When a passion for a bike brand knows no bounds, it can turn into a special project. This is what happened to a Munich bike enthusiast called Adrian, who now wants to pass on his love of the cult brand Transition from Bellingham to his 6-year-old daughter Marie. As Transition itself does not have a suitable fully model for children in its range, the idea for a very special custom build was born in collaboration with the bike dealer Radsport Wolf from Planegg near Munich.
The custom bike challenge: from the idea to a unique bike
A 20-inch frame from Scott served as the basis for the project, which was completely stripped of paint and redesigned. The colour scheme was meticulously based on a special model from Transition, the "Bottle Rocket". The children's bike was appropriately named the "Mini Rocket". To get as close as possible to the original, we even designed and applied our own decals. Transition itself gave the go-ahead for the project after enquiring, so that nothing stood in the way of its realisation.
Challenges with the component mix
Selecting the right components for a children's bike presented the workshop team with a number of challenges. In particular, the search for a suitable shock with the correct installation dimensions for the Scott frame proved to be tricky. Converting from rim brakes to disc brakes also required some creativity. When it came to choosing handlebars, the decision was made in favour of a model from SQ Lab with a reduced diameter, which is specially designed for children's hands.
Detail-loving design with no compromises
Adrian, who owns seven Transition bikes himself and regularly shreds through bike parks on his TR11 big bike, attached great importance to high-quality components when choosing equipment for his daughter Marie. Whether a 6-year-old girl actually needs a fully was not an issue for him - compromises were out of the question. This uncompromising approach ran through the entire project. Every detail was carefully selected and tailored to the needs of the young rider.
Final: Precise colour matching & custom decals
Special attention was paid to the visual design of the Mini Rocket. The colour scheme was modelled exactly on a special Transition model. To perfect the illusion of a genuine Transition bike, decals were even specially designed and applied. This obsession with detail shows the passion with which the project was approached. The result is a children's bike that is almost indistinguishable from an original at first glance.
Winter months for the finishing touches
The winter months were used to fine-tune all the components and finalise the build. The workshop team at Radsport Wolf, who had already converted and optimised several of Adrian's bikes, drew on a wealth of experience. The collaboration between the passionate customer and the dealer's professional mechanics made it possible to turn even the most unusual ideas into reality.
Perfect timing for your birthday
The schedule for the completion of the Mini Rocket was tight. The deadline was the start of the 2025 bike season, which happened to coincide with Marie's birthday. Despite the challenges involved in sourcing some of the components and the complex modifications, the bike was completed on time. The handover of the customised full-suspension bike to the young rider made both Marie and her father Adrian's eyes light up.
Conclusion: Passion knows no compromise
The Mini Rocket project impressively demonstrates how far bike enthusiasm can go. Although the financial outlay for such a customised children's bike was certainly considerable, the focus for everyone involved was on having fun.
The result is a unique fully that leaves nothing to be desired, not only visually but also technically. It underlines the fact that almost anything is possible in the bike sector with the right expertise and passion - even if it's a bike for a 6-year-old.
Further information:
Cycling Wolf:
- Location: Planegg near Munich
- Specialisation: customising and conversions
- Experience: Many years of collaboration with transition fans
Transition Bikes:
- Origin: Bellingham, Washington, USA
- Known for: High-quality mountain bikes and cult brand in the scene
- Model range: Focus on Enduro and Freeride, no special children's bikes in the programme
Scott Bikes:
- Origin: USA, today Switzerland
- Product range: Wide range from racing bikes to mountain bikes
- Children's bikes: Various models, also in the 20-inch segment
SQ Lab:
- Origin: Germany
- Specialisation: Ergonomic bicycle components
- Special feature: Special handlebars with reduced diameter for children
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>> Children's bikes from Cube
>> Fully for kids from Norco
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Dimitri Lehner
Editor
