Test children's bike: The KTM Wild Bee is visually striking and technically with the front derailleur and suspension fork it does something different than comparable bikes. Does the approach work?
With a white frame and pink decor on the frame and suspension fork, KTM is successfully playing the girls' card - this bike stands out and pleases. Parents appreciate the well-known brand that stands for high quality. The child-friendly frame geometry ensures an upright sitting position; Reflectors at the front and rear as well as in the spokes are already installed. But while young female bikers like to climb the Wild Bee, it has several disadvantages from the parents' point of view.
Even the equipment is not convincing: With a high breakaway torque, the fork hardly deflects, but the weight of the bike increases. The 2×6 circuit already overwhelms smaller children motorically; In addition, the front derailleur is too difficult to operate with a twist grip. While models like the Scott and Eightshot come with a 32T chainring, KTM uses the 42/34 combination; apart from downhill passages, the large blade is practically unusable. Instead of a patent seat post, KTM uses the cheaper variant with a seat candle and clamp; The use of a “power modulator” on the front brake also raises questions.
Another negative aspect is that both wheels are equipped with solid axles and have to be fastened with an open-end wrench. A quick wheel removal, for example when the wheel is loaded into the car, is not possible. At 11,9 kilos, the KTM is more than two kilos heavier than significantly cheaper, more sensibly equipped models.
