Diamondback

Sync'R 24 Complete Bike - 2015

Why do you think those miniature shopping carts they have at the grocery stores are so popular? We could dive into books'-worth of psychology here, but we think it all boils down to kids simply loving to emulate grown-ups. If you've got a young one aspiring to tackle the trails like mom or dad — or maybe just a rebellious kid that wants to get dirty — the Diamondback Sync'R 24 Kid's Mountain Bike is the real-deal mountain bike of their dreams. It's specifically designed for the drops, and jumps, and trails you might rather they not try, but they're going to anyway, right? So give them a machine designed to help them do it all and stay in control while they're at it.

The Sync'R's radness begins with its frame. It's made of tough and light 6061-series aluminum, the same stuff out of which Diamondback and other companies make their best race-ready alloy bike frames. Engineers didn't just shrink down an existing design to fit the aspirants among us, however. It's a purpose-focused rig, intended to be controllable and confidence-inspiring. A relaxed angle to the head-tube makes for stability at high speeds or over rough terrain, and the upright positioning means the rider can easily see what's coming.

The Sync'R frame's geometry and angles were all developed with appreciation for the fact that kids have a habit of growing, and quickly. Not wanting the bike to become obsolete between a ninth and tenth birthday, Diamondback sloped the frame's top tube heavily to ensure excellent standover height, meaning even shorter riders can comfortably control the bike, whether riding or standing over it. Still, the length of the top tube and the overall wheelbase is relatively long, so that as the rider grows, he or she won't be awkwardly towering over it - simply raise the seat post, and if necessary, add on a slightly longer stem, and you can get another growth-spurt's worth of time out of the bike.

The parts kit that DB throws on the Sync'R's frame is also designed with future development in mind — that is, development of rider skill. Foremost is the SRAM 9-speed, single-ring drivetrain that has a range wide enough to accommodate a new rider who is still building their strength but also a rider who is ready to go faster. Fear not increased speed, however, because the Sync'R comes with Tektro hydraulic disc brakes for supreme stopping power and control. The SR Suntour suspension fork up front will make the ride smoother and more comfortable to keep confidence high, and the cockpit parts — stem, handlebar, saddle, and seatpost — are all designed with smaller bodies in mind. Finally, as bike nerds, our favorite feature is the rolling stock: high-quality DB rims wrapped in Schwalbe Racing Ralph tires, not unlike those you'll find on world-class racing bikes, demonstrating that Diamondback takes your kid's dreams as seriously as they do.

The Diamondback Sync'R 24-inch Mountain Bike comes in the color Black only. Pedals are included. The bike is sized for kids between the approximate heights of 4'5" (134cm) and 4'10" (147cm). Please note that the bike comes almost fully built but needs some minor assembly and tuning out of the box, so we strongly recommend visiting a trusted local bike shop to give it a once-over before riding.