Early Rider Seeker 24 Review – The Ultimate Kids Rigid Mountain Bike
Designed for young riders who want to do everything on two wheels, the Early Rider Seeker 24 truly delivers. It is just as comfortable cruising the neighborhood or riding to school as it is carving through single track.
For their 2025 update, Early Rider refined the Seeker to make it even better suited for all-terrain adventures. The updated frame and drivetrain give it a slacker front end, a lower bottom bracket, and shorter crank arms. The result is modern MTB geometry that builds confidence on dirt while still feeling efficient and grounded on pavement.
For riders who want one bike that can handle every kind of ride, the Seeker 24 is a standout choice. From fit to features, here is everything you need to know about this remarkably capable bike.
Early Rider Seeker 24
MSRP: $1,049
BEST FOR: Adventures riders riding everything from intermediate MTB single track to paved bike paths
SEAT HEIGHT: 28.25” – 34.5″
WEIGHT: 23.3 lb. (with pedals)
ADDITIONAL SPECIFICATIONS
BRAKES: Tektro Hydraulic Disc Brakes
DRIVETRAIN: 1×9 Shimano Cues
GAIN RATIO: 1.69 – 5.5
TIRES: Schwalbe Smart Sam 2.35” wide
RIMS: Doublewall Aluminum, tubeless compatible
FRAME: Aluminum Alloy
Cons:
What We Love about the Early Rider Seeker 24
- Lightweight and nimble: The Seeker 24 is easy for kids to handle on pavement and dirt, which builds confidence as they take on longer or more technical rides.
- Confidence-building geometry: The low bottom bracket and slack head tube angle help young riders stay balanced and in control. The bike feels planted on climbs and steady on descents, which encourages kids to be more playful and adventurous on the trail.
- Functional artwork in motion: Early Rider bikes are beautifully crafted, and the Seeker 24 is no exception. The brushed aluminum finish and clean lines add to the premium feel (colored options also available).
- Smooth shifting: The Shimano Cues trigger shifter offers smooth, light action that young hands can operate without frustration.
- Reliable braking: The Tektro hydraulic brakes perform well and tend to hold up better over time than the Promax brakes found on some competitors.
- Plenty of mounting options: With four sets of bosses on the frame and fork, kids can carry multiple bottles or gear, which makes the bike a great option for bikepacking and longer day rides.
What to Know Before you Buy
- The rims are tubeless compatible, but they are not taped. To convert to tubeless, you will need to purchase tubeless compatible tires (the stock Schwalbe Smart Sam are not compatible), tubeless valves, sealant and rim tape.
- For advanced mountain bikers riding chunkier terrain, the Seeker X24 is worth considering as it comes with a 120 mm air-spring suspension fork. Beginning and intermediate riders on milder terrain are likely just fine on the rigid Seeker 24.
- The seat post is long and can be cut down to lower the minimum seat height. However, lowering it too much may result in a less efficient pedal stroke.
Early Rider Seeker 24 2025 Updates
The 2025 update brought several meaningful improvements to the Seeker 24. The redesigned frame features a lower bottom bracket that creates a lower center of gravity, along with a slacker head tube angle. Together these changes help the bike feel more planted on the trail and give kids the confidence to shift their weight around more freely as they ride. To help increase pedal efficiency, the Seeker 24 also features a narrower q-factor.
Compared to the 2024 model, the changes are clear in the longer wheelbase, updated geometry, and revised gearing.
| Seeker 2025 | Seeker 2024 | |
| Seat Height | 28.25” – 34.5” | – |
| Weight | 23.28 lb. | 22 lb. |
| Head Tube Angle | 67 | 68 |
| Seat Tube Angle | 73 | 73 |
| Cassette | 11-36 | 11-46 |
| Gain Ratio | 1.69 – 5.5 | 1.33 – 5.5 |
| Wheelbase | 992.2 mm | 980 mm |
| Chainstay Length | 392 mm | 390 mm |
With the shift to the Shimano Cues drivetrain, the trigger shifter is noticeably easier for young riders to use. The tradeoff is a smaller rear cassette, which means the lowest climbing gear is not as low as the 2024 version. The previous model came with an 11-46t cassette, while the 2025 model now uses an 11-36t. Even with the reduced range, the new gearing still provided plenty of climbing power for our 8-year-old tester.
What size and age of child fits on the Belter 24?
With a seat height range of 28.25 to 34.5″, the Seeker 24 is best suited for kids with inseams from about 26.5 to 32″. If your child’s inseam is greater than 30 inches, keep in mind that they may outgrow the Seeker 24 within a year or so.
Early Rider does not make a 26 inch bike, so the next step up would be an XS or S adult bike. Although woom and Prevelo both offer 26 inch models, they are sized very similarly to the Seeker 24, so the jump in size may still be smaller than expected.
Real-World Testing: Why Kids (and Parents) Love It
The thing about Early Rider bikes is that they perform as well as they look. The Seeker 24 is not just a pretty frame. It is a well-crafted machine that makes kids excited to ride and leaves parents wishing these bikes came in their size.
Our main tester’s family knows good bikes. His older sister competes in major MTB races across the country, and his dad spent years as the head coach of the local high school MTB team. They have owned Early Rider bikes before, but the shifter paired with an internally geared hub was hard for their son to operate. Once he was tall enough for a 24 inch bike and they saw the Seeker with a Shimano drivetrain, they were eager to try it.
The bike was a hit from the first ride. It felt lightweight and nimble, the shifting was smooth and easy for small hands to manage, and the braking performance stood out immediately. It was everything they had hoped for.
On the trail, the Seeker 24 delivered confidence and control. For our 46” tall eight-year-old tester, the bike struck the perfect balance for neighborhood riding and single track. The geometry and components perform well on dirt without feeling excessive for everyday use.
Climbing felt efficient thanks to the lightweight build, lower gearing, and narrow q-factor. The lower bottom bracket also helped keep his center of gravity down, which made steep climbs feel more stable and required less forward leaning to keep traction on the front tire.
When pointed downhill, the low center of gravity and slack head tube angle worked together to help the bike track smoothly through chunkier sections. Many riders young enough to fit on a 24” bike are still developing confidence while standing and maintaining proper body position, so the stable geometry plays a big role in helping them stay in control as their skills grow.
Overall, the Seeker 24 delivered a fantastic ride for our young tester. From components to handling, the bike feels dialed. For kids riding beginner and intermediate trails, it is easily one of the best rigid 24 inch mountain bikes available. Riders tackling more technical terrain should consider the Seeker X24 with its air-sprung suspension fork, but for those sticking to mellower trails, the Seeker 24 shines as a true do-it-all option.
Belter’s Components and Exceptional Craftsmanship
Shimano Cues Drivetrain
New for the Seeker 24, the Shimano Cues trigger shifters were impressively easy for our young tester to use. The shifter has a viewing window and the levers throw is light and quick with minimal resistance.
The 1×9 setup features an 11-36t cassette that provides a solid 1.69 to 5.5 gain ratio range, which works well for an all-around bike.
For families planning to use the Seeker primarily as a mountain bike, the gear range is well suited for most single track with elevation gains under 500 feet. Riders who regularly tackle steeper climbs or long, punchy ascents may find the lowest gear a bit high, especially in regions with sustained elevation gains.
For riders who need lower gears, the Seeker X24 brings a larger 11-43t cassette. It also uses shorter crank arms to reduce pedal strikes, so its gain ratios remain very similar overall, with a range of 1.67 to 6.5. Riders who need even lower gearing should look at the Prevelo Zulu Five, which features an 11-48t cassette and a gain ratio range of 1.39 to 6.09. Although the Zulu Five is a 26 inch bike, its minimum seat height is actually lower than the Seeker 24, which makes it a realistic option for some riders.
Tektro Hydraulic Disc Brakes
We love seeing hydraulic disc brakes on bikes at this level. Many kids’ bikes in this category come with Promax brakes, which tend to wear out faster. The Seeker 24 uses Tektro hydraulic brakes, which have a strong reputation for reliability and are preferred by mechanics who have worked on our bikes.
Excellent Stock Pedals
Most kids’ bikes ship with pedals that are either low quality or need to be replaced right away. Early Rider takes a different approach. The Seeker ships with quality aluminum pedals with high quality bearings that spin smoothly and hold up well over time. While more aggressive mountain bikers may eventually want pedals with adjustable metal pins, the stock pedals are excellent for the majority of riders.
Four Sets of Bosses
Whether your rider needs extra water, wants to carry snacks, or prefers storing tools on the bike instead of in a pack, the Seeker 24 has plenty of mounting points. Four sets of bosses are located on the top tube, inside the main triangle on the down tube, and on both sides of the fork, offering a wide range of setup options.
These mounting points not only provide a wide range of setup possibilities, they also make the bike easy to outfit for bikepacking.
Chainstay Guard
To protect the frame from chain slap, the Seeker 24 comes with a thick rubberized chainstay guard. It is durable, secure, and does an excellent job of preventing frame damage during rough riding.
Rims and Tires
Although the Seeker 24 is presented as an all-around bike, the tires lean toward mountain bike performance with more pronounced knobs than those found on the Kenda Small Block 8 tires commonly used on all-around bikes. The Schwalbe Smart Sam tires provide plenty of tooth for excellent traction and confidence on true single track.
Unlike the double wall aluminum rims, however, the Smart Sam tires are unfortunately not tubeless compatible, so you will need to upgrade the tires to complete the conversion. We have used Kenda Booster Pro 24” tires in other 24” tubeless conversions with suucess.
Early Rider vs. Prevelo Alpha vs. woom OFF
When you factor in hydraulic disc brakes and tubeless compatibility, the main competitors to the Seeker 24 are the Prevelo Alpha Four and the woom OFF 5. All three bikes are rigid, lightweight, and built with kid-specific components and capable geometry. However, they differ in size and components.
Size
Among the three 24 inch bikes, the Early Rider and the woom OFF have very similar minimum seat heights, while the Prevelo Alpha Four sits noticeably lower and fits smaller riders earlier. Interestingly, the minimum seat height of Prevelo’s 26 inch Alpha Five is actually a bit lower than the minimum heights of both the Seeker 24 and the 24” woom OFF 5. This makes it especially important to check your child’s inseam before choosing a bike, since wheel size alone does not determine fit.
| Seat Height | Weight | |
| Seeker 24 | 28.25” – 34.5” | 23.38 lb. |
| Prevelo Alpha Four | 25” – 31.25” | 18.9 lb. |
| woom OFF 5 | 28.3″ – 34.3″ | 21.6 lb. |
| Prevelo Alpha Five | 28” – 36” | 22.0 lb. |
The Alpha Four is also the lightest of the group, although part of its lower weight comes from using all-terrain tires rather than the knobbier mountain bike tires on the Seeker and woom OFF.
Geometry and Gearing
The Seeker 24 has the slackest geometry and the longest wheelbase, which gives it excellent stability and confident handling on single track. It also has the lowest climbing gear of the 24” bikes, although it lacks the higher “fast gear” found on the Prevelo models.
| Gain Ratio | HTA | STA | Wheelbase | |
| Seeker 24 | 1.69 to 5.5 | 67° | 73° | 992 mm |
| Prevelo Alpha Four | 1.79 to 6.6 | 68° | 73° | 975 mm |
| woom OFF 5 | 1.7 to 5.6 | 69° | 71° | 970 mm |
| Prevelo Alpha Five | 1.66 to 5.71 | 68° | 74° | 1035 mm |
Components
All three bikes (and the 26″ Alpha Five) come with hydraulic disc brakes and trigger shifters, but with different components. After extensive testing, all three setups work great for younger riders with smaller hands, but Promax brakes do tend to wear out faster than Tektro and require more frequent maintenance.
| Drivetrain | Brakes | |
| Seeker 24 | Shimano Cues | Tektro |
| Alpha Four | Microshift | Promax |
| woom OFF 5 | SRAM | Promax |
| Alpha Five | Microshift | Promax |
Suspension Options
If your child plans to take on chunkier and more technical single track, all three brands offer front-suspension versions of their 24 inch bikes: the Early Rider Seeker X24, the woom OFF AIR 5, and the Prevelo Zulu Four or Zulu Five.
Early Rider Seeker 24: Bottom Line
Beautifully crafted and impressively capable, the Early Rider Seeker 24 is the ultimate rigid mountain bike disguised as an all-around bike. It makes quick work of beginner and intermediate trails while still providing a comfortable, efficient ride for everyday use.
With reliable Tektro hydraulic brakes, a responsive Shimano drivetrain, and tubeless compatible rims, the Seeker 24 is equipped with components for durability and performance. The updated geometry also gives young riders confidence and control to handles everything from comfortable neighborhood riding to limit testing single track.
For families searching for one bike that can truly do it all, the Early Rider Seeker 24 is absolutely one of, if not the best, bike on the market.
FTC Disclosure: Affiliate links are included in this review. No monetary compensation was provided for this review, however, the reviewed product was supplied by the manufacturer or distributor to help facilitate this review. All opinions and images are that of Two Wheeling Tots LLC. All content and images are copyrighted and should not be used or replicated in any way. View our Terms of Use.
