The 2017 Cleary Scout is a serious, top-quality trail bike, scaled down for children. It features a CroMoly steel frame with a progressive 69° headtube angle and short chainstays with room for up to 2.7″ fat tires. An SR Suntour XCR 32 air fork with 100mm travel and lock smooths the ride. Shifting is managed by Shimano Deore, and appropriately sized Tektro brake levers attached to hydraulic disk brakes make stopping a non-issue for small hands. The 1-by-10 drivetrain with a monster SunRace 11-42T cassette lets your kid climb any hill with ease.
Cleary Bikes (CB) is a high-end bicycle brand that specializes exclusively in bikes for kids. Based in Sausalito, California, they were founded on the idea that children’s bikes shouldn’t be “disposable toys,” but rather real, high-quality machines with top components, designed for children. Founded in 2014 by Jeff Cleary, an attorney from Sausalito, CA, this company was quickly recognized worldwide for its completely different league in quality, weight, and performance. Unfortunately, Cleary Bikes has closed its US operations as of November 2024. These bikes are built to last through several generations of siblings and have a very high resale value on the used market.
Is this 2017 Cleary Scout a good bike for your child? Yes, if your child loves to ride and is ready for a fully loaded adult-like trail bike. If you are looking for a starter bike for a child who has never cycled before, a safer bet would be a more traditional upright kids’ bike from a good brand. Just stay away from department store bikes :–)
Unsorted Restoration Pics
I bought this bike without brakes. Several components have to be de-rusted and overhauled before it is safe to ride. If you would like me to build it for your child with particular components, please email me directly: bikesheaven1@gmail.com
The number 7 on this bike indicates the year of production – 2017. The latitude and longitude coordinates point to the exact location where the bike was designed in Sausalito, California. It’s essentially a “Designed in California” badge, and a root connection to Marine County – the birthplace of mountain biking.
Original Components
- Frame: Cleary Scout Trail Frame Butted 4130 Chromoly tubing, disc brake equipped, down tube cable routing, 44mm head tube, down tube bottle bosses. Color: Gray
- Fork: SR Suntour XCR 32 Air with 100 mm travel and locking mechanism
- Wheels: 26″ Joytech sealed 6-bolt QR Axles hub, Alex DP21 24″ double wall, tubeless ready, 28 hole rims, stainless spokes
- Bottom Bracket: External bearings with crankset
- Chain: KMC X10 10 Speed
Cassette: Sunrace 11-42 Tooth 10 Speed wide range - Chainrings: replaceable alloy narrow wide 28T
- Shifters: Shimano Deore M6000 10 speed
- Crankset: Cleary forged 2 piece crankset 165mm
- Rear Derailleur: Shimano Deore M6000 Shadow Plus
- Stem: Cleary Oversized Aluminum 31.8mm Stem 50mm Length
- Seat Post: Alloy 27.2mm Micro Adjust
- Brake Levers: Tektro HD-291 Hydraulic with junior levers
- Brakes: Tektro HD-291 Hydraulic
- Headset: FSA integrated 1-1/8″, Sealed.
- Handlebar: Cleary Oversize Aluminum 31.8mm 15mm Rise, 680mm Width.
- Handlebar Grips: Cleary lock-on
- Saddle: Cleary Design Junior trail saddle