Fuji Beartooth 24 +
If you are looking for a high performance mountain bike for your 8 to 12 year-old, look no further.
There are a couple of full suspension 24″ bikes out there (we can get you one from Marin), but they run over $1600 and can hinder the acquisition of some finer off-road bike handling skills by doing a lot of the work for the rider. A nicer hardtail like this Fuji will make junior faster and more capable without dumbing down the riding experience.
Fuji’s Dynamite Beartooth puts all of the off-road technology that you would find on an adult hardtail into this small package. The bike comes with a 80mm travel suspension fork with a lockout. The brakes are Shimano Deore hydraulic discs. The 1 x 9 drivetrain is smooth and precise. The lightweight double-wall wheels come with quick release thru-axles for easy maintenance and travel. The meaty 2.8” wide tire provides the bike with stability and ride cushion without resorting to the expense and added complexity of rear suspension.
Overall weight is reduced with high quality aluminum construction all around. The handlebars, stem, seatpost, crankset, derailleurs, brakes, and even spoke nipples utilize better materials to make the bike light and trouble free. Even the cheap plastic pedals typically found on kids bikes have been replaced by high quality Wellgo platform pedals.