The Genesis Tarn is a steel-framed short-travel hardtail with 120mm travel and 27.5in wheels, and is equipped with Maxxis Rekon tyres. If you’re a roadie, Genesis has a few models for you to consider. The REI Co-op Cycles REV 16 Kids’ Bike is a nicely designed, mid-price bike from REI, a nationwide retailer run by actual outdoor enthusiasts. Singletrack uses affiliate genesis mountain bike services called Skimlinks and which means we may earn revenue if you buy a product after clicking a link to a retailer on our site. The Norco Sight VLT C2 may not be the bike you think it is; it’s very much an all dayer climber ‘n’ cruiser. As a My First Full Susser or simply a full suspension for short riders there is a whole lot going for the Jamis Dakar A2.
Our testers found it a fast and very maneuverable trail rig, but as with the Prevelo, its low-rise bars and geometry make it too aggressive for most beginners. Not only that, the rear brake pads are made of a softer, green compound for quick stops, while the front brake’s harder black compound are less “grabby,” so the rider will be less likely to go over the handlebars accidentally. We also love the freewheel setup, which makes learning to pedal and to stop even easier than a bike with coaster brakes.
Actual weight of the Genesis V2100 is in the pound range, depending on the accuracy of your scale. It wouldn’t be too much work to bring that down a bit by swapping the heavy steel riser bar for an aluminum one. Of course, any weight savings from the bar swap would be offset when it comes time to replace the pedals (after about two rides or less), as they seem to have earned a reputation as the cheapest pedals ever.
Genesis has a lot of bikes in its ‘other’ category, so we’ve broken them down into Adventure, Cyclocross and Urban. The Mantle is the brand’s XC and endurance bike, and genesis bike is a full carbon 29er hardtail with 100mm travel. Next up is the endurance-focused Zeal, which is full carbon, so you can ride longer and faster with less effort.
We’re not including low-priced bikes from big-box stores because of reports of dangerous assembly problems. So we’ve included bikes here that either come with, or can be equipped with, training wheels. This solidly built aluminum-frame bike from a trusted outdoor retailer won testers (and their parents) over with its easy assembly, genesis mountain bike smooth ride (on and off pavement), and ability to grow with the rider. If winter has finally loosed its grip where you live and your kindergartener is antsy to roam outside, maybe it’s time for their first pedal bike. Packaging SystemThe packaging system had to accommodate everything from small replacement parts to complete bikes.
Due to its popularity, Genesis became a label in its own right in 2006. Finally, the Columbia Rd is a beautiful step-through with a low maintenance and practical 8-speed internal hubgear. Perfect for pootling around town, plus the twin top tube adds a touch of elegance. For commuters and city-dwellers, Genesis has several bikes to choose from. The CDA on the other hand is less race and more sportive, with relaxed endurance geometry and massive tyre clearance for knobblies so you can truly take it anywhere.
Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). In addition to putting the wheels to the ground, I took careful consideration of the bikes’ construction and how easy they were to assemble, as well as how they arrived, how they were packaged, and whether they were missing any components.