I've suggested this to my DH, but he's pretty tentative about the thought of the rugrat on this bike. It rolls MUCH faster down hills and the brakes are extremely grabby. It's a recipe for an endo (it's definitely harder for me to handle this bike with my limited skills). The steering is super sensitive, too. My bike is so perfect for a noob, since it's heavier and everything about it is more sluggish and low-end. But it may be worth a try.