ramones, Giant STP and Norco Fluid HT 20.1. Based on your reviews, Giant and Commencal are similar with Giant having slightly better crank length. However, any thoughts on the Norco Fluid HT 20.1 compared to the other two? Any recommendation for mainly street and pump track riding? Thanks!
For street and pump track riding we would avoid all those. The one bike in the “rigid 20 inch mountain bike” we would recommend is the Pello Rover 20 due to its versatility with the kenda small block tires (great on/off pavement), great geometry, 127mm cranks and the light weight of the bike. If not this bike, some of the bikes in our neighborhood/light trail category would due better for street and pump track.
How about the Park Cycles bikes? I’m in Canada so some of these bikes are harder to get locally.
A lot of value in the Park, now Forth bikes. They keep refining and we are getting a 2023 bike soon to review. They look much better than the old frames and the part spec better.
Thanks for the great content! I have a competent but also cautious 6 year old I need a 20” for. Riding some bike paths, mellow/flat single tracks at a park so far, and we have a nice size pump track in our yard. Budget is a consideration and am looking at the polygon ultralight, used cannondale quick 20, or a Gt Stomper Prime. Any insight on the last one as I am having a hard time finding good info including weight. If all options are $259 or under what direction would you lean?
Thanks so much!
Adam
Very comparable bikes. The Polygon new is great value but if price were equal, we do like the extra low bottom bracket of the cannondale quick, makes for a stable riding bike for the kiddos. Another plus for the quick, it is a couple pounds lighter which makes a difference. We don’t know much about the GT but it looks similar geo and part spec, the unknown weight would be the main concern.
Well I guess I’m swayed by a good sale! CLEARY has the new scout 40% off too! I didn’t think I could pass that up. Maybe I will be able to get a used ( premium) bike to use until he’s ready. What are your thought on the new scout 20?
For the riding you described, we would stick with the scout and introduce a 24 inch hardtail if trail riding becomes his passion.
Thanks for all your work guys. I’m looking for a 20” bike with an internally geared hub so there’s less maintenance and less to worry about for a young rider and a derailer. I want a high end bike and I think I have it narrowed down to the CLEARY 3 speed 20 inch or the Early Rider Belter. I’ve seen a few other brands but it seems like these two are top of the line bikes. I also considered the Pello single speed but I really want that introduction to gears. The rider has been riding since he was 2 1/2 and he rides neighborhood, jumping curbs and ramps. Also some pump tracks and wooded areas with dirt paths. I wish the ER belter came with a knobbier tire like the seeker because I think my decision would be the ER then. Please give me any input on an all around 20 inch. I love you new ZULU video. That’s what my guy needs. A “cool” looking bike that can do it all. Thank again for all you do!
Hi Dawn, The 3pd cleary owl is on sale for $300 down from $500. Great deal. If you are set on geared hub tough to beat that price and quality.
Am I crazy to think my son can jump from a 14″ balance bike to a 20″ mountain bike? We want to get him a bike for Christmas, but I don’t want him to grow out of it before the next riding season begins. He is currently 42″ with a 17″ inseam; he won’t be riding this new bike until April 2023 when it starts to warm up. I feel like he is on the larger side for a 16″ bike, so I was thinking of getting a light weight 20″ with a shorter stand-over height. Is it unrealistic to skip sizes? We ride mostly paved surfaces with a few visits each month to the pump track and beginner trails. What bike and size do you recommend?
Would highly advise not skipping a size especially for first pedal bike.
My daughter is outgrowing her 14” Schwinn. We mostly stay in the neighborhood or greenways. She’s a little over 45” with 18 3/4 inseam. Seems like she’d be at the very top end of a 16”. I was looking at the 20” small guardian or 20” prevelo as a Christmas present. Gears are not a priority and may be a distraction. Any thoughts or recommendations between these two or somewhere else?
Both great bikes, can’t go wrong with either for your intended purpose. The guardian is differentiated with the surestop braking system (one lever actuates both brakes and front does not lock up). The Alpha series Prevelo is more versatile in that it does great for light trail riding and the bicycle skills park.
Woow I’m so impressed with all responses and job from Colin – amazing job.
We are also looking for new bike with 20″ wheels for son.
We are doing a lot trail riding on pretty sandy and very rocky roads as well as roots are also in the path so i suppose tires have to be 2.3 and bigger to make dapping better. But we also do same racing in local event where is mostly paved segments so we are searching with wider range of tooths so son would be faster.
At the moment we are thinking about
RIPROCK 20, SEEKER 20 and CUJO RACE – 20″+
Maybe there are some other options as well? Or who you think could better suit our needs?
also forgot to mention we do pump track as well
We would also consider Pello Rover, Woom OFF, and Spawn Raiju on our list for the purpose you described. We would not go Cujo Race+ for pump tracks and paved riding. The plus sized tires are better for rougher trails.
Thank for reply.
Today I went to few bike shop to see how they look in real life and i was a bit shocked of my choice with large cassette – the bottom of rear derailleur was like ~2-3cm from ground, so its definitely No No. at the moment making choices between BMC TWOSTROKE AL 20, woom OFF 4 and VITUS 20+ KIDS BIKE.
Yes, I’m aware of these large tires will be difficult on paved and on races , so defiantly will buy so 2.1″ tires for pump track, races, and paved roads.
Thank you for your time!
What did you send up going with?
First, thanks for all the awesome info. Most informative site on the web by far. My son will be 7 in October, but he’s on the smaller side: 44.75″ tall, 20″ inseam, and weighs 40lbs. He’s currently on a 16″ Cleary Hedgehog with a seat height set at 22.25″ which has him slightly on his toes. He loves riding on trails, but those little 16″ wheels just don’t cut it. We live in the front range of Colorado and a lot of the XC trails can still be fairly bumpy/rocky. I’m looking to get him on something that he can grow with and enjoy all that the trails out here have to offer. I’m trying to decide between the Early Rider Seeker 20, the Woom OFF 4 or OFF 4 Air, and the Spawn Raiju. I like how light the Woom OFF 4 is and that I could hypothetically add the fork later if needed, but I’m concerned about the minimum seat height. Thoughts?
I don’t believe Woom is selling the fork separately at this time and the bike uses a 1 inch steerer tube which forgoes the ability to put any other fork on it but you do get hydraulic disc brakes that make a difference for kids. The Spawn has the edge over them all with lower min seat height and standover. It may be a tad heavier than the ER and Woom but it will be the most stable bike. Unfortunately kids grow and our advice is to buy a good bike that fits now, like the 3 you are looking at, and flip them when they outgrow. For where you guys are, getting him on the biggest wheelsize possible when he fits, will do wonders.
Thanks for the quick reply. Can the Raiju be set up as tubeless?
The Raiju does not come with tubeless rims or tires.
Thanks for all the advice. I ended up finding a used Yama Jama, so we got the best of all worlds.
Hello, I am looking at a used Norco storm 2.1 for $300. I am wondering if you have an opinion about this bike. Thanks
The air fork on the 2.1 is terrible, heavy and doesn’t function well. Best stick to a rigid fork and use air low tire pressure to dampen the ride.
I’m in a doubt between Woom Off 4 and Early Rider Seeker 20″
We want to take ramps at home and do single tracks in the woods.
What’s best geometry? What wins? geometry or weights?
Thank you!
Either one works great for your stated use, both premium rigid mountain bikes. The carbon woom fork is really stiff so little harsher on the landings of back alley jumps. The woom does have the edge in weight and will be a tad esier up single-track hills.
My daughter is starting to get into trail riding and due for a 20″. The Pello Rover seems perfect and also comes in a color (pink) she loves. What I like is the balance of paved but also will allow her to develop a bit even doing some basic single track. Unfortunately, it’s out until the fall.
I’m concerned Woom4 isn’t enough for the trail potentential. Raiju seems a bit too trail given majority of riding is neighborhood. Prevelo Alpha seems like a possibility but don’t love the colors.
What do you recommend for us?
The Prevelo Alpha would be great if she will just be starting out on light trails. It has nice geometry for trail riding in a neighbourhood bike and more than capable for dirt paths etc. If she will be leaning more trail riding than around the neighbourhood and/or you want disc brakes, I would lean towards the Woom OFF as it is a fantastic introductory mountain bike with not too wide tires and extremely light for first time trail riders. Its too bad the Pello is out of stock as it would have been perfect.
Hello,
Great site.
Last summer my son suffered a little while riding along the forest paths near our house. The main difficulties were connected with a large number of pine cones, tree roots and small areas with sand. His current bike is early rider belter 16. He will turn 6 this spring. We want to give him a bicycle with gears for his birthday. Please help with the choice. The following options are available in stores: 1) early rider belter 20; 2) bmc blast 20; 3) orbea laufey 20 h30. We ride mainly forest paths near the house and a pump track in the city.
We don’t see much BMC or Orbea Laufey’s here in North America but I like the BMC blast with 68 HA (great for pump track and trail use), disc brakes and light weight of 20.2 lbs. You could always swap to narrower/lighter tires to get the bike even lighter and more playful for the pump track, vee tire Crown Gem 2.25’s come to mind. The ER belter is more a neighborhood bike compared to more MTB BMC and Orbea. It will be nice at the pump track as well but won’t have the disc brakes or gearing range of the MTB’s.
Thank you for putting together this list. It helps me to understand my options for my 5yo. I noticed the Trek Roscoe 20 wasn’t listed. I’m thinking the mid fat tires will be more effective over the tree root-laden trails we have in Florida when compared to coil sprung front suspension. The 2022 model also has trigger shifters, which seems to be a nice bonus. Do you recommend this bike? Any cons that I should consider?
At 23.5 lbs for the Rosoe 20 we feel something like the the Cannondale Cujo at 21.5 lbs is a better bike for the MTB kid. 2.6 inch is as wide as we would go for tires and even then our preference is light weight 2.2-2.4 inch tires for this category of Rigid MTB, plenty of volume for kids to use tire pressure to dampen trails. Those 2.8 inch tires and wheel combo on the Trek are heavy and sluggish for the kids to pedal around. If you are just on MTB trails and towing them up and riding down descending trails with gravity on your side, it might work OK.
I didn’t consider the sluggish-ness of the larger tires. A local shop seems to have the Cujo 20+ in stock. I’ll have my son test it out. Thank you for your insight and quick response, Colin. Happy new year to you and the Bike Dads family.
Hello! I found your site and love all this information. Trying to decide which bikes to get my twin girls who are almost 6, but tiny. 18” and 19.5” inseams. They are confident on a pedal bike already (they learned on a tiny heavy 10” joystar). Will be used for mainly neighborhood riding. On guardians website, it says they could fit on their small 20”. Tempted to do that so that the bike lasts longer – or do you think that they’d get bored on that bike in a couple years and we’d need new ones anyway?? Also considering the 16” cleary. Want to keep cost under $350 which makes it a bit tricky. Thank you!
Also considering the priority start 16”
Bigger diameter wheels are nice because they carry speed better and get over bumps smoother. The guardian is a great bike especially with the surestop single brake lever system for kids just learning to use brakes. I probably would go with the Aluminum Guardian as the 2 pounds in weight savings will make a difference for your girls if they are on the tiny side. Any 16 inch bike you get will most likely be too small 12 month from now. Cheers.
Thank you!!
Hi Guys,
great site – was pretty happy to find one having kids bike review..
Which bike would you go with for almost a 5 year old? Considering the following now … none of them are in stock, so still have plenty of time to decide 🙂
scott roxter 20
commencal rmns 20 — can see the rmns 2022 model has cranks 127mm instead of the long ones
vitus 20+
Thank you
At 5 years old, weight, standover, and minimum seat height matter a lot. I would probably look at the vitus 20Plus and change the seat to something with lower profile rails. I would also add the Pello Rover 20 to the list which beats them all on weight and build spec.
Im interested in a Commencal Ramones and was thinking of upgrading the forks to an air sprung. Would this be possible and also would it throw the geo off?
Im from Australia and we unfortunately we dont have many options
Hi Allen. You certainly could but this bike is already 22.5 lbs and adding an air suspension fork may add another 2 lbs. With the 2.6 inch wide tires you can get good dampening with tire pressure alone. Given kids are so small/light that fit 20 inch bikes you may wan to run it with the rigid fork and see how junior goes. Commencal does make the Meta HT 20 with Manitou machete but the price is considerably more. There are only a couple of 20 inch air forks that work for kids in the 20 inch category and even then they are just taking out the big hits (jumping/drops). Cheers.
Thanks for the reply! i think that might be the way to go as my boy is also really light. What kind of psi would be a good starting point?
Depends on kiddo’s weight but I would star around 10-12 PSI for the front and 12-14 on the back.
Be aware the Ramones is straight steerer compatible only which means decent forks like the JUNIT aren’t options as they’re tapered. Something to think about when looking at other bikes too
The Brood, Trailcraft, Prevelo Heir fork is a straight 1 1/8 air steerer and probably the best working and lightest 20 inch fork going.
I’m in between a few options for my son’s 7th birthday bike and would love your opinion! He’s 4ft and has a 20 inch inseam, so although I’d prefer to bump him up to a 24″ it seems he isn’t quite big enough yet, correct? We live in the country, so a mix of driveway, grass & gravel roads with no sidewalks. I’m in between a used 20” Cannondale Trail Single speed @ $125, or a new Raleigh 20″ MXR single speed $200, or a new 20″ DeCathlon BTwin Rockrider ST100 Mountain Bike @ $200. What is the best bike out of those three? Thanks!
Sorry, we are not familiar with any of those bikes. I would go for lightest bike possible and avoid heavy coil sprung front suspension. Crank length in the 130mm range would be beneficial as well. Oh, and avoid rear coaster brake at all costs.
Hey! Appreciate all of the info on this site!
Have been looking at a few different bikes and came across the Radio Bike Co. Zuma 20″ available near me. Do you know anything about this bike? I also have a Giant STP 20 FS near me but I wish it was the rigid model, a 21′ Kona Makena or a Trek Roscoe. Any insight would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
And I should say we are transitioning from a 16″ Cleary and mostly riding trails. Thanks again!
Not so familiar with those bikes but look for something with 130mm ish cranks and nothing over 22 lbs ish in a rigid 20. Lighter the better…
Hey!
So, my daughter just started riding her bike without training wheels about a month and a half ago. We do lots of neighborhood bike rides and she’s really comfortable riding now, but she’s growing like a weed and her 16inch is extended as much as possible and looks too small on her. I’m trying to find her a decent 20 inch, but I’m having trouble finding anything single speed. Is it too early for her to be on a geared bike? Her inseam is about 20 inches.
All kids are different but some kids can get the hang of gears at 5 or 6 years old. That said, Guardian, Pello and Cleary all make a great single speed bike in a 20 inch.
Thanks!
We’re in Canada and I’ve been looking at second hand, as I’m sure you are aware it’s pretty difficult to find available bikes right now. This is what I’m finding in our area:
Islabike 20″
Vitus 20″
Neo20 apollo bike (I can’t find any detailed reviews of this bike, but the specs look pretty similar to other quality kids bikes?)
They are all geared which is possiblyaconcern, because we don’t want to rush her. She seems pretty into biking and fairly aggressive, but she’s going to be transitioning from coaster brakes to hand brakes as well. Thoughts?
Thanks really appreciate your time and expertise!
Get the isla 20 if you can, great bike. All of our kids did fine with gears around age 6. No big deal if she doesn’t use them and keeps it in a good single gear. It’s crappy bikes with hard pull low quality grip shift or trigger shifters you want to stay away from.
Thanks for your advice Colin. We picked up the islabike today and she already loves it so much, calls it the fun bike!
Awesome, good pick Mom!
Hello,
Just In case you weren’t aware of another Canadian company making a bike of this this type. Also curious what you think about it.
https://www.opusbike.com/en/product/20-ages-6-8/427-bolt.html
Are these 20″ bikes are good for my kids like 5-7years old? everywhere I saw, they suggested 16″. What do you think?
Depends on inseam really, some of these will fit a big 5 and most will fit your average 6/7 year old. Check this article on how to size. https://thebikedads.com/picking-the-first-pedal-bike/
Hi, narrowing in on ER Belter 20 4-speed. Kiddo just turned 6, 20.5 inseam (w/ shoes on), riding mix 70% pavement, 30% light trail packed fire road type stuff with an occasional trip to pump track. Really like the Belter but not sure if tires are right for his mix of riding. Can’t seem to find out if there’s enough clearance to swap out some chunkier 2.0’s or if the Vee Speedster’s are good as is.
Hello,
Thanks for this article that really helps us parents to understand what’s important in a bike for kids. What are your thoughts on the Giant ARX 20? It seems to tick many boxes (crank length 127mm, lightweight, I don’t know about the geometry or derailleur quality though), what do you think?
thanks in advance!
Yep, looks good for a neighborhood/light trail use bike.
Hi Colin! Looking to get an opinion on a few bikes. My budget is around 450 and we are considering several bikes. The 2021 Trek Roscoe 20, Cannondale Cujo+ 20, Scott Contessa 20, REI Rev COOP 20+, or a Specialized Riprock 20 (used)? Which of these bikes are the better value and may be upgraded down the way. I live in AZ and we are going to Bentonville in a few weeks and want to surprise my daughter.
We would say Cannnondale Cujo 20 is our pick out of those mentioned. We don’t like heavy coil suspension forks on kids bikes and prefer 2.6 inch tires over slower rolling 2.8. The REI is a heavy, heavy bike for 20 inch. Have fun!
What’s your opinion on the 2021 Rocky Mountain Edge 20″? Would there be bikes with a similar build/geo for less. . . actually available now?
Great bike at a good price. Its’ 17.5 lbs. Similar bike would be the commencal Ramones but that bike almost 5 lbs heavier…I’de snap up the Rocky Edge if you can find one.
I know this is an older post. Wondering why I can’t find a weight for a Rocky Mountain edge bike anywhere. Thoughts?
Best to have the shop to weigh the bike for you. Many bike shop bikes don’t publish weights online…
I would love your opinion on which bike is best for my son. My son is 6 yo, 44″ tall and weighs 38 lbs. He has a Woom 3 and it has been an awesome bike. But he’s about outgrown it and he needs a bike with gears to help with hills and better tires and brakes for dirt riding. We are wanting to upgrade him to a 20″ bike. But because of his weight, I think it needs to be lightweight. He currently rides his bike heavily around the neighborhood with hills and we go to an outdoor dirt bike park that he loves to ride on. We are planning to start taking him mountain biking on light trails this summer too. We aren’t sure what bike to get him. Our budget is between $500-$950, but we don’t know if the more expensive bikes are worth it for his age or necessary. So far, we’ve been considering the Woom 4 Off air (we can preorder it tomorrow for June delivery) or Seeker 20 (currently available), or mid-priced bikes like the Prevalo alpha ( also available for preorder for June deliver). We’d love your advice. Thank you!
Because of his size and weight, I would look at the Spawn Raiju 20 from what you are planning to expose him to MTB. It is a fantastic bike with one of the lowest minimum seat heights and geometry that will suit your plans. What is his inseam (with shoes on)?
Thank you for your quick reply. His inseam is only 19″. According to his weight, height and inseam measurement, he should be able to ride his Woom 3 another year. And he could get by another year if needed. But we have his seat maxed out and he needs a more advanced bike with gears and better tires for the kind of riding his likes to do.
Aline, please let us know what you got and how it fits. I have a 6 year old, turns 7 in June, that is nearly the same dimensions as yours. He is on a Woom 2 right now and we are debating a 16 in bike to bridge the gap to 20 or go straight to 20. Thanks!
Ryan
My son is only 4 but already has a 21 inch inseam in shoes (20 inch without). He’s been riding his 16″ Guardian since the fall, and it already feels too small. Mostly, it just doesn’t do trails, which he used to fearlessly shred on his balance bike at 3, lol. Will the Polygon or Park do for us? I need to keep it under $400.
I would keep him on a 16 inch for trails. The 20’s you mentioned will be a lot to manage from fit and weight perspective.
Ah, thanks! Even at 46″ and 58 pounds? One thing I’m concerned about is his maturity in handling gears/brakes, so simplicity is important.
His inseam is not long enough to fit the minimum seat height with flat feet which is needed for most 4 year olds to be comfortable and safe riding trails. If he is super advanced, can manage gears, knows how brake effectively and mount/dismount a 20 inch (try him on a friends)…then go for it. Otherwise, I would keep him on a nice 16 for trails. something like the prevelo alpha 16 inch.
Thank you! I appreciate your time!
Is there a bike my 6 year old daughter could get with more then 6-7 gears. Or is it easy enough to change and upgrade? Thanks
Noob
Its not number of gears but range of the gears that matters (specifically its something called gain ratio which takes into consideration Front Chainring, Rear Cogs, crank length and wheel diameter). For around the neighborhood, all the geared bikes here will do just fine.
My grandson is on an Early Rider Belter 16 now and loves the bike. However he’s outgrowing it. Between a Belter 20 and a Frog 52, do you have a suggestion as to which you’d go with? I’m on a waiting list for each but still confused as to which one would best meet his needs. Would like to hear your thoughts. Also, knowing he’s on the Belter now, any other suggestions of bikes to consider? Many thanks!
Hi Susan, both are great bikes for cruising the neighborhood and light trial use. In these times, I would go with which ever one you can secure. The ER is a couple pound lighter which does make a difference in smaller kids. It he is riding more mountain bike terrain, then a something a little different might be more beneficial.
Thanks, Colin. One other question: is the “belt” a significant improvement over the “chain”, which seems to be on the Frog or is there not enough difference to be concerned about? Again, I really appreciate that you are willing to share your knowledge. For those of us who are novices, there is a lot to understand. 🙂 S
No really an improvement but it is a tad less maintenance as you don’t have to oil the chain. The geared hub also is less maintenance compared to the traditional derailleur on the frog.
My son is turning 4 at the end of May and needs a new bike. He’s on the tall side. He currently has a Frog 40 and loves it, but it’s just getting way too small for him. Would you recommend just sizing up to a 16 inch bike? Are there any 20 inch bikes that you think would
be appropriate for a confident riding 4 year old? Obviously availability is an issue. Considering trying out the Park Cycles 16 inch bike since it’s a little more reasonably priced and he likely will need a 20 inch sooner rather than later. Thanks!
Hi Ashley, our advice is don’t skip a wheelsize. A 16 inch would be great for him. Just make sure his inseam matches min inseam/seat height. Buy a nice quality bike and you can flip it for 70-80% of its value, then size up to 20 inch. Weight always an issue and the more you pay, generally the lighter the bike gets. We like everything we list on our site so find your budget, size it up, pull the trigger and have fun!
Looking at the BMC Blast 20. Can’t find much in the way of reviews or posts. We wanted a Woom off 4 but the wait time is 6 months. Trying to find something comparable for our 5 year old. We mostly ride smooth single track, pump tracks, and bike paths.
Thanks for sharing this bike, first we have seen it. It looks really good. 127mm cranks, 20.3 lbs, hydra brakes, great geo (68 HA) and 2.4 tires (on the max width we like for kids but you could always put on some vee tire grown gems 120 TPI if you find draggy or too heavy). I would snap it up.
Hey, nice overview! My son is turning 5 and he is maxed out on woom 3. We moved to Sweden and I am struggling to find anything good to be delivered here.. 🙁
How about this one? Serious Superlite Street 20″ Kids blue (2020). Can it really weigh 6 kg? Any other suggestions that may ship to EU and won’t burn my savings? Thanks
Don’t know much about the Serious Superlite but it looks pretty good. A bit pricey ($100 USD more) compared to similar bikes but finding stock is the name of the game this year. Unsure of the weight and geo however…looks like the Chainstays are on longer side which will make it stable but slower turning. If you are into MTB, look at the Propain Dreckspatz from GErmany at just 200 EUR more…much better bike.
Having struck out on new bikes for my son’s bday, I found an older model Early Rider Trail 20, 3-speed belt drive. Do you have any thoughts on whether a 3-speed is sufficient range for a 6-yo? While he’s mostly on pump tracks now, we have mountain aspirations with the upgrade.
I’m not sure the range on the 3spd i motion geared hub. Certainly 3 gears would be enough if the range was decent as kids in 6 to 7 age range basically need a gear to climb with and one descend with. We have tried the same model year as you are looking at in the 24 Trail (traditional chain/derailleur drive train) and loved the bike. ER makes great quality light weight bikes with very good geometry and builds. Given the times and how hard it is to find bikes, I would go for it and grab a tow whee for your mountain aspirations.
Would appreciate your take on the Kids Cujo Race 20. Not much available locally at the moment. Looking to upgrade my almost 6 yr old from his early rider 16. he’s had it on a bunch of trails but getting too big for it. Will keep searching the used market for other trail worthy bikes on your list. Thanks for all the info and reviews.
It actually looks pretty good. The 2.6 kenda slant tires are not too heavy (we usually don’t like the plus tires for kids as some are heavy) and the weight of the bike looks good at 21.5 lbs. The geo looks pretty good too and crank length is on point.
Thx for the reply wish I’d seen it earlier. Anyhow Ended up with the cujo and haven’t looked back. Mostly as I said because of availability. His climbs are impressive for 6 and the descents are great even for dad. Still some towing to get to the good rides but no regrets on the bike. Back to this list browsing for my friends kid
My 6 year old son is currently riding a Spawn Yoji 16″ that he has had since he was 4. Cost is becoming an issue as we have starting ripping up the trails in our neighborhood so I’m looking at bikes more versed for this task. He flies through the trails now but struggles on some of the hills but will stay with it barely creeping using all his weight. He is around 46-47″ tall and weighs 44# soaking wet so the bike weight was always the main concern. I don’t have the budget for a Yama Jama 20″ as it would be a no brainer so I’m looking at options now. Would love to stay under $600 as he is a boy and while he doesn’t destroy his stuff he does just drop it down when he is done. What would be some recommendations and is a shock fork really necessary for someone his size and weight class?
Shock definitely not necessary for his age/size and only recommended if you get a really good air fork which is expensive. If he is just on neighborhood trails, I’de look at Prevelo Alpha or Pello Rover /Spawn Raiju for awesome sub 600 dollar bikes to tackle trails. The alpha more a hybrid (and the lightest) and the pello and spawn more mtb bikes (wider tires, disc brakes).
What are your thoughts on the Pello Rover and adding their spinner grind air fork? Doesn’t seem like a giant cost upgrade. Wished they offered more colors!
If kiddo is ripping descending mountain bike trials, go for it. The nice thing about the Pello is it ships with rigid fork too! It’s a great bike.
One other thought as we may hold out for a few months is to go directly to a 24″ bike. Would this be a mistake assuming he will be approx 48″ tall by the time of the upgrade? I’d rather buy once cry once but I’m not sure if thats too big of a step up?
Unfortunately they can jump a wheel size every 12-16 months. My experience is best to buy a quality bike then flip it on used market when they can size up.
Hi! We have two Frog 40 (14″) bikes that we bought for our boys’ first bikes last year. They have already outgrown them and we are looking at what to buy next! What size next bike do you think will last them 2-3 years? Also, where can I sell them to parents that appreciate the value? Ebay?
Hi Natalie, unfortunately, no size bike will last 2-3 years for growing kids. The best bet is to buy quality bikes and flip them every 12-18 months. 24 inch may get you 24 months…maybe. Sell them on pinkbike.com buy/sell or craigslist. The word is out now and there is a huge market for good used kids bikes. You should be able to sell at 70-80% value.
Hi, I know this post was from a little while ago, but wondered if I could please ask for your thoughts between the Giant ARX 20″ and the Cannondale Quick 20″ (2019 model, not sure if the 2020 is any different)? We’re also in NZ and struggling to find a good solid bike for my son who is about to turn 7. He’s 122cm tall (48″). Looking to ride on footpaths, roads (some hills), occasionally rocky paths and generally around the place. He currently has a Byk e350. Have ruled out bikes with front suspension. Thanks so much in advance 🙂
Both those bikes are similar…either one should suit your needs just fine. No real difference between quick 19 and 20 model year.
Thanks so much! Appreciate such a quick response. The one difference I have noticed is that the Giant looks to have a trigger shift, while the Cannondale has the grip shift. Do you find that one or the other is preferable? Thanks again.
Not really but trigger shift will be useful moving forward if wanting to MTB as kiddo will need to learn. Have Fun!
Hello,
Looking for a 20″ mountain bike for my almost 6 year old daughter who is currently riding Islabikes CNOC 14. The bike will be passed on to her little brother. Her inseam is barely 20″. As this will be her first mountain bike, I’m looking at either the Pello Rover 20 or the Spawn Raiju. We are moving to a mountain biking hotspot (Methow Valley, WA) next week, so I’m wondering if she will need something more aggressive. The trails are varied- some smooth single track and other high mountain rocky, rooty stuff. As a family, we are avid road cyclists hoping to get into mt. biking. Do you recommend a more all-around bike or a full mountain bike with suspension for my daughter? We should get at least 4 years out of it between the two kids.
With that inseam, I would look at Spawn Yama Jama. It’s an awesome bike and super low min seat height. Fork is the amazing as well.
Clearly Owl?
I don’t suppose you guys can compare that with the Woom Off? Right now the kiddo is about to outgrow the Gecko (he’s short for a 6yo) and the brake levers on the clearly bikes seem way easier for a kid than most of the other 20″ I’ve seen.
He takes his gecko to/from school, has done 10+ mile rides on it on dirt, and I’m looking for the next bike up.
Those 2 bikes are not really comparable as the Woom Off is a hydraulic disc brake mountain bike and the Owl is a hybrid bike. The comparable bike would be the woom 4.The cleary owl 3 spd is heavier than most at 21 lbs.
Hi, thanks for the great info! We are looking at moving up our daughter from a Woom 3 to a 20″ bike, and trying to decide what to get. Woom 4 looks great but not sold on the grip shift and I don’t see the trigger shift as an option on the Woom website – am I missing something? Also curious if you have ever tried or reviewed Frog bikes? I don’t see any listed here but they seem to be popular among the 5+ crowd.
Looks like woom have took that option away from regularly lineup now they have the woom off MTB series. Trigger shift is spec on the off series. I wouldn’t shy away due to grip shift. It is a little easier to shift for the small kids. We have not tried any of the frog bikes but they look pretty good. Not sure if they match the value and spec of the others listed however.
Hi,
What would you recommend for MTB riding from the big brands? From New Zealand so we don’t get much else here. Was also hoping to keep the price below like $400us. We were looking at the specialized riprock 20, and the trek precaliber 20 but they seem quite heavy so was thinking of moving away from the suspension as I have doubts it will do anything anyway.
Thanks for your help!
We have heard its a pain in NZ to get bikes. Not much in that price range for anything decent. I’de look at Giant ARX 20 over the two you mentioned. It’s lighter.
FWIW we have a frog 52 that we got because at the time WOOM thought my daughter (had just turned 5, tall for her age) would be a little too small for the 4 and so we didn’t order it. We were able to try a frog 52 in store and she hopped on and rode across the store, so it was a sure thing. She was moving up from the Woom 2 with the seat maxed out. It’s definitely heavier than the Woom 4, at the time it was less $ but now it’s not. It’s a nice bike and for us doing a mix of urban commuting on poorly maintained streets plus light trail, having the fenders come with it and both street and off road tires has been a good fit. All that said, I’d buy the Woom if I had it to do over. Our nephew next door has the Woom 5 and does fine with the grip shift. My daughter is 6 1/2 now and has mastered the gears well, but I do think the triggers were a bit hard for her hands last summer. The Frogs have very long seat posts, so we may get away with one more summer on the Frog, but her interest in MTB is going way up so I sort of doubt it. Here she is goofing off this weekend: https://photos.app.goo.gl/nyEiH9DLQA1SCrieA
Hi,
Very useful site for research. Looking to go up in size from a 16inch Commencal Ramones to 20 inch with gears. Have avoided looking at anything with a shock as my son is pretty light. Rides lots of single track, nothing too rough.
I’ve narrowed my Search for a 20inch bike to Raiju – 20 and the Orbea MX 20 TEAM-DISC 19.
Have you guys looked at the Orbea?
We have not tried the Orbea 20. I think it is around 21 lbs or so…tad heavy and I think its a steep HA 72 degrees and a big front chain ring 34T. I would look to something like a Prevelo alpha 20 and get wider tires over the Orbea if you are ok wihtout disc brakes. Another one to look at besides Spawn raiju is the pello 20, great geo/weight, disc brakes and tubless rims.
You guys need to get your hands on the whyte 203, proper 20” kids mountain bike ! Good spec, proper geometry.
Tell them to send one over! LOL
Thanks as always for the great advice! Just curious – why didn’t the Cleary Owl make your list?
We’ve never tried the Owl. I mostly want to see the 3 geared internal hub version. Really like the geo but would want to know the weight of 3spd version and how it performs with the kids. Its a little more dear than competitors but may offer some unique things apart from steel frame…we just have not seen it anywhere. Single speed looks good if that’s what you are after.
Hi guys, great info on your site—thanks! I’ve been looking at the Trek Wahoo and Cannondale Cujo. Any insight into how these bikes stack up compared to the ones you’ve listed? My 6 y/o daughter is outgrowing her 16” Specialized Hotrock and am looking for something she can take into the dirt periodically, along with handbrakes and a trigger shifter (sounds like this is superior to grip shift). Thanks in advance!
Hi Gavin, Cujo too heavy at 22 lbs and wide tires are sluggish on anything but downhill dirt trails. Wahoo looks Ok but at a similar price you get better geometry, parts and lighter in weight in something listed above.
Hi, my soon to be six year old is outgrowing his Woom 3. He is already 46″ tall and his inseam is around 20″ making me wonder about the Woom 4. I’m a bit concerned he’ll grow out of it. I’ve also been looking at the Beinn 20 large. Seems like that may give him a bit more room to grow and be a bit more flexible in case he wants to get more adventurous with it (it can take up to 1.9″ tires). I also wonder if, with the Beinn 20 large, he could move to a 26″ bike afterward rather than need a 24″ one. Any thoughts?
Hi Mike, if you can I would go up to a 24 if “growing out” of 20 is a concern for you. The Beinn 24 is probably best fit for your little guy considering his inseam. The main difference aside from price and subtle geometry is the Isla 24 comes with a bit skinnier more road oriented tires. Hard to speculate on weather he will be able to jump from 20 to 26…My experience is you can get 3 years out of a 24 compared to 2 years out of 20 (generalization here).
Thanks Colin. I hadn’t thought about a 24″. According to Islabike’s sizing guide, he’d need another two inches of inseam to fit the Beinn 24. I went ahead and ordered the Beinn 20 large. They had one with a very minor cosmetic blemish (I had to look hard for the spot, even knowing it was there) for a few bucks off retail. The paint job is beautiful. Better than most bikes I’ve ever had. The black spokes are also a nice touch. With the seat at it lowest point, it just fits him. The front wheel was a bit out of true, so I called Islabikes and they said they would reimburse me for for the cost of getting my local shop to true it. Also had to adjust the cable tension on the rear derailleur, but that was simple to accomplish. My son is able to change gears without a problem. If I had one minor complaint it would be that the handlebars seem a bit too wide, at least for now. The Beinn 20 has the skinnier tires as well. Islabikes branded 1.4s with square knobs. In the short term, that is a benefit as he hasn’t got the bug to take it off road yet. However, if he does, I could swap out to the Scwhwalbe 1.9s — right now there is no need. Whether the Beinn 20 is worth the extra money over a Woom 4 is probably debatable, but I think having the two size options worked for us — this one fits my son better.
My 5 year old son is growing out of his Woom3. He’s already 46″ tall with an inseam about 20″. I was thinking of moving him into a Woom4 but worried he is already getting a bit big so i was considering the Beinn 20″ large. Apart from the obvious $100 price difference, any thoughts? Seem like the Beinn may be a bit more versatile, taking 1.9 tires if necessary in the future. Maybe with the Beinn large a transition straight to a 26″ bike might be possible.
So I’m thinking about buying the Raiju as s birthday gift for my youngest. He’s currently on a Cleary Owl but has begun ripping up the trails. And he needs some gears and disc brakes would also be beneficial. We’ve got some massive hills. He also loves the skatepark and pump track. I’d happily spend the money on the Yama Jama if he were my first (justified by two kids riding it). But I’m struggling to do that in this situation. Have you had any experience with the Raiju? Or do you know someone who has?
Hi Shawna,
The Kotori is the Spawn for pumptrack, dirt jumps and Skatepark. You can also throw a derailleur and cassette on it for trail riding (It’s an awesome taill bike too). If he is strictly sticking to the trails and neighborhood then the Raju is a a great option and the Yama Jama even better due to its better gear range, geometry, hydraulic brakes, tubeless capable tires and amazing 20 inch fork…