Kids don’t ride like smaller adults. They are lighter, move differently and need different ergonomics. But when they discover mountain biking, they want the same thing as grown-up riders: a bike that looks serious, works properly and lets them push their limits. That was the starting point for the GROOT 246. Eightshot wanted to create a real mountain bike for young riders — not a scaled-down adult bike and definitely not a toy. With Tom Ayton’s experience in sports product development and child-centred ergonomics, the challenge was to combine serious MTB performance with the specific requirements of riders from around 1.30 m. The result is a 120 mm full-suspension bike designed around lightweight riders. Its single-pivot kinematics are specifically tuned for a 30–40 kg rider, delivering active suspension, predictable anti-rise and anti-squat behaviour even under the relatively low loads of young riders. With full Category 5 bikepark approval, the GROOT is built for demanding trails, rough terrain and big jumps.But the real innovation is in the rear dropout. A newly developed, adjustable dropout allows the bike to grow from 24-inch to 26-inch wheels. This significantly extends its useful life and lets the rider adapt the setup as they grow. It also opens up a third option: a 26-inch front and 24-inch rear mini-mullet setup — combining better rollover and stability up front with the agility, suspension clearance and playful cornering of a smaller rear wheel.Visually, the GROOT deliberately leaves the typical kids’ bike behind. A low, dropped top tube, modern frame proportions, hydroformed AL 6061-T6 tubing, internal cable routing and a dropper-post-ready frame give it the stance of a serious mountain bike. Even the downtube was optimised to accommodate a small water bottle — something completely normal on adult bikes, but a genuine first in this category. The GROOT 246 is what happens when kids’ bikes are developed with the same ambition as the riders themselves.24" today. 26" tomorrow. Mini-mullet when you want it.120 mm of real suspension. Category 5 ready. Built to shred. Built to grow.
