Early Rider Hellion 24 Kids Mountain Bike Review

When it comes to kids’ mountain bikes, the Early Rider Hellion 24 certainly stands out in more ways than one. Early Rider has built a reputation not just for crafting beautiful, high-performance bikes but for doing so with an emphasis on environmental sustainability.

The Hellion 24 continues that tradition, offering a durable, long-lasting bike that can be passed down through multiple children and families.

This bike is advertised as “the perfect competitive all rounder for dirt jumping and trail riding.” So of course, we put it to the test in both capacities.

The result? We liked it enough to add it to our list of the best 24 inch mountain bikes. If you’re more interested in dirt jumpers than trail bikes, make sure to review our favorite kids dirt jumpers as well.

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Review In A Nutshell

Pros:

• Built to last, sustainable design
• Versatile, use first as a trail bike then as a dirt jumper
• Aesthetic appeal
• High-end, brand name components
• Good quality, 100 mm air fork

Cons:

• Not ready to go out of the box
• 150 mm cranks may be too long

Price: $1,499

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A Focus on Sustainability and Quality

Early Rider takes sustainability seriously. From the materials used in their frames to the minimalistic approach to paint (or lack thereof), it’s clear they’ve considered their environmental footprint. The Hellion 24 can last for years thanks to the availability of replacement parts and the high-quality build, which is not something you find with every kid’s bike brand.

The brushed aluminum finish option is a prime example of this thoughtful design—it’s not only beautiful but also resistant to scratches and scuffs, which every parent knows is inevitable with kids.

That said, the premium quality comes at a premium price. The Hellion 24 is priced at $1,499, which may be a deterrent for some families, especially when compared to similar options like the Woom OFF Air Five at $1,099 or the Prevelo Zulu Four at $1,299.

Versatile Performance for Trail Riding and Dirt Jumping

One of the things I love most about the Hellion 24 is its versatility. It can be used as both a trail bike and a dirt jumper–though not at the same time, as the ideal size for a dirt jumper is smaller than a trail bike. Generally you want a dirt jumper that is one wheel size smaller than your trail bike. This means that the Hellion could serve first as a trail bike, and then have a second life later on as a dirt jumper.

My 11-year-old son, who also rides the Prevelo Bravo, had a blast using the Hellion on the jumps at our local bike park. That said, if you’re purely looking for a dirt jumper, there are better purpose built dirt jumpers out there. The Prevelo Bravo, for example, is a more playful, lighter, and lower-cost option.

For a family looking to get double duty out of one bike, however, the Hellion provides a unique opportunity.

Assembly Woes

At this price point, I expected the Hellion 24 to be ready to roll right out of the box, but that wasn’t the case. The bike required quite a bit of tinkering before it was trail-ready.

There was significant interference between the disc rotor and the post mount on the fork, which required quite a bit of head scratching and modifications to resolve.  Additionally, the rear derailleur was out of alignment and required an adjustment.  

For a family that isn’t super handy, this could turn into a frustrating experience. It might be worth paying a shop to assemble the bike, but that adds to the already hefty price tag.

Aesthetically Pleasing

Aesthetically, this bike is one of the most beautiful kids’ mountain bikes you’ll find. The Hellion 24 comes in three finish options—brushed aluminum, green, and purple.

We tested the purple one, and while it’s gorgeous, my personal favorite is the classic brushed aluminum for its timeless look and eco-friendliness. It hides scratches well too, which is a big plus since kids’ bikes are put through the wringer.

In addition to the frame finish, the welds are top quality, and there is internal cable routing to keep things looking tidy. Little touches like the head tube badge and tan sidewalls on the tires add to the overall affect.

High-End Components

The Hellion 24 is outfitted with some seriously high-quality components that set it apart from other kids’ bikes in its class. We’re accustomed to seeing kids bikes speced with a few brand name components and then being finished off with off-brand parts. That’s not the case on the Hellion where everything has a recognizable name.

Fork

The bike has a high quality 100 mm RST First Air fork.  This is the same fork that you’ll find on the both the Woom OFF Air and the Prevelo Zulu. There’s a reason for this–the fork offers a good balance between affordability and responsiveness.  It’s a more budget oriented fork that we actually highly recommend. And for trail riding and dirt jumping, 100 mm of travel at this age is more than enough.

Drivetrain

The Hellion features a Shimano Deore 1×11 drivetrain. This is higher quality than the Microshift drivetrain we see on a lot of kids mountain bikes.  

It features an impressively large 51 tooth big ring on the rear cassette, paired with a 30T front chainring. For most young riders, this gearing will offer plenty of help, even in hilly terrain. If you live in the mountains, you could consider swapping out that 30 tooth front chain ring for something smaller.

While I approve of the rest of the drivetrain choices, the 150mm cranks are a little longer than I’d prefer for trail riding.  Both the Woom Off Air 4 and the Prevelo Zulu 4, for example, come with 130mm cranks which are far more size appropriate for an 8 year old.  For an 11 year old using the bike as a dirt jumper, however, they are sized much better.

Brakes

The bike has Shimano Deore hydraulic disc brakes.  Again, these are step up from the typical Tektro brakes found on the majority of kids mountain bikes.  Paired with 160mm rotors, they offer more than enough braking power for anything a sub-100 pound kid could throw at them.

Wheels And Tires

The wheels are lightweight and durable–CNC’d in-house rims and hubs. Both have thru-axles (15 mm in the front, 12 mm in the rear) which we appreciate for both safety and stability.

The wheels are tubeless compatible as are the 2.25″ Vee Crown Gem tires. We’ve been pleased with these on all of the kids bikes we’ve tested with them–they are burly and handle well in most conditions.  These ones also have the tan sidewalls, which look pretty snazzy.

The frame can accept bigger tires: up to 2.6″. I wouldn’t go that wide for most kids, but if you ride a little snow or sand, having the option could be ideal.  

The wheels can be set up tubeless, but the rims are not pre-taped.  You’ll have to do the tubeless conversion yourself. 

Pedals

Unlike most kids’ bikes that come with throwaway pedals, Early Rider includes a set of pedals worth keeping. Even my son, who usually rides with Chromag Radars, was impressed with the stock pedals, saving us a cool $100 in upgrades. Pair them with a set of grippy mountain bike shoes, and you’ll child will be set.

Saddle And Seatpost

The SDG Fly Jr saddle is hands down our favorite kids bike saddle, so it’s rad that the Hellion comes stock with it.  Again, this will save you a couple of bucks down the road.  It’s a saddle that seems to work well even for little girls.

There is routing to add a dropper post after the fact which is pretty much the standard on kids mountain bikes these days. Until such a time that you make that upgrade, there’s also a quick release seatpost collar which we appreciated.

Weight

The bike weighs 24 pounds (without pedals), which is a perfectly respectable weight, though if you’re going for the lightest 24” bike around, this isn’t it.  The Prevelo Zulu Four weighs in 2 pounds lighter–that’s pretty significant. 

Want to keep dropping weight? The Trailcraft Pineridge can be built up for even less (although a bigger price tag).

Fit and Sizing For Different Uses

The Hellion 24 is advertised for riders aged 8 to 11 years old. Our 11-year-old son, predictably found the bike too small for trail riding but loved it as a dirt jumper. In fact, he can probably keep using it in that capacity for another year or two.

Our petite 9-year-old neighbor also had a go on the bike, and it fit her perfectly for both trail riding and commuting to school. The long wheelbase provided stability and confidence even when trying out some new trails. Mom and dad were pleased with how well she rode on it; she was just happy with the pretty color scheme!

As always, it’s important to focus on your child’s height and inseam rather than their age when choosing the right size bike. The Hellion 24 has a standover height of 25.2 inches, so make sure to measure your child’s inseam and ensure it’s AT LEAST this long.

Bottom-Line: A Beautiful, High-Performance Bike with a Price to Match

The Early Rider Hellion 24 is a premium kids’ mountain bike that delivers on both aesthetics and performance. Its versatility, sustainability, and high-quality components make it a top choice for families who are willing to invest in a bike that can last for years. However, the steep price and out-of-the-box tweaking required might give some parents pause.

If you’re looking for a stunning, durable, and highly capable kids’ bike—and don’t mind the premium price tag—the Hellion 24 is worth considering.

More Help Finding A Great Bike

• Your Guide To The Best Kids Mountain Bikes
• Ultimate Guide To Kids Bike Sizes (And Bike Size Chart!)
• Mountain Biking with Kids

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