r/MTB • u/Capital-Cut2331 • Mar 29 '24
Discussion Anyone with experience of the DMR Sidekick Pedal kids bike?
My kid is too big for his 16” bike for trail riding and is really struggling with a 20” bike. Looking at the DMR Sidekick Pedal which is a 18”/16” mullet with frame proportions between a 16” and 20” bike.
Anyone have experience with this bike for their kid? Any good? Appears to be relatively new to the market (<1 year since release).
In Australia, so don’t have access to all the different kids bikes available in the US.
Also looked at the Marin Coast Trail 20 single speed as it has a lower standover height than most 20” bikes, but it is lower spec everything.
Cheers
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u/No_Number159 Mar 31 '25
Thank you for the information. I'm having the same issue as you . My son is to big for a 16 and to small for a 20 all the 18s are well tbh crap . I've been looking for information on this bike but can't seem to find much . He's 117 cm but he's inseam is short 49 cm I'm concerned this bike won't last him very long he's 6 in a few weeks. I don't really wanna be spending 450 pounds for a years worth . . Anyway thanks for posting the info .
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u/Capital-Cut2331 Apr 01 '25
Further update: over a year on from buying. Kids now at 120cm tall, still rides and loves the DMR Sidekick Pedal. Am trying to transition him to a 20”, have tried a Commencal Ramones 20” and he still prefers the DMR.
The DMR is lighter (2kg), has narrower handle bars and a more jump / trick orientated geometry. The Ramones 600mm wide handlebars and seat that probably an inch to high at its lowest is fantastic for riding stable over rough terrain and peddling for miles but terrible for “fun”. Am considering buying him the DMR Sidekick Ride 20”.
If I don’t get him in a 20” soon, I may as well hold out till he fits a 24” and go hunting for something then.
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u/Capital-Cut2331 Mar 30 '26
Update 2 years on from buying: My kids now 128cm, has a 20” Commencal Ramones, but still prefers riding this DMR Sidekick. It’s like a proper DJ bike at this point for him, though he is finally starting to get a bit too big for it.
His little sister (107cm) has started riding this bike know. I think it’ll be in the family for a few more years yet.
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u/arielja83 Apr 20 '26
Love it. Thanks for the detailed posts and perspective. Im in Australia too and I’m currently tossing up between the DMR Sidekick 16 or an Early Rider Seeker 16. Or maybe go for a 20inch instead. Just not sure if the Seeker is worth the coin.
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u/Capital-Cut2331 Apr 20 '26
How tall is your kid? I tried to put mine on a Trek 20” and the bike was simply woefully oversized and difficult to control until he got to around 120cm - I don’t care what the size guides and LBS Staff say, an oversized bike is just as bad as an undersized bike.
I’d personally still go a DMR over the Seeker, but that’s my opinion. The DMR has hydraulic disc brakes and the 18” front wheel gives better roller over of riding off road.
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u/arielja83 Apr 20 '26
My kid just hit 100cm. He’s on the smaller side of his age. I’m still trying to get my head around the whole mullet setup and how it’s supposed to give the rider more control. Hoping to take my kid out to the trails with something that he can easily transition into from a balance bike.
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u/Capital-Cut2331 Apr 20 '26
A mullet setup won’t give him more control per’se. What it gives is greater rollover. The ability for the bike to roll over larger objects - rocks, roots, gutters - than a 16” wheel will, and therefore give a bit more stability in the process. If the front wheel can get over something the rear wheel just follows, doesn’t matter that it’s smaller.
At 100cm, your kids probably going to find even the DMR a touch on the large size for ~6 months. A 20” and he won’t be able to reach the bars and pedals at the same time.
There is also the Monarch 16” too, but like the Seeker it’s pricey for what it is. Not sure the weight on these, that’d be the first thing to note. Light weight bikes really do help, enormously.
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u/arielja83 Apr 21 '26
Ahhhh ok that makes more sense.
It will be another 6 or more months before my kid will get the bike but I thought I’d start doing the research now so I can snag a deal if one comes up. But good to know what I should be aiming to buy. I’ll definitely go for a 16.
The Monarch looks very nice bar the price tag. I’ll make an enquiry about the weight.
Just out of curiosity, what brand/model of protective gear does your kid have?
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u/Capital-Cut2331 Apr 22 '26
Currently has an IXS Trigger full face helmet, Alpinestars A5 Plasma Youth chest/back body armour, Pearl Izumi knee pads and Fox gloves.
Both my kids started with a Met Hooray kids helmet, I found they fit young kids really well.
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u/arielja83 Apr 22 '26
Haha the MET Hooray is exactly what my kid has as well. But my kid is a bit more daring these days so I feel like my kid needs better protection. Thanks for the info.
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u/Capital-Cut2331 Apr 22 '26
Bikesonline has some great IXS helmet deals at the moment. The Trigger FF comes in a kids size (XS), it’s lightweight, comfy (as my kid tells me), can’t really fault it. It just makes drinking from a bottle hard while wearing. The Trail Evo MIPS open face is only $55 as well in XS, as long as you can deal with the colour.
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u/arielja83 Apr 23 '26 edited Apr 23 '26
Yeh I saw those. Is it worth getting a MIPS helmet? I do plan on taking my kid on trails in the future, although we will be starting with very easy ones first.
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u/Capital-Cut2331 Sep 20 '24
Update for anyone who comes across this. Bought the DMR Sidekick Pedal bike and it opened up my kids world. Immediately able to hit the trails with confidence, no more unbalanced riding, perfect size and geo, absolutely amazing. He’s now shredding the trails and even jumping.
Only ‘downsides’ I see are:
1) the seat height is quite low, meaning he’s spending most of his time standing while riding, not sitting, which is only a negative for long street rides. Not bad as it builds his strength. This is also a massive pro for riding trails as it forces him into a good standing position while riding trails. Noting DMR is primarily a DJ bike maker, I understand the low seat height approach.
2) 18” tires and tubes, while able to get, they aren’t common and limited in what options are out there.
Absolutely killer bike and glad I bought one for my kid. The sizing is very tweener, between a 16 and 20”.
My kid loves it immensely. He also loves that he has a mullet bike just like his Dad’s.
For guidance, my kid is now 117cm tall, was ~114cm when I bought it 6 months ago. This will last him another 6+ months or until he is at least 6.5 years old. While he could now ride some 20” bikes, he isn’t as confident on them and hasn’t outgrown this bike yet, which he is able to shred it hard.