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With so many different kids bikes on the market, it can be confusing to figure out which ones are best. You want a bicycle for your child (or grandchild) that will be easy to learn to pedal on, durable enough to be handed down, and lightweight enough to make biking fun.
The bad news is that there are a lot of awful, heavy bikes out there. The good news is that we’ve spent years testing and reviewing 12 inch and 14 inch kids bikes to help you find the best ones.
The best 14 inch bike is the Woom 2. We recommend it for it’s extremely lightweight build, high quality components, and confidence inspiring riding position. It’s the perfect bike to learn to ride on.
Looking for more options? We’ve compiled a list of the 10 best bikes for your 3 or 4 year old (i.e. 12 inch and 14 inch bicycles).
Why trust us? These are bikes we’ve tested and reviewed ourselves. They are also ones that are recommended time and time again by other bike parents. We’re avid cyclists and parents trying to help other families have as much fun on bikes as we have.
We’ve also created a guide to help you know WHY these bikes are the best bikes and what to look for to make sure you are picking the best bike for YOUR individual child.
Note: These bikes are best for 3 year olds, with the intent that they will be able to ride them for a year or two. If your child is closer to 4 than to 3, you might also want to check out our list of the best 16″ bikes. Learn more about picking the right size bicycle for your child below.
We’re about to give you a list of all the good bikes on the market, but how do you know which one is best for your child? Consider these factors, and then use the comparison chart above to help you choose.
Each child is different. For instance, my son and his cousin who are only a few months apart are nearly six inches apart in height. Therefore, it is really very important to measure your child before buying a bike. What may fit one child at 3 years old may not fit another until 4.
For details on how to measure your child and pick the right size bike, read our Kids Bike Size Guide.
For maximum comfort and stability, I recommend that your child’s inseam be at least as long as the minimum seat height. While technically their inseam can be slightly shorter than the minimum seat height (it will fit on their tippy-toes), kids this young who are just learning to ride do best if they can put their feet flat on the ground.
Of the bikes on this list, the Prevelo Alpha Two and the Cleary Gecko are the smallest. These are great options for kiddos who are ready to move from a balance bike to a pedal bike at a very young age. On the other side of the spectrum, the Pello is a little bigger so is a good choice for little one’s with longer legs but not quite ready for 16 inch wheels.
This chart shows the minimum seat post height of our top picks.
After ensuring a bike is the right size, the next most important thing to consider is the weight. When comparing two bikes, I will *almost* always pick the lightest one.
It makes a huge difference in a child’s enjoyment level and in how long they can ride. Look for a bike that is no more than 30% of your child’s body weight (tough isn’t it)?
Of all the bikes on my list, the Cleary Gecko is the lightest 12″ bike and Woom 2 is the lightest 14″ bike. These were also my son’s favorites—I don’t think that’s a coincidence.
The chart below shows how all of the bikes we’ve included here rate in terms of weight.
The plus of the 12 inch bikes on this list (the Cleary Gecko and the Specialized Hotrock) is that they fit really young riders (as young as 2.5 years old). If your child has been on a balance bike since a super early age and is ready to graduate to a pedal bike earlier than most, go for a 12 inch bike for sure.
On the other hand, if your kiddo is 3.5+, I would recommend choosing a bike with 14 inch wheels instead. Why?
The larger wheel size makes it significantly easier to roll over obstacles—cracks in the sidewalk, rocks and bumps at the bike park, etc. I’ve seen firsthand my son do much better on a 14 inch bike compared to a 12 inch bike.
To understand kids bike sizing and wheel size a little better, read our post on kids bike sizes.
Unfortunately, just like most things in life, the more you spend on a bike the better quality it is going to be. Buy a cheaper bike from a big box store and it will be heavy and fall apart quickly.
The good news is that when you buy a high-quality bike, like any of those at the top of our list, it will last thru several children. This makes it a good investment if you have younger kids it can be passed on to or to sell on Craiglist.
Similarly, brands like Woom and Prevelo offer trade-up programs. When your child outgrows their first bike, you can trade it in for the next size and a significant discount.
While we do believe that you should invest in a good point, there is a tipping point in terms of value. In the following chart you can see how these bikes stack up in terms of price vs. overall score. While the Spawn, Frog, and Early Rider bikes are all fantastic bikes, they are overpriced when compared to offerings from Prevelo, Pello, Woom, and Cleary.
A lot of kids bikes are poorly designed. The bikes on our list of best kids bikes below have been specifically designed to have stable and child appropriate geometry.
This means that they have a longer wheelbase, narrower Q-factor (the distance between the pedals), and a lower center of gravity when compared to most kids bikes. All of this equates to a more stable and comfortable ride.
The other thing to consider when it comes to bike geometry is how aggressive the child’s position on the bike is. For most young kids just learning to ride, we prefer a bike with relaxed, upright geometry. This instills confidence and provides easier handling.
Still, there may be some kids who are athletic and confident on a bike right off the bat. If that’s your child, you can consider a bike with more aggressive geometry.
The Woom 2 (left) has more upright and relaxed geometry than the more aggressive Cleary Gecko (right).
Finally, you’ll want to pay attention to both the stand over height and the minimum seatpost height. Not all 14 inch bikes are sized the same!
The lower the stand over and minimum seatpost height are, the smaller the child that will fit on the bike. (And similarly, the less room your child will have to grow with the bike). Choose a bike that’s the right size for where your child is NOW with some room to grow.
I’m a huge proponent of teaching children to use hand brakes and bypassing coaster brakes. I’m at a point now where I won’t even put my son on a bike with a coaster brake, or teach another child to ride using one.
Why? When kids are learning to pedal, they naturally tend to backpedal as well. With a coaster brake, a back pedal causes a sudden stop. This is incredibly frustrating for little ones. (There are other reasons to skip a coaster brake, chief amongst them is the weight).
The tough thing is that in the U.S., manufacturers are required by law to put a coaster brake on all bikes with wheels that are 20 inches or less. This isn’t a thing in the rest of the world.
Fortunately, the law only applies to manufacturers, so parents can modify the bike if they choose. Brands (like those that sell or favorite bikes below) have after market modification kits that allow you to put a wheel with a freehub on your child’s bike. This is easy to do.
To decide whether a freewheel or coaster brake set-up is best for you, and more about both options, read our article on coaster brakes vs. handbrakes.
A child’s bike outfitted with a coaster brake only.If you do choose to skip a bike with a coaster brake, you need to make sure the handbrakes are easy to pull and easy to operate. This is soooo important for young kids just learning to ride.
Our favorite brake levers are the color coded levers on the Woom 2 (listed #1 in our list below). They are easy to operate and fit small hands well. The color coding also helps kids learn the difference between their right (rear) and left (front) brakes.
Training wheels? Just don’t do it!
If your child hasn’t mastered a balance bike yet, start there and then transition to a pedal bike later. (You can also remove the pedals from a pedal bike and have your child use it like a balance bike).
You can find out more about why we don’t recommend training wheels in this article:
This little bike tester has removed the pedals from her Spawn Yogi and is using it like a balance bike. She had the pedals back on and was riding in no time.
You’ll notice that all of our favorite kids bikes listed below don’t even offer training wheels. If you MUST have training wheels, here are some of our faves. You can also use the comparison table toward the end of this article to find the bikes that offer them.
This is a highly personal choice—some people have a clear preference for aluminum or steel. I don’t personally. Aluminum is the lighter material, and we all know how important saving weight is on kids bikes, but steel is super durable (and classic).
A high level of customer service might be important to you, or it might not. The more mechanically inclined and bike-savvy you are, the more you’ll be able to deal with issues that arise on your own.
If you aren’t as great with bikes, look for a company that has good customer service. They will make sure that your bike is assembled correctly and double and triple checked before shipping. They will help you with replacement parts when and if you need them.
If you made it to here, you probably have all the information you need to pick a great first pedal bike for your child. That said, if you really like to geek out over all the nitty-gritty, you can find even MORE things you should consider before buying in our guide to choosing a kids bike.
Overall Score: 99
Weight10/10Quality Of Components10/10Child Appropriate Geometry / Ease Of Riding10/10Customer Service10/10Aesthetics9/10Weight: 12.3 lbs (with coaster) I Minimum seatpost height: 15.7″ I Freehub option: yes
The Woom 2 was without a doubt my son’s favorite bike when he was learning to ride, and we aren’t afraid to call it THE BEST 14 inch kids bike on the market.
While the price tag is a bit higher than many parents may prefer to pay, the quality of the bike is worth every penny. No detail has been overlooked—from the color-coded brake levers to the upright geometry and featherlight weight, the Woom 2 is perfection.
Our kiddo also preferred the 14-inch wheels of the Woom 2 (compared to a bike with 12 inch wheels) as they allowed him to roll over bigger obstacles.
Make sure to order the freewheel kit ($19) if you prefer that to a coaster brake. (We highly recommend it). It also shaves the weight down by another pound or so.
Read Our Review: Woom 2
Price: $399
Buy at Woom.com*Weight: 12 lbs (with freewheel) I Minimum seatpost height: 15.4″ I Freehub option: yes
Oh, how I love this little bike. The Cleary Gecko‘s small frame makes it the perfect first pedal bike for early balance bike graduates, and the easy-to-pull Tektro brake levers make learning to operate handbrakes possible even for the youngest riders.
This is a great bike for athletic riders thanks to the aggressive geometry and beefy Kenda tires. If your little one is going to be riding off-road or off curbs, this bike is worth a look.
On the flip side, the more aggressive leaned-over geometry may be too much for more timid riders. We also wish that the bike came with a quick release seatpost collar to make it easier to raise and lower the seat quickly.
Read Review: Cleary Gecko
Price: $370
Buy at ClearyBikes.comWeight: 13.2 lbs (with coaster) I Minimum seatpost height: 14.5″ I Freehub option: yes
The Prevelo Alpha One is a bike we recommend for new riders time and time again thanks to its child-appropriate geometry. Your child will be pedaling in no time on this bike.
The Alpha One can be fitted with an optional–and highly recommended–freewheel kit. The rest of the bike is built up with high-quality components including Kenda tires and easy-to-operate Tektro v-brakes.
The bike has also recently been redesigned in order to have a super low seatpost height–the lowest of all the bikes on our list–but also a long seatpost so it can grow. This makes the Alpha One a solid investment and a bike that will last a while.
Is there anything negative to say about the bike? We wish that it had a steering limiter (helpful when kids are just learning to ride). It also lacks some of the “extras” that other bikes come with–bells, kickstand, etc.
Read Review: Prevelo Alpha One
Price: $379
Buy at PreveloBIkes.comWeight: 13.8 lbs (with coaster) I Minimum seatpost height: 17.5″ I Freehub option: yes
This 14″ beauty is one of our favorites due to the beefy mountain bike style tires. Whatever terrain your child is riding–pavement, gravel, grass, or dirt–the Pello Romper can handle it.
The paint job (orange, pink, or teal) is gorgeous and the components are brand-name. They include a Cane Creek headset, Kenda tires, and an aluminum Ahead stem. These are the same parts we’d look for on an adult bike.
The Pello Romper has recently been upgraded so that it had dual front and rear handbrakes, which we love.
The only thing to be aware of with the Romper is that it’s a little heavier and the seatpost is a little higher than bikes like the Woom or Prevelo, so it’s a better fit for bigger and more athletic kiddos.
Read Review: Pello Romper
Price: $359
Buy at PelloBikes.comWeight: 14.2 lbs (with freewheel) I Minimum seatpost height: 15.7″ I Freehub option: yes
This brand new offering from Frog Bikes deserves a spot on our best of list. The Frog 40 is one of the smallest and lightest 14″ bikes available.
It is durable and well-made so expect to hand it down to multiple kids. The bike comes with a freewheel installed, has dual Tektro handbrakes, and a bevy of other impressive components and specs.
The bike is also one of the snazziest looking kids bikes around. It comes in bright colors and fun designs, and includes fun extras–fenders and a bell–that most brands are charging extra for.
Like the Cleary Gecko, the geometry on the Frog 40 is a bit more aggressive. That’s fine for athletic kiddos, but can make learning to ride harder for kids who need a little extra confidence boost.
Read Review: Frog 40
Price: $419
Buy at ReadySetPedal.comWeight: 12.4 lbs (with freewheel) I Minimum seatpost height: 15.7″ I Freehub option: yes
The Early Rider Belter 14 is an exceptional (albeit pricey) bike. The most unique thing about the bike is that it has a belt drive (rather than a chain). This makes it a great choice for young kids who often leave their bikes outside, and for families who live in rainy or humid conditions.
The brushed aluminum frame is gorgeous, as is the faux leather saddle. But the bike isn’t just pretty. It’s lightweight (12 pounds) and has top of the line components (Tektro brakes, wide Vee Tire Co tires).
There’s not much bad to say about the Early Rider Belter 14 other than that it doesn’t have a quick release seatpost collar. That, and the price can be off-putting. It’s a beautiful bike, but not worth the extra cash compared to the Woom 1–in our opinion.
Price: $459
Buy at ReadySetPedal.comWeight: 13 lbs (with freewheel) I Minimum seatpost height: 16″ I Freehub option: yes
If you are a mountain biking family (like we are!), the Spawn Yoji should definitely be on your shortlist. It’s a bit pricey (like all good mountain bikes are), but the high-quality components and low weight make it worth the price.
The Yoji has real off-road tires, Tektro brakes, and is built up to weight a mere 13 pounds.
While this is a fantastic little bike, the high price (ouch!) may be off putting. Additionally, we found assembly and brake setup was more challenging than many of the bikes on this list that are basically ready to roll right out of the box. We’ve also had many parents complain about the customer service (or lack thereof) from Spawn.
Read Our Review: Spawn Yoji
Price: $475
Buy at SpawnCycles.comWeight: 14.1 lbs (with freewheel) I Minimum seatpost height: 16″ I Freehub option: yes
Looking for a deal? The Vitus 14 is it. We consider this bike the “best bang for your buck.”
This little ride has brand-name components like Kenda tires and Tektro handbrakes. It’s also reasonably light, coming in at only 14 pounds. At this pricepoint, we don’t know any other bike coming close to the quality.
The one bummer with this bike is that it’s not as carefully built prior to shipping as a Woom or Guardian bike, for example. You may need some mechanical skills to check over the brakes, headset, etc before riding.
Unfortunately, Chain Reaction is no longer shipping this bike to N. America. We’re leaving the bike on here for those fortunate enough to be in the E.U. or to find one used.
Price: $235
Buy at ChainReactionCycles.comWeight: 16 lbs (with freewheel) I Minimum seatpost height: 16.1″ I Freehub option: yes
For under $270, the Guardian 14 is a great pick. It’s big differentiating feature is the proprietary SureStop braking system that helps prevent over-the-bars accidents. For kids just learning to ride a bike, in particular, we love this design.
The bike comes sans coaster brake, sans training wheels, and with child-appropriate geometry. It also has features usually only found on higher end bikes like internal cable routing and a removable steering limiter.
Our only complaints about the Guardian 14 are the weight (heavier than the more expensive bikes on this list) and the exposed axle bolts.
Read Our Review: Guardian 14
Price: $269
Buy at GuardianBikes.comWeight: 15.8 lbs (with freewheel) I Minimum seatpost height: 16.5″ I Freehub option: yes
Forth Bikes set out to make great kids bikes (like some of the kids bike brands listed at the top of our list) but at a more approachable price point. And they have succeeded.
The Forth Park 14 has child appropriate geometry, dual hand brakes, and a respectable weight for about $100 less than the competition. So where does it fall short?
The components aren’t quite as high end as the bikes higher up on the list, and it weighs a couple pounds more, but for the price, it’s pretty hard to beat.
Price: $235
Buy at ForthBikes.comWeight: 18 lbs (with freewheel) I Minimum seatpost height: 16″ I Freehub option: no
The Batch Bicycles 12 was developed with the belief that you shouldn’t have to spend a fortune to get a decent bike, and we agree! It’s available only from local bike shops, which is nice if you want to go take it for a spin before buying.
The bike has a high-quality aluminum frame, threadless headset, and nice wide tires that provide plenty of traction. Unfortunately, like the other “budget” bikes on this list, though, it’s awfully heavy (18 lbs). Unless your child is super athletic, they will probably struggle to ride it without the training wheels.
This is a bike we’d recommend only to those would are determined to stay under $200, but who would prefer buying a durable bike as opposed to one that will end up in a landfill.
Read Review: Batch Kids Bicycle
Price: $189
Find a Local DealerWhile these bikes aren’t in our top 10 list, they are good quality bikes that deserve a look.
Unlike many of the big bike manufacturers, Commencal is killing it with their kids bikes. Known for their adult mountain bikes, the brand has created a 14″ bike that looks cool enough to hang with the grown-ups.
Luckily, the Commencal Ramones 14 doesn’t just look good, it rides well also. The Commencal Ramones 14 offers dual Tektro handbrakes and no coaster, a comfortable saddle, and Vee tires. Best of all, it’s far more affordable than most of the bikes out there with a freewheel.
Read Review: Commencal Ramones 14
Price: $380
Buy at ReadySetPedal.comAs of fall 2018, Islabikes has discontinued sales in the U.S. If you are lucky enough to live in a market where they are still sold or if you can find one used, the Islabikes Cnoc 14 is a top pick.
This 14” bike is a cult favorite among parents in the know, and if you are looking for a bike with good resale value, this bike is it. The bike is lightweight, fast, and durable.
Read Review: Islabikes Cnoc 14
Most of the bikes on this list are only sold online and aren’t available at your local bike shop. Specialized, on the other hand, sells only thru local bike shops which means the Specialized Riprock 12 is an easy bike to find locally and your child can try it on for size prior to purchasing.
While this is a solid first bike (literally, it’s super durable), it is not quite as nice as some of the other bikes on this list. It also comes with training wheels, so we recommend taking those off.
Read Review: Specialized Riprock 12
Price: $275
Buy at Specialized.comWhile this company is popular in their home country of Australia, it’s not as common to see a Byk in the U.S.
Child appropriate geometry and 14” wheels for rolling over obstacles make the Byk E-250 a decent choice. That said, the lack of a freewheel option and the hard-to-pull brake levers puts this bike lower on my list of faves.
Price:$249
Buy at ReadySetPedal.comNorco makes rad adult mountain bikes, and the Norco Coaster 12 looks like a mini version. While we like the quality and durability of the bike, we don’t love the coaster brake or the heavier weight (when compared to the bikes on our top 5 list).
It does come with a rear v-brake which is nice and we appreciate the large grippy pedals.
Price: $259
Buy at Norco.comWhile the Trek Precaliber 12 is far from our favorite 12 inch bike, we do understand that there are a lot of families who would like to support their local bike shop and Trek is an easy-to-find LBS brand. (They also sell direct to consumer on their website if that’s more your jam).
What we do like about the Precaliber is that it is durable. This isn’t a bike that will fall apart within a few months (or even years of use). At 15 pounds, it’s also relatively lightweight, and if you remove the training pounds you’ll save a bit more weight.
Price: $279
Buy at Trek.comNot sure which of these bikes is best for YOUR child? Here’s how they stack up.
BikeSizeMinimum Seat HeightWeightFreewheel ?Dual handbrakes?Training wheels?Frame Material Woom 214"15.7"12.3 lbsYesYesNoAluminum Islabikes Cnoc14"18.5"12.4 lbsNoYesNoAluminum Spawn Yoji14"16"13 lbsYesYesNoAluminum Cleary Gecko12"15.4"12 lbsYesYesNoAluminum Prevelo Alpha One14"14.5"13.2 lbsYesYesNoAluminum Frog 4014"15.7"14.2 lbsYesYesNoAluminum Pello Romper14"17.5"13.8 lbsNoNoNoAluminum Specialized Riprock12"17"15 lbsNoNoYesSteel Byk E-25014"15.7"14.4 lbsNoYesYesAluminum Commencal Ramones 1414"18"15.4 lbsYesYesYesAluminum Norco Coaster 1212"15"15 lbsNoNoYesAluminum Vitus 1414"16"14.1 lbsYesYesNoAluminum Co-Op Cycles REV 1212"16 lbsNoNoYesAluminum Batch Bicycles 1212"18 lbsNoNoYesAluminum Forth Park 14We first started testing kids bikes 8 years ago when our son was 2 years old! We’ve tested and reviewed a ton of bikes in that time, and experienced even more out and about riding with other families.
The bikes here are those that we have first hand experience with and can whole-heartedly recommend to other parents. There’s not a bad bike on the list–although we like some better than others!
We rode them! Well no, we’re too big for that. We had our kids and our friend’s kids and our neighbor’s kids ride the bikes for us.
These bikes have been ridden how they were most often intended to be ridden, but also ridden down trails, off ramps, and through the snow. We live to bike and bike year round, so bikes get used and abused.
In addition to first hand testing, we also listen to our community. We get soooo many emails from y’all. We have a Facebook group. We talk to parents in real life at the pump track. You all tell us all kinds of things about your children’s experiences on bikes and your experiences with the companies that sell them. This feedback counts too.
Putting a numeric score to a bike is a tough thing; although it helps make our ratings more accurate, it’s still subjective. We urge you not to spend too much time belaboring these scores, and instead look for a bike that seems like it would be a good fit for YOUR child.
All that said, here is what we were looking for when ranking the bikes.
The best bike for a 3 year old is the Woom 2. It is lightweight, has high quality components, and is easy to learn to pedal on. The pedals can also be removed to be used as a balance bike at first, if needed.
Most 3 year olds will fit best on a 14 inch bike. Very small children may fit better on a 12 inch bike, but the larger wheels on a 14 inch will help kids ride more easily over obstacles.
You may also want to check out our kids bike size chart to make sure you’re getting the best size bike for your child.
No, a 3 year old should not ride a tricycle. Unless the tricycle is purely for fun, your child will be better suited by a balance bike or a pedal bike without training wheels. These bikes will help develop gross motor skills and set your child up for a lifetime of loving bicycles.
A 14 inch bike is typically a best fit for a 3 year old. That will provide plenty of room to grow for a year or two.
Still need help making your decision? Here are a couple articles to help. Also, sign up below to receive your free, printable bike buying cheat sheet to help you when shopping.
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Built with ConvertKitThe Rascals are a family of three. Kristen (mom), Blair (dad), and Parker (kiddo). We started Rascal Rides when Parker was born and we didn’t want to give up our passion for biking. As we learned, we shared. Over the years, we’ve tested hundreds of kids bikes, helmets, bike trailers, and more.
Kristen is a USA Cycling certified coach and loves to share her passion for biking with other families. Blair is a bike geek, mechanic, and mountain bike junkie. Parker is our resident tester and inspiration.
If you see us out on the trail, make sure to say hi!
Type of Bicycle
There are actually a wide array of bicycle categories, but we focused on the models you’re most likely to encounter for children: mountain, BMX, balance, freestyle, and cruiser bikes. But many bikes geared for the youngest riders aren’t officially labeled as any of the above categories.
Mountain bikes are suitable for all terrains, with fatter tires that are compatible with a wider array of surfaces from on- and off-roading. Their design provides stability while also supporting maneuverability. These usually also come with aluminum frames that are fairly lightweight and support multiple speeds to get up and down steep inclines.
BMX bikes will usually only support one speed, only have rear brakes, and feature a steel frame as they’re intended for tricks and need more durability. This is a bike geared towards a more sophisticated rider.
By contrast, a balance bike is for the littlest riders, doesn’t come with pedals, and is solely meant for children to learn to maintain positioning and posture while sitting on a moving object. Avery champions this model as the best “starter bike” for children. It allows kids to “learn to balance at their own speed and won’t need their parents running behind them with a hand on the saddle.”
Freestyle bikes look similar to BMX bikes, but have both front and rear brakes. They’re usually equipped with fat tires.
Cruisers are more for the casual rider as they feature a larger frame, a lower center of gravity, and recessed handlebars to improve stability while you ride.
And although we didn’t list it as a specific bike type, electric bikes are also available for kids too in many of the above traditional categories. E-bikes are usually significantly more expensive and heavier than a traditional manually-powered bike because of the added motor and battery pack.
Brakes and Gears
In most cases, you’ll find that kids’ bikes feature two main types of brakes, hand or coaster. Coaster brakes (also known as rear pedal brakes) can’t be triggered until you begin to pedal backward. Although this sounds straightforward, it can be a bit tricky for younger tots who have just graduated from a balance bike. Avery shares that while most kids find hand brakes easier, U.S. regulations currently require that all “sidewalk” bikes (those sized for kids, with a seat height of 25 inches or under) have coaster brakes.
Hand brakes are easily triggered by squeezing a lever on the handle. Some bikes will have both coaster and single hand brakes, allowing kids to practice the hand brakes before they make the transition to a bigger model. Many models that are 20 inches and larger will come with brakes on both handles.
Gears dictate how easily your child can pedal and gain momentum (read speed). Poor gearing can leave your little one pedaling furiously, but going nowhere fast, or struggling hard to move the pedals at all while going uphill. While gears are important no matter the terrain, this is especially critical as you focus on bikes that offer multiple speeds or for off-road conditions. Although this is a very technical specification, the experts recommend considering the gain ratio for this factor. A high gain ratio means that initially, your child needs to exert more effort to get moving, but once momentum is gained, they can move farther with each pedal stroke. Meanwhile, a gear with a low gain ratio is easier to get started but requires sustained pedaling to maintain momentum. Even for a single-speed bike, consider whether your child is the type who wants to ride for hours or is only making short trips around the block. If they’re long-haul riders, then a higher gain is technically better for them.
Adjustability and Assembly
No parent wants to buy an expensive bike that their child is going to outgrow within a year, and growth spurts can make this a real risk. To avoid this heartache, you’ll want to consider the adjustability of a bike. In most cases, this will include the ability to raise or lower the handlebars and seat, hopefully without too much effort or special tools.
Along the same lines, one of the biggest pain points we noted through real user reviews was the assembly process. In most cases, if you’re buying a bike online, you’re going to have to assemble it. Often this means attaching the wheels, brakes, and pedals. In our guide, the Woom Original 3 16-Inch Bike, and the Royalbaby Freestyle 16 Kids Bike featured easy assembly that took less than half an hour for most reviewers.
If you’re not particularly handy, we highly recommend paying a visit to your local bike shop for help. Likewise, it’s fairly common that bikes will need additional adjustments after the first few weeks of using it. So, make friends with your local bike purveyor so they can help you adjust the wheels, seat or handle heights, or brakes as needed. Bikes purchased online from REI often come with the option to pick them up assembled in the store.
Cost and Durability
Bikes can be pricey, and the more features they come with, the higher the price tag. Unsurprisingly, electric bikes are the most expensive option on the market thanks to the added expense of a motor and battery pack. Even for kids, these bikes can easily top $1,000.
It is possible though, to find wallet-friendly manual options for under $100 although these will usually be single-speed or balance bikes, and for much younger, inexperienced riders. Avery also reminds parents that budget bikes can be difficult to repair and “will often be very heavy, making for a more challenging riding experience.”
In our guide, pricing ranged from just over $100 to around $400. The average price tends to be around $200, and this will still get you a solid bike that should work for a couple of years before you need to upgrade to a larger model. If you’re willing to spend a little more, you can get a bicycle that will last longer than your child will use it, which means you can pass it down to a younger child or resell it, getting more return on your investment.
How to Use Kids' Bikes Safely
Learning to ride a bike is a great way for children to stay active, but it’s not without risks. No parent wants their children to get injured while riding. So, being smart when teaching your child to ride, as well as having the proper accessories is critical.
Helmets Are Important
“Before a child straddles or sits on a bike, ensure they have a properly sized helmet on their head, it’s adjusted correctly, and it’s buckled,” VanderMause says, echoing the advice of the American Academy of Pediatrics. This includes those short trips around the block. Make sure they’re wearing an actual bicycle helmet, as this is the only headgear truly intended for this type of activity.
Make helmet-wearing second nature by including your kids in the selection process. Encourage them to decorate it and add reflective stickers to it for added visibility. Also note that if your child does get into an accident while wearing a helmet, you’ll need to replace it. Likewise, second-hand helmets aren’t recommended.
Always Pick a Safe Environment
Beginner riders should never get their first lessons on the street. Hong reminds parents that a safe, suitable location (away from traffic) is always key.
Pick the Right Size Bike
Children’s bikes are made with an intended age range. So, even though parents might want to avoid having to size up sooner than intended, resist the urge to get a bike rated for an age or height range ahead of your child’s current dimensions. Having them ride a bigger bike is dangerous, since they might not maneuver it properly and may struggle to pedal effectively or correctly. This can translate into more accidents, difficulty maintaining balance, and reduced control.
Always Ride to the Right of Traffic
To be clear, if your child is just learning to ride, the street is no place for them. But once they’ve mastered their bike riding skills, experts agree that if they’re riding on the street, then they should be to the right of cars, riding with traffic and not against it. Experts note that the most common bike-car collisions are from oncoming traffic.
Don’t Forget Hand Signals
Again, if your child is just starting to ride a bike, keep them on the sidewalk. But once they’re more experienced, learning to use hand signals helps when sharing the road with cars. Incidentally, bike riders are also expected to follow the rules of the road—including stopping at stop lights or signs.
Skip the Night Rides
Even with reflective gear, night rides can be dangerous. Motorists won’t always see a bicyclist. Riding at night should be limited to the most experienced of riders. When the sun goes down, put the bike away.
Using Electric Bikes Safely
Electric bikes can be fun, but they are inherently more risky than a traditional pedal bike. The biggest concern centers around your child losing control because of the motorized speed. To minimize this risk, focus on pedal-assist models and avoid throttle bikes as they increase your child’s chances of an accident.
With pedal-assist e-bikes, your child still has to pedal to not only activate the motor but also maintain that added power. By contrast, a throttle bike doesn’t require that the rider continue pedaling to control the speed, which allows them to go too fast.
Electric Bikes and Local Regulations
Along the same lines, understanding local regulations is critical as e-bikes are often considered street legal. This means you can ride them on the road with cars. Most municipalities have guidelines for how fast an e-bike can travel within its jurisdiction. Don’t just rely on the maximum speed outlined by the manufacturer, as it’s possible this can be higher than what’s allowed in your region.
Some children’s e-bikes allow you to further restrict the speed to a lower maximum beyond the manufacturer settings, as an added safeguard. If you’re concerned that your little rider might be a little too daring, this is an option to consider for keeping them safe.
Be Smart About Electric Bike Batteries
Another concern that tends to be more controllable these days with e-bikes is the battery. When e-bikes first appeared on the market, lithium-ion batteries from various manufacturers with inconsistent safety protocols made headlines for spontaneously combusting. This included causing house fires and even catching on fire while people rode personal electronic mobility devices.
To curb this risk United Laboratories, an oversight organization that creates safety standards, crafted UL 2849 which is a set of guidelines manufacturers must follow to create lithium-ion batteries that are used in personal e-mobility devices. These guidelines ensure that the detachable batteries on e-bikes are more stable and less likely to spontaneously combust. But there are still things consumers can do to be smart when using lithium-ion batteries. And note that these recommendations apply to any device that uses a lithium-ion battery—like your smartphone—not just e-bikes, e-scooters, or hoverboards.
Your Questions, Answered
At what age can you start teaching your kid to ride a bike?
Thanks to the addition of the balance bike category, you can safely begin introducing a bike to your child around 2 years of age. At this stage, you’re just teaching them to maintain posture and form while sitting on a moving object. But note that your child should exhibit readiness before you introduce one. As Lisa VanderMause shared, this means they have “balance, coordination, and physical strength to successfully operate a bicycle.”
How much should a kids’ bike cost?
Ultimately, this is going to depend on whether you’re picking a bike just for your child to cruise around the block or for specific activities, i.e. BMX tricks, or on- and off-road riding. By default, these bikes are going to cost more.
Beyond solely focusing on price, also consider aspects such as safety features, ease of assembly, and longevity. While you can find bikes that are under $100, these are usually intended for the youngest riders and have very limited functionality and longevity. It’s not uncommon to spend between $200 to $400 for a good single-speed bike.
When does my child need a bigger bike?
Two factors will dictate whether or not your child is ready to graduate to a bigger bike. Hong advises that along with your child’s age and height, also consider their riding competency. “If the child wants to ride further, faster, or take on more challenging terrain, parents should consider purchasing a bike suited to those riding characteristics.”
Meanwhile visual cues such as the bike being too short even in the tallest seat or handlebar position, difficulty pedaling because there’s not enough clearance for their knees, or simply looking cramped on their bike are all signs it’s time for an upgrade.
Who We Are
Dorian Smith-Garcia is a commerce, health, and parenting writer at Parents, and a mom of one kindergarten-bound daughter, who has a fun little training bike, complete with a front basket and bell for safety. It came 95% assembled, and she will always champion a mostly or completely assembled bike purchase.
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