Christmas Gifts for Kids Who Ride Bikes
Christmas gifts for kids who ride bikes work best when they match how the kid rides and where they can ride. This guide explains how to choose one for a kid aged about 6 to 16, even if you do not ride yourself. A kid who has outgrown their bike needs one that fits now. A kid who wants to learn a skill properly will get more from a lesson with a riding instructor. A kid who lives near a bike park, a place with built trails and jumps, will enjoy a day there. A kid who rides confidently and has a yard, garden or driveway can use a jump ramp at home on any ordinary day. The guide also explains what to check in a ramp and which ramp suits which age. Order by December 12 for delivery before the Christmas holidays to most destinations.
KINDS OF BIKE GIFT
Start with what the kid rides and where they can ride, because that decides which kind of bike gift is right.
- A jump ramp kept at home. A kid who rides well and wants to learn to jump gets the most from this. Kids learn to jump over many short rides, and a ramp lets them do that in the yard, garden or driveway without a trip to a bike park.
- An indoor training machine. This is a machine or board for practicing one skill at home, such as riding on the rear wheel, so it helps a kid who wants to ride all year but has to stay indoors in winter. Check the wheel size first. Some of these machines fit only wheels of 26 inches or larger, so they suit a teen better than a young kid.
- A kid's bike that fits now. Buy this if the kid has outgrown their bike or is still learning to ride. The brands woom and Early Rider make kids' bikes that weigh little and are easy to control. Buy the size that fits today, because a bike that is too big gets ridden less. Most kids need the next wheel size every two or three years, so expect this gift to last until then.
- A coaching session. This is a lesson in which an instructor watches the kid ride and corrects their technique right away, whether that is cornering, braking or jumping. It helps a kid who wants to learn a skill properly, and a parent who worries about how the kid rides.
- A day at a bike park or pump track. Choose this for a kid who already rides and lives near one. A bike park has built trails and jumps for every level, so the kid can choose the ones that suit them. A pump track is a short track in a loop, with bumps and sloped corners. A rider goes around it by pushing the bike through the bumps and corners instead of pedaling. Both are a day trip, and usually an adult has to drive.
If the kid has outgrown their bike, buy the bike first. If you are not sure, ask the parents what the kid rides and where. The rest of this page is about ramps and training machines, because MTB Hopper makes them. A ramp suits a kid who already rides confidently and has somewhere to ride at home.
WHAT A JUMP RAMP IS
A jump ramp is a portable ramp, usually made of wood, that a rider rides up so the bike leaves the ground. Many fold for storage, and a ramp stands on a driveway or lawn. The take-off is the part of a ramp that lifts the bike, and its shape decides what kind of jump the kid gets.
- Small ramps that weigh little are for first jumps at low speed. They have a smooth take-off, a kid can carry one like a backpack, and you can change the height only a little.
- Adjustable ramps have several positions. The first is a low roll-down, which a kid rides straight over without jumping. The other positions give longer and higher jumps. These ramps stay useful for the longest time, but they are heavier and usually roll on wheels.
- Steep ramps are for a teen who already jumps. A short, steep take-off gives a high jump at low speed, which is too much for a beginner, so MTB Hopper recommends its steep ramps from age 14.
WHAT TO CHECK IN A RAMP
Check these points before you buy a ramp for a kid.
- The kid can set it up and move it without help. A ramp that needs an adult every time gets ridden less, because kids ride for a short time on ordinary days. Look for setup without tools and a weight a kid can carry or roll.
- It can be made more difficult as the kid improves. If a kid learns everything a ramp can do in one weekend, they will stop using it by spring. Look for adjustable height or several positions.
- It suits the kid's age, level and bike. The recommended age and rider level tell you whether the take-off suits the kid. A kid on a very small kids' bike, or on a small bike with no pedals, needs a ramp made for small wheels.
- The kid can start gently. A bike ramp can be safe for a kid who starts at the lowest height and a slow speed and wears protection, although falls happen to every rider. The bike ramp safety guide has the full checklist, so read it before the first ride.
WHAT MTB HOPPER RECOMMENDS
MTB Hopper recommends INTRO or COACH as a first ramp from age 6, and COACH or LITE for kids aged 8 to 13. For teens aged 14 to 16 it recommends COACH, STREET or LIL AIR, depending on whether the teen already jumps. These picks cover the jump ramps and training machines from the list above. Every MTB Hopper product comes with a 2-year warranty. Gifts for adults who ride are in the MTB Hopper gift guide.
Ramps for younger kids
These ramps suit kids aged about 6 and 7, and also an older kid who rides everywhere and has not jumped yet. The age groups on this page are a guide, because how the kid rides matters as much as their age.
INTRO and COACH are the two first ramps, both recommended from age 6. A kid who has not jumped yet can start on either one. On COACH they use the lowest position, which they ride straight over without jumping. INTRO has no upper age limit, so it also suits an older kid's first jumps.
INTRO is the smallest MTB Hopper ramp and the easiest way to get into the air at low speed. It weighs 3.5 kg (7.7 lbs), a kid can carry it like a backpack, and it sets up in 30 seconds without tools. You can raise its height only a little, so a kid who improves quickly will need a higher ramp sooner than on COACH.
"Got this for my wee boys Christmas. He's was straight out on it on Christmas Day and again today. Slowly increasing the height." Garry Muir, on INTRO
Choose COACH if you want one ramp for many years. You can adjust it as your kid improves, from the roll-down up to long jumps and high jumps. It weighs 15.2 kg (33.5 lbs), much more than INTRO, so it has its own wheels and backpack straps. A kid can roll it around the yard or garden. A younger kid who wants to carry a ramp or set it up alone will find INTRO easier.
WAVE is for a kid who rides a balance bike, a small bike with no pedals, or a kids' bike with small wheels. It looks like a low hump: the kid rides up one small ramp, across a bridge and down the other ramp. The kid can use it as a first pump track. The parts snap together without tools, and a kid this young will need an adult to do it.
Ramps for older kids
These ramps suit kids aged about 8 to 13 who already jump or want to learn. A kid this age who has not jumped yet can start with the ramps for younger kids above.
COACH suits a kid who will ride at home, because it is the ramp that stays useful longest. It covers every rider level from Beginners to Professionals. A 12 year old who has already ridden a bike park can keep training on it in the yard or garden.
"Have a pretty talented 12yo nephew with a worried mom so this has been great to ride in the yard." Edward, on COACH
LITE suits a kid who wants to take a ramp to other places. It is recommended from age 8 and turns into a backpack in 15 seconds, so the kid can take it wherever they ride. One father wrote this about how much his son uses it.
"I didnt use it, but my son nearly every day" Michael Welther, on LITE
LITE + INTRO is for two kids who share one gift. It is two ramps, with INTRO recommended from age 6 and LITE from age 8. More ideas are in One Bike Gift for Two Kids.
Gifts for teens
For teens aged about 14 to 16 who have not jumped yet, COACH is the right ramp, because the roll-down lets them start without jumping. The higher positions then let them learn long jumps.
"My 14-year-old son managed to set it up on his own without even looking at the instructions." Jørgen Hoff, on COACH
COACH still works for a teen who already jumps, but STREET and LIL AIR are built for high or big jumps. MTB Hopper recommends both from age 14, for Amateurs and Professionals. An Amateur is a teen who has already done some jumps and feels in control in the air.
STREET is the ramp a teen can carry. Its short, steep take-off gives high jumps at low speed. It turns into a backpack in 30 seconds. A teen can then carry the ramp on their back and ride to the place where they want to jump.
LIL AIR is the ramp for big jumps with a lot of time in the air. That makes it good for learning body position in steep take-offs. It rolls on its own wheels.
The BALANCE Manual Machine is the gift for winter. A manual means riding on the rear wheel without pedaling. The rear wheel is held in the machine, so a teen can practice finding the balance point at home. The rear brake stops the rider tipping back. Its rubber feet protect the floor. It fits wheels of 26, 27.5 and 29 inches, so check the bike's wheel size before you buy the machine.
"Great for teaching kids to find the balance point on a bike." Ben Burnard, on BALANCE
The SNAIL Phone mount is the small gift for a teen who wants to watch their own riding. It holds a phone on a tree, a pole or a bench, so they can film a jump without a friend holding the phone.
More ideas for this age are in A Gift for a Teen Mountain Biker Who Has All the Gear.
Digital Gift Card
Choose the MTB Hopper Digital Gift Card if it is already after December 12 or you are not sure what the kid wants. It arrives by email right away. The kid can then choose their own ramp, training machine or landing, which is a ramp or pad for the rider to land on. It comes in €50, €100, €300 or €1,000 and is valid for 12 months. You can forward the email or print the card at home.
Gifts by budget
Besides the gift itself, make sure the kid wears a helmet on every ride and has the other protection the safety guide recommends. A kid does not need a landing at the start, so you do not have to budget for one.
The table uses regular prices. Each product card above shows what you pay today in your own currency, and discounts may apply.
| Regular price | Gifts |
|---|---|
| Under €100 / US$100 | SNAIL Phone mount (for a teen who films their riding), Digital Gift Card of €50 (any age; ramps cost more than this) |
| Under €200 / US$220 | INTRO (from age 6), BALANCE Manual Machine (wheels of 26 inches and up) |
| Under €350 / US$350 | LITE (from age 8), STREET (from age 14) |
| Under €500 / US$600 | COACH (from age 6), WAVE (kids' bikes and balance bikes), LITE + INTRO (from age 6 and from age 8), LIL AIR (from age 14) |
DELIVERY AND LAST ORDER DATE
Order from MTB Hopper by December 12, and the gift reaches most destinations before the Christmas holidays. The exception is a product whose card says preorder or out of stock. Later orders might be delayed, because warehouses and delivery companies can have problems in December.
Stock differs by country, so a ramp can be in stock in the US and on preorder in the UK. The product card shows the stock state and ship date for your country, so check on the card that the date is before Christmas. A product marked preorder ships on the date shown on its product page.
An order can come in more than one box. Do not wrap it or count it as arrived until everything is there.
MTB Hopper ships from warehouses in the EU, the US, the UK and Australia, so most customers pay no import duties.
A buyer in the UK gets the order from the UK warehouse in as little as 1 to 3 days, with free shipping from £260. A buyer in the US gets the order from the US warehouse in 2 to 5 days. Shipping there is free from US$340, except to Hawaii and Alaska. Standard delivery takes 1 to 7 business days to most destinations, and shipping is free over €300 to most destinations. The Shipping page has the details for your country.
"Arrived quickly, no added hassle receiving the delivery in Canada." Emily Knight, on INTRO
FAQ
What are the best Christmas gifts for kids who ride bikes?
The best Christmas gifts for kids who ride bikes match how the kid rides. Buy a bike that fits if they have outgrown theirs, or a coaching session if they want to learn a skill properly. Choose a jump ramp if they ride confidently and have somewhere to ride at home. MTB Hopper recommends INTRO or COACH from age 6 and LITE from age 8. For a teen who already jumps, it recommends STREET or LIL AIR from age 14. Bike Ramps for Kids by Age lists every ramp.
Are bike ramps safe for kids?
Bike ramps can be safe for kids when the ramp suits the kid's age and level and the kid starts gently and wears protection. Falls still happen to every rider.
MTB Hopper tells parents to start at the ramp's lowest height and a fairly slow speed. Raise the ramp by one height setting once the kid feels confident, and jump onto a natural slope or a landing where possible. A kid should never ride a ramp without a helmet, and knee, wrist and back protection are strongly recommended. Before riding, check that the ramp stands stable and does not move when you push it by hand. The full checklist is in the bike ramp safety guide.
Does a kid need a landing ramp?
No, not at the start. Landing on flat ground is fine while the jumps stay low and slow. For higher jumps, place the ramp so the rider lands on a natural slope, or add a MINI PAD landing. It has shock absorbers that soften the impact. How to choose a ramp explains how ramps and landings work together.
How much space does a kid need for a ramp?
There is no single number, because a faster rider needs more room. Leave open ground around the ramp with no posts, walls or rocks, and leave more of it as the speed goes up. The backyard setup guide explains how to choose the spot.
Can a ramp stay outside all winter?
It is better to store a ramp somewhere dry, and a covered terrace works. MTB Hopper ramps are painted to protect the wood, and they last longest under a roof, away from direct rain and snow. A ramp left out in rain, sun and snow all year can wear out sooner.
Will a ramp still work when the kid gets a bigger bike?
Yes. INTRO, COACH and LITE carry up to 130 kg (286 lbs) of rider and bike, so they keep working when the kid gets a bigger bike. More gifts of this kind are in Bike Gifts That Last.
Can two kids share one ramp?
Yes. On COACH, a younger kid rides the lowest position, and an older kid switches the same ramp to a position for longer or higher jumps. More ideas are in One Bike Gift for Two Kids.
Does a kid need a yard or garden to use a ramp?
No. MTB Hopper ramps stand on any surface, including grass, paving stones, concrete, gravel and asphalt, and they need no mat or boards underneath. A driveway works as well as a lawn. Do not set a ramp up in front of a curb (the raised edge of a road), because the front legs could lean against it.
Will the price be in the box?
No. MTB Hopper sends invoices by email only and never puts one in the box, so the kid opening the gift will not see the price.
Does MTB Hopper offer gift wrapping or gift messages?
No. MTB Hopper does not offer gift wrapping or gift messages, so plan to wrap the gift yourself.
Are there Black Friday or Christmas discounts on kids' gifts?
Expect Black Friday and Christmas discounts at MTB Hopper, listed on the Black Friday MTB deals page. Black Friday comes before the December 12 order date, so you can check those deals and still order in time.