Prevelo is known for designing quality mountain bikes for the youngest and smallest riders, and the latest Prevelo Zulu One ($599) has some new tricks up its sleeve. The bike even comes with hydraulic disc brakes front and rear and a pint-size spec for riders who are 3-5 years old.
Converts from pedal bike to balance bike without tools
By far the most innovative feature of the Zulu One is the ability to convert from a pedal bike to a balance bike without requiring specialty tools. We’ve seen this concept before, with the convertible Little Big bike Singletracks tested in 2017. Prevelo’s BALANCE-TEC design smartly splits the frame at the driveside seat stay so you can remove the chain without having to break it. (It also means you could run a tiny belt drive, just sayin’.)
In addition, the convertible design features a “self-extracting crank” and pegs that can be used as foot rests in scoot and balance mode. From the sounds of it, the Zulu One will ship with pedals installed, rather than the other way around, which is a bit unusual given that kids progress from balance to pedal, and not the other way around.
A new thru seat tube allows parents to slam the seat as low as possible while still leaving plenty of post length for kids as they grow. It’s clear this is a bike designed for parents who don’t want to spend much time wrenching on their kid’s bike, and that seems like a smart move.
Lighter weight, thanks to an enduro race trick
The updated Prevelo Zulu One has an aluminum alloy frame, and a complete bike weighs 13.5lb — almost two and a half pounds lighter than the previous version. The brand says they were able to save weight, in part, by moving to a smaller cog in the rear and a smaller chainring up front, while keeping the overall gear ratio essentially the same. The same trick works to reduce weight and the chance of derailleur strikes for enduro racing, so why not for kids’ bikes, too?
Little shredders will also be stoked for the slightly wider Kenda Booster 14×2.2″ tires. Prevelo boasts that the Zulu One has “trail geometry” with a 66° head tube angle, a 76° seat tube angle, and wee 273mm chainstays.
For bigger riders, the updated Prevelo Zulu Two features 16″ wheels and tires, and the option for a suspension fork. See the Prevelo website for more info and to purchase the bikes.
Updated to clarify that converting the bike is not tool-free; rather, conversion does not require specialty tools like a chainbreaker and crank extractor.
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Feb 28, 2025
Feb 25, 2025