To help with your search, we spent hours researching the best kids’ bikes, considering a child’s age, size, and strength level. Our favorite picks include a balance bike from Woom complete with safety features, a steerable tricycle from Radio Flyer, and high-quality options from Schwinn, perfect for mountain biking. From a basic first bike to a more specialized ride, here are our picks for the best kids’ bikes. “The best first bike for a child is a balance bike,” Kristen Bonkoski, the founder of Rascal Rides says, adding that they aren’t just for toddlers: Bigger kids should start on a balance bike if they haven’t mastered pedaling yet. Her favorite, the woom 1, is ergonomically designed to fit the anatomy and biomechanics of a child, making it a comfortable bike that ensures a child’s balance as they “ride.” It also doubles as a walker to help children learn how to take their first steps. When choosing a bike for your child, look at the wheel size. Smaller kids need bikes with smaller wheels (for instance, 12-inch wheels for two to four-year-olds and 14-inch wheels for three to five-year-olds). Bigger kids can ride bikes with bigger wheels: Look for 16-inch wheels for five year olds, 20-inch wheels for six to 10-year-olds, and 24-inch wheels for eight to 12-year-olds. Also, look for bikes with adjustable seats to fit your child’s leg length. The bike must fit your child’s current size in order for it to be safe and comfortable to ride.
Durability
Kids’ bikes should be well constructed and sturdy enough to withstand tipping over. It might be tempting to be the most inexpensive kids’ bike, but a flimsy bike will not stand up to frequent use. Unless you are buying an in-home balance bike, make sure to look for a bike that is make from steel, aluminum, titanium, or some combination of the three. The wheels and tires should be strong and durable.
Style
New riders (ages two to four) might be more comfortable starting out with a study tricycle or a balance bike, which allows them to glide along with feet raised or quickly put their feet on the ground to stabilize themselves. Kids five to seven are usually ready for a two-wheeled bike. Many bikes designed for kids this age offer training wheels, which can be removed once kids gain the confidence to pedal without balance assistance. Older kids can ride traditional bikes with more advanced pedaling and braking features.
Why Trust The Spruce?
For this article, Leah Rocketto, a writer with years of covering parenting content with a focus on kids’ toys, performed hours of research on products, and consulted Kristen Bonkoski, Anneke Efinger, and Nadji Kirby. Bonkoski is the founder of Rascal Rides who helps families find the perfect bikes for every member so they can make memories on the patch. Efinger is an account manager for Schwinn, which has provided her with a lot of bik-related knowledge. Kirby, who is the Senior Program Manager for Domestic Road Safety at Safe Kids Worldwide, manages the pedestrian, bike, and rail safety programs to ensure everyone is protected on the road. Efinger says, “Balance bikes help your child learn to ride by putting the focus on balance." Bonkoski notes that even older children who haven’t learned to pedal yet can benefit from starting on a balance bike. If your child has outgrown the standard size for balance bikes, she suggests purchasing a training wheel bike and removing both the wheels and the pedals. Prior to shopping, measure the circumference of your child’s head, ideally an inch above their eyebrow. This will ensure you purchase a helmet that will stay in place if you try to move it from side to side. From there, check inside the helmet for a Consumer Product Safety Committee (CPSC) sticker. This means the helmet meets the CPSC standard and ensures that it will provide a high level of protection in case of any impact. You will also want to see if the helmet has Multi-directional Impact Protection System (MIPS), which allows the helmet to move around the head during a crash for full protection. Of course, you still want your child to try on the helmet to make sure it’s comfortable and fits properly. The Cleveland Clinic has several tests you can do to make sure the helmet fits, including:
If the helmet pulls down on their head as they open their mouth, it fits. If the helmet is one to two finger-widths above the eyebrow, it fits. If your child can still hear clearly when the helmet is tightened, it fits.
Some of the top recommended helmets include: Giro Scamp MIPS for toddlers, Joovy Noodle for kids, and Lazer Gekko MIPS for teens.
