As long as they are properly maintained and cared for, each of these brands have a high resale value, so you can expect to get at least half (but likely much more) of your investment back once your child outgrows it. Ideally, a childs bike should be less than 40% of their weight. Plus the Islabikes Luath got so much use as a road bike - it really ate up the hills around where we live on the edge of The Lake District, and also got tried out on the local track too as well as going a bit of off-road cyclocross type racing too in our local GoRide races. Your child will have grown out of the bike long before then! Typicalage range: 18 months to 13 years + Colours available: Purple, Blue, Green, Red, Yellow, Orange Because Polygon owns their own factories, they are able to produce bikes for less and they pass that savings on to the customer. 2) Can they operate the brakes and gears? Why? They are available in a range of sizes from balance bike (Woom 1) through to 26" wheel (Woom 6) plus they've recently brought out a range of Mountain Bikes, called WOOM OFF.. We've reviewed a couple of the smaller single-speed Woom Bikes and were really impressed with the quality. You can read our review of the Specialized Jett 20 here. SRAM components (used by woom and Pello) do not make a budget line, so any of their systems are better than the Shimano Tourney line. The range is all named after places in Scotland that Sir Chris Hoy rode whilst a child or early in his racing career. We'd love to hear what bike you ended up buying your Cycle Sprog. While there are many factors at play, the ease with which a child can ride a bike is greatly influenced by the shape of a bike. Frog Bikes are sized by the inside leg measurement, so for example the Frog 44pictured above is designed for a child with a minimum inside leg of 44cm (roughly the 4-5 year age group). For timid or aggressive riders, paved or dirt trails, Polygon Premier kids bikes boast kid-friendly geometry and solid-quality components for a seriously low price point. If you have a confident, aggressive rider on your hands, Prevelo Bikes should be your go-to option. The small child is riding a green budget-bike on the left, vs. a purple Prevelo bike on the right. From slower reaction times to inhibited maneuverability, you need space when driving! (some cheap steel-framed bikes are too heavy for most children to pick up, or ride up hills, etc). You spoke highly of Bobbins bikes in 2017 but they have not made your list, just wondering why. A quality hand brake is very easy for a childs hand to reach and requires minimal effort to pull. (Last revised on July 20th, 2022), hi none of these are very affordable for a person who wants to buy themselves an affordable bike, Hi Bob They only stock quality kids bike brands, so you know you'll be getting a decent bike without the upfront cost. Higher-end bikes typically have more robust systems that can better handle the wear and tear from kids, and also allow for smoother shifting. Coming to bike shops later in the year Frog bikes are designed with children at the centre, every detail instilling confidence from Day 1. We especially appreciate that they come with a derailleur hanger and cage to protect the bikes most fragile component from potential damage! They have very lightweight 14" and 16" models which are fitted with a belt drive rather than a chain to reduce maintenance and the chance of oily fingers or clothing. Most are available second hand or to rent if you're on a budget. The ARX range is still quite new so they don't tend up become available secondhand. Age range: 2.5 years to 8.5 years Colours: Black/Blue We've been lucky enough to test their range as our Sprogs have grown, and each bike has proved why Islabikes continue to lead the way in kids bike design. This was a very good bike, and was used by British Cycling for their Go-Ride coaching - the sign of a hardwearing and reliable bike! Theyll even bring a box to put it in! Starting on their 20 bikes, Prevelo bikes feature trigger shifters, which are particularly suited for aggressive riders who may advance to mountain biking. Where to buy: Online only He's ridden it in both road and cyclocross mode - suffice to say I couldn't keep up with him in either! Our favorite kids bike brands are designed to be the best. leasing your child a bike via the Bike Club. From timid beginning riders to aggressive daredevils, each brand has done an amazing job at building and creating the best bike for a specific type of child rider. Overall, these bikes are incredibly versatile, and will be easy for almost any kid to ride no matter their skill level. Subscribe to the Bike Club - a hassle free way to ensure your child is always riding the correctly sized bike. From 20" wheel bikes and larger there various options to choose from depending on the type of cycling your child is doing. Pello bikes are incredibly versatile and can easily tackle any terrain you choose. Our reviewer really appreciated the upright riding style of this urban-orientated bike, and his dad had fun using the innovative online bike fit app to ensure that all the adjustments to seat, stem, pedals etc were correct. Vitus in the brand list? Age range: 3 - 12 years Your email address will not be published. Also dont assume that because the hand brake passed CPSC certification that its going to work well. Black Mountain is a Welsh based brand taking the kids' bike market by storm with their innovative new "growing" bikes. Since launch, they've been steadily expanding their range to include bigger wheel sizes and mountain bikes. Warranty:Lifetime on frame & forks. Posted on May 24th, 2022 During that time weve witnessed the evolution of the kids bikes market and the explosion of new kid-specific bike brands. 3) Is it the right size for them? However, the top speed of the 3.2 bike is going to be much slower than the bike with the 4.5 gain ratio. Price: 129 - 369 For additional details on each of these brands, jump down to our Best Kids Bike Brands below. We've been lucky enough to have tested out some of their top-of-the-range mountain bikes and were really impressed with how much confidence they gave our boys on the trail. There are four different sized bikes in the range, from the smallest PINTO (14" wheels) through to the 20" wheel HTTO which has gears and the option to add disc brakes and suspension. When referring to the gears on a bike, we prefer to compare bikes based on the gain ratio of their gears. We've reviewed the single gear Squish 18 which our 6-year-old reviewer loved, and she moved confidently onto a bigger bike when the time was right for her. A higher center-of-gravity on a bike is much less stable at lower speeds. Warranty: Frame and Forks - 3 years; components - 1 year (excluding wear and tear). Unfortunately, the vast majority of kids bikes on the market come with coaster brakes. So whats wrong with coaster brakes? Pellos 20 and 24 geared bikes have an optional front suspension fork. Even adding something like an improved brake caliper for safer braking isnt considered because it will raise the cost of the bike. Young kids typically have difficulty learning the difference between braking with their right and left hands, but SureStop removes any confusion, while offering the superior braking power of dual brakes. As a result, the child will have to bend their knee at a greater angle on the pedal upswing, which places their legs in a much less efficient position once they hit the downswing. It's a false economy to buy your child a bike that's too big, as they'll get scared and not want to ride it. We've tested out the 16" single-speed Bonaly 16 and the larger 20" wheel Bonaly 20, which is the smallest of their geared bike offerings. Price: 595 - 845 The best kids bikes on the market are often not the bikes and brands you might assume. All in all, if a bikes frame is poorly design, it will be very hard for a child to ride. Although both of these bikes are meant to fit the same size child (the seat heights are set to the same height), the Prevelo has a much larger cockpit. Price range: 295 - 379 Learn how your comment data is processed. Use your hands to stop and your feet to go! Well built, mildly aggressive 14, 16, and 20 bikes. With steel frames, Cleary bikes weigh just a bit more than a brand like woom, but these bikes are made to take a beating. Bike Types: Balance, First pedal, Hybrid and Mountain Bikes Bike Types: First pedal and Hybrid Bikes After trying to convince everyone she knew about how amazing balance bikes are, she began Two Wheeling Tots. Theyare a Derbyshire-based brand, and their bikes are all linked to local routes. (Read our review of the Hornit AIRO balance bike here). Typicalage range: 2 years to 10+ years Unlike other cheap kids bikes that are too big and clunky for the riders they are designed for, the Btwin kids bikes are similar in sizing to some of our other favorites like woom and Priority. From clear and concise instructions to included tools, most of the high-end bike brands can be assembled in about 15 minutes! They service the bike and hand it onto the next rider. Price: 150 - 1,900 The ease at which a child can climb up a hill or pedal quickly to keep up on a flat path depends on the gearing of a bike. What makes Frog Bikes stand out from the rest really are their color options. Note - these bikes aren't for nervous riders - we should know as our 12 year old reviewed the Worx JA700. Islabikes is also the first true kids-centric bike brand, and should be credited with providing the inspiration for transforming the world of kids bikes and the creation of the many excellent kids bike brands you see on this list. Frog Bikes make some of the most popular and best kids bikes around. Price: 9.50 - 12.90 per months Price: 170 - 670 Because Islabikes are so well made they continue to get passed down through many children. Having personally tested all of these bike brands, our experiences have proven that these brands deserve their best bike rankings. All the bikes are available in the UK, and many can also be bought for worldwide shipping. Not only were we impressed with these bikes, so were The Bike Club, and if they're happy to have them in their fleet they must be a robust and well designed bike! Higher bottom brackets also produce less efficient pedaling. You don't need to break the bank to get a decent kids bike - here's our pick of the best, For taller children who have outgrown a standard 12" wheel balance bike, there's a number of larger balance bikes available, Here's our selection of the best kids bikes for kids of all ages, The best kids bikes 2022 our pick of the very best, Teal, Orange, Pink (and Charcoal for larger bikes), Cheap kids bike trailers that cost less than 2 tanks of fuel. Available from:Chain Reaction Cycles and Wiggle (new) and Ebay (secondhand) Bike Types: Road / Cyclocross and All Purpose race bikes As you'd expect, the range has many of the same features as the majority of the quality kids bikes we've already featured. Woom Bikes - incredible quality Austrian bikes, reviewed a couple of the smaller single-speed Woom Bikes, Frog Bikes - kids bikes in every size, shape and colour, review of the Hornit AIRO balance bike here, first impressions review of the Hornit HERO 14, reviewer really enjoyed riding the Giant ARX 20. In this article walk you through the top-performing kids bikes brands as well as jump into to specifics as to what makes their kids bikes so great. Light and nimble bike with all-terrain tires for aggressive adventure seekers. What should you look for when shopping for a bike and what should you avoid? Typicalage range: 18 months to 6 years Coaster brakes are particularly tricky for young kids as they prevents them from naturally pedaling backward when they lose their balance. Unlike coaster brakes that can require kids to slam down backward on their pedals to stop, quality hand brakes require very little effort to engage. This results in more stopping power, and prevents kids from accidentally engaging the front brake only, which can result in a child flipping themselves over the handlebars! Assembling a bike can be very complicated, but for the best kids bikes, theyve made an art out of simplifying the process. With knobbier tread tires, Park Cycles are also a great choice for future mountain bikers, or kids who will be trail riding. I certainly wouldn't like to have to select just one children's bike, as what's the best bike for a 3-year-old is going to be very different to what's the best bike for a 13-year-old mountain biker, or a 9-year-old cyclocross racer! The original, game-changing kid-specific bike brand. At the current time, this also provides peace of mind. Wheel size: 12" balance bike - 26" wheel bikes Giant are the world's biggest bike manufacturer and the ARX is their premium kids bike range. And our boys have loved riding their Islabike Creig mountain bikes over the years - they've been on many adventures and coped with everything they were asked to ride over. Here's how to measure your child to make sure they can safely ride it now. Designed to nestle itself more naturally in little hands, its also a lot easier to pull that other brake levers at this price point. A 16 bike with a gain ratio of 3.2 is going to to take much less effot for a child to start pedaling than a 16 with a gain ratio of 4.5. While no longer available for sale in the U.S., Islabikes are expertly crafted and built with excruciating attention to detail. In order to be competitive in the kids bike world, however, these brands need to step up their game and build lightweight kids bikes with better components. Dont get us wrong, we 100% support local bike shops and believe they are essential to communities. Colours available:Blue, Green, Purple, Red, Yellow, (and Black for Mountain Bikes) Because these little bikes are so easy to ride on any terrain, they inspire young riders to push their riding skills to the limit. Wheel Size: 14" to 26" wheels Bike Types: Balance, First pedal, Hybrid and Mountain Bikes Given how popular and robust Frog Bikes are there's usually a lot available secondhand, and they're also available to lease via The Bike Club. Do leave a comment below, or come over to our Facebook or Instagram pages to share your pictures. So you can get step-through city bikes with racks for panniers, all round hybrids, entry level mountain bikes, serious full suspension MTBs and kids size e-bikes. If you're happy with the quote they'll come and collect it. Guardian Bikes innovative SureStop braking system has been a game changer in the kids bike world. Every Guardian bike has just one brake lever on the right hand. Over the years weve found separating the pedaling motion from the braking motion is more natural, and enables a child to master pedaling and braking more quickly. Please review our Privacy Policy for more details. Im now looking forward to seeing the Nukeproof Cub-Scouts]. Where to buy: Local Cube Bike stockists, Online retailers and secondhand from Ebay Dont assume that a cheap bike is better because it has a hand brake. b) are only recommended as they're the best-selling kids' bikes at a retailer the host website is getting commission from. They range in size from 24" to 700c wheels and there is a drop handlebar road/cross-specific option plus a flat handlebar all-terrain option for those wanting to try their hand at a mix of cyclocross and cross country racing. We've reviewed these kids bike brand here on Cycle Sprog and have the photos to prove it! Where to buy: Directly from Black Mountain Website Worx Bikes - for kids who want to go really fast! Notice that the distance between the childs knees and the handlebars is much greater on the Prevelo. The shifters on higher-end bikes are typically significantly easier for a child to use and usually wear better with time. One thing worth noting is that they come with a 1 year warranty on parts, whereas other kids bikes in a similar price bracket come with up to 5 years on frame and fork and 3 years on parts. Typicalage range: 2 - 14 years As Black Mountain are such a new brand, and their bikes are designed for last your child a long time you won't find very many available secondhand at the moment. You can unsubscribe at any time and we promise not to contact you too often. Warranty:2 years - extended to 5 years for frame if you register the bike within 28 days of purchase. We've reviewed a wide range of Frog Bikes over the years, including their first pedal bikes, hybrid bikes, mountain bikes and road bikes, and always been really impressed with them. Our 10 year old Sprog spent an entire summer riding the Vitus Nucleus 26 around the trail centres of Wales and absolutely loved it. We are only discussing pedal bikes below. Check out our list of favorites for kids of every age. Warranty: 3-years on frame and forks; 2-years on non-consumable components. Price: 200 - 1,000 A major factor in creating an ample sized cockpit is the bikes wheelbase (the distance between the wheels axles). One really cool feature of Btwin bikes is the Stop Easy brake lever. Available: Only from Worx direct - call them to discuss your requirements There's been such shortages of kids bikes over the past few months so having a bike that will grow with your child is very useful. We have seen countless kids struggle on a cheap big-box store bike only to hop onto a lightweight high-end bike and pedal away like a champ. By subscribing, you agree to our terms and conditions. It's basically a list of brilliant children's bikes we can vouch for and have been happy for our kids (and yours) to ride. Unlike big-box store bikes, quality bikes are can be repaired with new components to make them almost as good as new! With all sizes of their bikes the frame can be extended as your child grows, to cover the same time period that you'd usually need two pedal bikes for. [Disclosure as you know I work for WiggleCRC, and Ben is a friend of mine, but Ive been running the Ditcham Park School MTB Club longer than Ive been with WiggleCRC. Our two reviewers loved these lightweight bikes and were zooming around in no time! If you're looking for a "proper" MTB for a keen mountain biker who is on the cusp between a kids bike and an adult bike and have the cash to spend, then Cube junior mountain bikes are an excellent choice. Like other high-end bikes on this list, Frog bikes have kid-focused geometry, lightweight frames, and narrow q-factors. With geared bikes, its important to look at the ranges of the gain ratio. You can unsubscribe at any time and we promise not to contact you too often. Is my kids bike the right size for them? Riding a bike is the same way. Vitus do a full range standard hybrid kids bikes which are great all round choices which will handle most types of cycling. By subscribing, you agree to our terms and conditions. If your child needs gears, versus wants them, purchasing a bike with a high-end drivetrain is essential. Karen, Unfortunately we have not been able to do a long term test on these bikes. Built with fine attention to detail, these brands all originated with the concept of building a great kids bike to improve a childs riding experience. If you have a child 18-months to 3 years thats never had a bike, a balance bike is a much better option. Hand brakes on a childs bike are always preferred over coaster brakes (back-pedal brakes). We will never sell your data to third parties. Cycle Sprog is a reader supported website. The house brand for Decathlon sports stores, Btwin kids bikes arent as refined as our other favorites, but theyre the most affordable. Warranty: 5 year frame and forks, 2 year components. We've met the designer of these bikes several times and he's really obsessed with getting the design and geometry absolutely correct as well as making a really good-looking bike. Lightweight, solid-quality, great for paved or trail use. There are several kids bike brands that consistently show up in the top kids bike lists. With kids bikes, a smaller wheelbase almost always means a smaller cockpit. So, in an attempt to set the record straight, here's my list of the very best kids bikes for all ages of children. Whats the trade-off? Quickly and confidentially stopping a bike is essential to a childs safety on a bike. Price range:110 - 550 Shimanos entry-level Tourney components (shifters and derailleurs) should be used with hesitation for those who need reliable gears for consistent use. They consistently have seven or more colors to choose from. The newest kid-centric bike brand on the scene, Park Cycles aims to offer high-end, kid-friendly bike geometry at a more affordable price point. Bottom bracket height is even a concern on mid-range bikes. Colours available: Silver, Red, Purple/Pink Hornit have been around making horns, helmets and bike storage for a long time, but they've just branched out into children's bikes. With lightweight frames and top-of-the-line components, Frog Bikes are a unique blend of versatile performance and proper fit. If you go with the slightly more basic and less colorful 100 line, you can save yourself about $50. Gain ratios should be taken into consideration on both single-speed and geared bikes. If youve ever had to drive a car sitting WAY too close to the steering wheel, you know that is greatly affects your ability to drive the car. Our Sprogs have been lucky enough to ride some really expensive, top of the range junior mountain bikes, but we can confirm you don't need to spend huge amounts to get a quality kids MTB. BUY SECONDHAND: Hoy Bikes were totally revamped in 2018 so most of the bikes available on eBay will be the older model. Wheel sizes: 12" balance bike - 26" wheel bikes From the ground up, every component is carefully selected to maximize the performance of the bike. In August 2021 they followed this up with the HERO range of starter pedal bikes. For more advanced or aggressive riders, grip shifters arent ideal as they dont allow kids to shift as quickly. Confidence building bikes with knobby all-terrain tires. If this is your first time buying a kids bike, remember the three most important questions to ask yourself: 1) Can they pick the bike up? Typicalage range:2 - 13 years Lightweight masterpieces for effortless riding. Rugged and durable, Cleary Bikes are ideal for your neighborhood adventurer. The smaller Cubleys are named after an ancient Derbyshire village which appears in the Doomsday Book, and the larger Kinders are named after the iconic Kinder Scout in the Peak District. As a result, the rider feels much less cramped on the bike and it is easier for her to maneuver. Wheel Size: 12" to 27.5" wheels Coaster brakes are not intuitive and can inhibit the childs ability to learn to pedal. Cycle Sprog reviewed and recommended brand, Price: 350 - 650 mx16 ridgeback 16w bike tredz Upon doing so, their bike unexpectedly stops, which often results in a fall. The brakes on kids bikes, however, range vastly in quality and performance. The brakes on higher-end bikes stop faster and with much less effort required by the child. Rugged and durable bikes built for neighborhood adventures. Some cheap big-box-store bikes are similar in weight to higher-end bikes, but only because their wheelbases are narrower (they have a smaller frame) and they lack components such as hands brakes. A high gain ratio requires more effort to get startedbut allows the bike to travel farther with every pedal stroke(like a high gear on an adult bike). Warranty: Evans Cycles website says "All products ordered from Evans Cycles come with a full warranty which covers manufacturing faults and defects in workmanship.". Natalie has basically been obsessed with kids' bikes since 2010 when her oldest of three kids began riding a balance bike. Wheel Size: 14" balance bike to 20" wheel mountain bikes - all with the 'growing frames' The distance between the bottom bracket and the ground plays a role in the bikes overall center of gravity and also plays a role in the efficiency of each pedal stoke. You can read how our reviewer got on swapping from a much cheaper and heavier bike with stabilisers to one of these lightweight bikes. It's a great looking bike, with grown-up styling at a good price. For the 20 and 24 geared bikes, the internally geared hub requires minimal maintenance compared to finicky derailleurs. We'd love to keep in touch with you by email regarding product updates, blog content, competitions, and special offers. Why are these kids bike brands so good? Price range: 140 - 530 Ferrari, Maserati, Bentley, Isabikes. On the other hand, most major bike companies refrain from publishing them. But what makes our favorite kids bikes so great? Bike Types: Balance, First pedal, Hybrid, Cyclocross/Road and Mountain Bikes Thankfully they've rectified this with the release of the Jett range. Where to buy: Local Giant Shops and Online Retailers We are a reader supported site. adore liv giant bike loading They may be a bit pricier at the start, but you're getting either 2 or 3 bikes in one, saving you money, time and hassle over a longer time frame. Recently we've reviewed their larger wheeled Beinn 27, which look our reviewer onto larger wheels earlier than he would have been able to with other brands. We've been really impressed with the Vitus Kids Bike range as a low-cost competitor to some of the more established brands on this page. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn more here. It's sometimes possible to recoup your a large proportion of your cost when reselling on if you've maintained a bike well, so be prepared to have to spend too when buying secondhand. Reclaim the space, get some cash and give your bike a new lease of life with another loving family. Take a look at our current range of Kids Bikes from Balance and First Pedal Bikes all the way up to specialist Kids Road and Mountain Bikes. While greasy bike chains typically require regular maintenance and can easily fall off, belt drives are grease-free, maintenance-free, and will almost never fall off. Typicalage range: 2 years to 10 plus Warranty: Frame - lifetime, Forks - 10 years, All other components - 1 year. Easy-reach levers on a hand brake allow kids to pull the brake lever without loosening their grip on the handlebar. Types of bike: Balance, First Pedal, Hybrid and Mountain Bikes As you can see above, the splay required to pedal on the Islabike on the left is much less than the splay of the Schwinn on the right. Buying secondhand:Because Islabikes are so well made they continue to get passed down through many children. Two features help accomplish this purpose: (1) a belt drive instead of the traditional bike chain, and (2) an internally geared hub with just 3 gears for easy shifting on their 20 and 24 bikes.