The Puky subsidiary has refreshed its range of models and expanded it with a 20-inch bike with suspension. This makes Eightshot even more interesting for young mountain bikers with sporting ambitions.
The Corona summer was not just about cycling for the adult world. Where visits to the outdoor pool were regulated, holidays abroad were canceled or simply converted into a family bike tour, and club and school sports had to be replaced by personal initiative, children and young people also increasingly got on their bikes. So it's no wonder that the demand for high-quality material has increased here too - where little cyclists are out and about a lot, the strengths and weaknesses of children's bikes are quickly revealed, and many an old model has been discarded.
The Puky subsidiary Eightshot has been well represented in the sporting segment for around three years. The recipe is convincing: the proven quality and child-friendly design of the parent company, combined with off-road expertise, low weight and sensible equipment. With three wheel sizes - 20, 24 and 27,5 inches - Eightshot is aimed at children between five and twelve years of age; with prices starting at around 430 euros, the bikes are quite affordable for sports bikes. And last but not least, Eightshot scores with its low weight: eleven to twelve kilos can also be easily handled by smaller children. The Eightshot bikes were already so mature in the first model year that the model update for the 2021 season is limited to details. All models are now available in new colors. The black and red of the first series, in which all sizes were painted back then, is no longer available, but there are numerous strong colors up to the elegant fuchsia of the top model.
There is definitely nothing to improve on the geometries: Especially in terms of bottom bracket height and standover height, all three models are absolutely exemplary; the children can easily get their feet on the ground and can step forward off the saddle without any problems. With a short seat tube and high front, on the one hand smaller children can get on, on the other hand the seating position is still upright enough when the pilots get bigger. The neutral handling naturally benefits from the short stems that are fitted to all models; but even if a longer model is retrofitted, the bikes are easy to control. And this conversion could be necessary on the 27,5, because the size specification of a maximum of 165 cm is a bit optimistic.
Eightshot keeps the equipment simple, but above all functional. One looks in vain for models with multiple chainrings; Depending on the version, seven, eight or ten gears are shifted. Models with rigid and spring forks are also available in all sizes, with the variety of models increasing with size. Incidentally, all models have been tested according to MTB standards; this means that the rigid forks are stable enough for real off-road use with jumps etc.
The X-Coady 20 FS with 50 mm travel is new to the range. The fact that this bike still weighs just under ten kilos is not least due to the V-brakes: rim brakes are particularly strong enough for small children, easy to maintain and, last but not least, inexpensive. Even with the larger models, disc brakes are not a must, but an option - the intended use, personal preferences and, last but not least, the budget decide which variant is awarded the contract. Only the two 27,5-inch top models with air suspension forks are only available with disc brakes. The main difference between the X-Coady 275 Disc and 275 Race lies in the wheelset: the top model uses a set that is several hundred grams lighter and can be converted to tubeless tires.
The special model X-Coady 275 Pro will be omitted in the future; the limited lightweight bike was above all a demonstration of what you can do with the aluminum frame of the Eightshot as a basis. In view of the low prices, parental tuning measures are an interesting option anyway - for example the conversion from eight to eleven gears, which Velomotion has already carried out itself.
A small shortcoming of the current models will be corrected in the coming months: The plastic chain protection ring, which is riveted onto the chainring, will be replaced by a solid aluminum "rock ring". Considering that the high-quality children's mountain bikes have to endure a lot, this is a sensible improvement.
Eightshot: All models in detail
X-Coady 20 SL: 20 inch, rigid fork, Shimano Tourney 7-speed, 399,99 euros
X-Coady 20 FS: 20 inch, RST Capa T20 suspension fork 50 mm, Shimano Tourney 7-speed, 439,99 euros
X-Coady 24 SL: 24 inch, rigid fork, Shimano Tourney 8-speed, 439,99 euros
X-Coady 24 FS: 24 inch, RST Capa T24 suspension fork 50 mm, Shimano Tourney 8-speed, 469,99 euros
X-Coady 24 Disc: 24 inch, RST Capa T24 suspension fork 50 mm, Shimano Tourney 8-speed, Promax hydraulic disc brakes, 499,99 euros
X-Coady 275 SL: 27,5 inch, rigid fork, Shimano Tourney 8-speed, 449,99 euros
X-Coady 275 FS: 27,5 inches, RST Gila T24 suspension fork 80 mm, Shimano Tourney 8-speed, 499,99 euros
X-Coady 275 Disc: 27,5 inches, RST Aerial MLC 80 mm suspension fork, Shimano Deore 10-speed, Promax hydraulic disc brakes, 769,99 euros
X Coady 275 Race: 27,5 inch, suspension fork RST Aerial MLC 80 mm, Shimano Deore 10-speed, hydraulic disc brakes Promax, wheelset Alexrims Volar 21/Bear Pawls, 999.99 euros