Welcome to Grayson MTB, a channel dedicated to helping families get started in the exciting world of mountain biking! Our family is here to share our passion for the sport and provide tips and advice for families looking to explore the great outdoors on two wheels.
Join us as we review the latest gear and equipment for mountain biking, from bikes and helmets to clothing and hydration packs. We'll give you honest feedback on what works best for families starting in the sport.
We'll also tour some of the best beginner-friendly mountain bike trails in Georgia, sharing tips and advice for navigating and enjoying the ride. And, as a family who loves to ride together, we'll offer tips for getting kids involved in the sport and making the most of your family mountain biking adventures.
We're here to help you and your family have fun and stay safe on the trails. Don't forget to subscribe to our channel and join us on our next family mountain biking adventure. Thanks for watching!
If you bought the bike from trek you can bring it in and they can deal with most these problems under warranty. The wiggle in the dropper post is normal though. High end dropper posts will have less play but still a little. It is just a dropper thing.
Keep in mind we’re talking about a trail-ready kids mountain bike with 160mm disc brakes, thru axles, and mid-fat tires. The only lighter bike I was able to find was the Prevelo alpha three. While they share the same MSRP the Prevelo has V-brakes, skinnier tires, and less range (8 Spd vs. 9 Spd).
@@graysonmtb Scott Scale RC 200, Cube Reaction Pro 200, Woom Off 4, Early Rider 20 as examples, are all 8kg (and under) bikes. Even the BMC Twostroke are lighter. Thats why I find it disapointing that Specialized can not make it a 8 kg bike.
Ahh thank you! That Scott Scale RC 200 is quite impressive! I really like the components especially the MT501 brakes and the 10 speed deore! Dang, It’s almost double the price though. If it’s worth any consideration When I converted the Riprock to tubeless it took some weight off but roughly half a Kg, and I noticed the cassette is steel. I could probably get it down very close to the weight of the Scott (future video!?). When our newest addition starts riding, hopefully there will be more options available at similar price points.
@@graysonmtb Yeah, the Scott is cool. Try look at the Cube Reaction 200 pro (2025 - the black one)...it has Microshift Acolyte and a carbon fork 👀💪 The Scott would be the coolest 20" bike ever, if it had the microshift and carbon fork, like the Cube 😎
Hey @Grayson MTB really linking the format of your videos and you taking the time to explain things for beginners. I'm getting into MTB and I was looking between the roscoe 6 and 7 2024's. I don't see huge differences for someone just starting. Do you have any thoughts
Great vid. I have been looking at getting a Roscoe and this has been very insightful. I see you haven’t posted in a while, I hope all is ok and i would have loved to continue to follow you adventures. :)
Thank you! All is well. New baby, last semester of college, and I’ve been behind with editing but I have LOADS of footage and many videos that just need to be put together so we’ll be picking up soon! I appreciate the comment, and we are itching to get these videos out!
I double checked! The only filters I have are “hold potentially inappropriate comments” 🤣 and nothing is there so maybe just something went wrong on RU-vid’s end 🤷
Do you need Spec IV mount or directly to the handlebars? Direct Bar mount www.worldwidecyclery.com/products/shimano-xt-sl-m8100-l-right-clamp-band-12-speed-shifter-black?variant=19224230133882 SpecIV Mount www.worldwidecyclery.com/products/shimano-xt-sl-m8100-il-right-i-spec-ev-12-speed-shifter-black?variant=19224231084154
OK NOW. The bike is fairly heavy with tires with a weight of about 700g each (depends...), bad wheel bearings on new bikes (although boost standard so its easy to build new ones if you find a good rim), brakes are trash. Google "c-star problem brakes" and see for yourself. They should recall them is the opinion. But it looks great and my son loves it. Just need to change wheels and then theres only frame and gears left... :) 10,1kg stock. Also: Seatpost needs to be shortened to fit in the frame at the lowest. This is because of the port for dropper post being in the way. Edit nr2: Our bike dropped chain on biggest cog in the back all the time. Went better with use but now it has a GOLDIX with a 3screw eagle chainring. Works better IMO. Goldix 110 crank was like 150g lighter including bottom bracket so stock is not that heavy.
Loving my Roscoe 7. I’ve had it for 3 weeks and ride it 3-4 times a week. I did upgrade my pedals. I also upgraded my handle bar to PNW Gen 3 35mm along with my stem and went from a 50mm to a 45mm. I think my next upgrade will be the brakes to Shimano 6120’s. Keep the videos coming.
Thank you! I appreciate the compliment (a lot). More videos are coming!!! School and work have had me bending over backwards (plus new baby) and I haven't had the time recently. Stay tuned though!
Thank you for this video 🙌🏾😀 can I ask were your decals a Matt or gloss finish ? I just got my first mtb after 20 years 🤣 but customising it as I can afford to as an adult, fulfilling a child hood dream bike 🤣
I’d agree on your comment of probably being better on a M. I’m 5’10 but short inseam and originally bought a M/L, traded it in for a M which I’m waiting on to come in. I felt the M/L was awkward/sluggish in corners and wasn’t very precise at picking and staying on line. Haven’t been able to trail the M yet, but from a test ride I immediately felt more confident and precise on that frame. Also an interesting note, the M Roscoe has the same wheel base as the last generation Roscoe XXL. These bikes are significantly larger already on modern geo.
Nice! I'm glad you were able to trade in! If I were to trade in id probably loose out with what I've out into the bike already. That's a really interesting fact about the wheelbase!! I know last gen was 27.5 though!
@@graysonmtb Yeah I was still in the 30 day window, so it was an easy exchange. It’s been a learning experience for sure as a new rider, but it really amazed me how much 15mm (difference in reach) changes how a bike feels. I also tried putting a 35mm stem on the M/L which makes it identical in reach to the M. That felt better but also definitely a completely different feel from the M. For me it was too short of a stem and didn’t like it, back of bike felt stable but front wheel felt twitchy like a shopping cart swivel wheel. Unbalanced front to back is how I’d describe it. I think had a kept the M/L a 40 or 45mm stem would have been the right choice. Learning what you like and don’t like is all part of the hobby though. Important thing is you’re out there enjoying it!
@sethrich5998 yeah man… super cliche’ case of “I wish I knew then what I know now” although I feel like I rip my M/L quite nicely. I'll lose than like do down next time but I feel like my skills are my limiting factor still
🙏 thank you! We've been busy with new baby, school for him, finishing my degree, its been really a struggle to make videos but once things calm down ill have more bandwidth to start getting ack into the videos.
Good video! Did you encounter any issues with the back derailleur being so low? Is it hitting on any obstacles or ground? Not sure why Specialized did not install a shorter one like other brands. Even Euro version of Riprock 20 has a shorter derailleur. Let me know if you had any issues with that, this is the last thing that stops me from getting it for my little guy. Looking at Trek Wahoo as well
I've had to bend it back a few times. I have not been able to find a short derailure that allows the 11 to 42 cassette! I'd have to go down to the advent 11-38 inorder to run a short cage. I've been thinking about it because I've since converted him to tubeless and its been getting smashed lately.
Hey great video, do you have anymore on upgrading your bike, how to switch the Deore shifter to XT step by step, that would be awesome. How hards that?
Its very straight forward but yes I'd love to make a quick short video for you guys. I have done a few other upgrades, the most recent being the the jockey bearings in the derailleur (switched to XT)
Upgrade your dropper post. I have the SDG tellis dropper has pretty much no play it's affordable and will still work at -20 degrees I know no one is riding that cold lol but I've had dropper post in 40 degrees go up so slow but no issues with this one!
Great question! The Roscoe is very much a general purpose hardtail. Unlike a downhill dedicated bike the geometry is comfortable enough for general trail use.
Great video man! Quick tip on the zip tie in the frame. Put the zip tie in first and don’t tighten the loop whilst it’s inside the frame. Thread in your new brake cables etc and it will go through the hoop you made with the zip tie inside the frame. When all done then pull the zip tie
Lol That stupid zip tie was the biggest PITA. The dropper and shift cable were already there so I had no choice but to work around it. I love your tip and thank you for sharing the knowledge!
I think I know what the clanking noise is. The chain might be slightly buckled and when the chain goes over certain clogs on the cassette it will slip and make that exact sound. Basically take the chain off and bend it over your hand like it’s going through the sprockets and you’ll find a part of the chain where the links are buckled.
let me know if it was that. Used to happen on my old bike. It made the exact same sound. It was the chain which was slightly stiff/buckled and when it was turning on the drive chain it would slip off with a lift and then push back in with a clank noise. @@graysonmtb
Yeah I’m pretty upset about the PNW’s. I never saw anyone else mention that as being an issue when I was making the decision. I will absolutely take a look into the atlas bars though. Thank you!
I have a Roscoe 9, and it's a fun bike. Just swapped out the stock Bontrager tires for some Continental Argotal/Kryptotal tires, and they are noticeably better (and actually roll faster). I have the PNW dropper lever as well, it's nice but the bolt they use to clamp the cable is super cheap and strips easy (the Chinesium is getting worse lol). I went with a Raceface carbon bar, and cut that down to around 745mm or so (I'm 5'7").....sooooooo much better than the stock 780mm width, and the carbon is a bit more smooth on the rough stuff. I went with an XT shifter as well, which is nice. I did swap the stock dropper post for a OneUp, and that thing is a piece of junk......it constantly creaks when you sit and pedal, so need to figure out a replacement for it that has around the same size clamp area, as with the stock dropper post my seat sat a bit too far forward. Love the stock brakes, but after 500+ miles the pads are getting a bit noisy/not stopping on a dime like they used to, so might need a replacement soon. I think if I had to do it all over again, I'd prob get a new Fuel EX lol.
my roscoe 7 2019 model use to do the same noise they built the whole back wheel again and it seems to be fine buying a $1800 bike it is a bit annoying but at least they fixed the problem
I hope yours is fixed as well i might add thing one does not expect these things to happen when buying a $1800 MTB but it is nice to see a bike shop going the extra mile to fix the problem i guess things happen and to get such great service so quick once i told them what was going on, at the time i was so annoyed in buying a $1800 MTB i was considering not buying another trek ever but there service was awesome so who knows what i will bye next i am looking at a Procaliber 9.6 not to sure yet but if i do bye another MTB it has to be a upgrade from my 2019 roscoe 7
bought this for my 7 year old who is now 9. Just looked into raisings the seat and bar and i cant raise the bars. do i need to buy additional spacers - Help
If any of the spacers are above the stem, you could move them to the bottom but that may or may not be enough to make a difference. There's options to extend the fork tube length but it's very sub standard. It sounds like it might be time to move to a 24”
The noise you’re hearing might’ve been from your cassette, check if it’s tightened or lined up. I had that similar noise with my trek as well, especially on the harder gear (smaller cog)
My son is 50 inches tall. Everything is saying get a 24 but something is telling me a 20 is ok. He will get maybe 2 years ya? If I get him a 24 and he’s on the low range of height it may be too big in the beginning. He may not have fun riding and it can also be unsafe and unstable. My son isn’t the best rider too he’s beginner. Your thoughts? Thanks for the video
@@graysonmtb I totally agree!! I figure he can get 2 solid years on the 20”. Sizing down has its advantages and I totally think with bikes starting out on a great note and minimizing the learning curve as much as possible is key. Feeling stable and having confidence is key vs learning how to ride a large heavy bike. Thank you so much
I can 100% agree just with how many people reached out to me about the rear wheel noise. And even when I was sent my replacement wheel it still needed spoke adjustments.
