MATTS J PLUS

FOR THE RACERS OF TOMORROW

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Do you remember your first ride on a bicycle as a child and that feeling of freedom and independence it gave you? Finally, you were able to go much further than your feet could ever carry you and explore places never reached before. That day the big wide world has become a little bit smaller for you and not only a new cyclist was born but also a great explorer. Today's bicycle development doesn't stop when it comes to kids bikes. In the last few years, modern, up to date designed and specced kids bikes have become more and more popular and important. We know that the first contact with a bicycle in the children's life has a huge impact on his/her future as a cyclist. And what is more important than spending time in nature, having fun and living an active and healthy lifestyle.

INTENDED USE

On one side, we see the MATTS J+ as real off-road bikes, where our youngest cyclists can have real fun in the woods and on trails. On the other hand, due to the fact, that a carrier, fenders and a kickstand can be mounted, it's also a stylish bike for everyday use. In the end, it's just made for kids to have fun with and not only riding a standard kids bike that looks old fashioned and boring.

KEY COMPONENTS

Optimised weight

Weight is an important issue when it comes to modern kids bikes. There must be a good balance between the weight of the rider and the weight of the bike, which is even more important for small kids than for adults. To achieve a lower weight, we decreased the tube diameter and mostly used round shaped tubes. That way, some weight, but also cost compared to voluminous hydroforming tubes, could be saved. More effective in the weight reduction was the use of lightweight kids’ specific components, like the MERIDA JR handlebar and saddle as well as the one-by drivetrain. Here, compared to a normal two or three-by drivetrain, a lot of weight could be saved. In addition to that, we reduced the number of spokes, use lightweight tyres and tubes to shave off the last few grams. 

Plus size tyres

Besides the great and modern look, the 2.4" tyres provide impressive comfort, while at the same time offering better puncture protection than smaller tyres. Small bumps are easily absorbed which increases the feeling of safety. And with the good tyre carcass structure, it offers good rolling resistance while being lightweight and durable. Plus size tyres at this price level, replace the heavy, expensive and mostly not well-working suspension parts. 

Kids’ specific components  

The specific demands on childrens’ components make them differ a lot from adult components. Not only that kids are smaller, but also do not have the same strength in their hands for example when it comes to braking. That's why we have chosen certain components to ensure that our youngest cyclists are able to use their bikes in a good, comfortable way and make them easy to handle in any situation.
 

Rigid fork

In this bike category, well working and lightweight suspension forks are very expensive, while entry-level suspension forks are extremely heavy and offer poor performance. That's why we have decided to use a rigid fork in combination with 2.4" tyres to provide the needed comfort. Furthermore, this guarantees longevity and reduces the need for maintenance. 

MERIDA MATTS JR handlebar

The MERIDA MATTS JR handlebars were designed with the specific demands of children in mind. These handlebars are lightweight and optimised in shape and width to ensure optimal handling and comfortable riding in any riding condition. 

MERIDA MATTS JR Saddle

MERIDA MATTS JR COMP and EXPERT saddles are lightweight and customised to meet the demands of our youngest cyclists. Most children saddles are just adult saddles shrunk down in size. But it's not only the size that matters but also the padding and foam density. Children are much lighter than adults, so the foam has to be different in density to provide the needed comfort. Besides that, the weight of the saddle plays an important role in the overall weight of the bicycle. 

MERIDA MATTS JR crank

All MERIDA kids bikes come with a one-by drivetrain, making the whole shifting process much easier to understand and to handle. The chain wheel is covered from both sides by plastic chain wheel guards. These guards do not only protect the riders from getting hurt or dirty but also have the function of preventing the chain from dropping off the chain wheel while riding off-road. These plastic guards have the advantage, that they are lightweight and cost-effective in comparison to alloy guards, which also might get sharp and dangerous edges after hitting obstacles. For that reason, they are also much safer.

Tektro disc brakes

Besides the smaller size of the hands, the power kids have in their hands for braking is much less than for adults. That's why we use Tektro kids specific hydraulic disc brakes at our kids bikes. These disc brakes have kids’ specific brake levers, made for smaller hands and the reach of the lever is adjustable. Another benefit of hydraulic disc brakes is, that there is almost no friction compared to mechanical disc brakes and the lever ratio guarantees, that the brake power can be well modulated. The disc brake rotors come with rounded edges to prevent any injuries. 

6061 aluminium

All kids' bike frames are made with the same 6061 lightweight aluminium we use in our adult bikes, we don't cut any corners. They're also painted and lacquered in the same way, so the bikes can still look great even after a few tough knocks. 

MODERN DESIGN AND GEOMETRY

There is no reason why kids bikes should look old fashioned while modern adult bikes sometimes are really nice design pieces. And if mommy and daddy ride the most up-to-date and modern bikes, the kids' bikes should be equal. From the frame design, the new MATTS J is now clearly a member of the MERIDA family. The modern kids’ specific geometry makes it easy to handle in any riding situation, while the sloping top tube offers an optimised standover height. The low bottom bracket provides stable handling, while the low standover height guarantees easy mount and dismount. Both frames have the possibility to mount a bottle cage. On the 24" wheel model the bottle cage is on the down tube, while on the 20" wheel bike it is on the top tube making it more accessible for small riders. Also, it's a sportive bike, however, it is possible to mount a kickstand as well as a carrier and fenders, which makes it easy to transform it into a day-to-day bike for commuting to school for example.