Quality Kid's Mountain Bike?

I'm looking for a new mountain bike for my 9 year old son. He is on a mid range 24" wheel Norco right now. I'm debating going to a full suspension bike or a high quality kids hard tail like a Spawn. My instinct is to keep him a 24" wheel hard tail. He rides a handful of Blue trails on the Shore. Anybody have an suggestions or thoughts? thanks.

I think weight is pretty important for kids. If you have a fixed price in mind, I'd consider getting the lightest (but also highest quality) bike possible, which might not include duallies. If you want to add comfort and confidence to your kids bike, getting some high volume, good quality tires are a good place to do it.

I typically prefer Maxxis tires, but the selection of 24" tires are limited to DH options which don't apply here. Schwalbe has 24" options in a few casing options. Much better than getting low end, plastic feeling, XC tread patterned tires.

Transition makes a cook kids dually…but most others ive are heavy as hell and/ or ridiculously priced.

both my boys are on 24" hard tails from higher end manufacturers and have been upgraded here and there for performance….maybe talk to your lbs about doing that with your kid's current bike too.

I had a good look around what was available fairly recently.

I came to the conclusion that if you want a Park bike for kids, Commencal or Mondraker are your best bets. If you're looking at something more trail based Trek do a nice kids 26er full suspension.

I usually go used for kids bikes. My son's confidence increased significantly when I got him a used Stinky 24 ( this is now my daughters bike). I did a bunch of upgrades to lighten it up with on sale/closeout and take off stuff (bars, stem, pedals 1x10, used airshock and fork, tires, seatpost too). It started as a 37lbs bike! its sub 30lbs now. Maxxis now makes a new tire for 24" wheels that I will probably try out this summer.

http://www.maxxiscanada.com/catalog/tyre-491-321-snyper

we've used the 20" snyper previously; not a bad, but as a dirtjump tire, it's lacking in soft / wet conditions.

the schwalbe fat albert is a solid, aggressive 24" tire - nice beefy 2.4, w/ evo casing.

Norco has a new 24"-wheeled Fluid hardtail with plus tires out. I was also going to suggest the 24" Fluid FS, but it sounds like that's what your son is already on? They also make a 26" Fluid FS.

Thanks all. I'm going to check out that new Fluid with the plus size tires. It looks like a good option. I'm curious to see how much it ways. His current bike is a Detonator and it's a tank.

Slightly off topic, but should be good to go. I have couple of small block 8 tires that I no longer have wheels for and can offer up to anyone building a kids bike. 24" x 1.95. Still some tread left on them. Msg me if anyone can use these.