A great bike will make it easy, safe, and fun for parents and kids to learn Xi to ride!
Some things to look out for are age- and height-appropriate specifications, such as wheel diameter, standing height, and the type of gear lever and brake. You’ll also want to consider whether to start with a balance bike or training wheels and make sure your child’s first bike is durable, reliable, and safe.
Of course, you also want the bike to fit any unique style or color preference and meet your budget constraints. That’s too much to ask, and very few children’s bikes meet the needs of discerning parents!
Here’s our list of recommendations…
1. Strider 12″ Sport Balance Bikes
The Strider is ultra-light (about 8 pounds), well-built, fun, and beautiful. Xi to ride a bike with Strider can help your child focus on the basics: balance, leaning, and steering. Your child learns Xi how to fully control the speed and direction of the bike while strengthening their core and legs and helping build confidence, balance, and stamina. There is no need for training wheels, and with Strider’s expertise, training wheels are no longer needed! It’s no surprise that the Strider has sold over a million of these bikes since its launch a few years ago, which is truly a great concept. Of course, there are other balance bikes to consider, but the Strider is number one in its class for some important reasons. First, the Strider has a built-in footrest on the rear frame, so when your child builds confidence, he or she can put his or her feet on the frame and cruise. Secondly, the frame, wheels, tires, and components are all very durable: our two sons have been using Strider bikes for over 2 years, sometimes very aggressively, but have never had any problems. Third, the Strider seat and handlebar are adjustable up and down to accommodate growing children: the seat can be adjusted from 11 inches to 11 inches. to 17″ and 18″ handlebars to 22″. Finally, Strider stands by its products and has a history of solving any rare problem quickly and comprehensively.
Note that there are 12 versions of the 3-inch. Strider bikes: classic, sporty and professional. The Classic is the most restricted, entry-level model and does not include handlebar pads, quick-adjust (no tools) handlebars, or seat height or better handlebars. The Sport version really does include all of that, plus an additional, larger seat for up to 5-year-olds, and some really great colors and options! Finally, the Pro is suitable for adventurous riders and racers and includes all the features of the Sport, plus a very light (5lb) aluminum frame, and awesome customizable race car numbers up front! Overall, we thank Strider for helping our own kids learn to Xi cycling in a fun, effective and safe way: using Strider won’t cause bumps, scrapes, falls, or hurt self-esteem! Highly recommended!
2. Bixe Pro 16″ Balance Bikes
Since Strider started the balance bike craze, balance bikes have become popular not only with 3-5 year olds who are learning to ride Xi, but also with older kids who are interested in the freestyle bike riding experience. They are also excellent for older kids who lack coordination or are a little timid about riding a bike. The Bixe Pro 16-inch hits that target market with its relatively large 16″. Frames, cool styles and colors, and adjustability, suitable for children from 4 to 10 years old. It achieves this with its adjustable handlebar height and adjustable seat height, which extends from about 15 inches to about 15 inches. 22 inches above the ground. Its sturdy steel frame is relatively lightweight, weighing 11 pounds, but can support children weighing up to 150 pounds. Out of the box, assembly is very simple: the wheels are already installed, you just need to clamp the handlebars and seatpost. If necessary, inject more air into your tires and you’re ready to race!
3. Schwinn Koen Kids Bike with SmartStart Frame
If you’re not a fan of the concept of a balance bike and want to jump straight to a traditional pedal bike, this is one of the best bikes on the market! Schwinn has been producing high-quality, heavy-duty bikes for over 100 years, and they are known for producing children’s bikes. The bike can be used for many years! It features a steel frame, real rubber and air tires for a comfortable ride, pedal and front hand brakes, removable training wheels, and adjustable seat and handlebar heights. Schwinn Koen has a great little car grip for little hands, and we love that the chain and front and rear gears are completely covered by chain guards to keep little fingers and legs out of contact (and keep pants clean!). The Koen is available in five different sizes, with some subtle differences in functionality. The 12″, 14″ and 16″ sizes have training wheels and a great seat back handle for parents to hold on to as their kids learn Xi how to ride without training wheels. It also provides a super convenient way to pick up and move the bike. The 18″ and 20″ versions no longer have that handle, and the 20-inch version no longer has that handle. Training wheels are not available. Note that all sizes come with a bracket so you can stand it up even after removing the training wheels. For the age range, 12 inches is a great first bike for kids aged 2-3 (up to 38 inches tall). Ideal for kids aged 14-3 (up to 4 inches tall) and 40 inches for kids up to 16 years old. Ideal for kids aged 4-4 (up to 5 inches tall) and 48 inches for kids up to 18 years old. Ideal for children aged 4-5 years (up to 7 inches tall) and 52 inches for children. Ideal for children over 20 years old and tall under 6 inches. For kids, this has a lot of great range and selection of bikes!
The SmartStart frame is designed with child proportions to help kids get Xi used to riding quickly, including a low stride height, a lighter frame, smaller handlebar handlebars to accommodate little hands, a narrow pedal layout, and a unique seatpost geometry that increases the distance from the seat to the handlebars when the seat is raised. The brakes are smooth and work well. The pedals were nice and grippy, but not too sharp and didn’t scratch the back of our child’s legs. By the way, assembly takes about 10-15 minutes, and it’s very simple, just bring a hex wrench set and a Phillips screwdriver. Overall, it’s a great traditional pedal bike with all the right features, great build quality, great riding performance, and good safety features.
4.RoyalBaby Freestyle Kids Bike
Cute, fun, functional, reliable, versatile? It’s a winning combination for a top kid. Both the bike and the RoyalBaby model are just right! The Freestyle model is available in six sizes, including 12″, 14″, or 16″. With training wheels, and 16″, 18″, or 20″ wheels. With stand. It also offers a plethora of lovely colors and patterns, from white with a black and white checkered to bright red or pastel pink. All models boast excellent infrastructure – wheels and front and rear mirrors, handlebar bells, seat with parental handle on the back, full chain guards, sturdy tires, handbrake (for front wheel brakes), pedal brakes, a clean and stylish design. Once unboxed, it takes about half an hour to assemble and includes everything you need (even tools). The more difficult parts are the handlebars and seat height, but it’s very easy to install the bracket (or training wheels), pedals, and mirrors/bells.
There are a few that we really like. First, a convenient parent handle behind the seat can help kids who are disengaging from their training wheels, and parents can hold on to it to help stabilize them when learning to ride a bike Xi. Secondly, the handbrake is actually sized to fit the hands of the little ones, which is rare and appreciated! Thirdly, the steering and tires are of high quality, and the pedaling is smooth and quiet. Roller coaster brakes are used on the rear wheels, which means that pedaling backwards engages the rear brakes. Fourth, we like that the seatpost actually uses quick-release clips, so you don’t have to find a wrench and deal with rusty bolts every time you want to change the seat height. Finally, we like the chain that covers it completely to prevent any grease from getting on your child’s pants or legs. And it’s not just the top or front that is covered, it’s the whole thing. The downside is that it’s quite heavy for a children’s bike (obviously a steel frame).
5. Paw Patrol 12″ Bicycle
This yellow, red, and blue bike is perfect for toddlers who love Paw Patrol and its adorable characters. With bright yellow handlebars and wheels, paw prints, and photos of several people, this bike is a hit with the community! The Paw Patrol training wheels are a very nice touch: while most bikes don’t have any theme applied to the training wheels, this bike goes above and beyond! Some great extras include adjustable seat height (quick adjustment), adjustable handlebars, tires with very low rolling resistance (but they also don’t have knobs at all for gravel or dirt trails), chain and front gear covers, and very low rolling resistance tires. Smooth and effective pedal braking. It also has a small logo on the front with a raised texture picture of the Paw Patrol character. A little more expensive than Huffy or Dynacraft, but the build quality is very high. However, there’s only one downside to this bike: there’s no padding on the handlebars, which is unfortunate. Overall, it’s a great bike, but there’s one small drawback; It’s a great choice if your child is a die-hard Paw Patrol fan, and it’s also great to pair with a Paw Patrol helmet!