

We’ve also consistently seen our kid testers more easily tackle small obstacles (like rocks and roots) when riding with wider tires. A wider tire has a bit more volume, allowing you to lower the tire pressure a bit for added grip and a slight feel of suspension coming from the squish of the tires. The Commencal Ramones sports some of the best kids MTB tires on the market – Vee Tire Crown Gem 16 x 2.25″. So all in all, the bike performs like a champ, but the geometry of the 2021 model does seem to limit the fit on the bike more than we would like for the price.Īs a note, the seat post does not have a quick release, so you’ll need an Allen key to make any adjustments. While we haven’t been able to test the Ramones on an even shorter child, we don’t anticipate the bike being a good fit for a rider needing a seat post lower than 20″ (due to the higher bottom bracket and longer crank arm combo). 42.5″ Tall Rider on Ramones 16 with Shorter Seat Post Her knee angle was a bit cramped at the high pedal stroke but definitely manageable. With a shorter seat post from another bike, we set the seat to 20.25″ for our 42.5″ tall tester. The higher bottom bracket and longer crank arms presented some challenges with a lower seat height.

However, just because you can doesn’t mean you should. The frame of the Ramones 16 can accommodate a much shorter seat post, bringing the seat height all the way down to 18.75″. On the short-end, because the Ramones 16 has a high minimum seat height compared to other similar bikes, we wanted to see if we could lower the minimum seat height to widen the Ramones’ seat height range and allow a child to begin riding the bike sooner. 44.25″ Tall Rider on Ramones 16 vs Prevelo Zulu Two For reference, the Prevelo Zulu Two has a minimum seat height of 18″, but has a longer cockpit and is currently a slightly better fit for our 44.25″ tall rider. We don’t see the maximum seat height of 24.25″ as very feasible with this short cockpit.Īs a result, the best-use seat height range is pretty narrow, only about 20.8″ to 22.5″. At this point, the cockpit is already a bit cramped for her. Our tallest tester is 44.25″ and comfortably rides with the seat post set to 22.5″. On the tall-end, the shorter cockpit is the issue. We specifically tested this bike against the Prevelo Zulu Two, which is the most similar bike on the market, although a bit more expensive. The issue with limited growth stems from a (1) shorter cockpit, (2) higher bottom bracket, and (3) longer crank arms.īecause of the combined effect of this trifecta, the best-use seat height range for the Ramones 16 is smaller than for other high-end bikes we have tested.
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This allows for easier stops and starts, and less likelihood that they will fall over if they lose their balance.Īs a result, if your child is just learning how to pedal, you would want your child’s inseam to just about match the minimum seat height (just under 21″).
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If this is your child’s first pedal bike, it’s much easier to learn to pedal if they can touch the ground with their full foot while sitting on the saddle. Tip toes while sitting on the saddle will allow for the most efficient leg extension while pedaling. If your child is already a confident pedal bike rider, their inseam can be about 2″ shorter than the minimum seat height, or about 18.5″. More on that below! Experienced Pedal Bike Riders Note: Our Ramones came with two seat posts, and by cutting the extra seat post provided, you can lower the minimum seat height to about 20″. (The Prevelo Zulu Two, Early Rider Seeker, and Park Cycles 16 all have minimum seat heights of about 18.5″.) Be sure to measure your child’s inseam to determine if they are tall enough to fit on the Ramones. Ours didn’t come greased and we initially thought the minimum seat height was higher because it was difficult to twist in the seat tube.)Ĭompared to other 16″ mountain bikes, the Ramones’ minimum seat height is about 2″ higher. (If you’re trying to get that saddle to its lowest point, be sure to grease the seat post. The Commencal Ramones 16 has a seat height range of 20.8″ to 24.25″.
