Mountain Bike

The Frog MTB 62 has a specifically designed junior specific air suspension fork with lockout and damping control, a lightweight oversize handlebar and stem plus easy-reach junior specific hydraulic brakes.

The Shimano rapid-fire 9-speed shift lever is an easy to use way to move the chain.

When we reviewed the slightly larger Frog MTB 69 our only complaint was with the supplied tyres, but the later versions have been upgraded to have a bespoke mountain bike tyre which is much better for off road riding.

The Cube Acid 200 Disc is specified with mountain biking in mind.  They’ve upgraded their standard Acid 200 with disc brakes front and rear to make stopping easier on the trails.

A useful feature is a replaceable derailleur hanger, so that the occasional mishap doesn’t write off the entire frame.

We’ve not reviewed this particular bike, but we’ve tested a number of Cube’s larger mountain bikes and have always been very impressed with them.

Cube’s entry level  20″ wheel offering is a 7 speed bike, the Cube Acid 200, which helps make the transitions to gears easier.  21 or more gears that you get on some kids bikes just confuses things – more to remember and more to go wrong!

Cube realise that kids aren’t always the most careful or thoughtful so features of this bike include a modulator on the front brake to stop them slamming on too quickly, plus an easily replaceable derailleur hanger – the bit that changes the gears that gets damaged when kids drop their bike on the floor gears side down (TOP TIP –  teach them to lay their bike down derailleur side upwards!)

We’ve reviewed a number of different Cube kids bikes over the years and have always been impressed with the quality.

The Cube Acid 240 AllRoad is Cube’s entry level mountain bike (the Cube Acid 240) with additional accessories (mudguards, LED lights and kickstand) for riding on road.

The result will be suited to children who are riding gentle off road routes at the weekend (and therefore appreciate the suspension) and who are also riding to school in the week. 

If they’re only riding on road, then a hybrid bike without suspension will be lighter and possibly quicker to ride, without the hassle of maintaining the suspension fork. 

The Cube Cubie 180 is inspired by Cube’s larger junior mountain bikes and is a good choice for a child who is desperate to go mountain biking, but not quite ready to move up to a 20″ wheel geared MTB.

It’s fitted with proper off road tyres and has small brake levers to help make stopping easy, and at just 7kg it’s light enough for them to ride and you to lift / carry at the end of the ride.

The Squish MTB 650 is Squish’s 27.5″ wheeled mountain bike with a 14″ frame aimed at kids aged 10+ and suitable for a minimum inside leg measurement of 72cm.