I’ve got one in my “added to cart because I was already paying shipping for something else, haven’t tried it yet” stash. I can say that it looks the part and I’ve been happy with Cheng Shin/CST/Maxxis tires so far.
That or something like it would change how his unicycle felt to ride and give it more of an offroad-y look without too much of a hit. Maybe a pair of platform mountain bike pedals in a color he likes (“Twisted PC” or similar) especially if the original ones are showing some wear. It wouldn’t have to cost a lot to buy some time while he gets taller and you see whether he keeps his interest up or not.
Drop his tire pressure way down, as low as you dare go. Low tire pressure makes a big difference for rolling over lumps and bumps offroad. And a fatter tire helps to be able to go lower with it.
My unicycle.com 20" uni came with 1.95 Kenda kickzumbut , changed to a Maxxis 2.20 Holy Rollers . I have to say I really enjoy them. They roll fast and has that knobby look, quite grippy too.
Good call on the Holy Roller – I put one on my 26" muni, which sees as much street riding as off-road, and really like it. I think it’s a great dual-purpose tire. Not great in mud, but considering we’re talking about San Diego, I don’t think that’s a concern.
Edit: +1 on John’s comments. He’s like the great sage of unicycling around here… been at it since cat was a kitty, and always has good advice!
Lots of good advice out there. I’m surprised no-one suggested craiglist for a second hand 19/20" trial?
Also, I think kids love trial uni 'cause they look cool, and they love jumping around. Distance appears to come with age.
In addition to the very good suggestion above to look at Craigslist, keep an eye on our trading post forum - maybe even post a “wanted” ad there. Some pretty good unicycles show up there for reasonable prices. That $600+ Krish Holm 20 is on there now for $350 right now. That’s a heck of a deal.
There’s no telling what a “wanted” ad might bring to the surface, especially when the ad is on behalf of a youngster who wants to learn. I think we all have a soft spot for that!
My boy turned 9 in January, too. He has been riding a Sun 20" for a year.
I tried to get him on a Nimbus 24" muni this month, but it’s a stretch for
him to reach the pedals in the lowest position, even with the shorter 125mm
crank arms, and even though he’s tall-ish. He’s been happier hitting the trails
with his 20" unicycle. The smaller, cheaper uni will probably hold up through
the summer, and he’ll grow into the 24" by the time the snow melts next
spring. I’m more than happy to ride the Nimbus for him until then.
Nothing softens the cruel hearts of the sneering mountain bikers like dad
and son riding the trails together. Happy riding!
A lot of good advice. Only thing I’d like to add is to keep an eye on local craigslist. I picked up my main ride (24’’ Torker DX) on craigslist for about the same you pay for an amazon/ebay cheapie. You may have to wait some time for the right deal, but it could save you quite a bit and give your son a very nice ride. Look for a sturdy frame and good hub / cranks. The tire can be changed easily to make it a muni.
Otherwise, putting a BMX knobby from your local bike store and some grippy pedals on his current ride may be a good interim option.
