Shyre Eastie 20 review: a confidence-building first mountain bike

Disclosure: Shyre sent us the Eastie 20 to review free of charge. We were not paid to write this review, and all opinions are our own. We do use affiliate links, so may get a small commission if you choose to buy through the links on this page. This funds the website, and we thank you for your support.

About Shyre Bikes

Shyre is a newer British kids' bike brand focused on creating lightweight, child-specific bikes at accessible price points. The range covers everything from balance bikes and first pedal bikes through to geared and mountain bikes, giving families options as their children grow and develop their riding.

About our reviewer

M is 6 years old and had ridden mostly on the road, in parks and on pump tracks before this review, along with two off-road outings on a hired mountain bike at Glentress and on her own Islabike in the Forest of Bowland.

M's mum is a road cyclist, and her dad mountain bikes and previously worked as an outdoor instructor, so the family has plenty of experience across different types of cycling to draw on.

The family had planned to wait another year before moving M onto a mountain bike, but her enthusiasm and progress on those early off-road trips changed their minds. As M's mum put it:

"She finds the mountain biking element more interactive and quicker wins than longer road biking as she is still quite small for the endurance of that. Off road means she gets the quick rewards of doing a berm or even better, a puddle or muddy section much more often, which keeps her engaged and not thinking about being tired."

Shyre Eastie 20 first impressions

M's first reaction to the Shyre Eastie 20 was enthusiasm for the knobbly tyres and the colour.

Her mum's first impressions were positive too, describing the styling as attractive, though she noted the kickstand seemed like an unusual addition for a mountain bike, and that the suspension fork's branding wasn't familiar to her.

The bike was ridden for the first time on day one, out on the Three Rivers trail at Staveley, in the English Lake District, and made an immediate impression.

Although M is tall enough, and arguably experienced enough, to have gone straight onto a 24-inch bike, her parents found the smaller 20-inch Eastie gave her confidence without feeling overwhelmed.

Shyre Eastie 20 Sizing

The Shyre Eastie 20 is designed for children aged 6 to 9, with a height range of 115-135cm and an inside leg measurement from around 56cm.

M was 127cm tall with a 56cm inside leg at the start of the review period, and had grown to 128cm and 58cm by the end.

The saddle started at 10cm above its lowest point and had moved up to a mid-height setting two months later, with plenty of adjustment left for future growth.

Raising the saddle as M grew was described by her mum as "super straightforward."

Shyre Eastie 20 brakes

The Shyre Eastie 20 is fitted with mechanical disc brakes (which help give more consistent stopping power in wet or muddy conditions than traditional rim brakes) from Jak, a less well-known brand in this space.

M's mum found the brake levers needed adjusting to suit her daughter's hand size and reach, which she described as straightforward. Once set up, the levers were a comfortable size and shape for M to use.

However, the family did notice a limitation with this braking system. 

On steeper descents, M struggled to slow down as effectively as she might with a hydraulic disc brake system (which uses fluid rather than a cable to apply the brakes, generally giving more stopping power for less effort at the lever - and which are fitted to more expensive mountain bikes). 

This is a fair trade-off of cost vs quality of components to be aware of, particularly for families planning to ride steeper or more technical terrain. 

The brakes didn't need realigning during the review period, and performance in wet weather was no different to any other disc brake system the family has used.

Shyre Eastie 20 gears

The Eastie 20 has a 7-speed drivetrain with a single thumb-operated shifter on the right handlebar.

The 14-28T Shimano gearing should provide capable throughout most ground and M used the full range of gears confidently, with her mum describing the gear changes as smooth, with no unusual noise or skipping.

She felt the range was appropriate for the family's current riding, though suggested that as M takes on hillier terrain over the next six to twelve months, she may benefit from a wider range in future.

Shyre Eastie 20 tyres and grip

The Eastie 20's 2.35-inch wide tyres were tested across road, gravel and grass, as well as wet and muddy conditions.

The tyres performed very well in the wet, including riding confidently through puddles on stony and rocky tracks, with no punctures during the review period.

How does the Shyre Eastie 20 suspension fork perform?

The Eastie 20 is fitted with a suspension fork offering 40mm of travel. 

This was one of the standout features for the family, and a key reason they chose this bike. M has previously experienced pins and needles on rough, stony tracks when riding her sibling's bike without suspension, tensing her arms in a way that made the vibration feel worse. The suspension fork resolved this noticeably.

However, the family found the suspension quite firm for M's weight of 27kg, even at its lowest adjustment setting.

Despite the firmness, M's mum was clear about the benefit it gave her daughter's confidence and comfort compared with an unsuspended bike:

"This was a key driver for M... We had no moaning about the bumps!"

Shyre Eastie 20 weight in use

At 12kg with pedals and kickstand fitted, the Eastie 20 is heavier than a rigid-forked bike of the same size, which is an expected trade-off for having a suspension fork and disc brakes fitted.

M's mum found the weight worked well in practice, describing the bike as a good "interim step" for her daughter, who is tall for her age but not yet as physically developed in terms of muscle strength.

Importantly, M could lift the bike independently if it fell over, including carrying it up steps and manoeuvring it between sections of trickier trail herself.

Other components

The saddle, handlebars and pedals all performed well during the review. The handlebar width suited M well, and was cited as one of the reasons the family chose to stay with the 20 inch model rather than sizing up.

The pedals provided good grip, particularly important on a mountain bike, though as with any grippier pedal, they can catch the shins if a child knocks against them. M's mum reported this wasn't an issue in practice.

The Eastie 20 comes with a kickstand fitted as standard, which is unusual for a mountain bike. M's mum felt this was a slightly unexpected addition and one she wouldn't necessarily have chosen to add herself, given the small extra weight it brings, but confirmed M did use it independently and that it didn't get in the way during off-road riding.

One thing the family did miss was a bottle cage. This is a sacrifice made by the frame design, with the child-friendly geometry meaning the frame lacks space to fit in a bottle.

A Camelbac for your child is an option for carrying water, read our article on hydration packs here.

Where has the Shyre Eastie 20 been ridden?

Over two months, M has ridden the Eastie 20 at Staveley's Three Rivers trail, on local roads and trails, along the lakeside at Coniston, and on the blue-graded trail at Gisburn Forest.

There has been no rust, wear or damage to the bike during the review period. 

Thoughts from the Sprog

"It's got suspension and I've never had suspension. It's fun because you get those bumps and then you don't feel it. I like all of it. I want a blue one or a red and black one would look quite cool."

Shyre Eastie 20 compared to other 20 inch kids' mountain bikes

The Shyre Eastie 20 is one of relatively few 20 inch kids' mountain bikes at this price point to come with a suspension fork, which is the standout difference between it and its closest rivals.

The Rockrider 20 EXPL 900R (£329.99) takes the opposite approach, using a rigid fork and wider tyres instead of suspension to smooth out rough ground, which keeps its weight down to 9.9kg, around 2kg lighter than the Eastie 20. Families who prioritise a lighter bike, and whose children don't mind missing out on suspension, may prefer this option. You can read our full review of the Rockrider 20 EXPL 900R here.

The Marin Bayview Trail 20 (£349) also uses a rigid steel fork rather than suspension, alongside a Shimano 7-speed drivetrain and mechanical disc brakes, at a slightly higher price than the Eastie 20.

If a suspension fork is a priority at a similar price point, the Voodoo Sobo Junior (£315) from Halfords is worth considering as an alternative. At 10kg, it's around 2kg lighter than the Eastie 20, and its front suspension fork can be adjusted to suit the rider's weight, which may be helpful given our reviewer's experience of the Eastie 20's suspension feeling firm even at its softest setting for a lighter child. It also has an 8-speed drivetrain, one more gear than the Eastie 20. 

As with any suspension fork at this price point, it's worth weighing up the extra weight against the extra comfort it offers, particularly for lighter riders, as our review has found.

Other articles you may be interested in:

• Best 20" kids' bikes
• Best kids' bike helmets
• Best kids' 20" mountain bikes
• woom kids bikes- a comprehensive guide.
• Buying a kids mountain bike; things you need to know
• The best family bike rides in the Lake District, Cumbria
• Cheaper alternatives to Islabikes
• 12 things you need to know before buying a kids bike
• YOMO 24 Review: A versatile 24 inch hybrid kids bike