Let’s make this easy, the best mountain bike for 10 year old boy is the Diamondback Cobra. The combination of speed lightweight and durability makes this bike my favorite of the bunch.
So your little man is finally ready to ditch that tiny, flimsy, beginner bike you got him for his birthday years ago. You’ve gotten him used to riding his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles bike. He’s got pedaling down, and he even figured out how to keep his balance long enough to get to the bottom of the hill without turning into a bloody mess. Of course, he still could use some practice with the brakes (kids always suck at that).
But what bike do you opt for next? Well, that can be a difficult question to answer, but I think it is safe to assume you want to opt for a mountain bike – why else you be reading this article if you weren’t. That’s what we’re here to help you out with.
Best Overall: Diamondback Cobra
Diamondback was my first experience on an actual mountain bike, and I have to say, the moment I experienced it, I instantly fell in love. And I imagine the lucky young man who gets this bike would feel the same.
What makes the Diamondback Cobra so incredible? Well, it has a 3×7 drivetrain with 21 speeds making it easier for the youngster to dominate those trails, and a 40mm fork that devours all bumps and rocks you’ll find on the trails, and makes landing a breeze.
On the downside though, there is no kickstand on this bike. Who’s idea was that? But that’s okay, and these aren’t hard to install. Speaking of installation, you will have to put this bike together which also isn’t a big deal. Basically, there is no reason NOT to get this bike for your little guy.
Best Overall Runner Up: Ryda Bikes Comet
The Comet by Ryda Bikes is durable, lightweight, and an overall excellent bike for any child looking to get into mountain biking.
The bike is fully loaded and comes with a Shimano 7-speed grip shift making it infinitely easier for young children to switch gears, keeping the gears in excellent condition. Anybody that rides knows how critical it is to have those gears working correctly.
Included with the Ryda Moab are the reflectors (although, I’m not sure if that’s a selling point. I am pretty sure all bikes have reflectors). But one great accessory that it has the all-important kickstand.
The best aspect of the Ryda Comet? It is shipped with Tannus flat-proof airless tires that are guaranteed for up to 5 thousand miles. There is no way your kid wear these tires out anytime soon.
Best Looking: Tommaso Kid’s Raptor
If you are looking for an awesome bike that your child will absolutely adore, then the Tommaso Raptor just might be the one you should go with.
The gear range is phenomenal with 6 different speeds, making climbing hills easy and riding down hills more fun than ever before. Zoom 327E spring coil fork with lockout capabilities to make your fork rigid so it will no longer bounce up and down (this helps out a ton when going up steep inclines).
This is an extraordinarily versatile bike that is great for any young person who wants to take on some of that more challenging terrain.
Best Fat Bike: Mongoose Pug
Fat tire bikes don’t just look aggressive and intimidating; they are aggressive and intimidating. Your kid will love this bike.
What makes fat-tire bikes so impressive? It’s pretty simple really. Fat tire bikes let you go places that aren’t possible with their smaller counterparts, by adding more contact surface area and allowing you to pedal through the most challenging terrain. Great for sandy terrain, wet terrain, and even snow, these bikes let you go places that you can’t on a regular mountain bike.
The Mongoose Pug has a robust frame that lets your little man dominate any type of terrain that he sees fit. He may even be able to traverse areas you aren’t capable of on your regular mountain bike.
There are some issues with this bike, however. The branding on the bike is mostly sticker decals, and some people have reported that those stickers come off way too quickly. More importantly, the bike utilizes a steel frame, and because of that, it is much heavier than I would ever recommend for a child. It weighs a whopping 41 pounds.
With that said, if you are looking for a fat bike that for your son, this isn’t a bad option. His legs will be literal tree trunks in a few short months though.
Best Budget Bike: Pacific Evolution Mountain Bike
Everybody isn’t looking to spend in the multiples of hundred dollar bills for a mountain bike for their kids. If you fall in this category, then the Pacific Evolution mountain bike is probably right up your alley.
You won’t get the bells and whistles that you do with a lot of the other bikes we’ve looked at today. But you can expect the bike to last a while and withstand the punishment that a ten-year-old buy is bound to put it through.
FAQ – Where to Start
When you are getting a new mountain bike for your pre-teen son, or nephew or… (you get the picture) you are going to have a completely different buying experience. No more are you only looking for a bike with the big guy’s favorite superhero. This time you have some actual considerations to make.
As you might have guessed, things like size, weight, and strength are going to come into play this time. But what is going to be even more important is the durability of the bike. We’ve all seen how rough kids are on their bikes, what with all the crashing and ill-advised jumps they take Kids are terrible at taking care of their belongings, bikes are no different.
Quality
Here at Up-Beat Bike we totally understand a parent’s apprehension about spending a lot of money on a mountain bike for their children, especially knowing how hard kids are on their bikes. But I would argue that you should consider spending money on a high-quality mountain bike for that very reason.
High-quality bikes are going to stand up significantly better than the cheap bikes made with cheaper parts. Take, for instance, the gear shifters on a bike. Kids are notoriously hard on these, and it isn’t necessarily because they don’t understand how to shift. It’s more because they don’t yet have the hand strength needed to switch gears seamlessly.
Being willing to spend a little extra on a mountain bike for your son will ensure that his experience will be as enjoyable as possible. And even better, he’ll be able to have the bike for years down the line. Remember the golden rule, “buy it nice, or buy it twice.”
Size
This shouldn’t be too difficult for you to figure out, as the size of the bike you should purchase for a ten-year-old kid is relatively uniform. Save for those of you who gave birth to a future NBA star.
It is typically recommended that you get a 24 to 28-inch bike for kids ten years of age. I would recommend going with the larger side since the little guy is likely to hit a growth spurt pretty soon. Remember, being able to grow with the bike is essential here. Even more so when you consider how much of that sweet moolah you are dropping on this piece of equipment.
Weight
Weight may not seem like it should matter too much but it absolutely does. Imagine riding a bike that weighed 90 percent of your body weight. You’d have large calves sure, but you’d also be exhausted the moment you started climbing a hill. Don’t do this to the poor little guy.
Furthermore, the guy is presumably going to be – you know – mountain biking. A bike that is lighter is easier for him to control, which is the most important aspect of mountain biking.
But that doesn’t mean to find the flimsiest bike out there, find a bike that uses quality materials that don’t weigh too much.
Looks
You know we can’t do a buyer’s guide for mountain bikes without mentioning the looks of the bike. What should a mountain bike look like though?
Yeah… I don’t know either. Make sure it is something that he will be proud to sport around. My favorite is the matte black aggressive look. But then again, I’m not a ten year old either so…
Well, that should be enough for the buyer’s guide. If I think of anything else essential to bring up, I’ll be sure to mention it. But for now, let’s get into the best bike for a ten-year-old boy.
Portability
You aren’t just going to keep your bike at home, are you? I sure hope not! When you want to take your little man out to the trails you are going to need a way to transport it. Make sure the bike you get your favorite young man can fit a bike rack. If you don’t have a bike rack yet, check out these fantastic bike racks.
Wrap Up – Best Mountain Bike for 10 Year Old Boy
If you have a 10-year-old who has expressed an interest in getting a new bike, then your best bet is to go with a mountain bike. Being boys, they are sure to test the limits of their new mode of transportation. So getting anything other than a mountain bike is asking for disaster.
But keep in mind, you will want to get a bike that can withstand the pressure they will put it under. Going the cheaper route is going to significantly hinder the terrain the bike can traverse, the control your son has over his bike, and his top-end speed.
Make sure you get him something that promotes awesomeness. He’s an awesome kid; he deserves an awesome bike. Besides the faster he can go, the more fun you will have riding with him.
