Updated September 23, 2023
When it’s time for a child to get a bike, it’s important that it is the right size and fit for safety, comfort, and ease of use. You want durability and quality design and construction to stand up to what a child can put it through. The best children’s mountain bikes have these qualities and further encourage healthy off-road riding, providing a great opportunity to interact with the great outdoors in a more or less rough-and-tumble way that makes growing up an adventure.
With thousands of bikes on the market, selecting one that is the right fit for a boy or girl keeping in mind different ages and heights takes some research. To help in the process, top children’s mountain bikes have been selected to represent the best available that are reasonably priced. A comparison table gets you started, followed by descriptions, key features, photos, videos, and a simple buying guide.
If you have any questions or concerns, please use the comments section at the bottom. I’d love to know your thoughts.
For more information on other categories of bikes, please check out these reviews:
Women’s Mountain Bike Helmets Mountain Bike Helmets Affordable Electric Bikes Women’s Mountain Bikes BMX Bikes Mountain Bikes Under $1,000 Budget Mountain Bikes Fat Bikes Single Speed Bikes Beach Cruisers
Best Kids Mountain Bikes
- Mongoose Exlipse Kids Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike
- Huffy Boys Hardtail Mountain Bike
- Diamondback Octane 20 Youth Mountain Bike
- Schwinn High Timber Girls Mountain Bike
- Raleigh Eva 24 Kids Mountain Bike
- Mongoose Ledge 2.1 Boys Mountain Bike
- Diamondback Lustre Girls Mountain Bike
- Diamondback El Oso Nino Kids Fat Bike
Kids Mountain Bike Comparison Table
| Photo | Bike | Frame | Wheels | Gears | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  | Mongoose Exlipse Kids Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike | Steel | 24" | 21 | 4.4 | $$ |
  | Huffy Boys Hardtail Mountain Bike | Steel | 20" | 6 | 4.6 | $ |
  | Diamondback Octane 20 Youth Mountain Bike | Aluminum | 20" | 6 | 4.6 | $$$ |
  | Schwinn High Timber Girls Mountain Bike | Steel | 24" | 21 | 4.4 | $$ |
  | Raleigh Eva 24 Kids Mountain Bike | Aluminum | 24" | 7 | 4.7 | $$ |
 | Mongoose Ledge 2.1 Boys Mountain Bike | Aluminum | 24" | 21 | 4.3 | $ |
  | Diamondback Lustre Girls Mountain Bike | Aluminum | 20" | 6 | 4.5 | $$ |
 | Diamondback El Oso Niño Kids Fat Bike | Steel | 20" | 7 | 4.6 | $$$ |
| Photo | Bike | Frame | Wheels | Gears | Rating | Price |
Mongoose Exlipse Kids Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike
Recommended for boys and girls from 8-11, the ride is smooth over bumpy terrain with a suspension fork and rear shock absorber.
There are plenty of gearing options for efficient pedaling up and down hills with a quality 21-speed Shimano drivetrain and easy-to-use SRAM grip shifters, and linear-pull brakes have a simple easy-maintenance design for plenty of stopping power.
- Frame Size: 15″ (recommended for girls and boys from 8 to 11 years old)
- Weight: 30 pounds
- Frame/Fork: steel frame and fork
- Suspension: front and rear
- Tires: 24” x 1.95”
- Rims: aluminum alloy
- 3-Piece Crank
- Gears: 21-speed Shimano drivetrain and SRAM grip shifters
- Brakes: front and rear linear-pull brakes
- Color: pink
- Rating: 4.4
- Price: $$
Huffy Boys Hardtail Mountain Bike
The durable 13-inch steel frame has Kolo 1200 front suspension and a padded saddle to absorb the inevitable bumps.
It has slight-rise handlebars for a more upright ride that minimizes shoulder and back strain, and standard linear-pull brakes for adequate stopping power.
The 6-speed Shimano drivetrain and twist shifter are plenty for a young rider to manipulate while offering substantial options for pedaling adjustment.
It’s a nice package, especially considering the low, low price.
- Frame Size: 13″ (recommended for boys from 5 to 9 years old and 44” to 56” in height)
- Weight: 35.2 pounds
- Frame/Fork: steel frame
- Suspension: Kolo 1200 suspension fork
- Tires: 24” x 1.95”
- Rims: aluminum alloy
- 3-Piece Crank
- Padded ATB Saddle
- Gears: 6-speed Shimano TZ-31 drivetrain and micro-shift twist shifter
- Brakes: front and rear linear-pull brakes
- Color: metallic cyan
- Rating: 4.6
- Price: $
Diamondback Octane 20 Youth Mountain Bike
It has a hardtail and suspension front fork with 50mm travel that levels out the bumps, and a 6-speed Shimano drivetrain and Revo grip shifter that children find easy and fun to use.
Rounding out the primary features are durable 32-hole alloy rims for the 20” knobby tires, a comfy saddle, and reliable rim brakes.
It comes in an attractive boy’s blue color at a reasonable price.
- Size: recommended for boys from 4 to 9 years old and 44” to 54” in height
- Weight: 25 pounds 11 ounces
- Frame/Fork: 6061 aluminum
- Suspension: HL Zoom front fork with 40mm travel
- Tires: 20” x 1.95”
- Rims: aluminum alloy, 32 hole
- Saddle: Jr. ATB 2-panel
- Gears: 6-speed Shimano drivetrain and Revo grip shifter
- Brakes: front and rear linear-pull brakes
- Color: blue
- Rating: 4.6
- Price: $$$
Schwinn High Timber Girls Mountain Bike
It has a durable steel frame and a suspension fork to endure the rigors of streets or moderate trails.
There are plenty of choices to keep the pedaling efficient with the Shimano 21-speed drivetrain, and linear-pull brakes deliver reasonable stopping capacity.
The seat has a comfortable shape that girls and young women can embrace.
The High Timber line of mountain bikes from Schwinn has additional models in several sizes and configurations aside from this 24-incher.
This one comes in an attractive teal color at an affordable price.
- Size: recommended for girls age 12 and older from 4’8” to 5’6” in height
- Weight: 35.2 pounds
- Frame/Fork: steel frame
- Suspension: suspension fork
- Tires: 24” x 1.95” all-terrain
- Rims: aluminum alloy
- 3-Piece Crank
- Padded Saddle
- Gears: 21-speed Shimano with twist shifters
- Brakes: front and rear linear-pull brakes
- Color: teal
- Rating: 4.4
- Price: $$
Raleigh Eva 24 Kids Mountain Bike
Loaded with quality features for a comfortable, safe ride on the road or in the dirt, the mechanical disc brakes provide very precise stopping power.
It has a quality uncomplicated 7-speed Shimano drivetrain and shifters, and a Suntour suspension fork to smooth out the bumps.
The low stand frame makes it a little more convenient for girls to mount and it comes in attractive teal and white Raleigh coloration at a reasonable price.
- Size: recommended for girls aged 8 to 12 from 53” to 62” in height
- Weight: 27.8 pounds
- Frame/Fork: 6061 aluminum
- Suspension: SR Suntour XCT suspension fork with 50mm travel
- Tires: 24” x 1.95”
- Rims: anodized aluminum alloy, 28 hole
- Saddle: Jr. Mountain
- Gears: 7-speed Shimano Tourney drivetrain with Shimano Revo shifters
- Brakes: front and rear mechanical disc brakes
- Color: teal and white
- Rating: 4.7
- Price: $$
Mongoose Ledge 2.1 Boys Mountain Bike
Heavy at 46 pounds, it has a sturdy steel frame and fork with dual suspension (front and back) to smooth out very rugged off-road terrain.
There are 21 gears for efficient pedaling options, linear-pull rim brakes for stopping power, and a padded seat to cushion your backside.
Durability is further enhanced by a 3 piece crank and sturdy alloy rims.
- Size: recommended for boys age 8 and older from 4’8” to 5’6” in height
- Weight: 46.6 pounds
- Frame/Fork: steel
- Suspension: front and rear
- Tires: 24” x 1.95”
- Rims: aluminum alloy
- 3 Piece Crank
- Saddle: padded
- Gears: 21-speed Shimano drivetrain and twist shifters
- Brakes: front and rear linear-pull brakes
- Color: silver/red
- Rating: 4.3
- Price: $
Diamondback Lustre Girls Mountain Bike
The 6 gears are easy for a youngster to negotiate to get the right pedaling efficiency and the linear-pull rim brakes are reliable.
The HL Zoom front suspension smoothes out the bumps so steering control can be maintained and the comfortable seat is adjustable to fit different heights.
The Lustre is currently available in gloss satin purple at a reasonable price considering the nice bundle of features.
- Size: recommended for girls aged 4 to 9 from 44” to 54”
- Weight: 25 pounds 14 ounces
- Frame/Fork: 6061 aluminum
- Suspension: HL Zoom 20” suspension with 40mm travel
- Tires: 20” x 1.95” knobby
- Rims: aluminum alloy, 32 hole
- Saddle: Jr. ATB 2-panel
- Gears: 6-speed Shimano drivetrain with Shimano Revo grip shifters
- Brakes: front and rear linear-pull brakes
- Color: gloss satin purple
- Rating: 4.5
- Price: $$
Diamondback El Oso Niño Kids Fat Bike
The durable high-tensile steel frame doesn’t require suspension when combined with fat tires.
It comes with precise Apex mechanical disc brakes and an easy-to-use 7-speed Shimano drivetrain and shifters, and the kids will be comfy pedaling from the padded Jr. Diamondback seat.
The pricing is reasonable.
- Frame Size: 20” recommended for kids aged 4 to 11 from 44” to 54” in height
- Weight: 35 pounds 8 ounces
- Frame/Fork: high-tensile steel
- Suspension: rigid (none)
- Tires: 20” x 4” Chaoyang all-terrain knobby
- Rims: aluminum alloy, 32 hole
- Saddle: padded Jr. Diamondback
- Gears: 7-speed Shimano drivetrain with grip shifters
- Brakes: front and rear Apex mechanical disc brakes
- Color: satin blue
- Rating: 4.6
- Price: $$$
Kid’s Mountain Bike Buying Guide
Children’s Size & Fit
For a child to safely, effectively, and comfortably ride a bike, it needs to be the right size. A rider needs to be able to reach the pedals comfortably from the seat and get ahold of the handlebar easily without the necessity to overreach.
Many manufacturers provide a frame size as a reference but the most common and easiest measure to use is wheel size. Bikes range in wheel size from 12” up to 29” with mountain bikes for kids mostly in the 20” and 24” sizes. There are tables available matching wheel size to rider height and inseam length but manufacturers and sellers generally provide these guidelines for you to aid in selecting the best match.
Frame
The frame of a mountain bike is its foundation and should be well-made and durable. Weight is a major consideration, especially for smaller kids. Aluminum and steel are commonly used with both being sufficiently durable. Aluminum gets the plus for being lightweight and rust and corrosion-proof. Steel is not as rigid and can be more durable. Carbon fiber is much more expensive and not often used on children’s bikes but is also very lightweight and durable.
Suspension
Mountain bikes for adults generally have suspension in the front fork to add balance and a smoother ride over uneven terrain. For more technical mountain biking, especially in downhill riding, dual suspension with an added rear suspension shock absorber is useful.
Kids’ bikes used for basic cross-country riding can be effective with rigid suspension (none). Fat bikes with wider tires often have rigid suspensions. With wide tires and lower inflation pressure, they have shock absorption built-in without a suspension fork. A suspension fork can be considered a nice feature to have on a child’s bike and if there is dual suspension it is an added bonus. Bike Suspension Basics
Tires
Top children’s mountain bikes use wide tires that provide more ground contact for better grip, stability, and comfort. Wide tires work better on off-road surfaces a kid can encounter that have dirt, gravel, mud, sand, or rocks.
Brakes
Mountain bikes are usually fitted with disc or rim brakes (aka linear-pull brakes). Disc brakes provide more precise stopping power and the best adult models use them. Many kids’ bikes use rim brakes which are adequate for the less technical riding that younger kids do. When the youngster gets serious about riding, then disc brakes will become more important to consider. Disc brakes also require more maintenance and are more expensive.
Gears/Drivetrain
Unlike many children’s bikes for BMX or road use, mountain bikes are designed with more than one gear to make pedaling effective and easier to take on changes in the terrain. It will consist of a drivetrain that has at least one chainring or gear that transfers the pedaling power to a cassette of cogs attached to the rear wheel. There are less complicated systems with 6 or 7 gears and others with up to 24 gears. To keep it simple for the youngest riders, a bike with fewer gears can be considered. When ready to tackle more advanced trails and terrain, bikes with more gears can prove more effective. How to Use Bike Gears
For more information on other categories of bikes, please check out these reviews:
Women’s Mountain Bike Helmets Mountain Bike Helmets Affordable Electric Bikes Women’s Mountain Bikes BMX Bikes Mountain Bikes Under $1,000 Budget Mountain Bikes Fat Bikes Single Speed Bikes Beach Cruisers
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