Test: 24-inch mountain bikes for children from Bulls, Cannondale, KTM, Scott and Woom show their strengths in the test. Also included: a carbon bike and a real lightweight.
Children's bikes have long been considered a difficult business, as are high-priced models. But that seems to be changing slowly, which also has to do with the value of the bike itself. Ten years ago it would have been inconceivable that millions of people would buy e-bikes for several thousand euros. Conversely, it is no longer entirely unlikely today to invest a high three-digit sum in a children's bike.
And why not? Even children's bikes are no longer a rarely used toy, but part of modern family mobility, as well as sports equipment and technical fascination. If the parents value high-quality material, the way to a good children's bike is not far - and if the adults like to ride a sporty mountain bike, at some point the question arises whether the offspring does not want to go off-road with them.
Equipment
Of course, the kids prefer to ride bikes that are technically based on those of mum and dad. A lot has happened in this regard in recent years. MTBs without disc brakes no longer exist, those with triple chainrings only in the lowest price ranges. That's good and even better when it comes to children's MTBs - they benefit in particular from functional reliability and technical reduction. A modern 24-inch bike comes with nine to eleven gears, disc brakes and, in most cases, a suspension fork - that's all there is to it, and these components can be of correspondingly high quality if the bike costs a little more.
And you can tell that from the five models presented here. The more expensive versions all only weigh between nine and eleven kilos, which is very little for children's bikes. Two bikes are equipped with sensitively responding air suspension forks, one with a state-of-the-art eleven-speed gearbox, and there is even a model with a carbon frame. In addition, all five bikes are equipped with permanently reliable hydraulic disc brakes that do not have to be readjusted manually.
With prices of up to a thousand euros, you can of course swallow for a moment - but you mustn't forget that high-quality children's bikes in particular are very popular on the used market and can be resold at high prices. Giving your children an extra dose of driving pleasure is not even an expensive treat for parents...
Bull's Tokee Ultra Lite 24
The Bulls is actually the most expensive bike in the test, but it's hard to beat in terms of value for money. Its highlights are a light carbon frame, which is a unique selling point for children's MTBs, and the air suspension fork, which can be adjusted to the child's body weight and is therefore sensitive and works perfectly. The smooth-surfaced frame pleases with completely internally routed cables and lines and should also make some adult bikers envious; with its upright, compact sitting position, it is perfectly tailored to children who should be at least 1,25 meters tall. Bulls already offers carbon bikes with 16-inch wheels for smaller ones, while the Tokee Ultra Lite 26 with eleven-speed gears is available for larger ones.
The equipment, which of course includes hydraulic disc brakes and a ten-speed gear system, is top notch. In addition, Bulls mounts grippy MTB tires with a fairly large volume, which provide comfort and driving safety. The only drawback is that a simple saddle candle is used instead of a patent support. On the other hand, the Bulls is the only bike that weighs less than the manufacturer claims: with pedals it weighs exactly eleven kilos, which is very little for a hardtail with a suspension fork in this price range.
Conclusion
The Carbon Bulls is top-equipped sports equipment for ambitious off-road kids whose parents ride high-quality equipment themselves. The technology is great and the price is reasonable.
Price: € 999,95
Cannondale Cujo Race 24+
Cannondale presents a bike for small (or the children of) purists with the Cujo. The lightweight aluminum frame with the beautiful flip-flop finish comes with a similar fork instead of a suspension fork, which is good riding technique training, especially for beginners. In order not to make things too difficult, the Cujo is equipped with 2,6-inch wide tires, which, with their large volume, are top in terms of shock absorption and road holding. If the air pressure is lowered slightly when changing from the road to off-road, the eleven-kilo bike can optimally demonstrate its advantages; However, if it is used extensively on asphalt, it is advisable to fit narrower and slightly lighter tires.
In any case, the solid Cannondale, equipped with high-quality components, is a force off-road, especially as it is very well balanced with its rigid fork. The hydraulic disc brakes grip securely and the ten-speed derailleur gears are wide enough for real trails. Overall, the Cannondale seems a bit expensive. However, there is also a slightly more simply equipped variant for 579 euros, as well as a 20-inch version for the very little ones.
Conclusion
The wide tire bike shows that shock absorption is also possible without a suspension fork. It's not cheap and it's not super light, but it's nice and valuable.
Price: € 919
KTM Wild Speed Disc 24
The KTM makes a very promising impression with its beautiful aluminum frame in the eye-catching house color, where the gear cable and brake line are routed in the down tube. And the low price of 549 euros is also attractive, as the bike with 1x drive meets modern standards. The sitting position is upright, suitable for children, and the frame allows the assembly of a luggage rack and mudguard, with which the Wild Speed can be retrofitted for everyday use. Hydraulic disc brakes are also on board, and even with only nine gears, children are good off-road.
The KTM's shortcoming, however, is the steel spring fork, which on the one hand increases the weight of the complete bike to just over twelve kilos, but on the other hand doesn't really work. A high breakaway torque, together with a low rider weight and little pressure on the front wheel, ensure that the fork does not respond as desired, but makes the whole bike front-heavy.
So why not specify a rigid fork? This would make the bike more functional and lighter, but not more expensive, and it would then be an exciting alternative to the bikes from US providers.
Conclusion
KTM doesn't do themselves any favors with the suspension fork on the Wild Speed Disc - it falls short compared to both the sprung and unsprung competitors. It's a shame because the frame has potential.
Price: € 549
ScottScale RC400
You have to let the weight of the RC 400 melt in your mouth: the bike weighs just over nine kilos including the pedals, which makes a clear difference in handling, especially for children. The compact bike, which can be ridden by children at 1,15 meters, did not immediately appeal to the Velomotion test pilots with its inconspicuous appearance. But once you sat on it, you quickly fell in love. No wonder, because everything is right here: the sitting position is compact and provides security; With 32 teeth at the front and 11-42 at the rear, the gear range has extra-light gears, so that climbs or tricky driving situations can be easily mastered without great effort. The eleven-speed sprocket cassette is graduated closely enough for this. The disc brakes decelerate safely, and threaded holes allow the Scale to be retrofitted for everyday use.
On the one hand, the light aluminum frame, which of course comes with external cables, contributes to the low weight, on the other hand components such as the sporty wheelset with a reduced number of spokes. The tires, which are around two inches wide, also fit well into the concept – they are very snappy and large enough to be ridden with reduced air pressure.
Conclusion
The rigid bike from Scott impresses with all-round high-quality technology and very low weight. Sporty off-road tours are child's play with the Scale – as long as the terrain isn't too rough.
Price: € 899
Woom Off Air 5
Woom has made a name for itself with feather-light children's bikes, which parents in particular jump on. The test team itself reacted cautiously at first, but this is more due to the reserved paint finish of the Off Air 5, which is not available in various strong colors as is usually the case with Woom. The mountain bike is functionally at the forefront: the air suspension fork responds sensitively even to a rider weighing around 20 kilos and the technology is of high quality, even down to the last detail, which can be seen, for example, in the light wheelset. This is even held by modern thru-axles, which is a unique selling point in the test field.
The hydraulic brakes bite hard, and you only have to cut back on the circuit - more than nine gears are not offered. The good Schwalbe tires are a bit wider at 2,35 inches; However, the Off Air 5 is made for children from just under 1,30 meters, which should then also be a bit heavier. For smaller ones there is the Off Air 4 in 20 inches, for larger ones there is the 6 with 26 inch wheels, both with air suspension forks; all three models can also be ordered with a light carbon rigid fork. This makes each bike around 150 euros cheaper and around one and a half kilos lighter - at 10,88 kilos including pedals, the Woom Off Air 5 is not an absolute lightweight. Of course, it's still a great bike for young bikers.
Conclusion
The Woom is ideally equipped with an air suspension fork and thru axles, but also shows that MTB technology is not available without additional weight. But the model range of the provider is very versatile.
Price: € 949
Expert Tips: 24 inch mountain bikes
gears and brakes
Getting a 24-inch mountain bike without a triple chainring was almost impossible four years ago. In the meantime, the concept of a solid children's MTB with a rigid fork and 1x drive has prevailed, and if you treat your children to a bike with these features, you can be sure that you are buying solid, versatile and not too heavy material. And even if V-brakes are mounted instead of the disc brakes, you can use them without hesitation: the simply designed rim brakes are powerful enough, while being inexpensive and easy to maintain. You can get a bike equipped in this way in high quality for less than 450 euros - for example from the Puky brand Eightshot.
The right framework
If you invest significantly more, you naturally want a long service life and should therefore not let the offspring climb onto the 24-inch bike too late. It is precisely for this reason that the industry offers frames with a short seat tube, which enables medium-sized primary school children to advance. The next wheel size is then after two to three years at the latest. That doesn't leave much time to get used to the real off-road bike. Children who are not very interested in off-road cycling at the age of nine can also cope with a conventional 24″ sports bike. In any case, it is important to have a thorough test fit in the bike shop - the bike must not be too big either.
suspension
Bikes with a suspension fork are particularly suitable for young riders who are ambitious and can really use the advantages of the suspension. Parents should remember that suspension requires constant maintenance. If you can't do the necessary work yourself, it can get expensive in the long run, and if you don't have maintenance by specialist staff, you risk losing functionality.
application
As far as use is concerned, the five wheels presented here already point in different directions. A Bulls with a carbon frame is pure sports equipment that should be treated with care and offers few expansion options - perfect for kids who go biking with their parents and really enjoy it. An aluminum rigid bike like the Scott, on the other hand, can easily be converted into an everyday bike, or you can screw on a pannier rack for a longer bike tour. Not all children's MTBs are equally suitable for the way to school or the route to the sports field; a second bike for everyday use will therefore have to supplement the fleet in some cases.
Velomotion Seal of Approval - five times "Very Good"
In summary, it can be said that all 24-inch mountain bikes in our test were convincing in their own way. That's why we decided to give all five children's bikes a Velomotion seal of approval with the grade very good. The Scott Scale was the lightest bike in the test. The Bulls Tokee Ultra Lite convinces with its technically outstanding equipment, especially because of the carbon frame. The Cannondale 24-inch MTB shows great off-road characteristics, mainly because of the very wide tires. With the Wild Speed Disc from KTM, you have to make a few compromises with the suspension fork, among other things. Nevertheless, it is absolutely recommendable because it is attractively priced. With the Off Air 5, WOOM shows once again that the Austrians offer very well thought-out and child-friendly MTBs.
