Black Mountain is a kids’ bike brand that is focused on producing bikes that it claims can be altered in size as your child grows up, with even the most limited mechanical know-how.
The company began selling in early 2018 with the 14- and 16-inch-wheeled Pinto and Skøg models, and now Black Mountain adds two larger, geared, 18- and 20-inch-wheel bikes to the range, the Kapēl and Hütto.
The bikes are built around Black Mountain’s UP:SCALE system, which is an adjustable design that creates a lightweight bike that can grow with your child. The brand's size calculator on its website helps to choose the correct bike for a child’s size and experience.
As your child grows in size and confidence, a drivetrain can be added (every model, including the Kapēl and Hütto, can be used initially as a balance bike), then the frame can be shifted into its larger guise, which Black Mountain says increases the overall size by more than 20 percent. This, it says, is a simple process that requires no expertise and few tools.
The latest two additions to the range are for bigger kids, but the option to use them as balance bikes is good news for later learners.
Both the Kapēl and Hütto have twist-shift gears (the Pinto and Skøg are single-speed, with a larger gear in the bigger frame mode), “UP:RISE” stem extender and the Hütto has disc and suspension fork build options.
Black Mountain Kapēl kids bike specs
- Wheel size: 18-inch
- Recommended age: 5+ years
- Recommended height range: 110-128cm
- Weight: 8.1kg (8.4kg with pedals); 6.7kg in balance mode
- Colours: Orange, Neon Green, Purple, Azure Blue
- Price: £449
Black Mountain Hütto kids bike specs
- Wheel size: 20-inch
- Recommended age: 6+ years
- Recommended height range: 118-134cm
- Weight: 8.3kg (8.6kg with pedals); 6.9kg in balance mode
- Colours: Orange, Neon Green, Purple, Azure Blue
- Price: Hütto £449 / Hütto Disc £549 / Hütto Trail £649
