Grand Canyon Young Hero 27,5 Zoll Review
Suspension fork, disc brakes, and a decent drivetrain. The Canyon Grand Canyon Young Hero 27.5 delivers what one would consider a proper mountain bike for kids. And that for a price of 699 €. Is there a catch?
If you’re interested in the Grand Canyon adult hardtail, you’ll find an article including video under this link. We also have a review of the Giant Faith Fully in store.
When is a 27.5-inch mountain bike suitable?
The old rule of thumb (“Feet must touch the ground when sitting on the saddle”) loses significance as kids get older. A seven or eight-year-old child can handle slightly tilting the bike while standing to reach the ground with their foot.
Starting from a wheel size of 24 inches, it’s more important that the saddle can be adjusted so kids can pedal ergonomically perfectly.
The wheel size of 27.5 inches is roughly equivalent to 26-inch wheels in terms of bike size. Our experiences on kids-bike-test.com show that a bike with 27.5-inch wheels can be considered for a height of about 135 cm. Before that, it’s not very sensible. Canyon offers the Grand Canyon Young Hero 27.5 in two frame sizes. Our tester, just under 140 cm tall, used the 2XS version. The larger XS version has the same seat tube, but the main frame is significantly bigger.
Bike Setup: Work Comes Before Fun
Especially for kids, it’s crucial to pay attention not only to the wheel and frame size but also to ensure the components are ergonomically suited to the children’s body.
The Canyon Grand Canyon comes stock with a sensible crank length of 155 mm and a short 45 mm stem. We slammed the stem for our 135 cm tall test rider. This allows kids to apply enough pressure on the front wheel.
However, we trimmed the 350 mm long seat post a bit so that the saddle can be fully lowered into the frame. In the factory configuration, this wasn’t possible. This not only allows for the ideal seating position but also lets you drop the saddle when hitting the trails.
Air suspension fork is key
Unlike the smaller Grand Canyon with 24-inch wheels, the larger 27.5-inch model actually features an air suspension fork.
The fork can be properly adjusted to the low body weight of children. The appropriate pump is included in the delivery. This option significantly enhances the bike’s value. Inexpensive coil spring forks not only have poorer responsiveness, they also typically offer less travel. With 120 mm, the Young Hero is well-equipped for technical trails.
13.6 kilograms – not a super lightweight
At 13.5 kilograms, the Canyon isn’t super light. In this wheel size, there are Carbon bikes that are easily 2-2.5 kilograms lighter. But they also cost three times as much.
For the price of €699, the weight is absolutely acceptable. Especially since the tires (which can wear out quickly for kids) and tubes offer significant tuning potential.
Anyone willing to make an effort can easily shave off another 300-400 grams here. However, the base with an aluminum frame, disc brakes, and suspension fork cannot be tuned into a super-lightweight racer. The focus of this bike is not on lightweight construction but rather on a robust design that allows for everyday use.
What can be said about the specs?
The 10-speed Shimano Cues drivetrain is sturdy, has shifters specifically designed for small hands, and with the large 48-tooth cog on the cassette, it provides an easy climbing gear—without kids needing to operate a second shifter for a front derailleur at the crankset. That’s brilliant.
The Shimano MT 200 brakes can be operated with more than one finger. Kids often use two or three fingers on the lever, and that’s possible here. They provide reliable stopping power but aren’t specifically tailored to the ergonomics of small children’s hands. Nevertheless, their braking force significantly increases safety on streets and trails—and boosts confidence in the bike and their own abilities.
Features: Between Everyday Life and Sport
The Canyon Grand Canyon is a true mountain bike but also shows a pragmatic side with its frame details. A kickstand or luggage rack can be mounted if needed.
There is space for a Bordo lock on the down tube, and on the top tube, there’s an additional mounting point for a small pouch – e.g., for snacks or the house key. This way, Canyon also has kids in mind who ride this bike to school.
Here's what our tester says about the bike:
After several weeks with the bike, our tester Lukas has also developed his own opinion on it and comes to a verdict far beyond technical details:
Conclusion on the Canyon Young Hero 24 Inch Mountain Bike
For €699, Canyon delivers a kid’s bike that can do more than just commute to school. The suspension fork performs exceptionally well even at low weights, and the geometry of the bike is designed for off-road use. Those seeking ultra-light construction will have to spend more money. If you’re looking for a robust, affordable, and versatile bike, you’ll get a great overall package here that covers everything from the ride to school to singletrack trails.
