What can be better than riding? Well, word has it that it’s even more rewarding when your offspring want to get rowdy on two wheels in your wake! With the launch of the Reaper, a full-suspension kids trail bike, Rocky Mountain have swept their expertise over the younger market. Plus, forget the worry that your kid will grow out of it too quickly: the bike can be ridden with both 24″ and 26″ wheels. So what else is there to report?
Back when we were young, the Reaper would have been the ultimate dream bike, one that would have surely seen us pawing at the shop window and green with envy at anyone who got their hands on one. With 130 mm rear travel and 120 mm at the front, a first-rate 1×11 drivetrain and super functional disc brakes, the Rocky Mountain Reaper is going to top any little shredder’s wishlist.
Rocky Mountain aimed to design the ultimate do-all, go-anywhere trail bike for kids, which would keep them continually and repeatedly enthralled on rides through the woods, at the bike park or when their arm is twisted to go out for an enforced Sunday ride as a family.
One of the main issue with kids bikes is that the suspension isn’t optimized for their lower weight. In order to overcome this complaint, Rocky donated a huge ratio so that the bike can be ridden with a similar pressure to its adult equivalent. Moreover, they’ve tuned the geometry to work with a higher sag of up to 50 %, meaning that the ride is guaranteed to be super plush and stable.
Geometry of the Rocky Mountain Reaper
| Model | Reaper 24 | Reaper 26 |
|---|---|---|
| Seat tube | 330 mm | 330 mm |
| Top tube | 500 mm | 500 mm |
| Steerer tube | 100 mm | 100 mm |
| Headangle | 63,9 ° – 65 ° – 66,1 ° | 63,9 ° – 65 ° – 66,1 ° |
| Seatangle | 74,9 ° – 76 ° – 77,1 ° | 74,9 ° – 76 ° – 77,1 ° |
| Chainstays | 420 mm | 420 mm |
| BB Drop | 19,6 mm – 7 mm – 5,6 mm | 19,6 mm – 7 mm – 5,6 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1077 mm | 1077 mm |
| Reach | 366 mm | 366 mm |
| Stack | 538 mm | 538 mm |
Relying on the familiar Ride-9 system, the Reaper’s geometry can also be adjusted to suit the type of riding and terrain. Then there’s ample tire clearance so that the bike can be ridden with both 24″ as well as 26″ wheels, rendering it into a bike that can grow up proudly alongside your sprogs.
Specifications of the Rocky Mountain Reaper
Rocky Mountain Reaper 26
Fork: RockShox Reba RL 120mm
Rear shock: RockShox Monarch R Debonair
Wheels: Shimano 15mm / M615 / WTB
Drivetrain Sram NX 11spd
Brakes: Shimano M506 Brakes
Tyres: Maxxis 26” Minion DHF / Ikon
Price: € 2,600
Rocky Mountain Reaper 24
Fork: RockShox Recon Silver Air 120mm
Rear shock: RockShox Monarch R
Wheels: RMB QR / WTB
Drivetrain Shimano Deore 1x10spd
Bremsen: Shimano M396 Brakes Maxxis 24” Snyper
Price: € 2,000
More information can be found on the Rocky Mountain website.
Before you hit the trails with your little shredders, make sure you check out our tips on getting your kids started in the bike parks and get the essential safety gear for your kids.
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