The ideal mix of technical brawn and delicate simplicity, the woom OFF 4, woom OFF 5, and woom OFF 6 are the ultimate gateway bikes for young groms just getting started. From the hydraulic disc brakes to the carbon fork and their insanely lightweight frames, the woom OFF rigid mountain bikes will help your little one quickly master on-trail skills and learn to love the shred. As your grom develops, the rigid fork on all woom OFF’s can also easily be replaced with woom’s proprietary air suspension fork.
The woom OFF is available in 20″, 24″ and 26″ wheel sizes. All sizes feature the same components, with size being their primary difference. We’ll cover the woom OFF 4 (20 inch), woom OFF 5 (24 inch), and woom OFF 6 (26 inch) bikes in this review. For all the details on what makes these kids mountain bikes so exceptional, read our full review below!
woom OFF Overview
RATING: Exceptional
MSRP: $849 – $949
BEST FOR: Beginning to intermediate mountain bikers who need a confidence-building, lightweight riding machine.
SEAT HEIGHT & WEIGHT:
- 20-inch OFF 4: 22.8″ – 28.7″, 18.5 lb.
- 24-inch OFF 5: 28.3″ – 34.3″, 20.7 lb.
- 26-inch OFF 6: 30.7″ – 38.2″, 22.7 lb.
GEARS: 9-speed/SRAM X5 Trigger
BRAKES: Hydraulic Disc
SUSPENSION: No, but woom’s suspension fork can be added later. An air suspension fork does come on the woom OFF AIR model.
PROS:
- Ultra lightweight
- Rigid carbon fork with through-axle for added stability
- Wide Schwalbe Rocket Ron tires for maximum grip and cushioning
- Trigger shifters for rapid shifting
- Adjustable stem and handlebars
- Promax hydraulic disc brakes
- Tubeless-ready tires and rims
- Metal studded pedals to prevent foot slipping
CONS:
- Proprietary crank arms and grips are not compatible with others brands. The fork can also only be replaced with woom’s suspension fork.
woom OFF Updates for 2023
woom OFF bikes debuted in 2019, and in 2023 we’re seeing the first major update. While most things stay the same (because why mess with something that’s already excellent?), there are several minor changes that we do appreciate.
- TWO COLOR OPTIONS: For the first time, the woom OFF is offered in two different colors – the original black, and the new terra coppa (copper colored)
- TUBELESS READY: All sizes have rims and tires that are tubeless ready. Rims do not come pre-taped.
- BRAKES: Disc brake rotors on OFF 5/6 are 160 mm front and rear. OFF 5 was previously 140 mm front and rear, while OFF 6 was 160 front and 140 rear.
- HANDLEBAR AND GRIPS: The ends of the handlebars are tapered to allow for super narrow grips that are more suited for small hands.
- SADDLE: Each size OFF has its own uniquely sized saddle. The new saddles also have more traditional mountain bike styling.
- DROPPER POST READY: Ports on frame for with partial internal routing.
- CHAINSTAY PROTECTOR – All models now feature an integrated rubber chainstay protector that incorporates seamlessly into the frame
woom OFF 4, 5 and 6 Review – Results of our Test Rides
To put the woom OFF through the full testing ringer, we’ve tested these bikes through four seasons of mountain biking. We tested the 20″ woom OFF 4 and the 26″ woom OFF 6 with our 4, 7, 10, 11, and 12-year-old kid testers. Our kids range in skill from beginning mountain bikers to experienced, confident shredders.
For the 2023 season, we got our hands on the newly updated woom OFF, and this review now reflects that most updated model.
Who is the woom OFF Best for?
woom OFF bikes are easily our favorite mountain bikes for beginning trail riders who are still mastering trail skills and building their confidence on green and blue trails. The OFF’s kid-centric frame design creates the perfect balance of confidence and stability, while keeping steering and maneuverability responsive and quick.
All woom OFF bikes are in the “cross country” category and are designed for riders who need a bike that is just as capable uphill as it is down. These ponies climb, descend, and tackle terrain with ease.
For more advanced riders who will be tackling more technical terrain, the woom OFF is also available as the woom OFF AIR with a front air suspension fork, which we cover in our woom OFF AIR review. If your child is a more experienced and advanced rider, we highly recommend starting off with the woom OFF AIR.
The woom OFF is NOT designed for young groms who are on a mission to hit the largest jumps or catch the largest air at the jump park. If your kid is already itching to catch big air like this bike tester, a more aggressive hardtail mountain bike that places more emphasis on the downhill would be more appropriate.
Made specifically for cross country and trail riding, the OFF bikes share very little, if any, components with woom’s neighborhood bike line up (such as the woom 5 and woom 6). From the SRAM X5 trigger shifters and wide knobby tires, to the longer, more stable wheelbase, the woom OFF line is perfectly designed to make the transition from neighborhood riding to dirt trail shredding as natural and easy as possible.
But why is the woom OFF so exceptional for beginning and intermediate shredders? In addition to exceptional geometry and high-end components, the OFF’s major selling point is its weight.
Incredibly Lightweight
The OFF is significantly lighter than almost every one of its 20 inch and 24 inch mountain bike competitors. Just like woom’s neighborhood bikes, the biggest differentiator from other kid brands has been keeping off the weight that plagues so many kids bikes out there.
So, when we got ahold of the new woom OFF bikes to test, it was no surprise that they had left OFF (haha!) a ton of weight compared to other kids’ mountain bikes.
How much weight are we talking about? A lot. Here’s a handy chart comparing the weight of the woom OFF with other popular rigid mountain bikes. Below, only the woom OFF AIR and Prevelo Zulu have suspension forks.
| 20″ | 24″ | 26″ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| woom OFF w/o pedals | 17.9 lb. | 20.1 lb. | 22 lb. |
| woom OFF AIR w/o pedals | 20.3 lb | 22.7 lb. | 24.7 lb. |
| Commencal Ramones w/o pedals | 22.3 lb. | 24.3 lb. | |
| Specialized Riprock w/ pedals | 22.6 lb. | 24.7 lb. | |
| Prevelo Zulu w/o pedals | 22.9 lb. | 25.3 lb. | 26.6 lb. |
Rigid mountain bikes by very well-established brands Commencal and Specialized are about 4 pounds heavier, which is significant for a child.
For example, when our very tall 4-year-old upgraded to a 20″ mountain bike last summer, she was 50 lbs. The woom OFF 4 was abou 37% of her bodyweight. The Specialized Riprock, about 4 pounds heavier, would be 45% of her bodyweight. That’s a significant jump when you’re dealing with young kids, and would make climbing and riding longer distances significantly more difficult.
Rigid Fork – Yes, beginners can excel without suspension!
The woom OFF features a lightweight carbon fork, while the woom OFF AIR has a suspension fork. So why would you ever buy your budding shredder a mountain bike without suspension?
Because contrary to popular belief, many kids benefit from NOT HAVING a suspension fork. Suspension forks add weight to a bike, and that weight may do more harm than good, especially for beginning and lightweight riders.
woom understands this, and smartly allows parents to choose between a rigid fork (OFF) or a suspension fork (OFF AIR). (As a note, if you buy the woom OFF, you can always upgrade to woom’s suspension fork later.)
Most suspension forks simply can’t provide sufficient dampening for lightweight kids. Yes, they provide some, but for many beginning and intermediate riders, the additional weight the suspension forks adds does not compensate for the small gains in cushioning and the increase in price! (This is especially true for 20 inch mountain bikes.)
For reference, the woom OFF 4 weighs about 18.5 pounds with pedals, while the woom OFF AIR 4 with suspension weighs 2.5 pounds more. That might not seem like a lot, but we’re talking about 4, 5 and 6 year olds here. Unless they absolutely need suspension, why burden them with those extra pounds?
To compensate for the lack of suspension, the woom OFF comes with cushioning 2.35″ wide Schwalbe Rocket Ron tires, which do an incredible job of smoothing out the ride, especially when you lower the PSI to increase those cushioning effects.
More aggressive riders or those tackling rougher terrain may prefer the additional weight of a suspension fork for additional help in smoothing out the ride. For those groms, check out the woom OFF AIR with suspension.
When is it time to upgrade the rigid fork to suspension?
This question really depends on the terrain and trail features your child will be tackling. For kids just getting into mountain biking that are taking things a bit slower or are just riding mellower trails, no suspension is a non-issue.
As young riders progress and are able to ride for longer or tackle rougher trails, a suspension fork can certainly come in handy to help smooth out the ride. If your child’s arms or shoulders are getting tired during longer rides, it’s likely time to move up to a suspension fork. Sore hands (even when wearing gloves) is another indicator that it’s time.
The woom OFF AIR is available with 60 to 90 mm of travel depending on the size of the bike. Our 12-year-old rider started his mountain bike journey on the woom OFF 6 and advanced fairly quickly in skills and confidence. As a result, we upgraded the woom OFF 6 to an air fork after about 6 months as he began attempting chunkier trails and more aggressive terrain.
Considering the woom OFF is designed for cross country riding, keep in mind that while adding a suspension fork will help smooth out roots and rocks along the way, it will NOT turn the bike into an all-mountain bike that excels at tackling aggressive drops and jumps. A more robust bike with a slacker headtube, such as the Prevelo Zulu, would be a better fit.
woom OFF Performance
For our beginner and intermediate mountain bikers, the OFF was the perfect bike for them – not too much (no suspension to save on weight), but not too little (plenty of gears and powerful hydraulic disc brakes). The woom OFF truly was exceptional for every situation our riders found themselves in – from the uphill and the downhill of Park City, to those flatter flowy trails in Bentonville.
Climbing with the woom OFF is easy due to a comfortable seat tube angle which puts the rider over the bottom bracket. But of course, it’s also super easy to climb thanks to how light these OFF bikes are.
With plenty of range in the gears to climb most green and blue rated trails, the light weight gives the OFF a huge advantage over a lot of bikes out there. Kids can more easily make their way up significant climbs and move around or up and over obstacles with less effort.
While certainly not a downhill bike, the woom OFF still performed well on the descents that followed the climbs. The Q factor is nice and narrow, but still MTB-friendly. It’s wide enough to provide a steady base when standing up for descending with level pedals, but narrow enough that pedaling doesn’t require a wide and uncomfortable splay of the legs.
The bike had plenty of traction from the Rocket Ron tires. And through most terrain, the bike was fast and easy to throw around. Getting through corners was noticeably easy and the bike stayed stable at faster speeds – at least when smooth.
One thing that woom didn’t have a measurement for were the chainstays. We’re assuming they are pretty stubby by the ease of getting the front wheel off the ground. Our more experienced 11-year-old tester was easily able to get the front tire off the ground to get up and over obstacles. He had a blast riding wheelies around the neighborhood too.
woom OFF Sizing
If you are new to woom bikes, be aware that the sizing of woom bikes can vary greatly from other brands. While woom’s 20″ OFF bike is similar to, or smaller than, other brands, their 24″ and 26″ bikes are actually larger.
For example, the seat height ranges of the woom OFF 4 20″ bike are significantly smaller than the Specialized Riprock 20’s, while woom’s 24″ OFF 5’s are significantly larger than the Specialized Riprock 24’s.
woom OFF Sizing
| Bike | Seat Height |
|---|---|
| 20" MTBs | |
| woom OFF 4 | 22.8" - 28.7" |
| Prevelo Zulu 3 | 22.8" - 28.5" |
| Specialized Riprock 20" | 25" - 30" |
| 24" MTBs | |
| woom OFF 5 | 28.3" - 34.3" |
| Prevelo Zulu 4 | 26" - 31.5" |
| Specialized Riprock 24" | 27" - 32.5" |
| 26" MTBs | |
| woom OFF 6 | 30.7" - 38.2" |
| Prevelo Zulu 5 | 28.6" - 34.2" |
When compared to high-end Prevelo Zulu series, the seat range on their 20″ is the same as the woom’s, but their seat height ranges on their 24″ and 26″ are much smaller. In fact, you’ll notice that the Prevelo 26″ Zulu 5 has the same seat height range as woom’s 24″ OFF 4.
As a result, for all bikes be sure to measure your child’s inseam prior to ordering to guarantee a good fit and lots of room for growth. woom also has a sizing quiz to help to determine the best size bike from their lineup.
woom OFF 4, 5, and 6 Components and Specs
Geometry Ideal for Stability and Control
As far as geometry goes, we’d say it fits right into the XC category, which is where most beginning and intermediate mountain bikers are going to find themselves, especially those on 20″ or 24″ bikes.
The geometry is set up to make the bike feel really balanced and give little riders a lot of confidence. This is great for new riders as well as more skilled riders who want to start trying new things or just increase their speed on trails.
Headtube angle is 69 degrees for the woom OFF 5 and 6, and 68 degrees for the woom OFF 4. This angle is slightly less slack than mountain bikes that are more designed for downhill dominance. This angle makes climbing easier, while also being slack enough to give the rider confidence on the downhill by making the bike feel stable and controlled.
This helps them feel more grounded, like they are not going to go over the bars at any moment. It also allows for great efficiency on the uphill and flat trails, everything a cross-country mountain bike needs to be.
Wheelbase is long enough to give kids stability at speed and more confidence in basically every situation. The bike sits pretty low giving a more “in-the-bike” feel rather than being perched up on top of it. This again gives the feeling of confidence.
Notice a trend here? The woom OFF offers the perfect balance of confidence and stability while keeping steering and maneuverability responsive and quick.
Hydraulic Disc Brakes Offer Great Stopping Power
The parts for the woom OFF have been thoughtfully chosen for little hands and bodies. Promax hydraulic brakes have good stopping power but also great modulation, giving kids good control over braking.
The smaller woom OFF 4 features 140 mm rotors in the front and rear, while the OFF 5 and 6 have larger 160 mm front and rear rotors to more effectively slow down heavier riders at faster speeds.
9-Speed Drivetrain, Trigger Shifters
All three sizes of the OFF feature 9-speeds with a double thumb SRAM trigger shifter and an X5 derailleur.
All woom OFF bikes also feature a narrow-wide chainring to help keep that chain from coming off mid-ride.
What about gearing ranges? While only 9 speeds, we found there is plenty of range in gears to get up and down. With as light as the OFF bikes are, there’s less need for an additional, bigger tooth cog on the cassette for even lower gearing while climbing.
- woom OFF 4 has a 28 tooth chainring and an 11-32 tooth cassette, resulting in a gain ratio range of 2.0 to 5.9.
- woom OFF 5 has a 28 tooth chainring and an 11-34 tooth cassette, resulting in a slightly higher gain ratio range of 1.9 to 6.0.
- woom OFF 6 has a 28 tooth chainring and an 11-36 tooth cassette, resulting in a slightly lower gain ratio range of 1.7 to 5.6.
Wide Handlebar & Narrow Grips
A major change that woom made to the 2023 OFF models is that they tapered the ends of the handlebar to allow for super narrow grips. Their smaller diameter allow small hands to get an even better grip than the previous model. The woom OFF 4 grips are the smallest, while OFF 5/6 share the same size.
Grips are small for little hands and super grippy and comfortable. Bars are 680 mm wide on the woom OFF 6, 600 mm wide on the woom OFF 5, and 580 mm on the woom OFF 4. All have with a 20mm rise.
It’s good to see kids bike manufacturers putting proper wide bars on kids’ bikes these days. The bars can also be rotated forward or back 10 degrees to tilt the handlebars away or closer to the body. The 50mm stem can be also be flipped to adjust the bar height.
Ergonomic Saddle
The saddle was also updated for 2023, with three different sizes that correspond to each of the OFF bike sizes (20″, 24″, 26″). This allows the saddle shape and proportions to be a more tailored fit for the body proportions of the child it was designed for.
Tires Now Tubeless Ready!
2.35″ wide Schwalbe Rocket Ron tires give tons of traction with plenty of rolling speed and good shock absorbing qualities – as long as you run the pressure correctly. Make sure you are running your kids’ tires nice and low to allow the tires to get maximum traction and give some bump compliance.
Running a lower PSI is made easier now that the OFF rims and tires are tubeless ready. And of course tubeless offers the added benefit of far fewer flats on the trail.
We were easily able to convert our OFF models to tubeless using the following supplies:
Integrated Chainstay Protector
To prevent dents and dings from chain slap, the new woom OFFs come with an integrated rubberized chainstay protector. The protector blends seamlessly into the frame and covers the length of the entire chainstay.
Dropper Post Ready
All woom OFF models now come ready to install a dropper post with partially internal cable routing. Realistically, if your child is riding terrain suitable for a rigid mountain bike, a dropper post is probably overkill for their skill level.
However, it’s nice to know that if your child skyrockets in shredding capabilities, the option exists to add a dropper post at that point.
Some Parts are Proprietary
While an exceptional gateway mountain bike, one downside of the woom OFF is that it isn’t as easy to upgrade as other brands. The brakes, shifter, and derailleur are standard and not hard to upgrade, but the fork, crank arms, and grips are not.
Due to the headset/headtube design of the OFF, there are currently no known aftermarket suspension forks that will work with the woom OFF in any of the sizes. If you want to upgrade the woom OFF, you will need to purchase woom’s suspension fork.
The super narrow grips will make it challenging to find other grips that fit the tapered handlebars. That said, these new grips are quite comfortable, and color preference would really be the only reason to swap them out.
woom OFF 4, 5 and 6 Bottom Line
Stunningly built from top to bottom, the woom OFF mountain bike is a killer choice for any young grom ready for a steady, sturdy, and lightweight steed to begin their mountain biking journey. Loaded with the essentials without being weighed down by a suspension fork, the OFF will dominate those cross country trails, make climbing quite a bit easier, and keeping kids steady on the downhill.
Check with our bike sizing guide to see which size woom is right for your mountain biker.
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