It is always cool to see bike brands like Orbea offer a quality bike for kids. Most of the time, department store bikes have little to no consideration for the proportions of a growing kid. They are essentially shrunken-down versions of adult bikes in terms of size and geometry.
And, usually, the starting bike isn’t something to write home about anyway.
While these kids’ bikes from big industry names are definitely more expensive than department store bikes, they are generally of much higher quality. This is certainly the case with Orbea’s new Kimu lineup, with wheel sizes ranging from 16” to 27.5”.
Orbea Starts at 16”
This is where Orbea’s Kimu lineup enters the chat. The Kimu 16 is equipped, of course, with 16” wheels, supporting riders (generally) aged 3-6.
Orbea designed the Kimu 16 to roll in two different modes. For the newest of riders, the bike can be set up as a balance bike. This is achieved without many extra parts, as Orbea uses the crank arms flipped around and attached, serving as a platform for their feet. When the child is ready to pedal, they can be flipped back and reinstalled. Now, it is a pedal bike.
Because standover height and saddle height are significant concerns at the youngest ages, Orbea provides two seatposts with the Kimu 16. In its balance bike form, the Kimu 16 has a shorter seatpost. As the child grows, a longer seatpost can be swapped to stretch the bike’s use a bit longer.
Orbea also incorporates an elastic band running from the frame to the fork. This band acts as a stabilizer, preventing excessive handlebar rotation for new riders.
The Kimu 20, 24, and 27
As the kids get bigger, so do the bikes. And, like the Kimu 16, each corresponding number represents the wheel size for that particular Kimu. Orbea also breaks it down by age:
- Kimu 20: 5 to 8 years
- Kimu 24: 7 to 10 years
- Kimu 27: 9 to 12 years
As kids grow and develop as riders, Orbea provides bikes to suit their needs and riding styles. All the bikes feature quality aluminum frames, hydraulic disc brakes, and internal cable routing. They focus on components that make sense for smaller riders–short cranks, adapted grips, saddles, and short-throw shifters.
Orbea designed the lineup to help kids gain confidence on the trail.
The naming structure for the Kimu lineup follows what Orbea has already established. The Kimu 20 H10 and Kimu 24 H10 focus on trimming as much weight through premium components. As you might imagine, these will be on the more expensive side.
The Kimu 20 and 24, both H20 builds, focus on quality, durable components with less of an emphasis on weight. These builds will be a bit more affordable.
Orbea adds suspension forks and dropper posts to the remaining bikes. This would be the Kimu 24 H10 TR, and both the Kimu 27s–the H10 and H20. The addition of suspension and dropper posts helps this older group of kids develop the skills they need to move on to “adult” mountain bikes. (“Adult” in quotes because we’re really all kids.)
Across the entire lineup, Orbea built the Kimu bikes around the Big Wheel concept. Here, wheels are proportionally larger, similar to 29” wheels on adult bikes. Bigger wheels provide greater stability and inertia, helping maintain speed and build confidence on rough terrain.
Prices are only given in Euro or GBP, so it’s unclear when these might be available in the U.S., but pricing starts at 499 € for the Kimu 16, and tops out at 1399 € for the Kimu 27 H10. Check out all the bikes in the Kimu lineup at an Orbea dealer or at orbea.com.
