Marin Coast Trail children's MTBs 2024: Plain & simple - kids' bikes from Marin in 16", 20" & 24"
Sebastian Brust
· 17.12.2023
Just in time for Christmas, the cult MTB brand Marin Bikes is making the eyes of bike-crazy parents light up with the launch of its new Coast Trail children's bikes. The three models in tyre sizes 16", 20" and 24" dispense with all the adult bells and whistles that children from the age of around six find ultra-cool on mountain bikes, but which usually get in the way of riding fun on bikes up to 24" wheel size: Suspension forks, disc brakes and too many gears.
However, what is now standard on adult bikes is all too often only fitted to children's MTBs for show, is then excessively heavy and doesn't even work properly. And anyone who has biking children knows that the lighter bike is simply more fun!
Children's MTBs: Better plain & simple
When it comes to children's bikes, simple is simply better. That's why the Marin Coast Trail Kids bikes are made of lightweight aluminium, from the frame, handlebars and stem to the cranks and rims. The rigid and completely maintenance-free aluminium fork in particular saves a lot of weight compared to suspension forks. This is a joy to ride and - not to be neglected - to push. If, for example, the youngsters like to heave their bike up the steps of the cellar stairs themselves, the front end, which is a good kilo lighter, has a very positive effect and can ward off many a moment of frustration from the outset. Also part of the fun of riding, right?
Tried and tested rim brakes, which are easily sufficient for the lightweights on the bike anyway, are as light as they are easy to maintain. And above all, inexpensive. The same applies to the single drive. For showing off in the playground or primary school car park, 20 or more gears may be fine, but no child needs more than a single chainring at the front for mountain biking.
Children want to bike safely
But what children need when biking is safety. And today's child-friendly components, such as smaller saddles, thinner grips, pedals with smaller contact surfaces and brake levers with short lever travel, simply provide this better.
The rather lightly profiled Speedster tyres from Marin/Vee Tire are ideal for the pump track and other hard surfaces, while tyres with more grip are needed for off-road riding. Good, lightweight and yet robust MTB tyres - fortunately, these are now also available in children's sizes up to 24 inches and are a fully recommendable grown-up gadget for children's bikes. Frame details such as the significantly sloping top tube for sufficient standover height, the bottle cage (from 20 inches), the internal cable routing and many bright colours round off the Marin package.
The Marin Coast Trail children's MTBs are now available. Prices range from 469 euros for the 16-inch singlespeeder with chain case to 539 euros for the 24-inch bike with 8-speed gears.
Marin Coast Trail children's MTBs: Models & Prices 2024
Coast Trail 24"
- Tyre size: 24 inch
- Gear system: Shimano Tourney 8-speed drivetrain
- Available in 2 colours
- Price: 539 Euro (RRP)
Coast Trail 20" 7-speed
- Tyre size: 20 inch
- Gears: Shimano Tourney 7-speed drivetrain
- Available in 2 colours
- Price: 519 Euro (RRP)
Coast Trail 20" 1 (singlespeed)
- Tyre size: 20 inch
- Simple single-speed drivetrain with freewheel
- Available in 4 colours
- Price: 499 Euro (RRP)
Coast Trail 16"
- Tyre size: 16 inch
- Simple single-speed drive with freewheel
- Saddle with integrated handle on the underside of the seat - adults can provide additional stability if required.
- Available in 4 colours
- Price: 469 Euro (RRP)
- Simple single-speed drive with freewheel
More on the topic: Children's MTBs
>> Buying advice for children's MTBs: From 16 to 29 inches - the right size for a children's bike <<
Sebastian Brust
Editor
