Mountain Bike

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 now only available secondhand as Cube have sadly discontinued this particularly bike.

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.

If you’re in the market for a junior full-suspension mountain bike then it’s well worth a look at the brand new Forme Black Rock 26.   

Price wise it sits in that mid way point between a hard tail mountain bike and the much more expensive full suspension bikes that will set you back several thousand quid.

Forme have taken the learnings from their adult Black Rocks mountain bike range and their junior Kinder range and melded it into the Black Rocks 26, giving you a good entry level full suspension bike.

If you’re in the market for a junior full-suspension mountain bike then the Forme Black Rocks 24 is worth a look.  Price and quality wise it sits in that mid way point between a hard tail mountain bike and the much more expensive full suspension bikes that will set you back several thousand quid.

Forme took the learnings from their adult Black Rocks mountain bike range and their junior Kinder range and melded it into the Black Rocks 24, giving a good entry level full suspension bike.

Availability of these bikes is sadly limited, since Forme hit troubled times in 2023. There is limited availability left secondhand and occasionally to lease via the Bike Club.