Author Topic: Meinier 24” MTB build  (Read 69785 times)

Ludo

Meinier 24” MTB build
« on: November 20, 2024, 12:06:02 PM »
After a few months of thinking about it, 11.11 sales was the trigger point! I started ordering parts for it and will document below my experiences…

Ordered:
Frame 24” Meinier (could be the OEM for BXT…) - $243 in blue
https://a.aliexpress.com/_ms7Rgbt

Frame is sold naked so I added headset, thru axle & nut, seat post clamp & hose frame guides from their offering for $30

Wheels I went for Pasak as Meinier gave me a great deal on their demo set, complete with Kenda 24x2.35 XC tires - $150

PAsak 24" fork, 110mm travel, not ideal as the axle to crown length is a bit long for my liking at 470mm, I think 430ish would be better, but got a good deal from Meinier again so will use that to start with until something more suitable comes my way - $75

TPU tubes to replace the standard - $23 for 4
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mqKBsTZ

Brakes, Zrace M1 X2, my son tried on my bike (riding the top tube), and is able to reach and apply required force - $43
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mPd24vl

YBN 12S chain - $17
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mPPR8Mx

Ltwoo TX shifter/derailleur - $39.5
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3256807476247674.html

Sunshne 12S 11-46 cassette:
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805550155109.html

ODI pro handlebar grips - $8.54
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256802923154326.html

Risk foam sleeve for shifter and brake cable/hose - $2.16
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804953293228.html

Elutaone seatpost - $14.89
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806817868438.html



Reused:
Saddle will be elitaone, bars cut EC90, uno stem, Cruze cranks in 130mm with 28T passquest chainring



« Last Edit: November 26, 2024, 08:09:54 AM by Ludo »

Ludo

Re: Meinier 24” MTB build
« Reply #1 on: November 25, 2024, 11:27:37 AM »
added a few more items to the purchased list, getting close to be a complete bike. Hopefully we can land fully built around 10.5-11kg.

Ludo

Re: Meinier 24” MTB build
« Reply #2 on: January 03, 2025, 11:51:54 PM »
Received the frame today, cleaner internals than the 2 SP cycle I own! Clearly EPS molding, carbon layout seems perfect.
Paint job is great, frame tube and especially rear triangle are really big adding some unnecessary weight I think. With seat clamp and rear thru axle insert, it checked in at 1024g, not bad at all.
I need to start compiling the weights to get a guesstimate of finish weight, my best is probably around 11.5kg as the wheels and tire combination is pretty heavy. I may still be tempted to upgrade to carbon wheels and some 2.2 wide XC tires
Communication with Dan at Meinier has been outstanding.
« Last Edit: February 04, 2025, 02:15:44 PM by Ludo »

jefflinde

Re: Meinier 24” MTB build
« Reply #3 on: February 04, 2025, 10:43:41 AM »
Cant wait to see the rest of this build. 

Ludo

Re: Meinier 24” MTB build
« Reply #4 on: February 04, 2025, 02:16:13 PM »
Kiddo’s birthday at the end of the month, well built it just after that.

MartinCZ

Re: Meinier 24” MTB build
« Reply #5 on: March 14, 2025, 05:00:02 AM »
Hello, unfortunately, my experience with this seller hasn’t been great. I also ordered a 24" carbon frame with a carbon fork from him. He offered several painting options, and my daughter liked one of the chameleon paints. I agreed to the surcharge and sent the payment at the beginning of January..

After some time, he told me the painting was finished, but it was completely different from what we had ordered. He admitted the mistake and offered us a new selection of chameleon paints, explaining that he had to change the painting shop. However, the same thing happened again, and in the end, we received a paint job that wasn’t even close to what we originally wanted.

At that point, I decided to accept it and asked him to proceed with the shipment. A week ago, he sent me photos of the finished frame with logos, ready to be shipped. Since then, I haven’t received a tracking number. He occasionally replies, saying he will send everything "tomorrow," but obviously nothing has been dispatched yet. So I still believe I will get the frame sometimes but after more than 3 months it is hard even just to believe...

Ludo

Re: Meinier 24” MTB build
« Reply #6 on: March 14, 2025, 06:22:13 AM »
Man i am sorry, that’s sucks. :/

MartinCZ

Re: Meinier 24” MTB build
« Reply #7 on: April 15, 2025, 04:17:41 AM »
The frame finally arrived and overall I have to say it’s solid – the quality is much better than I expected. I’m definitely fully satisfied.

What I like:
- Good paint finish
- Frame quality – clean inside, everything looks tidy
- Low weight
- Decent quality of other parts (seatpost, handlebar, stem, etc. from this seller)

What I don’t like / things to consider:
- The fork doesn’t have any guide or mount for the brake hose
- The headset top cap includes a rubber ring that caused resistance and prevented smooth steering - I had to remove it. Either the top bearing should sit slightly higher (by approx. 1 mm), or the headset design should allow more clearance between the rubber and the frame

I also ordered the cranks from Meinier. They were cheap and 155 mm long – far too long for this frame size, but that was expected. I’ll use them for a future 26" build.

Final weight: 9 kg (including pedals)

Note: Be careful with chain length – the frame has shorter chainstays than standard, so a slightly longer chain may be needed compared to what SHIMANO suggests (add 2 more links).

PHeller

Re: Meinier 24” MTB build
« Reply #8 on: August 19, 2025, 01:14:16 PM »
I just picked up a Cleary Scout 24 for my kiddo on a whim because it was cheap ($200), local, and in decent shape (namely the tires). Unfortunately, it's a tank of a bike, weighing nearly 29lbs. I got it cheap enough that I could use it for parts building a lighter frame, and started eyeing the Meinier 24" carbon frames.

One thing that is readily apparent is that the geometry for these frames (the Chinese carbon hardtails) is a bit wonky.

Using the Manitou Junit 24" forks as a base, the a2c measurement of a 100mm 24 inch suspension fork is roughly 455mm, so at 80mm travel it would be right around 430mm.

That's good because the BXT, Meinier, Tideace 24" frames seem to use 430mm as their reference.

However, they are also saying the HTA at that 431mm a2c is an oldschool 70º.

When I look at 24" Spawn, Commencal and Trailcraft options, they are 68º HTA with 80mm-100mm forks, but they have similar BB drop - right around -25mm. Which is good, because in order to really benefit from the slacker HTA, we also need a lower a BB drop.

If we were to raise the cheap carbon frames via taller forks to a more modern 67-68º HTA, they would likely have no BB drop at all.

So it seems like we're left with "Modern Geo, Lightweight, Expensive" - pick two.


Ludo

Re: Meinier 24” MTB build
« Reply #9 on: August 19, 2025, 04:10:25 PM »
I am not sure what modern geo means for a 8-11yo kid to be honest.
There is only a short period of time the frame would really fit them even in the 3y span they will fit on it. Drop,, reach are going to change so much that I really don’t think 2deg of HA will make much of a difference

PHeller

Re: Meinier 24” MTB build
« Reply #10 on: August 19, 2025, 05:15:09 PM »
I think comfort and consistency of control are pretty important things for a kid. The more stable and comfortable a bike is, the more likely they are try things that push their skill level forward. Sure, some kids will blast through anything on Walmart bike, but others won't unlock those skills until they can trust their ride.

If we're going to get so particular about weight that a few pounds makes a difference, why not be equally particular about geometry? Jackson Goldstone rode Spawn bikes for much of his childhood. How might his success been different had he been riding Walmart bikes?

Ludo

Re: Meinier 24” MTB build
« Reply #11 on: August 19, 2025, 07:34:11 PM »
Because they will grow 10” before changing frame and that will have much more of an impact on handling (stack, reach) than the 2deg difference IMO.

Ludo

Re: Meinier 24” MTB build
« Reply #12 on: September 18, 2025, 07:31:02 PM »
We now have a fit after a growth spurt
« Last Edit: September 18, 2025, 07:46:05 PM by Ludo »