Prevelo Bikes Unveils the Zulu Two Heir: A Trail-Capable Bike for Kids

Revolutionizing Children's Mountain Biking with Innovative Design and Technology

The Zulu Two Heir stands out in the market as the first 16-inch hardtail mountain bike. Its unique features include a long wheelbase and slack geometry, making it forgiving for young riders still learning trail riding. The bike's design incorporates a new airfork, the Heir 16, specially designed for small wheels and lightweight riders. This airfork, a first of its kind for 16-inch bicycles, features carbon fiber and aluminum construction.

The bike's frame is made of 6061 alloy, and it includes a special low bottom bracket design and short crank lengths. This design keeps the rider low to the ground while maintaining good pedaling ergonomics. The cranks are cold forged aluminum and custom made to Prevelo Bikes' specification for length. The Heir 16 fork on the Zulu Two Heir uses aluminum alloy and carbon fiber construction to minimize weight. The fork utilizes an air spring that can be adjusted to accommodate lightweight riders and adjustable rebound dampening.

The design process of the Zulu Two Heir began in 2017 in California and saw its first production bikes shipped to kids in the United States in November 2018. The design has undergone continuous refinement through December 2021. The design team, led by Jacob Rheuban, focused on creating a bicycle that would make children most confident riding a bicycle on trails. Their research involved observing children ride on trails and soliciting input from parents who frequently rode trails with their children.

One of the significant challenges the design team faced was the lack of an air fork available for a 16-inch wheel size. The team had to develop a fork that would work with a 16-inch wheel. Additionally, there was little understanding of the optimum geometry for bicycles for very young children on trails. The team had to research and observe children riding to understand the best geometry.

The Zulu Two Heir's design has been recognized with the prestigious Golden A' Baby, Kids and Children's Products Design Award in 2022. This award is granted to marvelous, outstanding, and trendsetting creations that reflect the designer's prodigy and wisdom. They are venerated products and bright ideas that advance art, science, design, and technology, embodying extraordinary excellence and significantly impacting the world with their desirable characteristics.