Naloo Hill Bill 26 Pro: The ideal children's bike for trail, leisure and school?

Once they have experienced the thrill of speed, the Kettcar or pedal bulldog often just sit bored in the corner. The bike opens up a whole new world and an enormous radius of experience. Jetting off to camp with your mates or racing through the streets, to the outdoor pool, to school or simply to the ice cream parlour - the options are endless. At the thought of the first tours together, the eyes of biking parents start to sparkle - I know what I'm talking about. But just because the kids like to have the warm summer wind blowing around their noses on the way to the swimming pool doesn't mean that they'll be riding the trails with you later on.

Naloo Hill Bill - a children's bike for all occasions?

A high-quality children's fullywhich would of course sweeten the start of any career, is therefore an expensive investment in an uncertain future - who knows whether football won't be much more exciting in six months' time. Fortunately, however, there are alternatives, such as the Swiss children's bike specialist Naloo. The Hill Bill 26 Pro is a lightweight hardtail equipped with a high-quality suspension fork with 100 millimetres of travel. First trail rides are just as easy as the daily ride to school - for which an expensive fully would be far too much of a shame and usually too heavy.

Perfectly equipped for easy trails

The developers at Naloo have put a lot of thought into the equipment of the children's bike. In addition to the aforementioned Manitou suspension fork with a special kids' tune, the Swiss company has opted for a high-quality Deore drivetrain from Shimano. An 11-51 cassette with a wide range ensures that the youngsters don't run out of breath even on long climbs.

In addition, there are child-friendly cranks with a length of 149 millimetres and a narrow Q-factor. A handlebar with a 12-degree backward bend is designed to guarantee an ergonomic hand position. Clever: Naloo uses extra-thin handlebars that fit particularly slim grips. Good for small children's hands. Special adapters ensure that the two-finger brakes from Shimano can also be mounted on them without twisting. With the fast-rolling Rocket Ron tyres from Schwalbe in sufficient width, the youngsters are well on their way in any terrain.

Naloo Hill Bill Pro MK2 26 - Info and price of the children's mountain bike

• Weight: 10.7 kg
• Suspension fork: Manitou Machete with Kids-Tune, 100 mm travel
• Cranks: with extra narrow Q-factor, 149 mm length
• Handlebars: with 12° bend for ergonomic hand position
• Impellers: Newmen Tubeless Ready rims and tyres
• Circuit: Shimano Deore 11-speed, 11-51 teeth
• Brakes: Shimano MT-4100 (180 / 160 mm)
• Tyres: Schwalbe Rocket Ron 26x2.35 LiteSkin
• Anti-twist screw handles with extra small diameter
• Deep-drawn chain stay for less chain slap on the stay
• For children from approx. 9 years or approx. 130cm
• Price: 1499 Euro

Children's bikes that make you happy? You'll find them in our latest test. Here we have tested seven high-quality models from Bulls to Vpace. This includes fullys as well as hardtails.

Geometry according to the 29er principle

Like many other manufacturers - such as Vpace - Naloo designed the geometry of the Hill Bill 26 Pro according to the 29er principle. The low-slung frame with a large bottom bracket drop (-54 mm) enables a low standover height of 660 millimetres. Even with an inside leg length of 550 millimetres, the next generation can enjoy the large 26-inch wheels, which naturally offer a considerable advantage over smaller 24-inch wheels for the first off-road rides.

With a steering angle of 67.5 degrees and a chainstay length of 420 millimetres, the Hill Bill 26 Pro tends to be on the smoother side. Although this gives young riders a high level of confidence, it also requires a little more effort when it gets tight around corners on easy trails. Nevertheless, our rather tall eight-year-old test rider was able to handle the Naloo very well, even at 1.28 metres tall.

Prepared for upgrades

It almost goes without saying that a children's bike in this category is not yet equipped with a telescopic seat post. Nevertheless, once the offspring have realised the advantages of a dropper seat post, it will be difficult for parents to argue against it. If the ambitions are serious, the purchase can also make perfect sense. Naloo has already considered this option and has provided the frame with openings for internal cable routing. There is also tuning potential for the wheels: the high-quality Newmen rims can be converted to tubeless with little effort.

Our practical impressions of the Naloo Hill Bill 26 Pro

The Naloo Hill Bill 26 Pro is not only visually impressive. The equipment is also a complete success. Although a total weight of 10.7 kilos is no mean feat, the lightweight Rocket Ron can easily be accelerated even by smaller riders. The youngsters are almost certain to win the road sprint. On easy trails, the Schwalbe tyres provide sufficient grip and good damping thanks to the 2.35 width. However, we would recommend a grippier tyre, at least at the front, for the first use in the bike park - the flow trails in many parks are the perfect playground for youngsters.

The high-quality Manitou suspension fork responds sensitively even at low weight and readily releases its travel. Especially for kids who were previously used to a rigid fork, this is the comfort booster par excellence. Although the long fork also makes for a slightly high front end, this gives the rookies a secure feeling, especially on faster descents.

It can also be cheaper

In addition to the Hill Bill 26 Pro, the Swiss also offer a slightly slimmed-down version without the Pro suffix. For 1149 euros, you get a slightly slimmed-down version with an RST air suspension fork and 80 millimetres of travel. The gears are Shimano's Alivio with 9 gears. You also have to accept slight compromises when it comes to the brakes and tyres.

Smaller is also possible

Naloo also has the right children's bike in its range for smaller shredders. The Hill Bill Pro is available in both 20 and 24 inch sizes. Both bikes come with an air suspension fork, with 60 or 80 millimetres of suspension travel and disc brakes.

Naloo Hill Bill 20 Pro

• Weight only 9.4 kg
• Child-friendly air suspension fork with 60 mm travel
• Cranks with extra narrow Q-factor, only 149 mm
  Handlebars with 12° bend for ergonomic hand position
  Anti-twist screw grips with extra small diameter
• 12 mm rear thru axle
• Tubeless Ready rims and tyres
• Sophisticated geometry
• Low bottom bracket
• Deep-drawn chain stay for less chain slap on the stay
• For children from approx. 4.5 years or approx. 105 cm
• Price: 999 Euro

Naloo Hill Bill 24 Pro

• Weight only 10 kg
• Child-friendly air suspension fork with 80 mm travel
• Cranks with extra narrow Q-factor, only 149 mm
  Handlebars with 12° bend for ergonomic hand position
  Anti-twist screw grips with extra small diameter
• Tubeless Ready rims and tyres
• 12 mm rear thru axle
• Sophisticated geometry
• Low bottom bracket
• Deep-drawn chain stay for less chain slap on the stay
• For children from approx. 6 years or approx. 115 cm
• Price 1399 Euro

Promoting young talent at Naloo: Kids Team

Incidentally, the Swiss company offers more than just the right bikes for the next generation. Naloo actively promotes young talent in Germany and Austria. With its own Kids Team, Naloo wants to get children excited about cycling and sponsors young talents with discounted bikes and equipment support. The team organises exciting trips to bike parks and also takes part in races such as the Vpace Kids Cup. If you are interested, you can register via the website of the German Naloo sales partner summit-bikes.com/naloo-kidsteam apply for the Naloo Kids Team.