My 11 y/o daughter needs some new wheels, and I plan to peruse the end of season deals for a killer xmas present. She’s ready for something better than a big box store type of bike, I’m planning on getting an MTB. She’s not a big kid- at 4’8" and 75-80#, she’s one of the smallest in 6th grade. Projected adult height is 5’2"-5’3", so only 6 inches to go. A 24" bike would be the next step up from the (now too small) 20" bike, but I could get a better 26" rig with the understanding that this will be it unless she gets into racing bikes. Do any of you guys have kids this size? What are they riding? Any difficulties in fitting a kid this size on a 26" bike?
Sounds to me like she is already too big for an average 24" mtb. Also, if she isn’t she will be soon. I’d try here out on a xs or s 26" mtb, or even a xs 650b, this should fit her well enough to be a “take to college bike” down the road.
I work for a bike shop, get her something that fits with the seat all the way or mostly all the way slammed. I know you said “christmas present”, but you are way better off taking here in now, with some pretext of looking at bikes for her. Then never mentioning the topic again until xmas. Trying to buy a bike as a “surprise” almost never works unless you know they fit X bike in X size.
Sounds like you stayed with 20 too long and 24 may be too small. 26" for MTB or 650 for road is probably ok. wiggle.com has a good deal on the Moda Major 650 road bike and there is a cross version as well. My son turns 8 over the winter and will be on 24" road next year. He road it a few times already and is getting the hang of it. He is pretty average at school but small at our swim club. (Ie he weighs 48 lbs).
I have two boys aged 8 (~4’8") and 9 (~5’1") and both got new-to-them bikes this summer. The 8yo is on a Kona Stuff 2-4 and the 9yo is on a small Norco Wolverine (26" wheels).Both fit perfectly IMO. A too big bike will ruin the riding experience, especially offroad and at a young age.
At 4’8" with a projected height of 5’3", I’d be looking at a quality 24" wheel bike instead of 26". Norco, Kona, specialized, commencal. lil’ shredder and others make some quality 24" mountain bikes.
Tried a 24" at a store today- that’s the way to go for her. So where are the 24" decent bikes online (MTB, not road)?