Why choose a front mounted bicycle seat for your child?

On this page you'll find information about the difference between front and rear mounted seats, and what makes the shotgun seat different.

Front versus rear mounted child seats.

If you're looking to take your little one riding, the first step is to decide whether you'd like them sitting in front or behind you – and as you can tell, we think front is best for the reasons below.

Front Mounted Seat	Rear Mounted Seat
✅ Active participation, learning to ride	⛔️ Passive participation, sitting prone
✅ Centered weight distribution on bike	⛔️ Uneven weight distribution on bike
✅ Suitable for full suspension bikes	⛔️ Suitable for hard tail bikes only
✅ Visibility of what's ahead	⛔️ Looking at parents back
✅ Ability to interact / talk with child	⛔️ Limited ability to interact / talk with child

Why choose the Shotgun Kids MTB Seat?

If you're keen for your child to ride up front, there are a few options to choose from. The following table shows what makes our shotgun seats unique:

Shotgun Seat	Other Front Seats
✅ Fully adjustable saddle	⛔️ Fixed saddle
✅ Quick release for fast fitting / removal	⛔️ Tools required to attach / remove
✅ Adjustable width to suit all mountain bikes	⛔️ Fixed width
✅ Adjustable angle for flat or sloping top tubes	⛔️ Fixed / set angle
✅ 60 day returns	⛔️ 14 day - 30 day returns

Which Shotgun seat is right for you? 

Use the below table & video to help you decide if the Shotgun seat, or the Shotgun Pro seat, is the right one for you:

Shotgun seat	Shotgun Pro seat
Suitable for kids 2-5 years (48lb / 22kg)	Suitable for kids 2-5 years (60lb / 27kg)
Not suitable for E-bikes	E-bike compatible
Frame mounted	Zero frame contact
No bike modification required	Stem spacer fitting required
Quick fitting and removal	Lightning fast fitting and removal
Fixed leg length	Adjustable leg length

 

Ready for your little one to ride shotgun? Shop now or find a stockist.