Finding the best 24-inch bike for your 7 to 11 year old can be a bit tricky. But if you know the basics and whatnot, you will make your kid very happy.
I know when I got my first real bike as a 9-year-old. I got a mountain bike as I was very passionate about riding since an early age.
My dad, who was my biking hero, had been riding from an early age too. I know, like father like son.
He shared a story about how he had to visit about 10 – 15 different bike stores to get me the best one. And I am glad he did!
The best 24-inch bikes for your 7 to 11-year-olds are the ones that they will find comfortable riding. The height of the bike, the weight, the type of brake, and the overall performance of the bike make a big difference.
I have a friend who is not so much into riding a bike as myself (I know, surprising). He has an 8-year-old son who wants to follow in on my footsteps and loves to ride a bicycle.
So the friend asked me for advice on the bike and I had a lot to share with him.
Similarly, I will share a lot of wisdom and information with you here in this article.
Hence, buckle up, grab a cup of coffee or tea, and get ready to go on an adventure!
What Kind of Bike Are Best Suited for 7 to 11 Year Olds?
With different kinds of bikes in the market, finding the best kind of bike best suited for your 7 to 11-year-olds can be daunting. A friend of mine had the same dilemma with his 8-year-old son.
As children grow, the options for bikes get wider. You need to find what suits your child best. It can be a mountain bike for specialists, a road bike or a BMX bike, or simply a versatile hybrid handlebar bike.
I would recommend you get your 7 to 11 year old a 24-inch hybrid handlebar bike. The hybrid type of bike can do well for your child if he or she is going to be doing mixed cycling.
Hybrid bicycles allow your child to do a range of different activities. It can include commuting to school, taking a ride with you on weekends off-roads, or just riding when he or she desires.
And of course, as your child grows, you can get your child a different kind of bike depending on their need and passion.
Special kinds of bicycles cost more. And honestly, if you do not think your kid will be biking for a long time, hybrid bikes are the way to go.
5 Best 24 Inch Bikes for Your 7 to 11 Year Old (2022)
And now, the moment of truth. Let us check out the 5 best 24-inch bikes for your 7 to 11-year-olds.
| S.N. | Brand | Name of Bike | Weight of Bike (in pounds) | Seat Height (in inches) | Frame Material | Gear Speed | Price |
| 1. | Guardian | Guardian Ethos 24 | 25.5 lbs | 25 – 33 | Aluminum | 7 Speed | $379 |
| 2. | Woom | Woom 5 | 18.1 lbs | 26.4 – 32.3 | Aluminum | 8 Speed | $529 |
| 3. | Priority | Priority Start 24 | 23.3 lbs | 27 – 34.5 | Aluminum | 3 Speed | $399 |
| 4. | Prevelo | Prevelo Alpha Four | 21.2 lbs | 25.8 – 31.2 | Aluminum | 9 Speed | $549 |
| 5. | Cleary | Cleary Meerkat 24 | 28.3 lbs | 25 – 32 | Alloy Steel | 5 Speed | $630 |
1. Guardian Ethos 24
The Guardian Ethos 24 is the best 24-inch bike I have on the list.
The bike weighs in at just 25.5 pounds thanks to the super lightweight aluminum frame. On top of that, the bike includes other features like a shorter reach on the handbrake, shorter crank arms, and a low center of gravity.
Talking about the performance from the Ethos 24, it is absolutely ridiculous with its 7 speed shifting Shimano gear!
Although the Ethos 24 does not come with a disc brake, they prioritize safety over everything else.
And with their proprietary SureStop Braking Technology, kids riding the Ethos feel more confident on the bike no matter where they are off to.
Finally, the Ethos 24 comes in a range of colors that your kid can choose from. They will love it!
2. Woom 5
If you have been following my articles for a while then you would know that I am a huge fan of Woom bikes.
The Woom 5 is a personal favorite of mine. A super lightweight bike that packs a punch, what more could your little one ask for!
I recommended the Woom 5 for my friend’s 8-year-old son, and he absolutely adores it. He sends me a picture of his son on the bike from time to time and I am just really glad he loves it.
Weighing in at just 18.1 pounds, the Woom 5 is an ideal choice for most kids out there. Not just the weight but other features too.
The bike’s combination of a sturdy upright position, an 8 gearing range, and wider tires for comfort are great for most beginner to intermediate bike riders.
With the bike’s low center of gravity geometry for a better balance and maneuver and gorgeous varieties of colors to choose from, your child will not let go of the bike.
And finally, the Woom 5 is perfect for young riders who love smooth riding and have not committed to aggressive trail riding. It is a solid bike for your enthusiastic kid.
3. Priority Start 24
The Priority Start 24 is a very simple and low maintenance bike with just a 3 step gearing system. Be mindful of not getting fooled with the 3 gear feature, it packs a punch.
Priority Start 24 simplifies the hassle with a grease-free belt drive and makes the overall riding experience easy, simple, and fun.
Made up of an aluminum frame, the bike is very lightweight. And as I mentioned above, it is a low-maintenance bike. I know your parents are smiling right now.
The bike accommodates timid to aggressive riders with their multi-terrain tires. And the beauty does not stop there.
The Start 24 is full of beautiful and impressive color options. The number is only 3 but still, the paint job in the Start 24 is amazing.
4. Prevelo Alpha Four
The Prevelo Alpha Four is the best 24-inch bike for your little aggressive and basic trail rider.
Made up of aluminum alloy, the Alpha Four is a lightweight bike for most adventure seekers out there.
The bike is packed with 9 speed Shimano Altus technology, slightly different than the Guardian Ethos 24 above in the list. However, with 2 speeds over the Ethos 24, this bike can fly, if you know what I mean.
Packed with 1.5-inch tires, the comfort level of the rider is bound to shoot up. Your kids will love the bike if they enjoy adventures and eagerly scout out every dirt jump he or she can see.
Not just that, the Prevelo Alpha Four is packed with other top-of-the-line quality components that make the bike sturdy.
And finally, the price may seem to be a little too much. But trust me, it is worth every penny.
5. Cleary Meerkat 24
Another brand I am fond of and praiseful of is Cleary. And the Cleary Meerkat 24 has left me in awe with its ultimate durability and top-notch performance levels.
The Meerkat 24 comes equipped with a 5-speed internal gear hub that can have your kid speeding away as you try to catch them on your feet.
With the addition of hydraulic disc brakes and a highly durable steel frame, the Meerkat 24 is an especially rugged bike. Your kid will thoroughly enjoy riding the Meerkat 24 on various terrains.
Not as lightweight as the others as it comes equipped with a steel frame, it is still lightweight. Your kid will not have a hard time with the bike.
However, the steel frame can take a fair bit of clamps and chatters as it is very sturdy.
The hydraulic disc brakes in the Meerkat 24 offers a great amount of confidence and safety to the rider.
And finally, for your parents out there, you will not have to spend a lot of time in maintenance too.
Bike Buying Guide for 24 Inch Bikes
Now that we know the 5 best 24-inch bikes for your 7 to 11-year-olds, do not rush out and buy the bike just yet. There are some things you have to keep in mind.
Although all bikes may seem similar, they are different.
You, as a parent, must get the best bike possible for your kid. I know, this too can be daunting. But hey, do not worry. I have got you covered.
Let us check out some pivotal bike buying guides for 24-inch bikes for your 7 to 11-year-olds below.
1. Weight of Bike
Weight is an important factor to consider before buying a bike. Getting a heavy bike that your child cannot handle can result in catastrophe.
While weight is not that important of a factor for most 7 to 11-year-olds, it is still crucial.
Now it is important to know that the lighter the bike, the heavy the price. But if you want your child to enjoy riding, this is the way!
However, I am not recommending you break your bank account! Go with the lightest affordable option you can find.
A lighter bike allows your kid to easily manoeuvre the bike. Your kid will be able to pedal the bike up the hill more easily and comfortably. And finally, the overall enjoyment of your child will escalate tremendously riding long distances.
Now come on, I mean who would not want to see the biggest possible smile on their kid as they pedal and zoom away. The big smile on my friend’s kid’s face just melts my heart!
2. Bike Frame
I have already mentioned about the expensive bike above. Now let me tell you why lighter bikes do not come cheap.
Manufacturers use carbon fiber or aluminum bike frames to make the bike as light as possible. And they are not cheap.
On the contrary, most budget bikes are made up of steel. Manufacturers use steel in order to cut the cost on their manufacturing cost and as a result, a more affordable bike.
Steel is a highly durable and reliable material for most frames of bikes, be it kids’ or adults’. But they are heavy.
On the other hand, aluminum is as durable but light in nature.
Long story short, if you want your kid to thoroughly enjoy riding a bike, get the lightest affordable bike possible.
3. Height of Child
Speaking in general, 24-inch bikes fit 7 to 11-year-olds perfectly well. However, not all kids are the same.
Kids in the age range of 7 to 11 can have different heights. But yes, some of them can have the same height.
Talking about my friend’s 8-year-old kid, he was taller than most of the children of his age. And he had no problem riding a 24-inch bike.
And so, it is important to measure the inseam of the child before latching out and buying one. I cannot stress this enough!
For those of you who are fairly new to the bicycling world, an inseam is the length measurement from the crotch to the floor with both feet firmly flat on the ground.
I will share a quick way to measure the inseam of a child. Follow through.
- Have your kid stand flat on the ground with feet close together against the wall.
- Place a book between the legs and push it up so that it touches the crotch.
- Firmly grip the book as you ask your kid to move forward and away.
- Finally, measure the distance from the top of the book to the ground.
With this in mind, you should be able to measure the inseam of your child easily and find the best one for him or her.
Now when you get your kid a bike, compare the measurement of your child’s inseam and the bike’s minimum height. And you should be good to go!
Please note that while you might be tempted to get your child a one-size bigger bike, the extra height and weight of the bike can be infuriating and demotivating to your child. And dangerous, even!
4. Hand Brakes over Coaster Brakes
A coaster brake allows a kid to come to a stop by pedaling in the opposite direction to what they usually pedal.
Naturally, while learning to ride a bicycle, kids pedal backward as well as forward (I know I did). Coming to a sudden stop while riding the bicycle can be both dangerous and frustrating to a new rider.
Coaster brakes add very noticeable weight to the bicycle.
Replacing the coaster brakes of the bicycle with hand brakes can help get rid of some unnecessary weight.
Yes, it will take some getting used to with the hand brakes, but it will be very cost-effective and a worthy modification in the long run.
5. Weight and Size of Tires
To cut the cost of a set of high-end wheels, manufacturers use entry to mid-level bicycle wheels.
The first go-to option on the manufacturers’ minds is alloy hoops, which are usually heavier than carbon fiber.
You will have to do a fair bit of research in order to find the perfect wheels for your kid’s bicycle, as the lower the wheel’s weight, the higher the price.
Now talking about the size of the tires, I would recommend you find a bike between 1.5 to 1.9 inches wide.
You might ask why, and let me answer that question. The bike will be more comfortable to ride as the tire size is wider. It also means that the bike will require lower air pressure due to the mass volume of the tire.
6. Gear on Bike
Now whether to get a bike with gear or not totally depends upon the nature of your kid.
Ask yourself the following two questions to find out if your kid needs gear on a bike or a plain classic single-speed bike is enough.
- Is my child going to be biking for a long time?
- Is my child confident on a bike so far?
- Has my child been using pedal bikes without training wheels attached?
If you answered yes to all the questions, your child is ready for a geared bike.
And if you were hesitant and answered no somehow, your child is not ready for a geared bike. Your kid is better off in a single-speed bike.
Let me tell you this, there is not a single thing wrong with going with a classic single-speed bike. I started out on a single-speed bike and look at me now!
7. Bike with Suspension
While you might think that a suspension fork looks cool on a kids’ bike, well, it does, but it is not at all a necessity.
For kids who use bikes recreationally around town, a bike with no suspension works great. But if you take your offspring to the hills and up the hills pretty often, I would suggest you go for it.
Suspension forks are heavy and, surprisingly, do not work very well. It is mostly a bunch of weight that is not necessary. And it has no additional performance benefit!
To Wrap Things Up
And so, there you have it. The 5 best 24-inch bikes for your 7 to 11-year-olds.
Although the bikes are listed from 1 to 5, you cannot go wrong if you pick any one of the five. Every single one has their own unique trait. But on top of most, they offer the best and smoothest riding experience possible.
Now that we know the 5 best 24-inch bikes for your little ones and the guide to find the best one, go out and get the best possible one for your kid!
If you pick any one of the five here, I am sure your kid will be squeezing you tightly with an overwhelming amount of happiness.
So yeah, get your kid the best bike out there and have an amazing adventure with them.
