Most six-year-olds don’t NEED a full-suspension mountain bike. In fact, there are plenty of reasons NOT to put your child on a full-suspension rig. There is one pretty justifiable reason to do it, however: frequent lift-assisted downhill days.
For our recent trip to Whistler, we put our son on the Spawn Rokkusuta and it rocked his world. He was able to handle bigger jumps, bigger roots, and faster speeds than he would on one of his rigid mountain bikes. And thanks to the SRAM hydraulic disc brakes, he was also able to stop much faster. Indeed, for families serious about DH mountain biking, the Spawn Rokkusuta is one of your best options with 20 inch wheels.
2023 Update: We reviewed the older Spawn Rokkusuta. The Spawn Rokk 20 is now designed to transition from 20 inch wheels to 22 inch wheels. This is a feature that will help the bike to grow and adapt with your child’s riding ability and size changes. We’ve made note of other updates where applicable. You might also want to check out our review on the newest version of the Spawn Rokk 26.
Review in a Nutshell
Pros:
- 100mm front and rear travel
- SRAM Level hydraulic disc brakes
- Horst Link suspension design
- Tubeless ready wheels
- Frame can adapt from 20 inch to 22 inch wheels
Cons:
- Heavier than some
- Expensive
Price & Where to Buy:
- $2,500 USD at SpawnCycles.com
SRAM Hydraulic Disc Brakes
Compared to the v-brakes on most 20″ mountain bikes, the SRAM Guide disc brakes on the Rokkusuta make a huge difference. If you remember the days before disc brakes, you know what I’m talking about. The difference in braking performance was noticeable when watching my son. He was able to stop faster and better modulate his braking on the steeps.
The one thing to be aware of is that the SRAM Guide brakes are notorious for locking up in hot weather conditions. We were at Whistler during a ridiculously hot week, and right off the bat, the brakes on the Rokkusuta started locking up. Eventually, we got the brakes swapped out and had no more issues, but this is something to consider if you live in a particularly hot climate.
2023 Update: The brakes now speced on the bike are SRAM Level hydraulic disc brakes.
Suspension
It took exactly one run for my little guy to get accustomed to the full-squish on the Rokkusuta and after that, he was a convert. The 100mm of both front and rear travel is significant for kids this size. The rear X-Fusion shock is incorporated in a Horst Link suspension design, and the Brood Eldorado fork is easily serviceable.
In use, the suspension makes a massive difference for my son over his usual rigid mountain bike. He was able to ride the green technical trails with ease, riding quickly through the roots and rocks that would normally cause him to slow down.
2023 Update: While the Rokk still has the same Brood Eldorado fork, the rear shock is now a Rock Shox Deluxe Select. Same amount of travel.
SRAM Drivetrain
The Rokkusuta boasts a quality SRAM GX 10-speed drivetrain. The trigger shifter was easier for my son to operate than the Shimano Acero shifter he’s accustomed to using.
The front chainring is 32T and the cassette ranges from 11 to 36 T. Assuming your child is strong enough to push the weight of the bike, they are well geared for a little climbing.
Weight
The Spawn Rokkusuta tips the scales at 25.5 pounds. My rather petite kiddo weighs 40 pounds making the Rokkusuta weigh in at more than 60% of his body weight. For this reason, I would recommend it more for downhill riding than trail riding.
Spawn advertises the bike as a capable climber: “We’ve taken our cues from modern adult trail bikes – the Rokkusuta is long, slack and a capable climber despite it’s 100mm of plush front and rear travel.” I have to disagree.
While the bike is likely a capable climber for an adult, for the average sized 5 to 8-year-old, the bike to body weight ratio causes an issue. At the Whistler bike park there were a couple small uphills that my son would have normally flown up, and on the Spawn Rokkusuta, he struggled up them.
Kids – particuarly petite kids – are going to have a lot more fun on a lighter bike for trail riding. If you are primarily using the Rokkusuta for bike park and shuttle riding, then the weight becomes less important.
Wheels, Tires, and Other Components
There isn’t a cheap part on this whole bike. All the components are top-notch and many are their own in-house component line, Brood. Many of the parts on the Rokkusuta are Brood: the 130mm cranks, front fork, saddle, and wheels.
Wellgo offer some of our favorite mountain bike pedals for kids, and the Wellgo alloy pedals on the Rokkusuta are no exception. Combined with my son’s Five Ten Freerider shoes, they provided a good grippy platform for a long day of riding. The pins are metal which means I wouldn’t want to put my child on them without shin protection, but with them, we had no problems.
The Brood rims are tubeless compatible as are the Brood Maxtion 2.20″ tubeless-ready tires.
UPDATE: As mentioned above, one can now buy two separate wheelsets to grow with the bike. Both a 20″ and 22″ wheelset fit the newly tooled frames.
We also appreciate that the frame includes internal routing for a dropper post. While the bike doesn’t come with a dropper, we like that it can be added. Several parents I’ve talked to have installed the KS Lev Integra* to great success.
20″ Kids Full Suspension Mountain Bikes
There aren’t a ton of options for 20 inch full suspension bikes, but there are a couple alternatives to the Spawn Rokk that you might want to consider. These include the Norco Fluid and Commencal Clash.
Bottom-Line
For downhill riding, the Spawn Rokkusuta is a great option for your young child. The 100 mm of front and rear travel, SRAM hydraulic disc brakes, and tubeless ready wheels provide a capable and comfortable ride. And of course there’s the biggest differentiator: convertible 20 inch to 22 inch wheels.
Yes, it is expensive, but the high-quality components mean that this isn’t a “disposable” kids’ bike; you should be able to sell it for a decent price when your child has moved on to the next size.
Learn More About Kids Mountain Bikes & Gear
- The Best 20″ Kids Mountain Bikes
- Your Guide To The Best Kids Mountain Bikes
- 7 Best Kids Full Face Helmets (BMX, MTB)
About Us
The Rascals are a family of three. Kristen (mom), Blair (dad), and Parker (kiddo). We started Rascal Rides when Parker was born and we didn’t want to give up our passion for biking. As we learned, we shared. Over the years, we’ve tested hundreds of kids bikes, helmets, bike trailers, and more.
Kristen is a USA Cycling certified coach and loves to share her passion for biking with other families. Blair is a bike geek, mechanic, and mountain bike junkie. Parker is our resident tester and inspiration.
If you see us out on the trail, make sure to say hi!