O boy, the big kids bike debate. I have 3 little ones 5, 10 and 12 so been down this path. Firstly it's a kids bike for the little one to learn, play and destroy. Destroy as in they are not born with the ability to shift under load and want to ride with Johnny down the road in the mud and sticks. Please remember this is a kids bike not a mini version of your own. Unless you live in devil country tubeless is overkill and disc is not needed on a 25kg child. I personally detest gripshift (more than taxis) but have found my kids love gripshift because they don't have adult thumbs to push a trigger. That been said the goal is to love cycling and develop skills. My 5 year old is on a gt micro at 5kgs. He loves the bike and does a sold 7km each day. My older 2 are now on 24inch bikes and have a bmx each. I prefer the bmx approach as the child learn skills and the bikes are indestructible and of course weigh very little. My 12 year old on her 24inch goes down rocky hills like a pro, I wet myself in fear! Teach your child to love cycling and to jump potholes, pavements and skills skills and more skills. A mini me bike with trigger shifting disk brakes can come latter. My 5c, just remember kids don't all want to ride 2 hours and race on sunday (2 years in I learnt that). I race road and mountain bike at a high level. My kids love the sport but will do the distance when they want to. An adult bike is 9kgs. Why put your kids on that weight machine? They can't bench that weight. Ps- I left SA a few years ago. My kids ride the Australian streets and local trails on their own so I know there bike preferences well and my number 1 tool is a derailleur hanger alignment tool !!! Actually my daughter prefers to hit the back yard on her Honda crf125fb. I have a few dented trees. Let them be kids.
