Prevelo Bravo Kids Dirt Jumper Review

If your kid is more interested in catching air at the dirt jumps than cruising the trails, the Prevelo Bravo might just be the perfect bike for them. As one of the only kids’ dirt jumpers on the market, the Bravo stands out as a specialized tool designed to help young riders hone their skills and take their jumping to the next level.

Like many parents reading this, my son begged for a dirt jumper for quite some time, and I kept dragging my heels. The cost (and the storage space) for yet another bike for an 11 year old seemed excessive.

After three months and as much use as any other bike in our stable, I can safely say that yes your kid probably does *need* that dirt jumper. And that the Prevelo Bravo is highly competitive with any other option on the market.

Review In A Nutshell

Pros:

• Cheaper and lighter than competition on the market
• High quality 100mm Manitou Junit fork
• Aesthetically pleasing color schemes
• Rear Tektro hydraulic disc brake

Cons:

• Yet another bike to buy/store

Price: $1,199 (20″) / $1,299 (24″)

Perfect For Progressing

If your child has been dreaming about hitting that bigger jump line, this is the bike to do it on. Our son went from hitting some of the smaller blue lines at our bike park to the pro line basically overnight on this bike.

Okay yes, some of this probably had to do with him being another year older and ready to go for it, but the bike definitely played a big part. On some of the jumps, he was casing them on his full suspension Spawn Rokk. Switching to the lighter and more nimble Bravo immediately allowed him to start clearing them. From there he just kept progressing.

The amount of use he’s gotten on the bike has also been surprising. He’s had fun using it at the bike park, the air bag, and on our portable jump. The only problem this summer is that he doesn’t want to travel anywhere without it so we have to bring him two bikes everywhere we go.

Another thing that surprised me was that many of the skills he has learned on the dirt jumper have transferred over to his full suspension bike. Many of the lines that he wasn’t able to clear before, he learned first on the dirt jumper, and then second on the trail bike.

Sizing and Options

We tested the Bravo Four, which comes with 24” wheels, but it’s also available in a 20” (Bravo Three) version. It’s important to note that you should choose one wheel size smaller on the Bravo than you would for a trail bike.

The bike also comes in two different color schemes. We tested the Gravity Gray, but the Rowdy Red is just as attractive. The colored chain is fun and matches the paint job, and has received a TON of comments from other kids.

For an additional $20, you can have a decal with your little ripper’s name added to the frame.

High Quality Fork

The Bravo comes equipped with a 100mm Manitou JUNIT fork, which is more than enough squish for a dirt jumper. This high-quality fork is plush, rebounds well, and has held up to some significant hits during our testing.

The boost thru-axle further increases the bike’s stability and durability, ensuring that it can handle the rigors of hard landings without issue.

Single Rear Brake

The Bravo is equipped with a rear Tektro hydraulic disc brake, which provides plenty of stopping power for most situations. The single brake setup allows for a full rotation of the handlebar, which is essential for throwing tricks.

However, some of the jump trails at our bike park have significant descents, and my kiddo mentioned a few times that riding them felt sketchy without dual handbrakes. This is a tradeoff for using a dirt jumper rather than a trail bike, and something to keep in mind if your child wants to ride jump trails in addition to a jump line.

The rear brake cable is internally routed, which keeps things tidy-looking and also reduces the number of things your child could potentially scratch themselves on. There is plenty of slack cable at the bar to allow for a bar spin.

Pivotal Saddle

The bike features a pivotal saddle, which keeps the seat low and out of the way. While I sometimes complain about pivotal seats requiring the entire seatpost to be changed to swap saddles, it makes perfect sense on a dirt jumper. Since riders are standing rather than sitting, saddle comfort is a moot point, and the low seat height allows for more freedom of movement.

Wheels And Tires

The Bravo comes with Kenda Booster 24×2.20 tires, which roll exceptionally well on hardpack and perform decently in sandier spots (of which we have a lot in Boise, ID). The wheels are built up with WTB rims and Novatec hubs–nothing fancy but quality and durable.

This wheel tire combo is NOT tubeless ready. That’s pretty standard for dirt jumpers and BMX bikes where hard hits can cause tubeless tires to burp. That said, if you live in an area with lots of goatheads, cactus or other pokeys, it might make sense to try a tubeless setup–especially since kids weigh less and are less likely to burp a tire on landing.

Singlespeed Drivetrain

Like other dirt jumpers, the Bravo is a singlespeed. The frame features a sliding rear dropout and the bike is speced with a half-link chain, allowing you to properly tension the chain.

In terms of gearing, the 24″ bike has a gain ratio of 5.07 which provides a stiff gear perfect for getting up speed for jumps. The 140mm cranks (on the 24″) are size appropriate and provide for efficient power output.

And while the bike isn’t designed for around town pedaling, my son has been known to ride it from our house a couple of miles to the bike park. It works well for flat road riding; he has to walk it up the hill to our house.

Heir Components

Similiar to what Spawn has done with their Brood line of components, Prevelo has created their own array of “HEIR” branded components. These are high-quality, child-sized small parts that Prevelo has stocked on their bikes. The Bravo has an HEIR stem, handlebar, cranks, and seatpost collar.

Pedals

The stock pedals on the Bravo are pretty meh, so we ended up swapping them out for a pair of Prevelo HEIR pedals, which just happened to match the bike’s color scheme. This upgrade made a noticeable difference in grip and control.

Can It Be Your Child’s Only Bike?

For the parents out there wondering if the Bravo can function as your child’s sole mountain bike, the answer is no. It is not a good choice for trail riding due to it’s steeper geometry, single brake, heavy single gear, and smaller wheels. If you are in the market for a single mountain bike, this is not it.

If, on the other hand, your family isn’t a “mountain bike” family, this could conceivably be your child’s only bike. My kiddo doesn’t seem to mind pedaling miles around the neighborhood in a standing position. It’s fun not only at the dirt jumps but also at the skate park and the BMX track. (You could also use this to race BMX in the cruiser category).

Value and Comparisons

Pricewise, the Bravo is a good deal, coming in under both the Commencal Absolut and the Spawn Kotori. The geometry and build of these three bikes are very comparable, but the Bravo stands out with its weight of 21.5 pounds, which is on par with the Absolut and a few pounds lighter than the Kotori. Given the price, weight, and component spec of the Bravo, it seems like the clear winner in my book.

For more information, check out our list of kids dirt jumpers.

Prevelo As A Company

While the Bravo is a great bike, there are plenty of great bikes out there. What really sets Prevelo a part is that they are a great company. They are small and family owned, and the owners are fantastic humans.

I often get emails from readers about customer service issues they’ve had with bike companies, and I’ve never once heard a negative word about Prevelo. They are responsive if there is an issue, and their quality control is high.

Can’t recommend Prevelo enough!

Bottom Line

The Prevelo Bravo is an outstanding choice for young riders who are serious about dirt jumping and want to improve their skills. With high-quality components, an eye-catching design, and a lightweight build, the Bravo is sure to impress both kids and parents alike.

The only real downside is the cost of adding yet another bike to your child’s collection, but if they’re into jumping, it’s worth every penny. The Prevelo Bravo is a fantastic investment in progressing your child’s skills and keeping them active and out of the house.

More Stuff You Might Like

• Your Guide To Downhill Mountain Biking With Kids
• Best Kids Full Face Bike Helmets
• Ultimate Guide To Indoor Bike Parks and BMX Tracks

About The Reviewers