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Should children ride e-mountain bikes? There is a passionate debate about this among biking parents. The opponents say that children will become lazy and spoilt and won't sit on normal bikes at all. But the arguments in favour are as simple as they are strong: more fun, more biking, more exercise. And for the whole family. Either way, parents who are themselves infected by the E-MTB virus would be bad role models if they withheld the pleasure from their children. After all, you can hardly nibble on the chocolate bar yourself but not give any of it to the little ones. As is so often the case, it's a question of the right dose. For example, by seeing the E-MTB as an option for the offspring, especially on days when the whole family goes on tours. After all, this is one of the strengths of the e-mountainbike: it can compensate for differences in performance. The drive opens up wonderful opportunities to experience the sport of biking together in all its facets. Whether the children sit on the e-MTB themselves, loll around in the child trailer or pedal along on the runner depends mainly on the age of the child. Either way, the e-drive can playfully awaken the children's enthusiasm for what you as parents enjoy doing yourself. Thanks to the motor, the mountain tour to the mountain hut becomes much more exciting or even feasible in the first place.
However, e-biking as an option also means a high investment for parents. Not only does a children's e-MTB cost at least 1700 euros. There is also the price of an everyday bike without drive. And all parents know from painful experience how quickly the little ones outgrow the frame that just fits. But: The happy smile of a child after a great tour is priceless.
BUYING ADVICE E-MTBs FOR CHILDREN
Spoilt for choice? Only a little. The range of e-MTBs for children in the shops is still limited. But more and more manufacturers are responding to the growing interest and offering at least one model for children. Usually a hardtail with 24-inch wheels, which fits from a height of around 130 centimetres (inside leg length from approx. 60 cm).
So far so good. But at first glance, most models look like shrunken adult e-bikes. And this is precisely where the problem lies: anyone who has ever considered buying a children's bike without an e-drive knows that, in addition to child-friendly ergonomics, the weight of the bike plays a decisive role. The fun of cycling depends on it. New approaches are needed to significantly reduce the weight of bikes. And this aspect is no less important for e-bikes. After all, although the drive helps with pedalling, it does not help with the handling of the bike. For comparison: If an adult weighing 75 kilos moves an e-bike weighing 22 kilos, then the equivalent of a child weighing 30 kilos should weigh just nine kilos. However, a classically constructed children's e-MTB with a mid-motor weighs around 20 kilos, almost as much as a full-grown model. So you can't talk about agile handling off-road with mid-motor bikes. Especially not when pushing or lifting when there is a pasture fence or an overhanging tree in the way. Fortunately, mum and dad are along for the ride. Because for children, these are insurmountable obstacles on their e-bikes.
Manufacturers such as Ben-E-Bike or Orbea, on the other hand, show how alternative drive concepts can save a few kilos. The idea: in order to travel just as far as the parents, the motor and battery need to be much less powerful for a rider half the weight, so they can be smaller. The result: half the capacity and weight of the battery in combination with a compact rear hub motor. The bottom bracket width (horizontal crank distance), the so-called Q-factor, can also be smaller with a rear motor, which corresponds more closely to the narrow pelvis of a child.
The disadvantage of rear motors, that the centre of gravity of the bike moves backwards and the drive is less stable, is less relevant for children. This is because the technical difficulties in off-road terrain should be chosen defensively anyway, and the hub motor can also cope with the light body weight. When used on children's e-bikes, all motor types should be limited to a speed of 20 km/h (instead of 25 km/h). This speed limit is usually preset by the manufacturer. If not, the on-board electronics can also be reprogrammed at a later date. What is certain is that the possibilities are far from exhausted when it comes to drive systems. The industry will continue to develop ever more compact and lighter motors. For example, the manufacturer VPace recently presented a children's e-bike with Fazua's minimal-assist drive, which is due to be launched on the market in the near future (see page 16). It remains exciting. We have summarised what else parents should look out for when buying a children's e-bike in our tips.
7 TIPS FOR KIDS (E-)MOUNTAIN BIKES
1 frame size
Getting on and off the bike safely is crucial off-road. This is why the standover height is important in addition to the frame height (seat tube length). This is measured from the ground to the top of the top tube. This is because when the child gets off, it must be able to stand with both feet without sitting on the top tube. This value should therefore at least correspond to the child's inside leg length. Try it out!
2 Impeller size
The larger the wheels, the better the comfort, grip and traction. If height and standover height allow, there is nothing to be said against an e-bike with the largest possible wheels. Children's e-MTBs start at 20 inches (Ben e-bike). Most roll on 24-inch wheels, followed by 26-inch wheels (children to teenagers). For teenagers, small ladies' (or men's) models with 27.5-inch or even 29-inch wheels are often suitable.
3 Tyres and air pressure
If the frame and fork offer sufficient tyre clearance, then fat tyres are an immense gain. This is especially true for 24-inch e-bikes, which tend to be bumpy off-road. Voluminous tyres, for example 2.6" as opposed to 2.2", can be ridden with less air pressure, which optimises traction and comfort.
4 Suspension fork
If the bike is mainly used on the road and on light terrain, you can do without a suspension fork. This reduces the weight. The following applies to e-bikes with a suspension fork: Test ride the bike to see if the fork is soft enough for your body weight. It should compress a little when you sit on it. A good shop will help you with the setup.
5 Circuit
Children have less strength in their fingers than adults. If the shift cable is stiff, they will hardly be able to change gears. The cables should be routed in harmonious curves. Coated cables can help.
6 Brakes
Powerful disc brakes are even more important on a heavy e-bike than on a normal bike. Smooth operation is the top priority. The levers must fit the anatomy of children's fingers. The lever distance to the handlebars (grip width) must be adjustable for short fingers.
7 Dropper Post
A telescopic seatpost is a useful tuning object. A lowered saddle makes descents safer and more relaxed. However, it only fits the e-bike if the saddle is a certain height.
SIX RIGHT E-MTBS FOR CHILDREN
The range of e-MTBs for children is growing. We present six current models here:
1 Ben-E-Bike Twentyfour E-Power Pro (24 inch)
Price from 1899 Euro
Weight 11.8 kilos
Seat tube length 32 cm
Protrusion height 59 cm
Motor + battery Brushless DC hub motor, 30 Nm, 175 Wh + 175 Wh optional
Suspension fork BEB Smoother Pro, 100 mm
Wheel size 24"
Suitable for children between 128 cm and 148 cm
The following applies to children: The lighter, the better. But it's not just in terms of weight (11.8 kg!) that the Ben-E-Bike sets the bar high: the equipment with 100 mm suspension fork, lightweight carbon handlebars and saddle with titanium rails is also consistently well thought out. The moderate torque of the unobtrusive hub motor is perfectly adequate for kids. What's more, the power unit offers no resistance when pedalling empty. And if dad has a second battery in his rucksack, even longer tours are possible.
2 Bergamont E-Revox Junior (24 inch)
Price 1999 Euro
Weight 19.8 kilos
Seat tube length 32 cm
Protrusion height 67.3 cm
Motor + battery Bosch Active Line, 40 Nm, battery: 400 Wh
Suspension fork SR Suntour XCT Plus, 50 mm
Wheel size 24"
Suitable for children between 128 cm and 148 cm
With its cuddly fat 2.6-inch tyres, the Bergamont E-Revox Junior immediately makes a comfortable impression. The tyres perfectly compensate for the poorer rolling behaviour of small wheels. In terms of the drive, this e-hardtail has a classic and reliable design. However, the powerful mid-motor in combination with the long-lasting 400 Wh battery pushes the weight towards the 20-kilo mark. This makes handling a challenge for kids.
3 Cube Acid 240 Hybrid (24 inch)
Price 1699 Euro
Weight 18.7 kilos
Seat tube length 37 cm
Protrusion height 64.7 cm
Motor + battery Bosch Active Line, 40 Nm, battery: 400 Wh
Suspension fork SR Suntour XTC JR, 80 mm
Wheel size 24"
The Cube Acid is basically a shrunken adult model with all its advantages and disadvantages for kids. On the plus side are the powerful mid-motor and a long-distance battery. The powerful brakes with 180 mm disc at the front and the comfortable suspension fork also leave nothing to be desired. On the downside, the weight is moving in the right direction, but is still heavy for kids. Typical Cube is the fair price/performance ratio.
4 Giant Fathom E+ jr. (26 inch)
Price 1999 Euro
Weight 21.4 kilos
Seat tube length 36.5 cm
Protrusion height 64 cm
Motor + battery Giant SyncDrive Sport by Yamaha, 80 Nm, battery: 400 Wh
Suspension fork SR Suntour XCM HLO, 80 mm
Wheel size 26"
In principle, the following applies: If the child is big enough for an e-MTB with 26-inch wheels, then you should take advantage of its benefits: For one thing, the frame will (hopefully) fit a year or two longer. Secondly, the wheels offer more traction and comfort than 24-inch wheels. However, slightly wider tyres would be desirable on the Fathom. The motor and battery are just as powerful as on an e-MTB for adults. This speaks more for teenagers than for kids. And 21.4 kilos is quite a chunk.
5 Orbea eMX 24 (24 inch)
Price 1899 Euro
Weight 15.5 kilos
Seat tube length 37 cm I
Protrusion height 64.7 cm
Motor + battery Ebikemotion X35 hub motor, 40 Nm, battery 207 Wh
Suspension fork SR Suntour XCR LO, 63 mm
Wheel size 24"
Suitable for children between 135 cm and 155 cm
This is supposed to be an e-bike? With its first e-hardtail for kids, the Spanish manufacturer Orbea has pulled off a surprise! An inconspicuous hub motor provides gentle support suitable for children, and the battery is completely hidden in the down tube. The support can even be fine-tuned via an app. The motor also offers no resistance in Off mode. Orbea combines the eMX 24 with high-quality equipment, such as Shimano Deore gears and disc brakes. The weight is absolutely acceptable for a children's e-bike!
6 Scott Roxter eRide (24 inch)
Price 1999 Euro
Weight 19.8 kilos
Seat tube length 37 cm I
Protrusion height 64.7 cm
Motor + battery Bosch Active Line, 40 Nm, battery: 400 Wh
Suspension fork SR Suntour XCT Plus , 70 mm
Wheel size 24"
Suitable for children between 9 and 11 years and 130 to 145 cm
With its fat 2.6-inch tyres, the Roxter eRide Kids invites you to play off-road. The robust components from Syncros, Formula and Shimano are sure to take the adventure in their stride. As with almost all e-bikes for children, the motor is sensibly limited to 20 km/h. The 400 Wh battery lasts forever, but does add quite a bit to the weight. The Roxter is also available as a 26-inch bike in three sizes from XS (72 cm standover height) and is a tip for the next generation.
Mastering great things together - tips for families
How do I motivate children for a mountain tour? And how do you turn a child into a safe cyclist? We give tips for the journey from tricycle to full-grown bike.
Pure excitement - tour planning with kids
Children want to play! This principle should be paramount, especially for the very first outings on two wheels. This could be a trip to the adventure playground together. But even later, when the young wild ones are already racing around on 24-inch bikes, the following applies: play and excitement are the number one lures. A mountain pasture with animals or a swimming pool on the way. Tours along mountain streams are always cool anyway. Every winding "robber's trail" is more interesting than the epic summit panorama. Be prepared for spontaneous changes to the programme. Be responsive if the child wants to take a break. Eating and drinking regularly is important. Tips for the first e-bike tours: If you see the e-bike as an option, you can plan flat tours with the normal bike, for example, and take the e-bike into the mountains as a speciality. Choose a rather defensive profile to start with, even if the drive would allow you to cover more metres in altitude. Ideally, an easy flow trail awaits at the end. With or without E: Tours with children must not become an endurance trip! And: You can start introducing children to public transport under supervision from the age of eight at the earliest.
Mountain biking for kids
The new book by bike pros and parents of two children, Karen Eller and Holger Meyer, is all about mountain biking with children. It is packed with tips and stories about tour planning, riding technique, safety, motivation and fun.
Price 24,90 Euro, order right here delius-klasing.de
Park & Ride - Fun on the course
A trip to a bike park always ensures excitement and a good mood. This could be the pump track or skate park around the corner, which are now a fixture in many towns and cities. The mini-parks are ideal for gaining initial experience in riding technique. Even toddlers can do their laps on a balance bike on the wave tracks. But larger bike parks such as those at Geißkopf (Bavarian Forest), in Willingen or in Leogang (Austria) also offer great practice courses with flow trails, rookie lines and greenhorn trails for kids and beginners.
Time travel - from the balance bike to the e-bike
Early developer, late developer - every child is different. This is why the time periods for the different types of two-wheelers can vary. What is certain, however, is that there are two to three stages before the first e-bike. Our recommendations: After the bobby car and tricycle, children can gain their first balance experience on a balance bike from around the age of two. From the age of three to four, the first bike with chain drive is used, usually with 12 to 14-inch wheels. Training wheels should generally be dispensed with, with previous balance bike experience this works wonderfully. Gear shifting and suspension fork only from 20-inch upwards. Whether you take the intermediate sizes 16 and 18 inches depends on the growth of the child. Skipping allowed! The most important bike size is 24 inches, suitable from the age of around seven to eight years. Apart from the manufacturer Ben-E-Bike, which already offers a 20-inch e-MTB, the bikes with e-assistance also start at 24 inches. Basically, the following applies: If the child's leg length fits on the bike with the next larger wheel size, then you should take the opportunity. Because larger wheels offer more rolling comfort.
Safety first - the right outfit
Children must wear a helmet as soon as they get on a two-wheeler. This way, they get used to it early on. When it's time for the first tour with the parents, it makes sense to buy a basic set of clothing: Cycling shorts or pants with insert, functional vest and cycling jersey. A cool pair of baggy shorts for protection and style always goes down well. Goggles, gloves and weather protection are also essential. And protectors are a must for the park, at least knee and elbow pads. Unfortunately, the next size up comes far too quickly for children.
Tractor - attaching children
Even if the child is only a few months old, cycling enthusiasts don't have to give up their favourite sport. On the contrary, a trailer even keeps mum and dad in good shape. Of course, the e-bike really comes into its own as a towing machine. But be careful: before the children are able to sit stably under their own power, it is essential that they have a mat to lie on in the trailer! Bumpy roads are also taboo at the beginning. Off-road, single-track, sprung trailers (e.g. Toutterrain Singletrailer) have an advantage over classic trailers. If the children can already drive themselves, a so-called trailer (recommended: Toutterrain Streamliner) can make the child fit for their first off-road driving attempts.
