Compare the Top Kids Bike Deals
Honorable Mentions
Photo: Adrienne So
Linus Roadster for $349: We tested the 20-inch Roadster and it’s a kid’s bike, with slow brakes and no gears. Access is also a little far for a 7-year-old child. However, it is it is a beautiful bike, with an aluminum alloy frame and attractive vegan leather handlebars and seats. You also get a bell and a kickstand.
ByK E-450 for $191: This premium pedal bike has an alloy frame that keeps its weight at a very light 18 pounds. It’s also cheap for everything you get—a great saddle, bells, and both coaster brakes and hand brakes.
Best Equipment
Getting a bike is the first step. Here are a few bike accessories my kids use every day. For more equipment, check out our roundups Best Bike Helmets and Best Bike Lights.
Photo: Michael Venutolo-Mantovani
Nüdl Unicorn Helmet with Mips for $60: Nüdl hats are decorated with Mips, that is hat system which protects against rotational effects and reduces the risk of concussion. For added peace of mind, Nüdl helmets also feature a new technology called Twiceme, which is a chip embedded in the helmet that can be accessed by simply tapping the helmet with a smartphone. There, friends, passers-by, and even first responders can instantly access important medical information such as emergency contacts, allergies or important medical tips in case of a bike crash. Of course, my kids don’t really care about Mips or Twiceme. All they care about is Nüdl’s fun and kid-friendly designs. —Michael Venutolo-Mantovani
Giro Fixture II Helmet for $75: We’ve tested pretty much every hat out there. In terms of style, my kids tend to prefer skateboard style helmets, such as Lil Linus ($69). But personally, for my peace of mind, I prefer to put them on the Giro MI helmet, which is more comfortable and versatile for camping and mountain biking. The vents are large and slightly lighter.
Ottolock Sidekick lock for $36: Children’s bikes are stolen, but for small children you may want to consider the weight and cost trade-off. The Sidekick has three keys so you can give your child one for teaching duty, keep one at home, and still have a spare on your own key. It also has a comfortable silicone cover that greatly reduces the chances of your child needing another tetanus shot.
Thousand Traveler Magnetic Bike Light front for $35: Again, things to consider when buying bike lights for kids are different than when buying bike lights for adults; my 8 year old doesn’t bike 12 miles in the dark at 25 mph without me. I want bike lights that are cheap and easy to take off and stuff in a bag or pocket. This is my favorite light for my kids bikes, but if the bad reviews scare you, we love these too. I also picked up a pack of these lights for your bicycle wheels from our neighbor, which is interesting, if not permanent.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you size a kids bike?
Bicycles are expensive. It’s tempting to future-proof your purchase by buying a bike a size or two bigger, so your child doesn’t outgrow it too quickly. Don’t fall into this trap! Not only is it unpleasant, it is unsafe. How you hoping to control a bike that was two sizes too big for you?
Size for different ages is also dangerous; for example, my 10-year-old daughter is half the size of some of her peers (sorry, sweetie). To get the right size, you’ll have to measure your child’s height or their lowest inseam length. Children’s bikes are measured by wheel size, so a 12-inch bike refers to a bike with 12-inch wheels, and so on. When you get a bike, check if your child can stand on the frame with their feet flat on the ground comfortably. Make sure your child can get on and off easily and that their hands can reach the brake and shifter if the bike has one.
What features should I look for?
- Brake: Most children start with speed brakes, also known as pedal brakes. They enable you to stand by stepping back. An older child may want hand brakes so they can pedal backwards like Mom or Dad. Rim brakes are cheaper, but a disc brake will help you stop faster.
- Converters: When your baby is old enough to understand basic physics, the intuitive switch will help them keep up with Mom or big sister. I can hear my 8 year old son clicking fast behind me and his sister on our way to school.
- Suspension: Planning to drag your child mountain biking with you? Then you may be considering a bike with shocks. However, these will add significant weight and cost to the bike. Children are also usually quite agile so suspension may not work. If you plan to do a lot of off-roading as a family, I would recommend getting bigger wheels and better brakes first.
When should my child get gear?
From personal experience, children start wanting gear around the age of 6. This is about the age when their hands are big enough to move around. This is especially useful if you’re cycling in hilly terrain or as a family—they’ll really want to keep up with you. I recommend twist-grip shifters, like the one on the Woom, for small children.
How much should a children’s bike cost?
I think around $400 is a good price for a new kids bike. Don’t get a cheap brand new bike at a big box store; I’ve done this before and ended up hauling the mini bike to the local shop for replacement parts. There is a healthy secondary market for children’s bikes that children have outgrown. You may want to check Craigslist, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or ask your neighbors.
Should I get training wheels?
If you want to teach your little one to ride a bike—especially one who’s trying so hard to keep up with big sister—it’s tempting to get the training wheels spinning and know you’ll be teaching them later. It’s more interesting because you don’t want your child to turn off cycling altogether.
However, if you are a child who has learned to ride a bike with training wheels, it is very frustrating to take them off and learn how to balance from scratch. I highly recommend skipping training wheels altogether and letting your child discover that they can coast on two wheels on their own. This video is a good overview of the process (although they call the rabbit hop a “frog hop,” which I disagree with, since rabbits are much nicer than frogs). A well-locked bike also goes a long way to ensure that your child feels comfortable.
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