If you had looked for a 14-inch mountain bike a few years ago, you would have been out of luck. It simply didn’t exist. Today, it does, thanks to the Prevelo Zulu One.
There isn’t another 14″ bike quite like this on the market. The Zulu One is a legitimate mountain bike with wide tires and disc brakes. When we got it, I told my son that it was fancier than my own bike, and he makes sure to remind me of that often.
For families doing mostly road and neighborhood biking, even with a little gravel thrown in, a scaled down bike might be a better fit. But for the family that values mountain biking, singletrack, and rougher terrain, the Zulu is a phenomenal performer that gets your family out biking where you want to be!
The wider tires, hydraulic disc brakes, and trail geometry allow young riders to get off the beaten path and keep up with mom and dad (or older siblings!).
And the off-road build isn’t the only thing that makes the Prevelo Zulu One unique. It also has the ability to convert from a balance bike to a pedal bike, making it a pioneer in the world of kids bikes.
We’ve loved watching our son take it on gravel and singletrack and feel confident and comfortable while riding with us. It’s also been a great ride for him at the bike park, and overall, it’s the bike he gravitates towards the most, even for paved riding.
Review in a Nutshell
Pros:
- Small mountain bike for the littlest shredders
- Easy-to-manage gear ratio
- Hydaulic disc brakes
- High volume, knobby tires
- Goes from balance bike to pedal bike and back easily
Cons:
- Not quite as lightweight or easy to handle as other as some other 14” bikes
- Foot pegs on the balance bike were hard to use
Price: $599
VIDEO REVIEW
OUR FAVORITE FEATURES: DISC BRAKES AND WIDE, KNOBBY TIRES
The two features that are front-runners for us are the wide tires with knobby tread, and the hydraulic disc brakes.
Although it’s a rigid bike, the Kenda 14 × 2.2 tires are much wider than your typical bike tire on this size bike and give quite a bit of shock absorption, to the point where our son doesn’t seem to be uncomfortable even while riding rougher singletrack.
They also have fantastic tread, and give him lots of traction on all sorts of terrain. On the flip side, they aren’t so wide that it’s hard work to keep up speed on paved trails.
The Promax DSK 940 hydraulic disc brakes are also a standout feature and allow very quick and precise stopping. Our son quickly learned how easy and fun it is to skid his tires–haha!
On a more serious note, they allowed him to feel more in control on hills and at the bike park. They are a big step up from the v-brakes found on most other 14-inch bikes, and a kind addition for little tykes being asked to tackle difficult terrain.
While the cables are externally routed, they are attached very securely and out of the kids’ way. The hand levers are also size appropriate and easy to pull for little hands.
BOASTS BOTH PEDAL AND BALANCE BIKE MODES
One of the coolest features of the Prevelo Zulu One is the fact that it can be used as both a balance bike and a pedal bike. There are very few convertible balance bikes on the market, and the Zulu One is the only one that is mountain bike oriented. (You do have to purchase an optional $19 conversion kit if you want to use it as a balance bike).
Don’t expect this bike to replace the need for a balance bike if your child is younger, however. While our three year old, who has just over a 14 inch inseam, very comfortably rides this bike in the pedal configuration, it’s almost too big for him in the balance bike mode. He needed the seat as low as it could go.
If you’re purchasing this bike with the need for the balance bike my suggestion would be to be sure your child has at least at that 14” inseam. Rather than using the Zulu as a balance bike for toddlers, I would recommend it for those kids that are outgrowing their first balance bike, but aren’t quite ready to transition to pedals, or don’t have the desire to.
The Zulu One comes with two seatpost/saddle combinations, a short and a tall, so even if your kid uses it as a balance bike, they’ll still have plenty of time to transition to pedals before they outgrow the frame.
It’s easy to remove and replace the cranks and chain. It took us just seven minutes to convert it to a balance bike and 10 minutes to go back to pedals, so you could even go back and forth as your kid is learning.
My only complaint about the balance bike are the foot pegs (which also serve as protection for the bottom bracket once the cranks are removed). Although they are totally out of my son’s way while he strides, they’re very narrow and aren’t easy to keep feet on. While riding any kind of dirt, most bumps made his feet pop off.
FRAME & GEOMETRY
The Prevelo Zulu frame is made of lightweight aluminum with a low center of gravity and modern trail geometry, which puts your kid in a solid, stable position for most terrain. That said, the geometry is a bit more leaned over and aggressive than a bike like the Woom Two, for example, and may not be as easy to learn on for more timid kids. But, you can always use it in balance bike mode first to help your child get comfortable with the more forward-leaning position before adding the complexity of pedals.
One con we noticed is that although it’s relatively lightweight (13.5lbs without pedals), it’s still heavier and a bit more cumbersome for a kid on the smaller end of the size range (14”-17” inseam). Our son learned to pedal on the Prevelo Alpha One, which is only about half a pound lighter, but was still noticeably easier for him to pick up, handle, and get moving. If you don’t have a compelling reason to NEED a mountain bike, the Alpha One will likely be the easier choice to learn on.
As far as the aesthetics go, the Zulu is a sharp-looking bike, and my son gets compliments on it from not only adults but also from the older kids at the bike park.
EASY TO USE SINGLESPEED RATIO
We appreciate the fact that even though this bike is a singlespeed, the gear ratio is near perfect. (It has a 3.7 gain ratio for the bike nerds out there). Our son is able to easily climb hills, but also doesn’t spin out on most downhills.
For our three year old, I know shifting through even a few gears would be overwhelming and frustrating for him, so this is ideal for those younger riders who are learning all the other skills.
The frame includes adjustable rear dropouts (like you’d find on an adult’s singlespeed mountain bike) so it’s possible to properly tension the chain (and slightly adjust the wheelbase).
OTHER ITEMS OF NOTE
- Prevelo’s HEIR Frame Hugger™ Saddle seems very comfortable for our son, and he’s never complained about it like he has on other bikes. We also appreciate that they include a second saddle and seatpost, so this bike can be used for a long time as your child grows. Our three year old with a 14 inch inseam is still using the short seat post at about halfway, so we have a long way to grow with the bike. The seatpost also has a quick-release collar, to make it easily adjustable for going downhill or for swapping between kids.
- Their HEIR grips are comfortable and so far seem very durable for all the wear and tear they’ll experience with a tiny kiddo. They’ve held up great to being the landing point when the bike gets dropped and rubbed in the dirt, like all three year olds are prone to doing.
- For being plastic pedals (which I would prefer for the young ones!) they seem to be easy for my son to keep his feet on, and the pins aren’t so sharp that they’ll cut his shin when he inevitably smacks it. Unless he somehow breaks one, I wouldn’t feel the need to replace these.
- Like other Prevelo bikes, the Zulu One has a narrow Q-factor (the distance between pedals) and size-appropriate crank arms. This provides a more efficient and ergonomic fit than many cheaper kids’ bikes.
- The Zulu One does not have a steering limiter, which could be a pro or con. For us, we’ve appreciated the smaller bikes that don’t have one, as we’d prefer our kids to learn proper riding when they’re lower to the ground and riding slower, than later when they’re riding larger bikes at much faster speeds. For other parents, I know they appreciate having a removable limiter, so their child can have some guides while learning.
PREVELO’S TRADE-UP PROGRAM
Prevelo has a great trade-up program, where they give you a 40% credit to trade in your bike for the next size. This has actually seemed to keep most of the Prevelo bikes off the used market as people seem to just trade them in, so it’s hard to tell what the re-sale value for a used bike is.
We have three kids, so have not made use of the trade-in program as we’re just passing them down. For families with just one child or children that are farther apart in age and/or different riding interests or abilities, the program is a huge asset!
They also have an outlet, where they sell the bikes that have been traded in. We’ve purchased from the outlet in the past, and we’ve been very happy with it. They give each bike a grade, so you’re able to know the condition it’ll come in and the price reflects that condition. Our bike came in the exact condition it was listed in, and has been a great option at a lower price point.
Obviously, the stock on these can vary greatly, so I suggest starting to look in early spring as other families are beginning to think about upgrading and trading in. I’ve noticed the options are greater in the spring than in the fall when we originally purchased one from the outlet.
NOTHING QUITE LIKE IT ON THE MARKET
It’s hard to compare this bike to other 14 inch bikes on the market, because there’s nothing else with disc breaks and tires this wide. Yes, the price is a little on the higher end, but the features and components reflect that. If your family most enjoys paved trails, with some gravel, there are other bikes (like the Alpha One) out there that may fit your child better.
However, for a family like ours that loved mountain biking before kids and didn’t want to give it up, this bike has been a favorite, and I can tell it will last well through our next two kids. (As long as someone doesn’t leave it out to be run over)!
BOTTOM LINE – A HIGH QUALITY MOUNTAIN BIKE FOR THE SMALLEST RIDERS
For the families and early riders looking for a quality mountain bike that can do it all, from balance mode to pedals, this bike couldn’t get much better. It’s small, lightweight, has great stopping power, good tires and tread, and a comfortable saddle and geometry.
If you dream of your kids falling in love with singletrack like you have, this bike gets them started on the right track from day one.
More Stuff You Might Like
- How to Mountain Bike with a Young Child
- Your Guide To The Best Kids Mountain Bikes
- Prevelo Bikes: The Complete Buyers Guide + Reviews
About The Reviewer
Kelley Asbury is a mom of three and enjoys mountain biking in Minnesota with her husband and kids. In addition to riding and writing, Kelly is a professional photographer at KelleyJoImaging.com.