What bike for my growing kid...

[Ottime]

My kid is 13 yrs, about 5'2" and 100# and currently starting ti outgrow their 26" Spawn Yama Jama hardtail. It has been a great bike for them and they have been able to ride it on XC and flow trails as well as moderate downhills. We live in Santa Cruz, so if you know UC, trails like Magic Carpet and Sweetness. They like to jump, but are still very limited (maybe getting a few inches off the ground and a moment of hang time). Their ride style is almost aggressive, but its still pretty mellow.

I am looking at used bikes and trying to figure out what might be their next bike.

I am generally thinking of Small adult frames with 27.5" wheels. What should I be looking for?

I made an offer on a YT Jeffsy Comp. Have not heard back from he guy. I think I may have offered too low - but he had listed the bike as a Pro Race instead of a Comp, (about a $2200 msrp difference). It was only looking at the pictures and components and asking a ton of questions that I figured out it was not the Pro Race.

I thinking ideal geometry would be in the "trail " category with maybe 140/130 travel. Hoping to keep the bike under 32#.

But I really do not know the world of mid travel 27.5" bikes. As I scour through bike listings, what have been good bikes for a growing enthusiast that mostly does their own climbing (occasional shuttles) and likes the down hill?

[Dee Hubbs]

What is the budget?

[s1ammy]

I don't have a specific bike recommendation but can confirm that I've had good luck with S or XS frame 27.5 wheel bikes for that size kid. My 100# 11 year old is on a S 27.5 Liv right now and it fits them very well.

[Dee Hubbs]

What is the budget?

I made an offer on a YT Jeffsy Comp. Have not heard back from he guy. I think I may have offered too low - but he had listed the bike as a Pro Race instead of a Comp.

If you're making offers on a used $2300 bike, why not buy something new? Lots of deals out there.
If it were me I'd look for a:
27.5 Small Rocky Instinct. Previous year models like the A30 are slashed from $3400 to $2040.
150mm - 140mm, good pedaler, Size Smalls are listed for 5'1" to 5'6", Good parts spec, modern geos, new with a warranty, it will last a few years before they out grow it.
The only box it does not tick is the 32lbs. It's a bit heavier at 34.6 lbs.

[Canada1]

There are also some extra small 29" bikes out there. I went that direction for my daughters latest. She is petite, but conscious that all of her friends were racing 29" wheels. This made it easier for me to carry less tires and tubes. It probably wasn't in her best interest from a pure rider standpoint. But, I wanted to get here something she felt good about, and the peer pressure thing at her age certainly is not worth her not wanting to be stocked about her bike.

[Ottime]

Not against new.

I offered $1500 o a bike he was asking $2200, but because he listed it correctly (I'm not a low baller - I would have been happy. to pick up the Jeffsy Pro Race for $2k - but he was actually selling the comp (kind go X01 vs GX groups and Fox Factory vs Performance)

My budget is in the $1500-$2k range reasonably. I could muster a bit more for a solid deal that will resell well in a few years.

I picked up the Spawn two years old for $600 and did a little work on it initially. So it was kind if a steal. Added a dropper, and have since replaced the cassette, chain, rotors, pedals and set up tubeless. Its a sweet little bike and comes in at just under 30#.

My kid is small but has strong legs (skier and biker) but is way less likely to carry a 35# far uphill. These days, our rides average about 1K of climbing with big days up to 1800'. I want o keep pushing those numbers up and fear a heavier bike will do the opposite. 30# is the sweet number but realize with a bigger frame and wheelset (and likely a rear shock) will be a factor in weight.

I figure I have about 6 months to a year to find this bike as my kid really still enjoys the Spawn, but they are beginning to look a bit long on it.

No peer pressure to get to 29" wheels or really anything. My kid usually rides with me or a group from school. They were in 7th grade last year, and the MYB team was my kid and a bunch of 11th and 12th graders. So my kid was stoked to follow then as best they could, but no pressure to be on similar bikes.

[alias_rice]

I’m gonna highjack this thread a bit. I have a 100 lb. 5’0” tall 13 year old that really hasn’t ever caught the bike bug yet. His ski team just sent out their training schedule though and they’ll be riding once a week all fall, and I’m guessing a few Woodward days as well. So I need to get something in the next few weeks. In a perfect world he’ll start to love to ride and whatever I get will last a few years.

What do you guys think about something like this? https://www.trailcraftcycles.com/pro...well-27-5-ltd/.

[toast2266]

Since this thread got bumped: I've got a 2018 yeti sb6 in a size small that I'll be selling soon. 27.5" wheels. Fox Factory suspension, 12 speed X01 eagle. Nice bike and in good shape. Wife just got a new bike, so selling her old one.

Seems like it'd be a good bike for a kid. I'll probably list it on pinkbike for $1800-ish, but would sell on here for $1600 + ship.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

[sfotex]

I’m gonna highjack this thread a bit. I have a 100 lb. 5’0” tall 13 year old that really hasn’t ever caught the bike bug yet. His ski team just sent out their training schedule though and they’ll be riding once a week all fall, and I’m guessing a few Woodward days as well. So I need to get something in the next few weeks. In a perfect world he’ll start to love to ride and whatever I get will last a few years.

What do you guys think about something like this? https://www.trailcraftcycles.com/pro...well-27-5-ltd/.

I have no idea how tall you are, but between 13-15 he's probably going to grow pretty close to full height meaning you might go thru a few bikes until he steals your ride...

[alias_rice]

Ended up finding a killer deal on an Ibis Ripley AF. A touch heavier than I was hoping but I think it should work. The market is definitely a better for buyers than it was last time I was in the market, but still not a ton of small frames out there.

[funkendrenchman]

Looking for a 24" FS if anyone is selling.

[Duffman]

Ended up finding a killer deal on an Ibis Ripley AF. A touch heavier than I was hoping but I think it should work. The market is definitely a better for buyers than it was last time I was in the market, but still not a ton of small frames out there.

FKNA. We love our Ripley AF here, wife and I each have an SLX build. Such a fun ride. Alias Jr is gonna rip on that thing, but knowing him you will be upgrading to a Ripmo sooner than you think ?

[Danno]

This seems like a good place to post: I'm giving away a 24" townie, posted in the keep kids skiing thread in gear swap

[alias_rice]

FKNA. We love our Ripley AF here, wife and I each have an SLX build. Such a fun ride. Alias Jr is gonna rip on that thing, but knowing him you will be upgrading to a Ripmo sooner than you think ?

He better start saving his pennies!