Are you a parent looking for an affordable alternative to some of the bigger kids bike brands that have swept the market in the last decade? If so, you might want to consider Revere.
If you’re looking for a functional neighborhood cruiser, don’t want a department store bike, and don’t want to pay the higher price for a big name brand, then the Revere Luna 7 might fit the bill.
This bike is ideal for cruising the neighborhood with friends, biking the gravel canal bank on the weekends, and commuting to school every day. Components have been selected so a 7- to 10-year-old rider will fit comfortably and enjoy their time with the Luna Seven.
Revere has built two options, the Lynx with a higher standover and The Luna with a step-through standover height on the top tube.
The Luna Seven is built up with mostly unbranded components but has a sleek aesthetic and functions well. The weight (26 pounds) is not as light as a Woom, for instance, but also not so heavy that a little rider will struggle on neighborhood rides.
Review In A Nutshell
Pros:
- Low standover
- Decent components including Shimano 7-speed drivetrain
- Child appropriate geometry (with the exception of the cranks)
- All terrain tires
Cons:
- Heavy-ish
- Grip shift may be tough for small hands
- No quick release skewers on the wheels
- Long crank length
Price & Where To Buy:
Child Appropriate Geometry Paves The Way
With a long wheelbase, low stand over, upright position, and low center of gravity, the Revere was thoughtfully designed. The frame fits well and provides a stable steed for your growing mini-me to enjoy. These features provide safety and reliability when riding.
While most of the bike is sized to be child appropriate, the one exception were the cranks. The 160mm cranks aren’t THE longest cranks we’ve seen on a 24 inch bike, but they are a bit on the long side. The Woom 5, for example, has 130mm cranks.
This is unlikely to be a deal breaker, especially for kids biking shorter distances. It could be an issue if your child is riding off curbs or jumps (pedal strikes). In addition, their knees might bow out a little because the cranks are a bit long.
Not The Lightest Bike On The Block
The biggest thing to be aware of when choosing this bike is the weight. It is certainly not THE lightest bike around. A light bike provides a ride that is easy to handle and promotes quicker learning and skill adaptation.
The Woom 5 tips the scales at a very low 20.3 pounds and is nearly 6 pounds lighter than the Revere Luna Seven. While that might seem like it’s not much, those 6 pounds can influence one’s own riding over the course of several miles.
That said, the Woom is significantly more expensive and many kids that are biking shorter distances will do just fine on a heavier bike. If your child is tooling around the neighborhood, the Revere is a good choice. If your family is doing longer rides, opt for a lighter bike.
Safe, Simple Brakes
V-brakes, like those on the Revere Luna, are great for the majority of bike riding scenarios. They are affordable and easy to maintain.
The Luna Seven is stocked with off-brand v-brakes that work well enough. I tested them myself and they did their job without complaint.
Some 24 inch kids bikes, like the Cleary Meerkat, do come with disc brakes. Disc brakes are the better option for families who will be riding off-road or in wet climates. That said, they also add cost and additional maintenance.
Most kids will be served just fine with the v-brakes on the Revere Luna.
Quality Drivetrain
The Luna Seven has a high-quality Revoshift 7 speed Shimano Tourney drivetrain. This is a good entry-level drivetrain that will prove reliable.
Our only (minor) complaint with the drivetrain is the grip shifter. While grip shifters are often more intuitive than trigger shifters for young kids, they’re also harder to operate. Some riders, particularly those with smaller hands, may have trouble.
All Terrain Tires Open Up All Roads
The Luna Seven is stocked with off-branded tires. Small, off-road lugs provide tires that roll smoothly and increase durability. These tires have the ability to handle light duty trail riding but serve best on neighborhood cruises.
One can change out tires easily enough, but the tires that come stock on the Luna Seven should hold up just fine. If you are intending to take the bike off-road more often then a better set of mountain bike tires should be installed.
Quick Release On The Seatpost…But Not On The Wheels
Most, if not all, of our reviews on neighborhood bikes mention our affinity for quick release wheel skewers and seat post collars. The durability is just as good as the nut and bolt designs of old.
The Revere Luna Seven does have a quick release seatpost collar. Like some of the other small parts it is house branded and functions as it should.
Unfortunately, the wheels do not have quick release skewers and are mounted via the nut and bolt axle design that is often seen on department store bikes.
Being able to quickly change the tube for a flat tire is a great convenience. Hopefully Revere will consider this when they process their inevitable redesign of the Luna Seven.
Other Components
As previously mentioned, there are several house-branded parts. The stem, handlebar, rigid fork, seat, and seatpost collar all indicate some kind of branding.
The wheels, tires, hubs, seat post and brakes don’t indicate anything but were probably all sourced in the same factory. Despite not being brand name, the small parts all do their respective jobs well enough and look good doing it.
The seat is sized down for smaller sit bones and adds a pleasing aesthetic to the overall bike. Matching grips with the fork and colorway are a nice touch also. The handlebar might be a bit wide, but nobody is exactly the same size, and the general length is right within the boundary of kid sizing
e Luna Seven frame also features bosses for a water bottle cage. This is a feature we don’t often see on kids bikes and very much appreciate the thought and design. Everyone needs water and being able to pack your own is a plus.
In addition to bottle cage bosses the frame also has bosses on the seat stays and stay-yokes to mount a rear rack. A pretty cool feature if your little one wants to haul their stuff on the bike.
Size
The Luna Seven fits kids as small as 7 years old with a great low step through design. If you have any question about the fit then please reference our size guide below.
Because *most* kids slow down growing around this time, the Luna Seven should last your child much longer than their earlier pedal bikes.
Kickstands Welcome
Kickstands can be a cumbersome, useless piece of equipment on mountain bikes. Neighborhood bikes can greatly benefit from one though. The Luna Seven comes stock with an adjustable kickstand, and it is a useful accessory on this bike.
This kickstand is mounted to a welded plate on the chainstay. The spring mechanism brings the kickstand into a horizontal position near the spokes but out of the way when not in use.
The kickstand can be easily removed via two screws but will keep the Luna 7 from being thrown on the ground.
Other Things Worth Mentioning
- Pedals. Most pedals that come on kids bikes are simple and plastic, we don’t recommend immediately taking these off and throwing them away though. These pedals should work well for most riding scenarios, but if you do want to upgrade you can check out our list of our favorite pedals. The pedals on the Luna Seven are white and will probably get dirty quickly, but will function as needed.
- Grips. With a grip shift drivetrain, it might be hard to find replacement grips if/when the time comes.
Is There Anybody We Wouldn’t Recommend The Luna Seven To?
There is no doubt that the Luna Seven is a great neighborhood cruiser. If your family is into cycling and you want your kids to have a bike that will go anywhere and do anything, then the Luna Seven is probably not what you’re looking for.
It is not for mountain biking and strict off-road use. You might get by with it for a little while, but the weight, brakes, handling and lack of suspension will make mountain bike rides less fun for your kiddo.
Resale Value
The cost of a Revere Luna Seven falls right in between that of a department store bike and a higher end bike like a Woom or Prevelo. A closer comparison in both quality and expense is a Guardian.
In the cycling world prices increase as weight goes down and that is true even for little girl’s bikes. While the resale value of a Luna Seven won’t fetch as much as a Guardian or Woom Original, it will most likely still sell when the time comes. It has been built with enough quality that it will last for years to come.
Bottom-Line: A Good “Budget” Option For Kids
The Revere Luna Seven isn’t a department store bike, but it’s not a high end, wonder machine either. Several unbranded parts and time-tested technologies provide a reliable machine that rides well and looks good doing it. As a convenient plus, it’s sold through Amazon!
This is a great bike for neighborhood cruising, riding to school, and errands with mom or dad. Some light duty off-roading is necessary for the maximum kid fun factor and the Luna Seven can meet that requirement. In the grand scheme, the Luna Seven is best suited for riding the streets and sidewalks with friends and family.