Your Guide to Choosing the Best Mountain Bike for Your Child
It's important to encourage our children to stay active and healthy, and what better way to do that than through outdoor activities like mountain biking?
Finding the right bike for your child can be overwhelming however with so many options on the market. That's why we've compiled some recommendations for the best mountain bikes for kids of all ages. Whether your child is a beginner or a seasoned rider, we've got you covered with the top picks for quality, durability, and most importantly, fun.
Why Choose a Mountain Bike for Your Child?
Mountain biking is a great way to get your child active and outside. Mountain biking is a super fun thing to do and has tons of great benefits for your kid's overall development. It's not just about making their muscles and heart stronger - they'll also get better at balancing, coordinating, and moving their body in general.
Plus, it's an awesome opportunity to show your kid how cool nature is and help them learn about taking care of the environment. They'll get to check out new places, conquer challenges, and feel more self-assured too.
It's also of course a fun family activity that can be enjoyed together. So read on for our recommendations for choosing the best kids' mountain bikes to take them off-road and give them a lifelong love for the great outdoors.
How to Measure Your Child for a Mountain Bike
Before buying a mountain bike for your child, it's crucial to make sure that the bike fits them properly. Riding a bike that's too big or too small will be uncomfortable and can be unsafe, and might hinder their ability to learn and enjoy mountain biking.
The best way to ensure a good fit is to find out your child's inside leg measurement. To measure their inside leg, have them stand with their feet against a wall, and place a book between their legs as high as is comfortable. Then measure from the floor to the top of the book.
Once you have this measurement, consult our interactive bike finder, or take a look at our mountain bike page and use the handy filters.
Five Types of Kids Mountain Bikes Available in the UK
Frog MTB 69
- Inner leg measurement: 63 cm - 70 cm
- Generally for 10 - 12 years old
- Weighs 11.4kg
- 26” Wheels
The first bike we recommend is the fantastic Frog MTB 69. The Frog MTB 69 features front suspension to absorb shock and provide a smooth ride over rough terrain. The bike comes with 9-speed Shimano gears, making it easy for kids to shift and find the right gear for any terrain.
The Frog MTB 69 also has Tektro brakes, ensuring reliable stopping power when needed. Its lightweight frame also comes with a black and neon green or red paint finish, making it look as good as it handles.
Overall, the Frog bike brand is an excellent choice for young riders who are looking to take their mountain biking skills to the next level.
Frog MTB 72
- Inner leg measurement: 66cm - 81cm
- Generally for children 13 years +
- Weighs 11.5kg
- 26” Wheels
Our second Frog bike is the excellent Frog MTB 72, which is the size up from the Frog MTB 69 bike.
This bike is built to handle challenging terrain, with a lightweight aluminium frame, 26-inch wheels, and front suspension to absorb shock and provide a smooth ride.
The Frog MTB 72 also comes equipped with 9-speed Shimano gears, giving riders a wider range of gears to tackle steep climbs and fast descents.
The Tektro hydraulic disc brakes provide reliable stopping power, even in wet and muddy conditions. This bike is also designed with safety in mind, featuring reflective accents on the tyres and pedals for increased visibility in the evening.
If you're looking for a top-of-the-line mountain bike for your young rider, the Frog MTB 72 is an excellent choice.
Orbea Onna 27 XS 50
- Inner leg measurement: 70cm - 78cm
- Generally for 11 - 14 years old
- Weighs 15kg
- 27.5” Wheels
The premium quality Spanish brand Orbea offers some exceptional kids' mountain bikes. The Orbea Onna 27 XS 50 is one such bike that kids love. It features a lightweight aluminium frame, 27.5-inch wheels, and a front suspension fork for excellent traction and control on bumpy routes.
The bike is equipped with Shimano 2x8 speed gears with a thumb shifter, making it easy for young riders to shift gears smoothly and efficiently. The hydraulic disc brakes also offer great control on off-road trails.
The bike also features an ergonomic saddle and handlebars, designed to provide a comfortable and confident riding experience.
Orbea MX 20 DIRT
- Inner leg measurement: 52cm - 62cm
- Generally for 5 - 9 years old
- Weighs 9.3kg
- 20” Wheels
A smaller mountain bike from Orbea, the Orbea MX 20 DIRT is an excellent bike designed for children who want to tackle challenging terrain. This bike is built with a lightweight aluminium frame and 20-inch wheels, making it easy for kids to handle and manoeuvre.
The bike is fitted with 7-speed Shimano gears, which make it easy for young riders to shift gears and tackle hills with ease. The MX 20 also makes use of smaller child-specific brake levers, saddles and pedals, to ensure your little one is comfortable and in control. We also offer the larger MX 24 DIRT.
Puky Eightshot 20 FS
- Inner leg measurement: 53cm - 59cm
- Generally for children aged 5+
- Weighs 9.7kg
- 20” Wheels
The lightweight Puky Eightshot 20 FS is the final bike on our list. It features a front suspension fork and wide tyres for little adventurers.
It also has a 7-speed Shimano gear system like the MX 20 DIRT, allowing for maximum control and efficiency. With its adjustable saddle and handlebar, the Puky can be customised to fit your child's exact size.
Finally, it comes with an attractive dark green paint job. Overall, the Puky Eight Shot 20 FS is an excellent choice for parents looking to invest in a high-quality kids' bike that is durable and safe for their child.
Common Questions We Get Asked About Kids Mountain Bikes
What size mountain bike for a 7-year-old?
When choosing a mountain bike for a 7-year-old, it's important to consider their inside leg measurement. Typically, a 7-year-old child could ride a 20” or a 24” mountain bike depending on their height.
An inside leg measurement will help you determine the appropriate size for their bike. Additionally, it's recommended to choose a lightweight kids' bike so that it’s easy for your child to handle and manoeuvre. A great bike that will fit most 7-year-olds is the Orbea MX 20 DIRT mentioned above.
What size mountain bike for a 10-year-old?
Generally speaking, a 24-inch wheel size will suit a 10-year-old. As stated above, a better metric to go by is inside leg length.
Besides the size, the weight of the bike is also a crucial factor. A lighter bike will be easier for your child to manage.
Lastly, consider the type of terrain your child will be riding on and choose a bike with appropriate features such as suspension, gears, and tyres to match their needs.
How much should I spend on a kids' mountain bike?
The price range for a kids' mountain bike varies widely depending on the quality, brand, and features of the bike. Generally, they range from £275 at the low end to £700 at the high end (and even up to £2000!). Buying a bike can be expensive and it might not fit your child for more than a couple of years.
At Bike Club we offer an alternative subscription model, where you can pay an affordable monthly rate for a kids' mountain bike, and exchange it for a larger one when your child outgrows it rather than buying a kids' bike outright.
Kids Mountain Bikes with Bike Club
You can sign up for Bike Club today and get the best kids' bikes at an affordable monthly cost. With exchanges at any time, you will not be stuck with an expensive bike that is too small for your child.
We also offer a range of other children's bikes, such as balance bikes and first pedal bikes if they are not big enough to ride mountain bikes yet. If they are into BMX racing, we have kids' BMX bikes too. Finally, we also offer pre-loved bikes at a lower monthly cost, as part of our sustainable model.
If you are already a member, you can refer a friend and treat them to 25% off for 6 months and receive a £30 John Lewis voucher for yourself. For more on mountain biking you can see our mountain bike tips blog.
