Kids 24 Inch Bikes: The 10 Best Bikes for 8 to 10 Year Olds

What’s the best 24 inch bike for kids? It depends on what type of riding you’ll be doing… Simple neighborhood adventures, jumping ramps in the front yard, long rides with the family, or tackling local dirt trails – there’s a 24 inch bike made for that!

Over the years we’ve tested more than twenty 24 inch bikes with our own kids. We’ll help you understand what features you need for the best riding experience and why investing in a nicer bike really does make a huge difference. From the cheapest bikes to the most expensive, we’ve tested all the major brands out there.

24 inch bikes are typically the best fit for kids ages 8, 9 and 10, but be sure to check out our kids bike sizing guide if you are unsure about the best size bike for your child.

Like adult bikes, kids 24 inch bikes can vary greatly in form and function. To help narrow your search, we have broken down our top picks into three categories.

For a more detailed comparison of these bikes, jump down to our 24 inch Bike Comparison Chart below.

Boys vs Girls 24 inch Bikes

It’s important to note that a boys 24 inch bike and a girls 24 inch bike are the same thing. All of the bikes on this list are for boys or girls, with the same frames and components. They do offer different color options, which are in an array of typical girl colors and gender neutral colors.

Best 24 Inch Bike Video Summary

Prefer watching over reading? Watch all of our favorite 24 inch bikes in action in the video below!

24 INCH BIKES FOR NEIGHBORHOOD RIDERS

What We Look for in a Neighborhood Bike

Whether riding down to a friend’s house or heading out on a long ride with the family, neighborhood bikes are designed for kids who mainly stick to paved surfaces.  With smoother street tires and slightly more upright positioning than multi-use bikes, these neighborhood bikes are fun and natural to ride.

With focus more on simplicity rather than technical brawn, these bikes feature easy to use grip shifters, less gearing options, and v-brakes.

Btwin Rockrider ST100

Best on a Budget

• MSRP: $199
• SEAT HEIGHT: 26″ – 33.5″
• WEIGHT: 30.2 lbs.
• READ MORE: Btwin Rockrider 24 Review

If you’re on a tight budget, the Rockrider ST100 is hands down the best bang for your buck 24 inch bike. Unlike similarly-priced bikes sold at big box stores, the Rockrider has top-notch brakes that are ridiculously easy to use, a responsive grip shifter, as well as a clean classic mountain bike styling that appeals to a wide range of kids. Assembly was also a breeze as you just need to install the front wheel and the pedals!

Guardian Ethos/Airos

Innovative braking system, easy-to-use grip shifters

• MSRP: $379/$479
• SEAT HEIGHT: 25″ – 33″
• WEIGHT: 23 lbs.(Airos), 25.5 lb. (Ethos)
• READ MORE: Guardian 24 inch Review

You wouldn’t think that brakes on a kid’s bike would be a big deal, but Guardian Bikes prove otherwise. Their proprietary SureStop braking system helps kids of all riding abilities feel more confident and less anxious, whether they’re riding to their friend’s house or across town. With just one brake lever that sequentially engages the rear brake followed by the front brake, timid kids feel more secure, and aggressive kids have the added stopping power they need.

Priority Start 24

Simplified and very-low maintenance gearing system

• MSRP: $399
• SEAT HEIGHT: 27″ – 34.5″
• WEIGHT: 23.3 lbs.
• READ MORE: Priority Start 24 Review

Intelligently designed with just three simple gears and a grease-free belt drive, the Priority Start 24 makes kids’ biking adventures simpler and easier (and more maintenance-free for parents!). The Start boasts beautiful lines and an impressive paint job along with multi-terrain tires that accommodate everyone from timid to aggressive riders. The Priority Start is truly the full package for your neighborhood rider.

24 INCH BIKES FOR MULTI-USE: Paved Emphasis

What We Look for in a Multi-Use Bike: Paved

For kids riding mainly on paved trails, but who need a bike suitable for occasionally hitting dirt trails, these multi-use bikes are the perfect choice. These 24 inch bikes feature versatile tires that are knobby enough to grip dirt and rocks but also feature a flat centerline to allow for smooth rides along paved surfaces.

Compared to multi-use trail emphasis bikes, these bikes are slightly more upright, have v-brakes instead of disc brakes, and most have grip shifters vs. trigger shifters. If your child is a more aggressive rider, the bikes in the Trail emphasis may be a better option, even if they plan on riding mainly on paved surfaces.

Polygon Premier Ultralight

Great quality and performance with a budget-friendly price tag

• MSRP: $349
• SEAT HEIGHT: 25.5″ – 31.5″
• WEIGHT: 23.1 lb. (w/ kickstand, pedals and derailleur cage)
• READ MORE: Polygon Premier Ultralight Kids Bike

New to the US, but not to the biking world, Polygon Bikes offers top-notch bikes with quality components at an affordable price.  Their new Premier Ultralight 24 inch bike is no exception and comes fully spec’ed with a Shimano drivetrain, Kenda tires, and Promax brake levers. 

Paired with a lightweight aluminum frame with confidence-building geometry, the Premier is a great bike for young riders ready to tackle everything from cruises around the neighborhood to longer rides on compact dirt trails.

Trek Precaliber 24

Mountain bike look and feel with optional casual-use suspension

• MSRP: $359/$389 (with suspension)
• SEAT HEIGHT: 26″ – 30.5″
• WEIGHT: 25.5 lb., 26.5 lb. (with suspension)
• READ MORE: Trek Precaliber 24

Featuring the look and feel of a real mountain bike, but without the costly components of a true mountain bike, the Trek Precaliber is a win-win for parents and kids. With 2.25″ wide tires and an optional front suspension fork, the Precaliber is the perfect ride for the adventurous neighborhood rider who is eager to tackle both paved and dirt trails.

With its lower-end components and “casual-use only” fork, the Precaliber is not designed for hitting true single track trails, but it excels at neighborhood dirt trails as well as jumping curbs and small jumps.

woom 5

Super lightweight, confidence-building bike

• MSRP: $529
• SEAT HEIGHT: 26.4″ – 32.3″
• WEIGHT: 18.1 lbs.
• READ MORE: woom 5 Review

The woom 5’s combination of a more upright position, a wider gearing range, and slightly wider tires makes it ideal for beginning to intermediate riders on various surfaces. Because it’s so versatile in use, it’s especially great for young riders who have a love for bike riding, but haven’t seriously committed to road or aggressive trail riding. The woom 5 is a solid, does-it-all bike for your budding bike enthusiast.

Frog 62

Highly adjustable fit and comes with 2 sets of tires

• MSRP: $610
• SEAT HEIGHT: 26″ – 32.5″
• WEIGHT: 20.3 lbs.
• READ MORE: Frog 62 Review

Hailing from bike enthusiast parents in the UK, Frog Bikes is another kid-focused bike brand that designs their bikes top-to-bottom for kids.  Designed to be easily adaptable for all types of riders, the Frog 62 comes with two sets of tires.  A smoother tire with street tread comes standard on the 62, while an extra set of knobby tires come in the box for optional use.

The components on the Frog are top notch – like Tektro v-brakes and Shimano trigger shifters.  To top it off, the Frog is one of the few 24 inch bikes that is compatible with a rear rack for bike commuting. It also comes in 7 different colors and patterns!

MULTI-USE 24 INCH BIKES: Trail Emphasis

What We Look for in a Multi-Use Bike: Trail Emphasis

Compared to paved emphasis bikes, these trail emphasis bikes feature a slightly more aggressive, leaned in, body position.  This positioning on the bike allows kids to more easily shift their weight around while speeding up a jump or going through a tight turn.

These bikes also feature one or more of the following features: wider and/or knobby tires for better traction on dirt, rapid fire trigger shifters for faster last minute gear changes, or disc brakes for top-notch stopping power.

Vitus Kids 24

Best Quality and Value Combo

• MSRP: $379 + shipping from UK
• SEAT HEIGHT: 26″ – 32″
• WEIGHT: 21.8 lbs.
• READ MORE: Vitus Kids 24 Review

Lightweight and spec’d with high-quality components, the Vitus Kids Bikes are an impressive combo of quality and value. With Kenda Small Block 8 tires, these bikes move effortlessly from paved neighborhoods to basic dirt trails. The trigger shifters make the Vitus especially suited to more aggressive kids who seek after aggressive terrain and local adventures.

REI Co-Op REV Plus

Great quality and build for the price

• MSRP: $439
• WEIGHT: 28.2 lbs.
• READ MORE: REI Co-Op REV Plus Review

REI offers solid-quality kids’ bikes at a very decent price. With lower handlebars, extra-wide tires and mechanical disc brakes, the REI Co-Op REV Plus is a well-designed trail bike that also happens to look super cool. The cheaper price, however, does come with drawbacks. The REV Plus is pretty heavy, so we wouldn’t recommend it for petite or really timid riders.

Prevelo Alpha Four

Best for Aggressive Riders & Basic Trail Riders

• MSRP: $539
• SEAT HEIGHT: 25.8″ – 31.2″
• WEIGHT: 21.2 lbs.
• READ MORE: Prevelo Alpha Four Review

With a Shimano ALTUS 8-speed drivetrain, trigger shifters, and an aggressive body position, the Prevelo Alpha Four is the best of the lot for really aggressive riders and those just getting started on single-track. With 24 x 1.5″ Kenda Small Block Eight tires, the Alpha offers great traction for basic trail riding as well for adventurous riders who eagerly scout out every dirt jump in the neighborhood. For true mountain biking, Prevelo’s Zulu Four has an air fork, hydraulic disc brakes, and 10 speeds.

Pello Reyes

Mechanical disc brakes, can upgrade to suspension fork

• MSRP: $619
• SEAT HEIGHT: 25.25″ – 31″
• WEIGHT: 21.9 lbs.
• FULL REVIEW: Pello Reyes Review

From paved bike trails to smooth rolling single-track, the Reyes is the ultimate multi-trick pony for the adventurous 8 to 10-year old.  Built with a lightweight and nimble frame, Tektro mechanical-disc brakes, a responsive Cane Creek headset and topped with 9-speeds controlled by a SRAM trigger shifter, the Reyes is built ready. 

Taking it one step further, the Reyes comes equipped with 24 x 1.95″ Kenda KRAD tires that provide a ton of bite for adventurers on packed dirt trails, but are low profile enough to provide a smooth ride on pavement.

Have a true grom on your hands?  Convert the Reyes into the ultimate trail bike by going tubeless (rims are tubeless compatible) and for $140 add on a Spinner Grind Air fork at purchase (geometry is suspension corrected).  At $740 total, it’s a super affordable and legit trail bike option.

Cleary Meerkat 24

Ultimate Durability with Top-notch Performance

• MSRP: $625
• SEAT HEIGHT: 25″ – 32″
• WEIGHT: 28.3 lb. (with pedals)
• READ MORE: Cleary Meerkat 24 Review

With a 5-speed internally geared hub, hydraulic disc brakes, and a durable steel frame, the Meerkat is a uniquely rugged bike that has a lot to offer kids riding on various terrains. The Meerkat is derailleur free, which allows for more time for riding and a lot less time doing maintenance.

With top-notch Tektro hydraulic disc brakes that are usually reserved for true mountain bikes, the Meerkat offers plenty of stopping power for added confidence and safety. To smooth the ride, the Meerkat is the only bike on this list to feature a steel frame that helps to absorb vibrations and chatter from the trail. The heavier frame, however, make it less suitable for really timid riders.

OUT OF STOCK BIKES TO KEEP ON YOUR RADAR

Due to the massive supply chain issues due to COVID, these bikes currently aren’t available, but we still love them!

Raleigh Rowdy

Best on a Budget

• MSRP: $330
• WEIGHT: 22.14 lbs.
• READ MORE: Raleigh Rowdy 20″ Review

As your child gets older, there are fewer bikes to choose from, and they get considerably more expensive. So what do you do if the high-end bikes are beyond your budget? Fortunately, you’re not completely out of luck! Raleigh offers well-designed, solid-quality kids’ bikes at a very decent price. With lower handlebars, the Rowdy is a more leaned-forward bike best suited for confident, adventurous, and aggressive riders.

Comparison Chart: 24 inch Bikes for Kids

How to Choose the Best 24 inch Bike for your 8 to 10-Year-Old

Here’s a quick summary of what to look for when selecting the best bike for your 8 to 10-year-old. For more detailed information on the topics below, check out our buying guide at the bottom of the article about the best kids bike brands on the market.

Sizing for 24 Inch Bikes

24 inch kids’ bikes are generally the best fit for 8, 9, and 10-year-olds or any child between 49″ and 59″ tall. If your child is already 11 or is a very tall 10-year-old, also consider 26″ bikes as they would offer more room for growth (although very few kids’ bikes come in 26″ tires). If a child starts on a 24 inch bike when they are 8 to 10, they can likely continue to ride it while they are 11 or even 12 years old.

Kids on 24 inch bikes are generally confident enough riders to set their seat about 2 – 3″ above the child’s inseam. At this height, a child can touch the ground with their tiptoes, which produces the best knee bend angle for pedaling with maximum efficiency.

As with all kids’ bikes, within a given wheel size category, the minimum and maximum seat heights of 24 inch bikes can vary.  The average minimum seat height of a 24 inch bike is around 25″ while the maximum average is about 31″.

The height adjustability of 24 inch bike range from 5″ – 8″, which allows kids to ride 24 inch bikes much longer than other sizes. For example, the average 8-year-old should have plenty of room to grow with the bike until he turns 10 or even 11.

To ensure as much longevity as possible, be sure to compare your child’s inseam to the bike’s minimum seat height before your purchase.  The Pello Reyes on the left has a minimum seat height of a little over 25″ while the woom 5 on the right has a 26.4″ minimum seat height. Make sure that you choose a bike that not only fits well now, but allows for plenty of room for growth.

Weight – light is better, but more expensive

Ideally, your child’s bike will be less than 40% of their body weight. This ratio is more important when a child is younger and just learning to ride, but is still applicable for your 8 and 9-year-olds!   In most cases, the lighter the bike, the easier the bike is to ride.  The more aggressive and longer your child rides, the more important weight becomes as well.  If trail riding or any type of riding with varied elevation is in your child’s future, aim for a bike that is less than 30% of their weight.

In regards to weight, be cautious about purchasing a 24 inch bike with a shock as they can add a lot of unnecessary weight to a bike.  In most cases, the weight a shock adds to the bike quickly negates the benefits of having a shock. 

Best Frame Design – depends on riding style

The frames of all kids 24 inch bikes are designed for a specific type of riding.  Whether they are designed for the average neighborhood rider (most are), for long distances (road bike), or for single-track trail riding, be sure to know HOW you plan on using the bike before you purchase one.  Don’t expect your child’s neighborhood bike to perform well on single-track bike trails, or a mountain bike with front suspension to be a good fit for a 30-mile+ ride on paved surfaces.

Our “Best Of” list is mainly comprised of bikes we would classify as neighborhood bikes or light trail use, for which the vast majority of kids use a bike.  The geometry of these bikes, however, also vary greatly. Some place kids in a more upright position, which is better suited for more timid riders, while others place riders in a more aggressive, leaned forward position, which is better for more adventurous riders.

Brake Types are more varied on 24 inch bikes

Dual-hand brakes are the standard braking system on most 24 inch bikes.  A few will have coaster brakes, but for the most part, differences will be between what type of hand brake a bike has.  Braking systems include V-pull brakes, disc brakes (mechanical and hydraulic), and Guardian Bikes’ unique SureStop braking system.

V-Pull Brakes

Standard V-pull brakes work just fine for the mass majority of 8 to 11-year-olds, but the quality and performance of V-brakes varies from bike to bike.  High-quality, high-performing brakes are easy for kids to activate and don’t require them to exert a lot of pressure on the lever.

The brakes on higher-end bikes such as woom, Priority, Pello and Cleary are far superior to any handbrake found on a bike at a big box store.  These brands also feature short-reach levers that place the brake lever closer to their hand, only requiring kids to barely extend their fingers to activate the brake.

V-Pull vs. Disc Brake

Guardian’s SureStop Brakes

Guardian’s unique patented braking system allows kids to activate both the rear and front brake with ONE brake lever.  Upon activating the single brake lever, the rear brake is activated, which is turn activates the front wheel’s brake.  As a result, it’s impossible for kids to “endo”, or be bucked off the bike by braking with only the front brake because the SureStop system prevents the front brake from being activated until after the rear brake has.

Gears – Common and more necessary on 24 inch bikes

Gears are not only fun to use, they’re essential to tackle long flat roads, hilly neighborhoods, dirt trails, and single track. By the time a child is 8 or 9-years-old, they’re probably tackling these terrains that make it beneficial to shift gears. They’re also at an age when they should be able to manage the complexity of shifting without too much trouble. And as they grow with the bike at 10 and 11-years-old, those gears will eventually become second nature.

24 inch bikes are typically available with 7 or 8 gears that are shifted with one shifter.  Unlike most adult bikes that have two shifters, one for each derailleur, kids’ bikes typically have fewer gears and just one derailleur.  Having to only worry about one shifter is much easier for kids as they can simply shift up or down without having to worry about which hand and which shifter to use.

Most 24 inch bikes are available with grip shifters, which kids activate by twisting the grip with the palm of their hand, or trigger shifters, which are activated by pulling or pushing on levers with their fingers.  In general, grip shifters are preferred by more timid or beginning riders as they are often easier and more intuitive to use.  Aggressive riders typically prefer trigger shifters.

Trigger vs Grip Shifter

Price

Parents sometimes get a little sticker shock when they start shopping for a 24 inch bike. A larger bike is just going to cost more in general, and as kids get older, components often get more advanced to keep up with a child’s more advanced riding.

Every bike on this list is pretty incredible and significantly better than a bike you’ll find at Walmart. But of course, they cost more! If your child truly loves riding, try to stick to the bikes on this list. If they are beyond your budget, try to find one used! But in the end, any bike is better than no bike at all, so do whatever it takes to keep your kid riding!

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