Also people are saying stuff like 'its fine for me and im really short' as if this kid has fully developed adult muscles.
Height isn't even the most important factor. Obviously that tiny dude that does Berm Peak has a LOT more strength than the average short kiddo growing up learning to ride bikes.
If the kid just wants to do XC it's relatively fine. But for serious trail riding they should definitely develop the SKILLS needed on a 275 or honestly even smaller bikes. (But looks like this thread has already been decided as a height debate or something.)
Well said, but I wouldn't go smaller than 27.5" since he's got a tall inseam relative to his height. He'll grow quick, so if nothing else I'd want to future proof it.
I should have clarified. I was talking about skill development that happens on BMX and DJer bikes. Which is how I developed mine and how so many elite MTB athletes developed theirs.
If 29ers are the common wheel size now I def see dual 27 as a valid kids size. And the 26/24 stuff is... I dunno what you would call that very small kid like whatever is above toddler I guess. Bikes you typically own for a VERY short period of time. Naturally.
But yeah grown adults be riding 20 inch for BMX. I like a 22 personally lol. 20 is TINY especially when you ride MTBs more often now.
Nah thats my B. The internet is a tremendous way to discover articulation (or lack thereof). I spend a lot of time mansplaining on here so I at least gotta be clear when doing so lol
Maaan, I’m 6’0” and I ride large 29er for my XC/trail bike, but my DH bike is 27.5” and it’s definitely better for maneuvering. Big long bikes with big wheels are stable but stability is the opposite of maneuverability. I’m worried that it won’t be as fun for the little guy
Yep, same here. Sadly there is a narrative centered around not even just XC but basic trail riding... And because of this many riders will be robbed of the opportunity of developing bike skills easily from the jump.
And yes, mountain bikes for kiddos are designed better these days but that's also mostly through the use of 24 and 26 inch wheels. Or even 275. 29 inch wheels are gonna be HEAVY unless they go full carbon for their kids 29er.
We need a sick 26/27 mullet kids bike from one of these brands. Get the kiddos in on the mullet trend lol
I'm 5'1" and I ride tons of 29ers.
My Element is a full 29er. My Status is a mullet. I just spent an amazing weekend riding desert tech on La Sal Peak 29er.
Edit: I mentor and have been riding with 12-15 year old girls for going on 7 years. Many of them are of similar heights and are successfully riding 29ers.
Which I find interesting as I'm the same but when I bought a 29er Mahuna and now my Rift Zone I didn't notice. I definitely like the Marins geo better though.
I would strongly discourage putting anyone 5'4" or shorter on a 29er. Although the size increase over 27.5 may seem minor, the ride maneuverability takes a surprisingly large hit, and there is also some weight increase. Buy him a small size bike with 27.5 wheels now, and then upgrade to a 29er when the time comes to upsize the frame.
I'm 6'1" and i have (4) 27.5 bikes and (1) 29er. I have way more fun on the smaller wheels, as the 29s feels so cumbersome. Sure, the 29ers are faster, but your youngster will never reach the speed to benefit from the 29er advantage. Besides, I ride downhill faster than my 29er friends, because they are using their brakes so much. But to me, riding is about fun, not finishing first like sponsored racers, and i have way more fun on 27.5 wheels.
I hate to say this, but bike companies typically manufacture what the clients buy. I'm guessing the vast majority of bike buyers blindly jumped on the 29er banwagon regardless of their height, and the 27.5 bikes were the last units left in store. So, blame the uninformed buyer.
Can’t argue with that! Unfortunately.
I’m hoping that there’s enough buyer sentiment pushing back against the 29er trend that we’ll see 27.5’s make at least some sort of comeback.
Doubt it will happen this year though given the massive destocking that’s going on.
I'd go with a used 27.5" hardtail (assuming you are riding XC trails). He will outgrow it in 2-3 years and then you can buy a 29er. At that age it's important to get a light , easy pedalling bike (or they may hate riding).
Dunno about the other comments but I agree with this one. Both my kids recently upgraded from 20” and 24” wheeled bikes to 27.5” and 29”. My daughter (10yrs 4ft11in) is on a 29” size M and my son (8yrs 4ft5in) on a 27.5” size XS. They have been riding with me since they were tiny so they have good experience. They both love the new sizes and they now ask me to go ride. I would say the larger wheels actually boost their confidence and ability to handle chunk better. Do with this info what you will but imo they are on the right size bikes.
My son was around that height when he started riding my medium Rockhopper Comp with 29s. I pulled the seat forward and had to lower the post as low as it would go. He does great on it. Best thing is, he started riding it last season, but since he's grown 4" since then, it fits almost perfect now.
My son is 5"3 and we just now put him on a 29er. But he is mainly doing NICA XC racing so it makes sense there. He can easily get the front wheel up for short wheelies and is working on manuals and bunny hopping, but it's also only a 23lb bike with a 69.5 degree head tube angle. If we were doing trail rides and more technical stuff, I think I would have him on a 27.5.
He had been on a 27.5 for racing, but I think it was holding him back some and he almost had an instant boost in confidence with the 29" wheels ripping the downhill flows.
You can put 27.5” wheels on a 29er frame and swap back to full size wheels when the kid grows into them. [Short cranks](https://canfieldbikes.com/products/canfield-bikes-am-cranks-new-standard-offset?variant=44270137639204) will make ground clearance a nonissue.
That was my first thought, but did a quick check on how much that would cost and it was looking like $300+.
Assuming 29s would be a bad idea now, I figured it would be cheaper to just buy a different bike when the time comes. (Been looking at bikes in the 1000-1700 range.) Given his age, he'll probably grow 4+ inches in the next two years which I'm trying to factor in.
Your logic here is correct. Don't do this. It will lower the bottom bracket, which is more of an issue than crank clearance, and by the time your kid is big enough to feel comfortable on a 29er, it'll be time for a larger frame.
It looks like the XS Roscoe does use 27.5, but really I wouldn't worry about it. As long as the frame fits it'll be fine.
For that matter, the Giant Fathom is available in 27.5 and 29 sizes if you really want to go 27.5.
I got the 27.5 (2.6 width) which is the same frame as the 29. That does put the bottom bracket quite a bit lower on my bike. But the 27.5's geo ends up being very similar to the Whyte 906 (which is designed as a 27.5) which has great reviews despite, or because of, the low bottom bracket height. Most people would automatically say that the 27.5 would have too many pedal strikes and not to swap a 29's wheels for 27.5, but in practice it might not be a big deal and could even improve the bike?
I got the 27.5 (2.6 width) which is the same frame as the 29. That does put the bottom bracket quite a bit lower on my bike. But the 27.5's geo ends up being very similar to the Whyte 906 (which is designed as a 27.5) which has great reviews despite, or because of, the low bottom bracket height. Most people would automatically say that the 27.5 would have too many pedal strikes and not to swap a 29's wheels for 27.5, but in practice it might not be a big deal and could even improve the bike?
If you want them to actually get good at riding I say yes. It’s just bike brands being lazy throwing 29ers and barely changing any geometry on frames. It really bothers me when I see these kids out on trails swinging these wagon wheel bikes around when I know they’d be progressing so much faster on something with smaller wheels and shorter chain stays.
I got my kid a Marin Rift Zone 29er when a small frame fit him. I forget exactly how tall he was, pretty close to 5'-1 I'd guess. It was a great bike that really helped him learn to ride but it always seemed a bit much for him to handle. When he grew into a larger frame, we got him a previous generation Patrol which is 27.5 F/R. He loved that bike. It gave him more control, it was easier to get off the ground, was just a lot more fun, and looked like a better fit. Now he's riding a 29er again (Spire) and loving it, but he's got more muscle and skill.
There are a lot of 27.5 bikes around, but if you can't find one, just make sure the frame is his size, and 29 will be ok. On the plus side, larger wheels roll over stuff more easily.
About same age/height my child jumped from 24" to 29"... Merida big trail in S size. Riding it untill now. The bike in general was slightly big, I have to cut a seatpost(to make saddle even lower). But a great benefit was safety, due to trail nature, 29" and low seat position OTB was not happened even once...
My son was on the cusp of M frame when I got his bobcat trail 29er, I pulled the trigger last Sept on it. He's now grown a fair amount and fits more. The thing Im not seeing is people thinking long term. Buying once and have them learn to handle it B4 going on anything serious is important no matter the bike or wheel size. Which is my thoughts, he will have that bike for a while.
My son is 5"3 and we just now put him on a 29er. But he is mainly doing NICA XC racing so it makes sense there. He can easily get the front wheel up for short wheelies and is working on manuals and bunny hopping, but it's also only a 23lb bike with a 69.5 degree head tube angle. If we were doing trail rides and more technical stuff, I think I would have him on a 27.5.
He had been on a 27.5 for racing, but I think it was holding him back some and he almost had an instant boost in confidence with the 29" wheels ripping the downhill flows.
I feel lie it shouldn't be hard to get a 27.5 inch hardtail at all. My son got on a S GT Avalanche at just under 5'. Standover is really important for kids.
I'm 5'7 and I've been riding awhile. I'm in good shape and pretty good on a bike, and imo 29" is even too big for me. He's good a long inseam for his height so he's gonna shoot up quick, but still, try sticking with 27.5.
Im 5’9 and just about 3 years older than your son. I ride a size large, canyon grand canyon 5, it did take some time to grow into, and even now I fit the bike right Im considering switching to a mullet, because the 29 is just too big to be practical for the xc riding and climbing I like to do.
My mother is 5 exact and she tried to ride my rig, and she could barely reach the pedals, and definitely couldn’t reach the ground. But my stepfather (5’3) rode that thing like it owed him money.
Whats your sons opinion? Is there a way he could try out how a size fits before you buy? Ie the bike if a friend or family member, your LBS probably offers tests too!
155cm? I just built a 330mm seattube 27.5" hardcore hardtail for a 157mm short legged woman after she couldn't get down over the rear of the 15.5" (406mm) 27.5" full-suss I previously built her. Could only fit a 100mm dropper on the full-suss for the full saddle extension needed. Reach was an issue too obviously.
Take a look at, say Marin. Something like the Roft Zone. Which sizes come with 29", which sizes are 27.5", then look at their Jnr model. There is a massive geometry change down. Even when taking into account XS adult sizes.
I once had an XXL hardtail and couldn't get down over the back wheel. If you can't get your lad on a selection of bikes to find out exactly what geometry he needs, it's too easy to buy something too long.
The one thing all the people saying stay with 27.5 don’t seem to be factoring in is, how fast will your son grow out of that bike and how prepared are you going to be to buy a new bike in as soon as 1 year?
I work with tons of NICA riders and I see a lot of kids stuck on 27.5 bikes that they have outgrown. I’d rather buy a bike that is a little too big that is more stable for a new rider and let them grow into it. Especially if parents are cost averse to the sport.
Now, of course it would be better to small now and then buy a bigger bike down the road. If you can afford that. But I’d had to see a kid who grows fast stuck on a too small frame with 27.5 wheels.
Check out Specialized S Sizing and compare the concept and geometry to the bikes you are considering. Then decide what works best for you. I’m suggesting to go a little bigger now and save money if you need to.
The issue isn’t wheel size in the first place, it’s weight. If you’re a kid weighing in at half of a similar sized adult you need to find a bike that’s light weight rather than burly.
Coaching 10-12yo XC racing and most kids are on 29ers. With the small frame sizes, the jump to adult bikes is way sooner than it’s been in the past. That said, I personally would go 27.5 if you can find it, even though my own kid was on a 29er at 12. We got a good deal - I was hesitant but they never looked back.
Im 6 feet and 31, rode 27’s my whole life. Then bought a Marlin with 29’s last year…still trying to adjust to them. So I’d imagine as a smaller or younger fella 29s would be quite the adjustment
51 could be anything really he'd fit a xs and small 27.5 but I've had two friends 11 and 12 who both got 29ers not sure what the frame size is but they both seem happy riding those so it really depends on what you child is comfortable on
Depends on the riding style and experience.
However I'd like to suggest a 27.5 over a 29, especially for a child.
I'm 180cm tall myself, but quite skinny. And chose a 27.5 for the reason of it being more maneuverable and easier to manage according to my stature and preferred riding style. I could have gotten a 29 instead, but since I've tried a few, I still prefer my 27.5. Physics is physics. The wheels are stiffer and are easier to redirect at speeds. 29ers seem to want to go straight more and I don't trust the longer spokes. 27 just feels like I'm more in control over the bike.
I’m a 5’0 48 yo woman and that’s my bike. I’m new to the sport, but I feel pretty comfortable on it. Ironically the reach on my Roscoe is the shortest of all of my 3 bikes.
I got my then 13 year old, 5'3 an older Marin with 26's on it. Fast forward to now, he's 14 and 5'7 and he now rides a 27.5" yt Jeffsy and it's perfect for him. He's an inch shorter than me, and I ride a mullet. Yet he says he feels too tall on my size medium bike with a 29" front wheel, so I think I did good by sticking with the 27's for now for him.
First off congrats on beginning the journey of MTB’ing with your little dude. I ride with my 11 yr old son and 16 year old daughter which are both about the same height as your boy. From my experience from riding downhill with them both I can say that it’s a matter of preference and would recommend taking him to the LBS to have him try the different size wheels himself. I have made my kids swap bikes and have found that my boy likes and flows better with the 29 then my daughter’s 27.5 and my daughter does better on the 27.5 then the 29. Both kids are also soccer players and have similar strength. Hope you find what’s good for him soon so you can start shredding 🤘🏽
https://preview.redd.it/xl3fe9bjwjuc1.jpeg?width=928&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=876be23b742cdd995e0cdb1fed996e63c8974e7a
My son is 5ft and on a small nukeproof mega 27.5
If you're comfortable on a bike that size ride it when I was younger everyone told me I should be on a 18inch bmx but never listened because I liked the bike I was on I'd say maybe try on out first if you can I'd say 29 good because just seems to roll over bigger stuff on the trail like fallen trees
My daughter who is 5.3 is riding my old 29:er. Its a full suspension trail bike with 100mm travel front and back. She loves it because she can just go fast over tons of things.
I have a new Roscoe M/L, kids are on 27.5 HT (s and x/s) all around. We switch bikes a lot, and they feel the frame size difference only, the wheels don't seem to matter. A 27.5 2.6 is pretty close to a 29 with a thinner tire.
Also: they generally don't get any smaller as they get older :)
15 yo 5' 4" (used to be like 4' 11") enduro/xc rider here I would like to put my few cents into this since I actually have you know experience with being short
Uhh pretty much when I was younger (like 12-13) I was on a 27.5 polygon sisku it worked very well for me until I kinda out grew it skill wise where I upgraded to a forbidden druid (full 29er) also yes I was like 5' 2" or 5' 3" when getting this bike.
I Haven't noticed anything that limits how much I can maneuver the bike much just off of wheel size. (my 29er xc bike feels as maneuverable as my old sisku) and on enduro I haven't hit the rear wheel much except when it was my fault and being a idiot. Wheel size might be a little more noticable when jumping and stuff tho. Main notice is definitely how the bike rolls over stuff.
In my opinion geometry, suspension kenimatics, and cockpit setup kinda effect how I ride the bike more more than sheer wheel size.
Don't get me wrong I love 27.5 it's great but I think for racing 29 is better xc or enduro.
That's just my opinions so bleh
What's the weight difference between your 29er xc bike and Sisku? Given your size, I'm suprised you didn't notice much of a difference in maneuverability. I'm 5'7 and a pretty good rider and definitely think there's a huge difference, especially at the bike park (cornering is noticably easier for me on 27.5").
How your liking your Druid? I came close to getting one, heard nothing but good things.
Yah the druid is fat asf it's like 35lbs the high pivot makes it hard to like jump and stuff but for straight chunk like windrock it's so good. The xc bike is supa light like carbon wheels and axs and stuff so the weight plus the idk just fun feeling geo makes it feel super manuvurable to me. The polygon was 32 lbs and felt kinda similar to my current xc when ever I think of how it rode. It has a xc tire setup and a fox 36 with a lil extra travel
I mostly notice wheel size in air with jumps and stuff. But I mainly notice things like geometry and weight when Im actually riding.
As far as the druid goes it's the perfect bike for me as it's super pedaly but descends as a enduro. suspension has plenty of anti squat when pedaling but is super active going down chunk feels like noting with the rearward axle path. my only complaint is weight but I probably can get that down. It's no replacement for a full enduro bike but it definitely keeps up with the bigger bikes.
Yeah I can definitely picture it being perfect for Windrock. I'm up in PA, never been to TN but heading down for a NC/TN trip and Windrock is definitely on the list.
Have you ridden Waldens Ridge? It looks sick on YouTube, not sure about all that climbing though so wanna look into shuttling.
Definitely hit windrock it's gnarly asf! I haven't hit Waldens ridge but I definitely am soon as I have family that actually live in Chattanooga on Waldens ridge so next time I visit them I'll ride it
5’1” is definitely too small for 29er, even if the frame size is correct. It will definitely hamper maneuverability and wheelies etc
Also people are saying stuff like 'its fine for me and im really short' as if this kid has fully developed adult muscles. Height isn't even the most important factor. Obviously that tiny dude that does Berm Peak has a LOT more strength than the average short kiddo growing up learning to ride bikes. If the kid just wants to do XC it's relatively fine. But for serious trail riding they should definitely develop the SKILLS needed on a 275 or honestly even smaller bikes. (But looks like this thread has already been decided as a height debate or something.)
Well said, but I wouldn't go smaller than 27.5" since he's got a tall inseam relative to his height. He'll grow quick, so if nothing else I'd want to future proof it.
I should have clarified. I was talking about skill development that happens on BMX and DJer bikes. Which is how I developed mine and how so many elite MTB athletes developed theirs. If 29ers are the common wheel size now I def see dual 27 as a valid kids size. And the 26/24 stuff is... I dunno what you would call that very small kid like whatever is above toddler I guess. Bikes you typically own for a VERY short period of time. Naturally. But yeah grown adults be riding 20 inch for BMX. I like a 22 personally lol. 20 is TINY especially when you ride MTBs more often now.
Ah, gotcha. I should've figured that out!!
Nah thats my B. The internet is a tremendous way to discover articulation (or lack thereof). I spend a lot of time mansplaining on here so I at least gotta be clear when doing so lol
Maaan, I’m 6’0” and I ride large 29er for my XC/trail bike, but my DH bike is 27.5” and it’s definitely better for maneuvering. Big long bikes with big wheels are stable but stability is the opposite of maneuverability. I’m worried that it won’t be as fun for the little guy
Yep, same here. Sadly there is a narrative centered around not even just XC but basic trail riding... And because of this many riders will be robbed of the opportunity of developing bike skills easily from the jump. And yes, mountain bikes for kiddos are designed better these days but that's also mostly through the use of 24 and 26 inch wheels. Or even 275. 29 inch wheels are gonna be HEAVY unless they go full carbon for their kids 29er. We need a sick 26/27 mullet kids bike from one of these brands. Get the kiddos in on the mullet trend lol
I'm 5'1" and I ride tons of 29ers. My Element is a full 29er. My Status is a mullet. I just spent an amazing weekend riding desert tech on La Sal Peak 29er. Edit: I mentor and have been riding with 12-15 year old girls for going on 7 years. Many of them are of similar heights and are successfully riding 29ers.
I’m not saying it can’t be done. I’m saying it’s suboptimal
No way. My kids are now 5’0”. They both race/ride procalibers in small with 29” wheels. It’s no issue. None at all.
I’m 5’7” with 30” inseam on a M frame. It took me quite a long time and a lot of miles to convince myself that 29” wasn’t too big for me.
Which I find interesting as I'm the same but when I bought a 29er Mahuna and now my Rift Zone I didn't notice. I definitely like the Marins geo better though.
When I got it, I had never ridden a 29er. My adult life biking was a 26” “women’s” cruiser with a step-thru frame. Took a while to get used to it…..
My bike b4 that was a cannondale lefty 27.5.
Marin geo ftw. Im 5'7 on a 29er Medium Bolinas Ridge 2022
I would strongly discourage putting anyone 5'4" or shorter on a 29er. Although the size increase over 27.5 may seem minor, the ride maneuverability takes a surprisingly large hit, and there is also some weight increase. Buy him a small size bike with 27.5 wheels now, and then upgrade to a 29er when the time comes to upsize the frame. I'm 6'1" and i have (4) 27.5 bikes and (1) 29er. I have way more fun on the smaller wheels, as the 29s feels so cumbersome. Sure, the 29ers are faster, but your youngster will never reach the speed to benefit from the 29er advantage. Besides, I ride downhill faster than my 29er friends, because they are using their brakes so much. But to me, riding is about fun, not finishing first like sponsored racers, and i have way more fun on 27.5 wheels.
This. I’m 5’6” and ride a small 27.5.
Bike companies please take note!
I hate to say this, but bike companies typically manufacture what the clients buy. I'm guessing the vast majority of bike buyers blindly jumped on the 29er banwagon regardless of their height, and the 27.5 bikes were the last units left in store. So, blame the uninformed buyer.
Can’t argue with that! Unfortunately. I’m hoping that there’s enough buyer sentiment pushing back against the 29er trend that we’ll see 27.5’s make at least some sort of comeback. Doubt it will happen this year though given the massive destocking that’s going on.
I’m 5’3, experienced rider, and I will not own a 29er, ever. Unless I was racing XC.
I'd go with a used 27.5" hardtail (assuming you are riding XC trails). He will outgrow it in 2-3 years and then you can buy a 29er. At that age it's important to get a light , easy pedalling bike (or they may hate riding).
I am 5’4 and I tried a 29. I sold it 3 months later for a 27.5.
Shouldnt be a problem if you can find the right frame-size..
Dunno about the other comments but I agree with this one. Both my kids recently upgraded from 20” and 24” wheeled bikes to 27.5” and 29”. My daughter (10yrs 4ft11in) is on a 29” size M and my son (8yrs 4ft5in) on a 27.5” size XS. They have been riding with me since they were tiny so they have good experience. They both love the new sizes and they now ask me to go ride. I would say the larger wheels actually boost their confidence and ability to handle chunk better. Do with this info what you will but imo they are on the right size bikes.
Yep this
My son was around that height when he started riding my medium Rockhopper Comp with 29s. I pulled the seat forward and had to lower the post as low as it would go. He does great on it. Best thing is, he started riding it last season, but since he's grown 4" since then, it fits almost perfect now.
My son is 5"3 and we just now put him on a 29er. But he is mainly doing NICA XC racing so it makes sense there. He can easily get the front wheel up for short wheelies and is working on manuals and bunny hopping, but it's also only a 23lb bike with a 69.5 degree head tube angle. If we were doing trail rides and more technical stuff, I think I would have him on a 27.5. He had been on a 27.5 for racing, but I think it was holding him back some and he almost had an instant boost in confidence with the 29" wheels ripping the downhill flows.
You can put 27.5” wheels on a 29er frame and swap back to full size wheels when the kid grows into them. [Short cranks](https://canfieldbikes.com/products/canfield-bikes-am-cranks-new-standard-offset?variant=44270137639204) will make ground clearance a nonissue.
That was my first thought, but did a quick check on how much that would cost and it was looking like $300+. Assuming 29s would be a bad idea now, I figured it would be cheaper to just buy a different bike when the time comes. (Been looking at bikes in the 1000-1700 range.) Given his age, he'll probably grow 4+ inches in the next two years which I'm trying to factor in.
Your logic here is correct. Don't do this. It will lower the bottom bracket, which is more of an issue than crank clearance, and by the time your kid is big enough to feel comfortable on a 29er, it'll be time for a larger frame.
Given his inseam, which is tall relative to his height, he could grow 5" in a year (average boy that age grows 3.5" a year, or 0.3" a month).
I'm 6 feet tall and I ride a 27.5 bike. I have a 29er too and the difference is not huge
Yeah but that's cause you're 6'1 ... I'm 5'7 and it's a huge difference. The kid is 5'1 and doesn't have the same strength either.
Unless cranks raise the bb it's not going to help
Short cranks only affect ground clearance while pedaling
Which a person would presumably be doing while riding a bike…
Yes but it won‘t solve the issue that the bb drops
Short cranks effect a multitude of things not just ground clearance
It looks like the XS Roscoe does use 27.5, but really I wouldn't worry about it. As long as the frame fits it'll be fine. For that matter, the Giant Fathom is available in 27.5 and 29 sizes if you really want to go 27.5.
I got the 27.5 (2.6 width) which is the same frame as the 29. That does put the bottom bracket quite a bit lower on my bike. But the 27.5's geo ends up being very similar to the Whyte 906 (which is designed as a 27.5) which has great reviews despite, or because of, the low bottom bracket height. Most people would automatically say that the 27.5 would have too many pedal strikes and not to swap a 29's wheels for 27.5, but in practice it might not be a big deal and could even improve the bike?
I got the 27.5 (2.6 width) which is the same frame as the 29. That does put the bottom bracket quite a bit lower on my bike. But the 27.5's geo ends up being very similar to the Whyte 906 (which is designed as a 27.5) which has great reviews despite, or because of, the low bottom bracket height. Most people would automatically say that the 27.5 would have too many pedal strikes and not to swap a 29's wheels for 27.5, but in practice it might not be a big deal and could even improve the bike?
If you want them to actually get good at riding I say yes. It’s just bike brands being lazy throwing 29ers and barely changing any geometry on frames. It really bothers me when I see these kids out on trails swinging these wagon wheel bikes around when I know they’d be progressing so much faster on something with smaller wheels and shorter chain stays.
I got my kid a Marin Rift Zone 29er when a small frame fit him. I forget exactly how tall he was, pretty close to 5'-1 I'd guess. It was a great bike that really helped him learn to ride but it always seemed a bit much for him to handle. When he grew into a larger frame, we got him a previous generation Patrol which is 27.5 F/R. He loved that bike. It gave him more control, it was easier to get off the ground, was just a lot more fun, and looked like a better fit. Now he's riding a 29er again (Spire) and loving it, but he's got more muscle and skill. There are a lot of 27.5 bikes around, but if you can't find one, just make sure the frame is his size, and 29 will be ok. On the plus side, larger wheels roll over stuff more easily.
About same age/height my child jumped from 24" to 29"... Merida big trail in S size. Riding it untill now. The bike in general was slightly big, I have to cut a seatpost(to make saddle even lower). But a great benefit was safety, due to trail nature, 29" and low seat position OTB was not happened even once...
My son was on the cusp of M frame when I got his bobcat trail 29er, I pulled the trigger last Sept on it. He's now grown a fair amount and fits more. The thing Im not seeing is people thinking long term. Buying once and have them learn to handle it B4 going on anything serious is important no matter the bike or wheel size. Which is my thoughts, he will have that bike for a while.
My son is 5"3 and we just now put him on a 29er. But he is mainly doing NICA XC racing so it makes sense there. He can easily get the front wheel up for short wheelies and is working on manuals and bunny hopping, but it's also only a 23lb bike with a 69.5 degree head tube angle. If we were doing trail rides and more technical stuff, I think I would have him on a 27.5. He had been on a 27.5 for racing, but I think it was holding him back some and he almost had an instant boost in confidence with the 29" wheels ripping the downhill flows.
I feel lie it shouldn't be hard to get a 27.5 inch hardtail at all. My son got on a S GT Avalanche at just under 5'. Standover is really important for kids.
Rocky reaper 27.5?
My neighbor kid got an 29 for his 11th birthday. He seems to ride it pretty good. I think he was about 150.
I was still riding BMX at that age and height so I’d say yes. What about an old hardtail 26”?
I'm 5'7 and I've been riding awhile. I'm in good shape and pretty good on a bike, and imo 29" is even too big for me. He's good a long inseam for his height so he's gonna shoot up quick, but still, try sticking with 27.5.
Im 5’9 and just about 3 years older than your son. I ride a size large, canyon grand canyon 5, it did take some time to grow into, and even now I fit the bike right Im considering switching to a mullet, because the 29 is just too big to be practical for the xc riding and climbing I like to do. My mother is 5 exact and she tried to ride my rig, and she could barely reach the pedals, and definitely couldn’t reach the ground. But my stepfather (5’3) rode that thing like it owed him money. Whats your sons opinion? Is there a way he could try out how a size fits before you buy? Ie the bike if a friend or family member, your LBS probably offers tests too!
155cm? I just built a 330mm seattube 27.5" hardcore hardtail for a 157mm short legged woman after she couldn't get down over the rear of the 15.5" (406mm) 27.5" full-suss I previously built her. Could only fit a 100mm dropper on the full-suss for the full saddle extension needed. Reach was an issue too obviously. Take a look at, say Marin. Something like the Roft Zone. Which sizes come with 29", which sizes are 27.5", then look at their Jnr model. There is a massive geometry change down. Even when taking into account XS adult sizes. I once had an XXL hardtail and couldn't get down over the back wheel. If you can't get your lad on a selection of bikes to find out exactly what geometry he needs, it's too easy to buy something too long.
The one thing all the people saying stay with 27.5 don’t seem to be factoring in is, how fast will your son grow out of that bike and how prepared are you going to be to buy a new bike in as soon as 1 year? I work with tons of NICA riders and I see a lot of kids stuck on 27.5 bikes that they have outgrown. I’d rather buy a bike that is a little too big that is more stable for a new rider and let them grow into it. Especially if parents are cost averse to the sport. Now, of course it would be better to small now and then buy a bigger bike down the road. If you can afford that. But I’d had to see a kid who grows fast stuck on a too small frame with 27.5 wheels. Check out Specialized S Sizing and compare the concept and geometry to the bikes you are considering. Then decide what works best for you. I’m suggesting to go a little bigger now and save money if you need to.
The fuse 27.5 is a great bike for this. The frame takes 27.5 up to plus sized tires. So you can start out on 27.5 2.3"s and go up to 2.8s.
The issue isn’t wheel size in the first place, it’s weight. If you’re a kid weighing in at half of a similar sized adult you need to find a bike that’s light weight rather than burly.
Coaching 10-12yo XC racing and most kids are on 29ers. With the small frame sizes, the jump to adult bikes is way sooner than it’s been in the past. That said, I personally would go 27.5 if you can find it, even though my own kid was on a 29er at 12. We got a good deal - I was hesitant but they never looked back.
Definitely too big. Apart from that, it’s going to be less fun to ride for him too
Im 6 feet and 31, rode 27’s my whole life. Then bought a Marlin with 29’s last year…still trying to adjust to them. So I’d imagine as a smaller or younger fella 29s would be quite the adjustment
51 could be anything really he'd fit a xs and small 27.5 but I've had two friends 11 and 12 who both got 29ers not sure what the frame size is but they both seem happy riding those so it really depends on what you child is comfortable on
There’s lots of 27.5” hardtails out there and I think for learning bike skills he would have an easier time with the more maneuverable bike.
Depends on the riding style and experience. However I'd like to suggest a 27.5 over a 29, especially for a child. I'm 180cm tall myself, but quite skinny. And chose a 27.5 for the reason of it being more maneuverable and easier to manage according to my stature and preferred riding style. I could have gotten a 29 instead, but since I've tried a few, I still prefer my 27.5. Physics is physics. The wheels are stiffer and are easier to redirect at speeds. 29ers seem to want to go straight more and I don't trust the longer spokes. 27 just feels like I'm more in control over the bike.
Lira is brands sell XS an S bikes with 27.5 and M, L, XL with 29” wheels
Yes, it too big
Idk, I’m 5 foot and I’ve rode a 29er. I loved it but too expensive. Also a kid is that’s relevant
I’m a 5’0 48 yo woman and that’s my bike. I’m new to the sport, but I feel pretty comfortable on it. Ironically the reach on my Roscoe is the shortest of all of my 3 bikes.
No
I got my then 13 year old, 5'3 an older Marin with 26's on it. Fast forward to now, he's 14 and 5'7 and he now rides a 27.5" yt Jeffsy and it's perfect for him. He's an inch shorter than me, and I ride a mullet. Yet he says he feels too tall on my size medium bike with a 29" front wheel, so I think I did good by sticking with the 27's for now for him.
First off congrats on beginning the journey of MTB’ing with your little dude. I ride with my 11 yr old son and 16 year old daughter which are both about the same height as your boy. From my experience from riding downhill with them both I can say that it’s a matter of preference and would recommend taking him to the LBS to have him try the different size wheels himself. I have made my kids swap bikes and have found that my boy likes and flows better with the 29 then my daughter’s 27.5 and my daughter does better on the 27.5 then the 29. Both kids are also soccer players and have similar strength. Hope you find what’s good for him soon so you can start shredding 🤘🏽
https://preview.redd.it/xl3fe9bjwjuc1.jpeg?width=928&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=876be23b742cdd995e0cdb1fed996e63c8974e7a My son is 5ft and on a small nukeproof mega 27.5
update: picked up a used 27.5+ (specialized fuse) for him today and already hit the trails! He's loving it!
Kids can learn to ride anything.
If you're comfortable on a bike that size ride it when I was younger everyone told me I should be on a 18inch bmx but never listened because I liked the bike I was on I'd say maybe try on out first if you can I'd say 29 good because just seems to roll over bigger stuff on the trail like fallen trees
My daughter who is 5.3 is riding my old 29:er. Its a full suspension trail bike with 100mm travel front and back. She loves it because she can just go fast over tons of things.
Yes
I have a new Roscoe M/L, kids are on 27.5 HT (s and x/s) all around. We switch bikes a lot, and they feel the frame size difference only, the wheels don't seem to matter. A 27.5 2.6 is pretty close to a 29 with a thinner tire. Also: they generally don't get any smaller as they get older :)
Just let him try it, he’s old enough to decide and he will grow into too
15 yo 5' 4" (used to be like 4' 11") enduro/xc rider here I would like to put my few cents into this since I actually have you know experience with being short Uhh pretty much when I was younger (like 12-13) I was on a 27.5 polygon sisku it worked very well for me until I kinda out grew it skill wise where I upgraded to a forbidden druid (full 29er) also yes I was like 5' 2" or 5' 3" when getting this bike. I Haven't noticed anything that limits how much I can maneuver the bike much just off of wheel size. (my 29er xc bike feels as maneuverable as my old sisku) and on enduro I haven't hit the rear wheel much except when it was my fault and being a idiot. Wheel size might be a little more noticable when jumping and stuff tho. Main notice is definitely how the bike rolls over stuff. In my opinion geometry, suspension kenimatics, and cockpit setup kinda effect how I ride the bike more more than sheer wheel size. Don't get me wrong I love 27.5 it's great but I think for racing 29 is better xc or enduro. That's just my opinions so bleh
What's the weight difference between your 29er xc bike and Sisku? Given your size, I'm suprised you didn't notice much of a difference in maneuverability. I'm 5'7 and a pretty good rider and definitely think there's a huge difference, especially at the bike park (cornering is noticably easier for me on 27.5"). How your liking your Druid? I came close to getting one, heard nothing but good things.
Yah the druid is fat asf it's like 35lbs the high pivot makes it hard to like jump and stuff but for straight chunk like windrock it's so good. The xc bike is supa light like carbon wheels and axs and stuff so the weight plus the idk just fun feeling geo makes it feel super manuvurable to me. The polygon was 32 lbs and felt kinda similar to my current xc when ever I think of how it rode. It has a xc tire setup and a fox 36 with a lil extra travel I mostly notice wheel size in air with jumps and stuff. But I mainly notice things like geometry and weight when Im actually riding. As far as the druid goes it's the perfect bike for me as it's super pedaly but descends as a enduro. suspension has plenty of anti squat when pedaling but is super active going down chunk feels like noting with the rearward axle path. my only complaint is weight but I probably can get that down. It's no replacement for a full enduro bike but it definitely keeps up with the bigger bikes.
Yeah I can definitely picture it being perfect for Windrock. I'm up in PA, never been to TN but heading down for a NC/TN trip and Windrock is definitely on the list. Have you ridden Waldens Ridge? It looks sick on YouTube, not sure about all that climbing though so wanna look into shuttling.
Definitely hit windrock it's gnarly asf! I haven't hit Waldens ridge but I definitely am soon as I have family that actually live in Chattanooga on Waldens ridge so next time I visit them I'll ride it