Meta HT 24

The Commencal Meta HT 24 is for kids who are already riding real singletrack and want a bike that leans harder into descending than most 24-inch hardtails. Commencal has serious credibility in gravity racing, and that legacy shows here. This is a small hardtail built for aggressive trail riding.

The 120mm Manitou Junit air fork is built for lighter riders, with low breakaway force, plus rebound and compression adjustment, so it starts moving easier under smaller riders instead of feeling stuck at the top of its travel. Paired with a slack 67-degree head tube angle, it gives the rider more control when the trail gets steep, rocky, or rough.

Maxxis DHF and DHR II tires give the bike proper trail grip and are tough enough to handle big hits, and the Tektro hydraulic disc brakes use a 180mm front rotor, which is larger than the 160mm rotors typically found on bikes this size. That extra rotor size adds much-needed braking power for kids riding steeper terrain.

The Microshift Advent X 10-speed drivetrain pairs a 28-tooth chainring with an 11-48T cassette, giving young riders a very easy climbing gear. At 26.7 pounds without pedals, the Meta HT 24 is on the heavier side for a 24-inch hardtail, but that weight buys real suspension, serious tires, and a frame built for harder riding.

I would like to see a bike this trail-focused come with a dropper post, but at this price, leaving it off is a fair concession. The frame takes a standard 31.6mm seatpost, has enough insertion depth for many short-travel kids’ droppers, and supports stealth internal routing if you want to add one later.

For kids who are more interested in technical trails, descents, and enduro-style riding than covering flat miles efficiently, the Meta HT 24 is one of the most compelling 24-inch hardtails in the category.