24 INCH KIDS MOUNTAIN BIKE ROCKRIDER ST 900 ALUMINIUM 9-12 YEARS OLD – RED Review
- Price: £349.99
- Frame: Aluminum
- Tires: 24″ Aluminum
What we like about it: This mountain bike is designed for adventurous kids aged 9 to 12.
What we don’t like about it: The external cable routing affects the aesthetics and cleanliness.
Rating: (4.7/5)
24 INCH KIDS MOUNTAIN BIKE ROCKRIDER ST 900 ALUMINUM 9-12 YEARS OLD – RED is a 24-inch mountain bike made of lightweight aluminum, providing agility and nimble handling. This children’s mountain bike features front and rear disc brakes that offer powerful braking in all conditions.
Below, we’ll analyze the riding experience, key features, components, and specifications of the 24 INCH KIDS MOUNTAIN BIKE ROCKRIDER ST 900 ALUMINUM 9-12 YEARS OLD – RED. In the latter part of this article, we’ve also selected a few bikes for comparison. If you want to learn more about bike reviews, please follow us.
Riding Experience
The ROCKRIDER ST 900 is a 24-inch kids’ bike with an aluminum frame and a suspension fork. Despite being a children’s bike, it’s dependable and can meet all of a child’s off-road riding needs, providing a joyful riding experience for every child who rides it.
For this bike test, it was once again completed by 14-year-old Christy. As he is indeed a technically skilled young rider, I have full confidence in his riding. I believe the ROCKRIDER ST 900 will perform at its best under his riding.
Therefore, we went to the back hills of the park, where we would thoroughly test the bike’s riding performance.
Climbing
After mounting the ROCKRIDER ST 900, Christy tested it in place and then said, “The frame is quite sturdy, and the support of the front fork is sufficient.” He then set off towards the mountaintop. I also rode alongside him.
During the climbing ride, Christy locked the suspension fork of the ROCKRIDER ST 900. I could see that he felt no loss of power with every pedal stroke. The overall feel became more integrated, and the pedaling efficiency improved, resulting in a faster riding speed.
When the climbing gradient became steeper, I felt that Christy’s pedaling had become heavier. He then changed the gear position, and the rear derailleur moved to a larger freewheel. Pedaling became light again, and the bike could continue to ascend smoothly.
Upon reaching the highest point, we stopped for a break. Christy told me, “This bike is quite easy to ride uphill, and the large-grain tires provide ample traction.”
Descending
After a brief rest, Christy and I set off again. This time, Christy quickly opened the suspension fork switch. We began a rapid descent on this trail.
Although the bike’s tires are only 24 inches, the descent route is relatively flat, with no major drops or jumps. Therefore, Christy and I descended rapidly, and I must say his bike handling skills are indeed impressive. The 50mm suspension fork, along with his skills, kept the bike and rider stable during the descent.
Additionally, on the winding trail, the 24-inch wheel size and Christy’s skills provided remarkable agility. The bike’s speed on the trail was fast, and I even had to exert effort to keep up.
Finally, the bike’s braking performance was also reliable. With front and rear mechanical disc brakes, it delivers powerful braking in all conditions.
Specifications
The 24 INCH KIDS MOUNTAIN BIKE ROCKRIDER ST 900 ALUMINUM 9-12 YEARS OLD – RED features an aluminum frame, ensuring lightweight, excellent strength, durability, and rust resistance. It comes with a 50mm suspension fork that effectively absorbs all vibrations and shocks during riding, enhancing comfort.
Equipped with a 1×8 drivetrain, the shifting is precise, requiring only thumb and index finger control to easily switch between 8 speeds, allowing kids to focus on their riding.
Front and rear mechanical disc brakes provide powerful braking in all conditions, ensuring the safety of your child’s ride.
The tires employ SkinWall technology, reducing their weight while improving performance, traction, and comfort.
What do we like about it?
- Aluminum frame. Lightweight and responsive, designed to tackle any obstacles during mountain biking.
- Disc brakes act on the wheel hubs, providing powerful braking in all conditions (dry, wet, muddy, etc.).
- Sports-designed saddle carefully shaped to fit a child’s form, combined with an aluminum seatpost (sturdy yet flexible) for added comfort.
- The aluminum chainset features a 152mm crankset, suitable for a child’s leg length. Dual chain guards prevent chain derailment.
- The mountain bike comes with a bell, lights, wheel reflectors, and platform pedals.
- Equipped with a short aluminum handlebar (70mm) and an oversized 540mm mega handlebar for more precision and responsiveness in turns.
What don’t we like about it?
- External cable routing affects aesthetics and cleanliness.
FAQ
- What age group is this bike suitable for?
Generally, this bike is suitable for children aged 11 and above. This makes it suitable for a specific age range. Let’s break down the age ranges for children, teenagers, and adults based on the bike size.
- What is the weight of this bike?
The weight is approximately 12.3kg.
- How do I choose the right size?
Here, we provide you with a size chart. Of course, it doesn’t necessarily have to be followed to the letter. To find the right size, the best method is to test ride the bike.
| Rider height | SIZE |
| 135 cm- 150 cm | One Size |
Specs
Build
| Frame | Aluminium frame |
| Fork | Suntour fork with 50 mm of travel |
| Handlebar | 540 mm oversize handlebar |
| Saddle | Saddle with a sporty design, designed with care to adapt to the morphology of children |
Groupset
| Crank | Aluminum chainset with 152 mm crank |
| Brakes | Mechanical Disc |
| Brake Levers | Mechanical disc brakes at the front and rear |
Wheels
| Rims | Double-walled aluminium rims |
| Tires | SkinWall technology tyres |
Comparison Table
| Bikes | Click view | Wheelset | Frame Material | Brake Type | Travel |
| Polygon XTRADA 24 | Click View | 24″ Aluminum | Aluminum | CLARKS M2 JR | 80mm front |
| Specialized Riprock Expert 24 | Click View | 24″Aluminum | Aluminum | SRAM Level | 100mm front |
| 2021 Scott Scale 24 Disc | Click View | 24″Aluminum | Aluminum | Tektro SCM-02 | 50mm front |
| 2022 Fuji Dynamite 24 Sport | Click View | 24″ Aluminum | Aluminum | Alloy, linear pull | 50mm front |
24 INCH KIDS MOUNTAIN BIKE ROCKRIDER ST 900 ALUMINIUM 9-12 YEARS OLD – RED vs. Polygon XTRADA 24
They both feature aluminum frames and suspension forks. However, the latter has a longer suspension travel, making it better equipped to handle riding on rough and bumpy terrain.
Furthermore, the gearing components on the latter provide a wider range of speed options, offering more versatility. In terms of braking systems, the latter employs hydraulic disc brakes, which are more reliable and provide stronger braking performance compared to the mechanical disc brakes on the former.
So, between these two kids’ bikes, if your budget allows, I recommend the Polygon XTRADA 24 as it indeed offers superior component performance.
Learn More: Is Polygon Xtrada 6 1×11 a Good Choice? – [Polygon Xtrada 6 1×11 Review]
24 INCH KIDS MOUNTAIN BIKE ROCKRIDER ST 900 ALUMINIUM 9-12 YEARS OLD – RED vs. Specialized Riprock Expert 24
When comparing these two bikes, the latter does indeed offer better performance.
Firstly, the latter features a front suspension fork with 100mm of travel, capable of absorbing more vibrations and handling more intense and complex riding routes.
Additionally, in terms of the drivetrain, the latter is equipped with SRAM NX components, providing a broader range of speeds and a better shifting experience.
Furthermore, in the braking department, the latter is also equipped with SRAM-Level hydraulic disc brakes, delivering stronger and more reliable braking power.
In conclusion, between these two bikes, the latter boasts superior components and enhanced riding capabilities. Therefore, I would recommend the latter.
Learn More: Is Specialized Riprock 24 A Good Choice? – [Specialized Riprock 24 Review]
24 INCH KIDS MOUNTAIN BIKE ROCKRIDER ST 900 ALUMINIUM 9-12 YEARS OLD – RED vs. 2021 Scott Scale 24 Disc
These are two fairly similar children’s bikes. Firstly, both of them utilize aluminum alloy frames, making the bikes lightweight yet sufficiently sturdy. Additionally, both of these bikes feature 50mm of suspension travel, capable of handling most bumpy terrain.
Although these two bikes use similar types of components, the latter boasts superior component brands, offering better performance and reliability.
In conclusion, when choosing between these two bikes, I would favor the latter, but the former is also an excellent choice.
Learn More: Is the Scott Scale 940 A Great Value Hardtail Bike? Scott Scale 940 Review
24 INCH KIDS MOUNTAIN BIKE ROCKRIDER ST 900 ALUMINIUM 9-12 YEARS OLD – RED vs. 2022 Fuji Dynamite 24 Sport
Comparing these two bikes, the former has a geometry that’s closer to the shape of a modern mountain bike.
Firstly, both of them feature 50mm suspension forks with excellent shock-absorbing performance, capable of handling various complex terrains. The 24-inch wheels provide ample agility for both bikes.
However, the most significant difference between these two children’s bikes lies in their braking systems. The former’s mechanical disc brakes are more reliable compared to the latter’s rim brakes.
Therefore, when choosing between these two children’s bikes, I recommend the former. In a similar price range, it offers better advantages.
Summary
The above is my review of the 24 INCH KIDS MOUNTAIN BIKE ROCKRIDER ST 900 ALUMINIUM 9-12 YEARS OLD – RED. In our opinion, it’s a reliable performer suitable for children’s light off-road adventures. That’s why we’ve given it a rating of 4.7.
Of course, if you’re interested in other children’s bikes, we review many bikes with various price ranges, and they’re all quite interesting. Feel free to check out our other reviews.
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