Woom OFF Kids Mountain Bike Review: 100 Days on the Trails

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If you’re searching for a lightweight kids mountain bike that will transition perfectly between paved path to singletrack, the woom OFF is it. Period.

Known for creating lightweight and ergonomically designed bikes with child specific components, woom boasts that their bikes make it easier for kids to learn to ride. After over a hundred days of our kids riding their woom OFF and OFF Air bikes, we’d have to agree these models made it significantly easier to learn to ride mountain bike trails. 

It’s worth mentioning that the OFF and OFF Air models use the same lightweight frame complete with mostly the same components, however, they differ in which fork is included. The OFF uses a rigid carbon fork while the OFF Air uses an air suspension fork. We also reviewed the OFF Air, but this review is specific for the OFF, which is slightly lighter due to using the rigid carbon fork.

A few things stand out on the OFF series that make it obvious these bikes were built with kids in mind. Upright rider positioning that makes the rider feel more stable, an ability to have quick and nimble riding styles due to a lightweight frame, and confidence on a variety of trails provided by quality components like hydraulic brakes and grippy Schwalbe tires. A safe and confident rider that can tackle the ascents and descents with ease is a rider that is going to fall in love with mountain biking, who is exactly whom the woom OFF was designed for.

Our tall four-year-old spent a season riding his woom OFF on all sorts of terrain, from paved city trails to dusty singletrack and tacky forest trails. In this review, we’ll outline impressions from a long test period, where the OFF performs best as well as all the specifics on the build and geometry.

WOOM OFF OVERVIEW

• Wheels: 20” (OFF 4),  24” (OFF 5), 26” (OFF 6)
• Suspension: None (Carbon Rigid Fork)
• Brakes: Hydraulic disc brakes (Promax)
• Gears: 9-speed trigger shifter (SRAM X5)
• Frame: lightweight, high-quality 6061-T6 aluminum with butted and hydroformed tubes
• Weight: 18 lbs 15 oz (OFF 4 – 20”), 21 lbs 9 oz (OFF 5 – 24”), 23 lbs 3 oz (OFF 6 – 26”)
• MSRP (USD): $949.00 (OFF 4 – 20” model), $999.00 (OFF 5 – 24” model), $1049.00 (OFF 6 – 26” model)

THE DETAILS

Perhaps the most important detail of the woom OFF is weight. Where many lower end mountain bikes use cheap and unnecessary components, as well as higher end brands which have added a child-sized mountain bike to their line ups without customizing its features to a child-sized person, a common falter is weight. 

The woom OFF uses high quality aluminum on a slender frame along with lightweight aluminum hubs, cranks, and rims creating a kids mountain bike that weighs significantly less than competitors. By using a carbon rigid fork, there is less weight on the front end of the bike making it more responsive to the rider as well as reduces and absorbs vibrations found on rougher terrain.

Any parent who has tried to ride a bike fully loaded with cargo will understand that lighter bikes handle easier while riding, and feel quick and nimble rather than slow and cumbersome.  Ideally a bike should not exceed 30% of a riders body weight, which the woom OFF is typically within or below that range, whereas many competitor brands with mountain bikes designed for beginner riders come in at 50-70%.  It’s a significant shift in weight ratio that shows up in how quickly kids learn to ride and how long they have energy to stay riding. 

The lightweight frame of woom OFF also means that kids will be able to tackle ascents and with the 9-speed SRAM X5 trigger shifter, kids will be able to change gears quickly and confidently on the fly.

With the woom OFF designed for cross country trails that will likely be your child’s first taste of a downhill descent, the hydraulic disc brakes with child-sized brake levers that actually fit a small child’s hands will allow kids to stop on a dime and use over long periods without tiring out their hands. 

It’s easy to get lost in the child specific specifications of the woom OFF series without knowing exactly how that will translate into a better ride for your child. From shorter cranks that allow a smaller, more comfortable stance and natural range of motion that improves overall stability while also reducing discomfort, to tapered ends of the handlebars that make it easier for smaller hands to grip, there are so many thoughtful details included in the woom OFF that make it easier to ride without unnecessary components that add weight.

SIZE AND MODEL SPECS

• Wheels: 20” (OFF 4),  24” (OFF 5), 26” (OFF 6)
• Frame material:  6061-T6 aluminum with butted and hydroformed tubes
• Gears: 9-speed SRAM X5 trigger shifter with SRAM X5 rear derailleur
• Fork: carbon 1 – 1 ⅛″ tapered steerer tube 
• Wheels: Tubeless-compatible Alexrims wheelset, aluminum hubs with sealed industrial bearings, 20 G14 spokes, double-crossed spoking and aluminum nipples
• Thru axles: 100 x 15 mm front and 135 x 12 mm rear
• Headset: Fully integrated 1 – 1 ⅛” headset
• Tires: 20 x 2.25″ Schwalbe Rocket Ron with ADDIX SPEED rubber compound, presta valves, tubeless conversion ready
• Stem: Forged aluminum, CNC-machined, attached via two clamps with a rise/drop: +/-15° with flip-flop design to adjust the handlebar height
• Handlebars: Width: 570 mm and rise: 20 mm
• Seatpost: 27.2 x 250 mm with quick-release seatpost clamp
• Drive: 4.3″ (110 mm),  chainring with 28 teeth and 11-32 teeth on cassette 
• Brakes: Hydraulic disc brakes by Promax with 140/140 mm diameter on OFF 4, 160/160mm for OFF 5 and 6
• Max weight: OFF 4 (20”): ~110 lbs (50 kg), OFF 5 (24”): ~155 lbs (70 kg), OFF 6 (26”): ~175 lbs (80 kg)

RIDE IMPRESSIONS

Before riding the woom OFF, our tall four-year-old had experienced flat dirt trails and paved city trails along with the occasional pump track during his previous summer season of riding. After setting off riding the woom OFF, his confidence soared and it was clear this was the perfect bike for him to transition into mountain biking. 

The lightweight frame was easy to maneuver and manage, the brakes so responsive, and gears simple to get the hang of. Within the first few days he had already progressed more than I had hoped for the season. 

For a beginner rider, the dip in the top tube made it possible for our younger rider to actually get on and off. While riding, our child always looked stable, thanks to the upright positioning which undoubtedly also made the ride feel more comfortable and natural. 

It’s important to note that woom describes the woom OFF as being “designed for versatile off-road terrain, including gravel paths, dirt trails, and pump tracks”. The rigid frame and quality mountain bike tires do absorb a significant amount of shock of the rougher terrain, but this bike is not designed for steep descents or drops that would be found for advanced level riding. 

Most of our rides take place in northern Canada on loamy, flowy tracks made of a mix of sand, silt, and clay with beginner to intermediate features. As a child with a love of variety, we also ride paved paths in the city and spend time at dirt-packed or paved pump tracks. The woom OFF handles all the terrain well.

I worried that the lack of suspension would cause discomfort on rooty or rocky terrain, but that wasn’t the case. Between the carbon fork and the quality rubber 2.25″ Schwalbe Rocket Ron tires, there was plenty of cushioning for our son to eagerly ride on and off curbs all afternoon as well as hit rooty or rocky features with ease.

For trail riding, being so lightweight with a wide 530mm handlebar, our child easily handled the berms, or banked turns while maintaining speed.  With hands on both the smaller brake level and silicone grips, our child’s hands never slipped out of position while riding nor did he once complain about his hands being sore which is often a concern on other v-brake style braking systems.

The 9-speed trigger finger shifters gave him a great range to control his speed and combined with the lightweight frame meant I rarely ended up pushing his bike uphill for him. 

As the seasons change, the grippy rubber tires of the woom OFF have provided a stable ride despite frost, mud and leaf litter. 

In truth, the only falter our child noticed in his woom OFF bike was that there is no gear indicator on this current model which when you’re four years old and learning numbers would have been a welcome addition but clearly not a deal breaker.

GEOMETRY

There are slight variations in geometry that you’d expect for a bike that has sizes suited for ages 5 – 14 years old, but the key elements for each bike is the same: a bike with a higher handlebar height and similar steering and seat tube angles mean the rider will be in an upright position, keeping their centre of gravity more aligned with their hips, which is ideal for beginner to intermediate riders. 

This effectively makes the rider feel more secure on the bike with a wider range of visibility, and less tension on back, neck and wrists than an aggressive forward leaning stance would have.

RIGID FORK VS SUSPENSION

Before trying a woom OFF bike, I had a long debate on whether the rigid carbon fork or the air suspension would prove to be better for my young rider. Ultimately, because of how small and lightweight my son was, I decided the lightest option available would be best. 

The rigid carbon fork on the woom OFF series allows for a weight reduction that equates to an easier bike for a child to manage. Although it may not seem that significant in terms of a weight reduction for an adult bike, removing 2 lbs off a child’s bike significantly reduces the bike weight to body weight ratio resulting in a bike that is quicker to accelerate, possible to tackle climbs on, and overall much more efficient pedaling. 

On the OFF 4, my son is fully capable of navigating tight turns, braking and maneuvering on intermediate singletrack with features. Happily, the rigid fork is also more than capable in providing a comfortable ride on rough trails and off curbs.

FINAL THOUGHTS

After spending a season on the trails and seeing other young riders on a variety of bikes, I can safely say the woom OFF delivers on what it promises: an off road capable bike that kids will love. 

The lightweight frame makes this bike accessible to the smallest of riders entering the mountain biking world. With a carbon rigid fork, the OFF has one of the lightest front ends available with the strength and comfort of a quality material that will be noticed on trails.  

This results in quick maneuvering making rides more fun. With responsive hydraulic brakes can come with ergonomically designed levers, quality pedals that nearly eliminate slipping, a mountain bike specific saddle that’s actually comfortable – kids will be happy to ride for longer. For parents, there are also the added features that sometimes go unnoticed like thru axles that secure the tires to the frame which enhance handling and braking.

The OFF features geometry that just makes sense will take a beginner rider far while also providing peace of mind to the parent that their child is in a quality bike fit for the trails.

With three sizes available, the woom OFF bike is a recommended option for beginner to intermediate riders aged 5-14, looking to get a premium bike at a more affordable price.