Commencal simply builds killer mountain bikes for young shredders, and the new 4-bike Clash Kids line-up looks to be their most capable yet. Built across four different wheel sizes, these four full-suspension bikes pack in 130-160mm of trail-taming VPP travel tailored for smaller riders starting from 115cm/3’9″ tall all the way up to 160cm/5’3″.
And really, these aren’t only for kids, offering a combination of performance suspension, solid component spec & real modern geometries properly designed for smaller enduro mountain bikers…
Commencal Clash Kids alloy enduro bikes for small MTB riders
The Commencal Clash Kids family is all about delivering the same aggressive all-mountain and gravity-ready ride of their alloy adult Clash enduro bikes, but for smaller riders. And since the affordable Commencal Clash just got a bikepark overhaul last summer, it was time to give the little bikes a playful upgrade too.
Sure, the smaller-wheeled bikes get less travel than the full-scale Clash, but Commencal hopes the Clash Kids 2.0 bikes will inspire the next generation of tiny bikepark shredders to evolve into the next DH and EWS racers.
What’s new in 2.0?
Commencal says it’s all-new – “new kinematics perfectly suited to kids, top-of-the-range parts, and all with exceptional handling.”
At the heart of the update to all four bikes is an all-new virtual pivot point (VPP) suspension design that looks like a high single pivot with linkage-driven shock at first glance, but actually locates the rear axle on an extension of the seatstay. Commencal says this allowed them to create kinematics especially tuned for lighter riders, with improved sensitivity at the start of travel and more balanced feel throughout the rest of the bikes’ travel.
The bikes all get new size-specific blends of triple-butted 6066 alloy tubing, each generally lighter & thinner than before to reduce weight and target a stiffness/flexibility suited for the smaller riders of each bike.
The two smallest bikes still follow the same progression of wheel sizes as Clash Kids v1. The Clash 20 gets 20″ wheels with the same 130mm of rear travel & 120mm Manitou Machete JUnit Pro fork. And the Clash 24 still has 24″ wheels, but bumps travel back down a tad to 145mm front & rear. These smaller bikes also get smaller diameter ProTaper bars & grips for smaller hands, and shorter cranks. It also gets a Machete JUnit Pro fork, sharing new air spring & new hydraulic dampers optimized for lighter riders, lower friction & improved suppleness.
The Clash JR also downsizes a bit for better fits, now getting 26″ wheels (instead of 27.5) and the same 160mm of travel with FOX Performance suspension.
That opens up a completely new bike in the line, is the Clash XS, bridging the gap to its full-sized siblings with an old-school mullet 26″ rear, 27.5″ front (just like Semenuk’s Rampage-winning bike) with 160mm of travel at both ends. Call it a happy medium fit between the smaller Kids bikes and the big 170mm travel 27.5 Clash.
2022 Commencal Clash Kids – Pricing, options & availability
Unfortunately, we don’t have pricing on any of the new Commencal Clash Kids bikes for 2022, and we only know that they won’t be available for almost a full year from now – in Q3 2022, yikes (curse you, supply chain!)
But we do have the updated geometry, we know the spec & options available, and you can register interest to get a spot for the pre-orders once they open up…
The smallest Clash 20 gets 130mm of rear travel with a RockShox Deluxe Select shock, paired to a 120mm Manitou Machete JUnit Pro fork, and ProTaper JUnit bar & grips. The Clash 20 drivetrain is a 1×10 with an 11-36T cassette & GX derailleur, 32T chainring on 135mm cranks, and Shimano Deore hydro brakes. It gets 20×2.25″ Schwalbe Big Betty Addix Soft tires on 28mm internal Spank Spoon rims.
The 24″ Clash moves up to 145mm of travel at both ends, with a RockShox Deluxe Select shock & Manitou Machete JUnit Pro fork, and JUnit cockpit. It moves up to a 1×11 with SRAM NX, 145mm cranks, 1 32T ring & 11-42T cassette. It also gets Spank Spoon rims wrapped with 24×2.25″ Big Betty Super Trail Addix Soft tires. Plus, it gets a 75mm travel KS Rage-I dropper post.
By the time you get to Junior, it’s an even more modern build, with FOX Float X Performance shock & 36 Performance fork for 160mm travel each. Its build gets Shimano Deore 1×11 with 155mm SRAM cranks, 32T ring & wide 11-51T cassette, plus Deore hydro brakes, a 100mm KS Rage dropper & 26×2.4″ Big Bettys.
The 26/27.5 XS is a proper premium enduro build, too. FOX Performance suspension, 160mm rear, 170mm fork. SRAM SX Eagle 1×12, X01 155mm cranks, 32T chainring, 11-50T cassette, 100mm KS dropper. It gets 33mm internal Spank Spike Race rims laced to Formula hubs, and wrapped with a 26×2.4″ Schwalbe Big Betty rear & 27.5×2.4″ Magic Mary front tire.
Now the kids just have to wait patiently. Maybe it’s better not to tell them that they might grow into a new bike later next year!
