The Kids Specialized Riprock Expert 24" and Diamondback Sync'r 24" bike are both excellent choices for young riders who are ready to take their cycling skills to the next level. Both bikes are designed to provide a smooth, comfortable ride while also delivering impressive performance and handling.
Both the Sync'r and the Riprock Expert 24" have lightweight frames, which are made from premium aluminum. This makes it easy for kids to maneuver the bike and keep it under control, even when tackling challenging terrain. Both frames are designed to provide ample clearance for wide, knobby tires, which offer superior traction and stability on loose or uneven surfaces.
Another notable feature of both the Riprock Expert 24" and Diamondback Sync'r is its powerful hydraulic disc brakes. These brakes offer consistent stopping power, even in wet or muddy conditions, and are easy for kids to operate. This gives young riders the confidence they need to take on challenging descents and tricky technical sections with ease.
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The Riprock Expert 24" and Diamondback Sync'r also feature a suspension fork, which helps absorb bumps and vibrations on the trail. This makes for a smoother, more comfortable ride, and helps kids stay in control even on rough terrain. The forks are adjustable, allowing parents to tune the suspension to match their child's weight and riding style.
Let's get into some of the unique specific differences between the two bikes:
The Manitou JUNIT 24 100mm travel fork is the most standout feature on the Riprock. JUNIT Expert features a 1.5” tapered alloy steerer tube and a forged hollow crown. The 32mm, 6000 series black anodized stanchions are completed with Manitou’s signature Reverse Arch. Lightweight riders benefit from the easily adjustable Expert Air spring system, adjustable reboundr. Retail price for a JUNIT is over $500.
The Diamondback Sync'r has an acceptable SR Suntour XCM Boost w/ 80mm Travel, 28mm Stanchions, 110x15mm Thru-Axle, w/ Preload Adjust. It's a durable shock that will go the distance, but the JUNIT is a bit of an upgrade.
The 12 Speed SRAM SX Eagle Drivetrain is a standout on the Diamondback. The Riprock comes with a 11 Speed NX Drivetrain. Both the NX and SX are fairly comparable in their performance, but the Diamondback comes with that extra 12th granny-gear that really helps the young rider when going uphill.
Weight is an important factor when considering kids bikes, and the Specialized Riprock weighs a bit less than the Sync'r. The Riprock comes in at 28lbs and the Diamondback Sync'r is just over 30lbs on our scales. But with a tubeless kit we think you could get the Diamondback to 29lbs. The Diamondback also comes with 12th gear on that SRAM SX system that the Riprock does not, which will help the pedal-ability of the Diamondback over the Riprock in the long-run.
For overall value for the money the Diamondback Sync'r beats out the Specialized Riprock 24" Expert in our book. Although the Riprock has some nicer features like the front fork and internal cable routing we don't find the features on the Specialized Riprock worth $400 more than the Diamondback Sync'r. The cost of a Specialized Riprock is $1199.99 on the Specialized site, while you can find the Diamondback Sync'r on ReadySetPedal for $799.
