The Best 24″ Bikes: Wheels that inspire confidence (2021)

Extra details on fit

The best 24″ bikes for kids

These are the bikes that have really intrigued me. They either meet some or all of our checkboxes, and there are a few in here that I came across while I was doing my research that really seem look good options, just perhaps not for us, more for kids who are reallllly into mountain biking or cute, practical bikes for the city.

The first half of this list are rigid bikes, most with wide or plus tires. The second half are hardtail, a bit more mountain bike than touring bike, so we will likely rule them out but it’s hard not to look at them!

I feel pretty confident to say that for my kid’s current riding style, she can get away with wider tires run at lower pressure when necessary and not bother with the extra weight of front shocks, yet, so we will likely go with one of the bikes in the first half of this list.

At the end of this list I considered a few bikes that would be just lovely for the city and school commutes, if that’s your jam.

Note: Here is the spreadsheet that I put together during the buying process. You can make a copy of it, save it, and modify it for your own personal use. We ended up buying during the pandemic bike boom so choice was extremely limited by the time I had narrowed down what we wanted. You snooze you lose, right? We are very happy with the bike(s) we got even if our hand was somewhat forced. We also got to support local Canadian Cleary retailer Kids Bikes Canada, too.

Salsa Timberjack 24″

A mini-bikepacking bike. Every time I look at this bike I think that this must be the one: it’s got nice squishy 3″ plus size tires with a lot of contact to inspire confidence and help my daughter plough over the rough fire roads we ride on summer bikepacking overnighters.

I also think that a bike like this might help her get more jazzed about riding singletrack; there’s something really confidence inspiring about wide tires, for sure, and that could be the ticket for her.

It’s not lightweight though, and clocks in at 26 lbs 11 oz.

A note about this bike and sizing, because of the plus tires, the minimum seat heat might be a bit much for smaller kids and they might fit the 20″ version better.

The Timberjack also comes in a front suspension model, if you like.

Check current prices here

Woom 5

It’s so hard to ignore this bike. I’m going to investigate the clearance for tires on it, but it otherwise ticks every single box for us.

It is ultralightweight, weighing in at a mere 18 pounds. Can handle a rack and fenders, and Woom was one of the first lightweight bike companies that helped to revolutionize the kids’ bike industry.

Woom has also launched a mountain biking line now, called Woom Off. Check out the Woom Off 5.

Check current prices here

Prevelo Alpha Four

Prevelo is one of my absolute favourite brands. I love our youngest’s Alpha Three and she does, too. A positive experience with one bike definitely makes it hard to not head down that path again.

This bike is a serious contender for us if we can fit it with slightly wider and knobbier tires.

Note: We are currently demo’ing this bike! It is the bike my 9 year old reaches for in the city, for riding pathways and smooth trails. In September 2020, she also toured the Icefields Parkway (Lake Louise to Jasper) on it, with a rear rack* and two panniers, plus a handlebar bag, with her dad and the odd bit of help from a TowWhee! It more than got the job done; they had a great trip.

*There are eyelets for fenders or a rear rack but you have to mount the top of the rack on the seat post with a clamp; there is no proper rack mount but we made it work.

Check current prices here

Frog 62

Our Frog 55 has been ridden for fun, to school, to swimming lessons, on gravel fire roads, some singletrack, and on a bike tour in The Netherlands. And it’s still working just great. For that, I recommend Frog as a great all-round hybrid option.

I don’t think that we will go this route again as the cockpit is a bit stretched out for our eldest’s body type, but I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend their high quality if it fits your kid.

Check current prices here

Priority Start 24

This urban bike is a great, high quality, and relatively affordable 24 inch bike option if you are sticking with just city riding. Great for year round use if you put some fenders (and studded tires) on it, because of the belt drive and 3-speed internally geared hub. If we could have two bikes, I would pick this one for city use for our daughter.

Check current prices here

Early Rider Seeker 24

I love the clean lines of these bikes, especially this one. I would prefer slightly wider tires (which could be done) and more braze-ons for racks, etc. But check out that main frame triangle! And then nice chill geometry. It’s so classy, with great components.

Early Rider is one of the earliest companies formed specifically to design lightweight, high quality bikes for kids.

Check current prices here

Commencal Ramones 24

I first learned of Commencal when a friend bought a 20″ one for his daughter who is on the shorter side. They’re great bikes. This one is no exception and comes with decently wide 2.6″ tires and a good price point.

I don’t know the exact weight but found her 20″ Commencal to be comparable to our 20″ Frog, so I’m going to guess that this is not a super heavy bike either, especially since its made of an aluminum alloy (6061).

Check current prices here

Giant XTC JR 24+

Another plus bike for the junior crowd. 2.8-inch tires for comfort and traction. 1×9 drivetrain with discs. Giant is a super mainstream brand but they make a solid product. I ride a Liv Pique 2 as my mountain bike and it’s been rad. Because it’s a bigger brand, they tend to be more affordable especially considering what you are getting in the package. Our friend’s daughter rides this bike and it’s been great for them.

I love the 2.8 tires and top tube design on this bike, it’s super approachable and confidence-inspiring, to me.

However, it seems that Giant has decided not to include the Plus model of this bike in their 2021 line-up. Keep your eyes peeled for it used or consider their non-plus 2.1″ wide tire version.

Check current prices here

Prevelo Zulu Four Heir

Like I said, I’m a big fan of Prevelo, they’ve done nothing but impress me so far. This bike is no exception: check out that drivetrain! Such a wide range including a mega granny gear, which is so important to keep your kid climbing. The bike clocks in at just over 23 pounds which makes it not the lightest in the mountain biking bunch, but that includes tubes and this bike is tubeless ready, so you can definitely shed some more weight by ditching the tubes and going tubeless (which I highly recommend).

Check current prices here

Norco Fluid HT+ 4.3

This is a higher end hardtail Norco that has 2.6″ wide tires. The reach is nice and close, which I like a lot, too. The components are solid and it’s a long-standing Canadian company (and since I’m Canadian…!).

It’ll probably be ruled out for us as it’s got no potential for racks and I can’t tell if it even has one bottle mount (likely though). But, I see it as a great option for mountain biking and general use.

Check current prices here

Frog 62 Mountain Bike

We haven’t tried the Frog mountain bike series, yet. Given the high quality experience of our Frog 55 along with the build quality indicated, I would expect nothing but a sweet ride. I think this is likely too much mountain bike for what we are looking for, but don’t hesitate to go this route if you’re looking for something a bit more affordable than say, the Spawn Yama Jama.

Check current prices here

Cleary Scout 24″ Mountain Bike

This is the mountain bike that we ended up buying for our 8 year old and it fit just great.

The wide gear range has been amazing for her. The tires weren’t quite as wide as I was hoping they would be, but it’s been more than fine and the whole set-up has really inspired her confidence. She is keen to mountain bike now, which is super fun! She’s fairly light, herself, but can actuate the shocks a bit (and loves them).

The frame of this bike is steel, not aluminium, as such it is definitely on the heavier side. However, it will last for years and once most kids are 8 or so, weight becomes less of an issue as they’re really starting to grow and take off at this point.

Check current prices here (Canada)

Trailcraft Cycles Pineridge 24

This custom build bike is way out of our price range and too much mountain bike for my kiddo’s ability but I’ve thrown it in here because: EYE CANDY! Enough said, look at it yourself. (Don’t worry, this link is only for your pleasure and I am not an affiliate with Trailcraft!)

Check current prices here

What did we choose?

Lucky duck is demo’ing a Prevelo Alpha Four on pavement and we bought her a nice steel Cleary Scout 24″ for dirt. She has finally taken to mountain biking! The Cleary upped her confidence, hugely, and the gear range has just been awesome. She toured from Lake Louise to Jasper with her dad in early September on the Prevelo and loves zooming around the city on it, too.

Brakes

All bikes listed here use hand brakes and it is what I recommend as the best choice out there.

V-brakes are more than sufficient for the majority of riders in this ability and age group. However, a bunch of kids here will appreciate at least mechanical discs if that’s an option. Hydraulics are amazing when you’re really proficient at braking but in my humble opinion they’re overkill for most kids this weight and ability, and are just one more thing to maintain. Mechanicals are pretty straightforward to keep working well; hydraulics are a bit more complicated and conceivably messy if you don’t know what you’re doing.

Gears

For us, having an easy granny gear is of utmost importance. We live at the top of a decent hill; school is at the top of another pretty steep hill; and, we like to bikepack on local fire roads in the Rockies which can be hilly, too, and when the bike is under load.

I like to speak in “gear inches” as it’s the reference point that I’m used to. Some people prefer “gain ratio”. Whatever, pick your favourite and stick with it if comparing granny gears between bikes is important to you.

My go-to is the online Sheldon Brown calculator:

How to use it?

1. Select the closest wheel size in the drop down menu.
2. Choose the bike’s crank length (likely somewhere around 125-155 mm for the bikes listed here – check the Extra Details on Fit table).
3. Pick the unit you like (possibly Gain Ratios, but I like Gear Inches).
4. Insert the teeth count for the front chainring in the first box (don’t worry about the other two boxes)
5. Leave “Custom Sprockets” menu as is and enter the first and last numbers of the range on the bike’s cog set, eg. 11 and 34 for an 11-34T set.
6. Leave the “Internal Hub” menu as is.
7. Hit Calculate and check out the results.

On my touring bike, I have my Rohloff set up so that I can about 15 gear inches in my easiest gear and I find that great for climbing, especially while loaded. That number is my point of reference, for sure.

Crank length & q-factor

A quick note on cranks. One small detail that is quite important for kids riding longer distances is the length of the crank. It’s better for ergonomics if it’s sized for them.

Q-factor, too. A kid-friendly q-factor will better fit their hip width so that they’re riding in a more neutral stance, suitable for their body size.

24 inch Bikes: Styles

At this sized wheel, bikes really start to diversify and get serious! Everything is available in mini-me form now, from hybrids to road bikes to mountain bikes, even plus tire sized bikepacking bikes with ample braze-ons have arrived on scene.

We are mostly interested in either a hybrid capable of at least balloon tires, or a mountain bike or bikepacking rig with plus tires. A rear rack would be great. Fenders would be awesome. Several braze-ons/cage mounts would be useful. Add in lightweight, if possible, and not too aggressive a stance, and we’ll have a winner!

Balance bikes

If you’re reading this guide because you have a late bloomer, differently abled child, or a kid with special needs, then figuring out a way to start on a balance bike is an excellent way to learn.

Any bike can be transformed into a balance bike by either removed the pedals or having your local bike shop removing the entire bottom bracket (plus cranks and pedals along with it).

Consider this thorough guide on balance bikes:

Or for kids with disabilities or special needs, there’s this awesome piece from CycleSprog to check out:

Road bikes

Since we aren’t looking for one, I’m not going to do a bunch of research on road bikes at this time. Perhaps in the near future! For now, I’ll refer you to Cyclesprog’s compilation of the best road racing bikes for kids with 20″ wheels and the guide for 24″ wheels. Note that road bikes tend to fit a bit bigger for their wheel size, so your 8 year old may very well still fit a 20″ road bike even though they’ve outgrown their hybrid or mountain bike of the same wheel size.

Mountain bikes

While any bike can be a mountain bike, by this age and stage, your kid is likely a skilled enough rider that if they are truly in to trail riding then they could benefit from a good bike designed specifically for mountain biking. So, a bit more aggressive stance, nice knobby tires – hopefully fairly wide 2.4-2.8″ ones, and perhaps even a front shock.

At this weight, your kid can likely actuate an air shock. You will have options for front or full suspension available to you.

Another way to feel like you have some suspension is balloon or plus tires. If that interest you, consider a bikepacking style bike (see below) with plus tires to get a suspended feel just from the tires (and not have to worry about the extra weight and deal with the maintenance of shocks). This is more what we are leaning towards at this time as our daughter hasn’t shown a keen interest in singletrack just yet.

Disc brakes will be more common for this sized mountain bike, and you might even be lucky to score a 1 x drivetrain. You like yours, right? I love mine! Keeping it simple for kids with a massive granny gear will help with your enjoyment of the trails, too, in my humble opinion!

Bikepacking Bikes

Any mountain bike can be turned into a bikepacking bike, but this newer genre of bicycle makes it even easier. The two key features of a child’s bike geared for bikepacking are:

• plus size tires
• braze-ons for carrying luggage/gear.

How does this translate into regular mountain biking or other trail use? I don’t know about you, but plus size tires give me a massive confidence boost on gravel and rougher terrain. Most of our local, off-road bikepacking trips close to home are on rough fire roads or gravel rail trails, so being able to run plus sized tires is a great feature. For my eldest child – a total ‘thinker’ – I expect this to be a huge boon for her confidence levels, too.

Also, the benefit of higher volume plus size tires is that you can run them at a lower pressure, which essentially gives a kid full suspension without the expense of a full squish bike, with less moving parts. Win-win.

Budget

Let’s face it: these bikes are not cheap. Lightweight kids’ bikes is a niche market that is growing so there is a bit more competition now, but it’s still not budget-friendly. But, you know what you are doing and consider this an investment. You’re just like us: you want to support your kid’s journey into biking because you want to share your passion with them and you know that the right gear helps accelerate their ability. It is more fun to ride a bike that is less than half of your body weight than one that is 3/4 of your weight!

That said, if your kid is really in to mountain biking, plan to choke a little or spit up some of your coffee when you see the price of these bikes: you have entered the realm of >$1k price tags folks! Cash in your retirement fund now.

Chances are if you are actually researching what 24 inch bike to buy your kid, you are not heading to the department store because you are looking for something lightweight and good quality. Or, perhaps you’re hoping to support your local bike shop (LBS) instead of a big box store.

Some of these brands can be found at most mainstream LBSs, others at only boutique ones, and most are only available online.

By now you probably have experienced having a good quality bike makes siblings happy, too, and/or their resale is very good. The other beautiful thing is that a quality bike is reparable so that it can last for many years and stay out of the landfills.

Used kids’ bikes

They go like hot cakes! On kijiji or our local kid’s outdoor playgroup Facebook group, any high quality kid’s bike that goes up for sale is gone within days and has multiple offers. Some bikes resell for practically full price.

Set up alerts on an app on your phone. That’s what I did, and I still was usually only second to contact the seller so have yet to succeed in buying second hand but highly recommend it.

Start your hunt months ahead of time and good luck!

If you can’t find any of these brands used, also try for Spawn, they’re great just too much mountain bike for our kid now so not listed here, but you might find an older used hardtail version that is more affordable. Or, even look for an older Trek or similar hardtail; not lightweight, but decently built with real components, you’ll probably find it for cheap, and can fix it up, if necessary.