The Best 24″ Wheel Mountain Bikes For Under $500
Best 24-inch Wheel Kids Mountain Bikes under $500: Want to get your kiddo on the trail without breaking the bank? We’ve created a list of our favorite 24″ wheel kids mountain bikes for less than $500. A few notes about the bikes on this list:
Mountain Bike Suspension
You’ll notice that 4 out of 5 of our recommended mountain bikes for kids have no suspension fork. Unfortunately, the suspension on most low to mid-range kids mountain bikes is heavy and ineffective. Kids often don’t have enough mass to really compress the front shock. Fully rigid bikes are are lighter and require less maintenance. Thus, they are great for beginning and intermediate riders.
Drivetrain And Gears
The kids’ mountain bikes on our list have a maximum of 8 gears. If you’ve been shopping around, I’m sure you have seen kids’ bikes with up to 27 gears. In our opinion, a 1 x with 7-9 gears is enough to give your kid the range to make it up steep hills and still pick up some speed when its flat. a 1x set up will make shifting more intuitive and save some serious weight.
Fit Is A Key To Success
We’ve listed the stand-over height for each bike on our list. Importantly, before you shell out the money on a new mountain bike for your kid, you’ll want to be sure they can straddle the bike with both feet flat on the ground (for beginners) or on tip toe (for more advanced riders). Get a good stand-over height measurement by measuring your child’s inseam.
For more tips on buying the best mountain bike fo your kid, check out: 10 Things To Know Before Buying A Kid’s Mountain Bike.
Our list of the best 24-inch wheel kids mountain bikes under $500…
Norco Storm 4.2
The Norco Storm 4.2 mountain bike for kids is made for fun on the trails. The x6 aluminum frame and SR Suntour XCT Jr. fork is built to conquer the trails. This bike even has a quick-release seat post clamp.
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REI Co-op Cycles REV 24 Plus Kids’ Bike
The REI Co-op Cycles REV 24” wheel mountain bike is a great option to get your kids out on the trails for under $500. The REV 24 has several nice features that your kid will like. First, the REV 24 boasts plus-size tires (2.6 in. wide) to soften the little bumps and stick to the trail for a smooth, stable ride. Second, 1 x 7 shifting keeps it simple. Third, mechanical disc brakes provide confidence-inspiring, responsive braking.
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Trek Roscoe 24
The Roscoe 24” is a mountain bike designed to help kids build confidence on the trail. This bike features 2.8˝ mid-fat tires to provide great traction and stability. The 1x drivetrain with a wide-range cassette make for comfortable and intuitive climbing. Additionally, the mechanical disc brakes make controlling speed a breeze. The Roscoe is an excellent bike for little riders who want to build skills and have fun. This 24” wheel kids mountain bike will fit kids 4’3”- 4’11” tall.
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Prevelo Alpha 4
Prevelo designs every aspect of their kids’ bikes to inspire confidence and make riding fun. Firstly, the 24″ Alpha Four offers an 8-speed Shimano drive train. The 11-34T wide range gearing gives growing riders truly usable gear range. Secondly, at only 21.2 pounds with pedals, this bike is exceptionally light, helping to make bike control and climbing easier. Thirdly, the Shimano Acera Rapidfire Plus shift lever is easy for small hands to operate, has an indicator display, and operate just like shifters on high performance bikes. Finally, the Alpha 4 boasts unique low and narrow geometry to keep your rider rider low, balanced and in control.
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Norco Storm 4.1 – 24-inch Kids Mountain Bike
The Norco Storm 4.1 was created for epic outdoor adventures. This 24” wheel kids’ mountain bike features a lightweight X6 aluminum frame. The SR Suntour XCT Jr fork will smooth out the bumps. Additionally, shifting is intuitive and easy with the Shimano Altus 7-speed Rapidfire shift system. Importantly, the Tektro mechanical disc brakes will help your little ripper help control their speed safely.
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Woom 5
The Woom 5 is a beautifully designed light-weight 24 inch wheel bike for kids. It doesn’t have disc brakes or a suspension fork, but its ergonomics are geared towards making the bike easy to ride and therefore allowing your child to develop a strong foundation of bike handling skills. We did an in-depth review of the Woom 5 and absolutely loved it.
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