The Best Mountain Bike for A 10-Year-Old Boy (And A Few Runners Up)

The best mountain bike for a 10-year-old boy will let you and your child go on an off-road adventure together. But with countless MTB choices in the market, finding the best one can be a real challenge. Additionally, the bike should support your child in conquering the trails as efficiently as possible.

The Trailcraft Pineridge 24 is the best mountain bike for a 10-year-old boy. It has a double-butted 7005 aluminum frame and 60mm front fork travel. The bike only weighs 21.38lbs, so your child can easily maneuver it.

MTB for A 10-Year-Old Boy

Mountain biking with your 10-year-old is a great way to bond with them. However, young riders can sometimes be a little too small for a full-sized bike but too big for a 20-inch MTB. That said, a 24-inch mountain bike may be the ideal choice.

However, countless mountain bikes are available in the market, making it challenging to find the suitable one for your child. To help you with your choice, we have rounded up the best mountain bike for a 10-year-old boy, along with a few runners-up.

The Best MTB for a 10-Year-Old Boy

The Trailcraft Pineridge 24 is a high-quality and versatile mountain bike for your child. While it is not as affordable as many mountain bikes out there, it proves that high investment means high-end components.

Specs

Frame	Double-Butted 7005 Aluminum
Front Fork Travel	60mm
Drivetrain	Shimano Deore 2 x 10
Wheel Size	24”
Weight	21.38lbs

Thanks to its high-quality bike parts, this mountain bike proves that it can conquer challenging trails. Thanks to the bike’s lightweight combined with able gearing, it can even make climbing hills an easy and fun adventure for your child.

The mountain bike’s frame is a lightweight 7005 double-butted aluminum with top-notch paint quality. Even better, the frame geometry is 390mm short chain stays with a 70-degree head tube angle. As a result, young bikers can control the bike without it twitching.

DIY MTB Tip: Seriously, if you want your son to be on an MTB that will allow him to experience riding with you, talk to the folks at Trailcraft. Brett and the team at Trailcraft will build a bike that will inspire confidence on the trail!

Moreover, the Pineridge 24 has an air-sprung suspension fork with 60mm of travel. The suspension fork weighs about 1600 grams, has alloy lowers, and features a lockout and preload adjustment.

Additionally, the Pineridge 24 features front and back Shimano Deore M615 with lightweight Ashima 85g rotors disc brakes. This feature makes the Pineridge 24 the best mountain bike for a 10-year-old boy.

Moreover, the wheels and tires are what stand out about this bike. Trailcraft used custom ultra-light alloy hubs that are only 370 grams. The hubs attach to 24-inch 28-spoke Stans Crest rims that weigh 310 grams. (source)

5 Best Mountain Bikes After the Trailcraft Pineridge 24

The Trailcraft Pineridge 24 can be an expensive investment for some. Fortunately, there are more affordable choices that also offer excellent features.

1. Mongoose Pug

Fat bikes are ideal for beginner mountain bikers. Such is true even for young riders, regardless of this bike type’s aggressive and intimidating look.

The Mongoose Pug boasts a sturdy frame, allowing your child to dominate terrains, no matter how difficult they are. It has a wheel size of 10″, there is a wide contact surface that makes the bike easy to balance. (source)

2. Diamondback Cobra

If you are looking for the best mountain bike for a 10-year-old boy at an affordable price, the Diamondback Cobra is worth checking out. The bike features a 3 x 7 21-speed drivetrain, making it easy for your 10-year-old to dominate trails. It also has a 40mm fork that can effortlessly devour rocks and bumps. (source)

3. Tommaso Kid’s Raptor

The best thing about this mountain bike is it offers six different speeds. As a result, it will be easy for your child to climb and ride downhills.

The Tommaso Kid’s Raptor also has the Zoom 327E spring coil fork. This fork has lockout capabilities, so it is rigid enough to stop your bike from bouncing up and down. (source)

4. Raleigh Redux 24”

For youngsters who are ready to explore off-road, the best mountain bike for a 10-year-old boy next to the Pineridge is the Raleigh Redux 24″. It features an aluminum alloy frame and mechanical disc brakes.

For this reason, your child can develop their off-road riding skills.

Additionally, the bike comes with a 1 x 7 drivetrain, giving young riders the benefits of a multi-gear MTB. (source)

5. Prevelo Alpha 4

The Alpha 4 by Prevelo is an excellent choice for young boys moving up to a 24-inch mountain bike. This mountain bike features a lightweight 6061 aluminum frame with custom-made tubing. It also has an aluminum alloy fork with a Chromoly steerer. For this reason, the Alpha 4’s weight stays manageable.

Moreover, the bike has a Shimano ALTUS 8-speed drivetrain and Shimano smart cage. (source)

What Size Mountain Bike Is Good for a 10-Year-Old?

Ten years old is pretty much the ideal age to start exploring off-road. The reason is that they are already old enough to enjoy the adventures of mountain biking, which may allow them to keep up with the adults on the trails.

Moreover, 24 inches is the ideal mountain bike size for 10-year-old boys. If your child is a little taller for his age, you can go for an XS to S-sized adult mountain bike.

The reason for the range in sizes is that the height of 10-ear-old kids can vary. So, the height they need for their mountain bike reflects these differences. You will find the best mountain bike for a 10-year-old boy by knowing the right bike size. (source)

DIY MTB Tip: Trek sells good MTBs. Warranty, service and bike quality have stood the test of time. I put together an article describing Trek’s under $500. Read it HERE

How Do You Buy a Bike for a 10-Year-Old Boy?

There are countless kid’s mountain bikes in the market, all of which boast features that they claim to be the best. However, it is not only the features you need to look for when shopping for the right bike for a boy.

If you want the best mountain bike for a 10-year-old boy, you need to ensure that you get suitable features for them.

That said, here are three things to consider when buying an MTB for your 10-year-old:

Budget

When buying a kid’s mountain bike, one thing worth knowing is that it can be more expensive than adult bikes. The reason is that kid’s MTBs have more complex and high-spec features, like suspension and disc brakes.

While there are affordable options, these bikes have gears that are hard to use, and some parts may rust quickly. Additionally, it would be best to be wary of discounted mountain bikes. According to Guy Andrews in his book Complete Road Bike Maintenance,

            “Don’t be lured by discounted bikes, especially offers or ex-demonstration bikes unless you’re sure that it’s the bike for you and it’s the right size.”

Brake Option

Coaster brakes can help your child slow down or stop easily by back-pedaling. However, they can increase the overall weight of the bike. Additionally, your child will have to learn to use a hand brake when old enough for the next bike size.

That said, the ideal brake option for a mountain bike is a combination of coaster brake and hand brakes.

Bike Weight

 When it comes to the best mountain bike for a 10-year-old boy, the lighter the overall weight is, the better. The reason is that kids are not strong enough to maneuver a heavy bike. So, make sure to buy the lightest bike possible. (source)

DIY MTB Tip: This article is about what you should look for. BUT maybe you should look for bikes to avoid. Read – 9 Mountain Bikes to Avoid

How Do I Choose the Right Bike Size for My Child?

Measuring your child’s height and getting a suitable mountain bike for them can be tricky. Some parents rely on the wheel size, inside leg measurement, and even age to get a measurement. However, the best thing to do is to measure the wheel size.

Wheel Size	Age	Height
16 inch	4-6 years old	41 to 48 inches
20 inch	5-8 years old	45 to 54 inches
24 inch	8-11 years old	49 to 59 inches
26 inch	10 and up	56 inches and up

The reason is that the wheel size directly correlates to the size of the frame. Meaning as the frame’s diameter increases, the bike’s frame size also increases.

Moreover, you can estimate the mountain bike size for your child based on their age. But the most accurate way of getting the best mountain bike for a 10-year-old boy.

As mentioned, a 10-year-old’s height can differ by quite a bit. So, using height instead of age will help you get the most suitable mountain bike.

In addition, you should have your 10-year-old test ride the mountain bike before purchasing when possible. (source)

Can A 10-Year-Old Ride A 27.5 Bike?

As mentioned, the best mountain bike size for a 10-year-old boy is 24” or an XS adult mountain bike. 24” is the largest size available for kid’s mountain bikes. So, children who are a little taller for their age should go for an XS adult bike.

That said, a 27.5″ mountain bike can be too large for your 10-year-old boy. And although kids are very resilient, their bodies can still find it challenging to maneuver a giant mountain bike. The reason is that large mountain bikes will put them in an awkward position.

In addition, mountain bikes that are too big will force your child to lean forward and stretch out to reach the handlebars. If they stay in this position for too long, it will give them a sore back.

Moreover, an incorrect mountain bike size can make it difficult for your 10-year-old boy to reach the pedal. (source )

Get the Best MTB for Your Child

Getting the best mountain bike for a 10-year-old boy can be challenging. The reason is that there are different bike sizes available in the market. But if you want to bring your child with you on your next off-road adventure, the Trailcraft Pineridge 24 is the best choice.

The said mountain has a wheel size of 24, the perfect bike size for a 10-year-old. However, the Pineridge 24 can be expensive. Fortunately, other mountain bikes are perfect for your child that do not come with heavy price tags.

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Sources

1. “Pineridge 24.” Trail Craft Cycles. Accessed January 18, 2022. https://www.trailcraftcycles.com/product/pineridge-24/.
2. “Mongoose Pug 20″ Wheel Boy’s Fat Tire Bicycle.” Amazon. Accessed January 18, 2022. https://us.amazon.com/Mongoose-Wheel-Boys-Bicycle-Black/dp/B00X6DDQBS.
3. “Cobra 20.” Diamondback. Amazon. Accessed January 18, 2022. https://ride.diamondback.com/youth-bikes.
4. “Tommaso Kid’s Raptor 20″ Youth Cruiser Mountain Bike.” Amazon. Accessed January 18, 2022. https://www.amazon.in/Tommaso-Raptor-Youth-Cruiser-Mountain/dp/B086X5CZHV.
5. “Raleigh Bikes Redux Hybrid Bike.” Amazon. Accessed January 18, 2022. https://www.amazon.com/Raleigh-Bikes-Redux-Hybrid-Bike/dp/B07D8Q69QR?th=1&psc=1.
6. “AlphaFour.” Prevelo. Accessed January 18, 2022. https://prevelo.com/products/alpha-four.
7. Schwinn Bikes, “Bike Size Chart,” Guide to Kids’ Bike Sizes (blog). https://www.schwinnbikes.com/blogs/schwinn-garage/the-guide-to-kids-bike-sizes-and-height.
8. Guy Andrews. Complete Road Bike Maintenance. China: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2013. https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=6YgzAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA16&dq=things+to+consider+when+buying+a+bike&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiptdau87r1AhXuslYBHW4fCeoQ6AF6BAgMEAI#v=onepage&q=things%20to%20consider%20when%20buying%20a%20bike&f=false.

“Choosing The Right Bike.” Boys’ Life. Vol. 69, No. 12 (December 1979.): 12. https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=0Mi-8mRTdIcC&pg=PA12&dq=bike+size+for+10-year-old&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi5xb3i9Lr1AhV2r1YBHcNkCOsQ6AF6BAgCEAI#v=onepage&q=bike%20size%20for%2010-year-old&f=false.