Think back on the first time you rode a bike. Okay, maybe you can’t remember your maiden voyage, but you can probably remember the adventures that ensued after mastering two-wheeled transportation. Whether they’re pedaling around the block or hitting rollers at the local pump track, a bike serves as a kid’s ticket to freedom. Not all bikes are up for the task, though: Only the best kids’ bikes are capable of helping them learn and progress in a safe, engaging way.
The best kids' bikes encourage progression and safety from the streets to the trails.
Illustration: Forbes / Photo: RetailersOnce upon a time, training wheels encouraged kids to pedal at an earlier age as they mastered the basics, but today’s bike experts (and recent research) suggest starting kids off on balance bikes. Lacking pedals and a drivetrain, learners propel themselves by pushing their feet against the ground, and once they’re ready for pedals, a plethora of options become available.
Regardless of what you’re looking for, there’s a perfect bike out there for your (nearly) perfect child. To help you find that elusive bike, we’ve compiled a list of the best kids’ bikes available across eight different categories. Whether they’re ready for a balance bike or a BMX beast, this is what they’ll need to get started and advance. Oh, and while you’re shopping for a bike, don’t forget a helmet to keep their head protected against the inevitable spill.
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When kids are learning how to ride, they’ll need to master balance, which is precisely why you’ll want to invest in a balance bike that’s free from training wheels, pedals and a drivetrain.
The Strider 12 is a tremendous teaching tool for kids who are learning how to balance their body and weight on a bike. It features 12-inch wheels and is ideal for little ones with an inseam length of 12 to 20 inches, or ages 18 months to five years. If that sounds like a significant age range, keep in mind that the Strider 12 features an adjustable seat and handlebars, so as your kid grows, their balance bike does, too.
As for the bike’s construction, Strider outfits the 12 with plastic wheels and foam rubber tires that don’t need inflating, as well as footrests, which come in handy when your little daredevil wants to rest their feet on a downhill. While the bike lacks brakes, Strider makes an add-on foot brake should you need one.
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Guardian Bikes®
Guardian makes kids-size versions of adult-quality bikes, which means your kiddo can ride around on a top-notch bicycle that has the same sturdy parts and craftsmanship you’d find in larger bikes. However, because the bikes are specifically made for kids, they aren’t just shrunken-down adult bikes—they feature kid-specific geometry that creates less distance between pedals, smaller grips and a lower center of gravity.
Though about 95% of kids’ bikes are made in and shipped from Asia, all Guardian kids’ bikes are made in the US, which supports US manufacturing and reduces carbon emissions by eliminating long-distance shipping. Local manufacturing also gives Guardian more control over a sustainable production processes.
Safety is front and center on these American-made bikes, as evidenced by the brand’s SureStop braking system. Guardian bikes only have a single brake lever and when squeezed, the SureStop system initially engages the brakes in the rear and gradually shifts braking capacity to the front wheel. This strategy provides safer, quicker and more effective stopping than coaster brakes (which take a long time to slow down) or traditional brakes (which could result in a child activating the front brake, causing them to launch over the handlebars).
While the bikes do have recommended age ranges, they also come with specific height ranges, which is helpful if your child is especially short or tall. The sizing guide also specifies minimum leg length, which can be key to finding the right-sized bike for children with shorter legs.
My niece (who is now 7) got the blue and pink version of this bike when she was 6 and fell in love with it immediately, mostly because of the fun colors and matching helmet. Because she never learned to ride on a balance bike, I had this bike shipped to New York so I could teach her to ride when she visits the city.
The bike was a breeze to put together and after a couple weeks of gliding around without pedals, she finally learned to balance. In fact, many parents (and hyper-involved aunties!) buy this bike for their kids as their first pedal bike because it’s a master of transitions.
A low step-over height makes the bike easy to mount and it’s lightweight enough that I can lift and carry it without issue. The bike is also compatible with training wheels (sold separately) should you want them.
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woom Bicycles
Elementary schoolers are typically too large for balance bikes yet too small for “big kid bikes,” but Woom has made it easier for parents to find the perfect bikes for their little tikes.
As a label that only makes kids’ bikes and bike accessories, they’re experts in the field and have four categories of bikes to choose from: Original (all-around use), Now (urban use), OFF (mountain bikes) and Up (electric bikes). For elementary school-aged children, you’re likely going to consider either the Original or the OFF.
What makes the Woom Original such a great bike is that it’s lightweight (which comes in handy if your five-year-old has a tantrum during a ride and you’re stuck carrying the bike home) and designed with kid-friendly geometry and components in mind. The smallest bike is a size 1—a balance bike suitable for kids as young as 18 months—and each size is intended to smoothly transition kids from one stage of riding to the next.
If your child already began riding with training wheels, starting them on a Woom with smaller wheels (like the 3, assuming they meet the height requirements), will better help them transition to riding without training wheels. Pro tip: If your child isn’t quite ready to ride without training wheels, you can also take the pedals off the smaller bikes so kids can practice coasting and balancing. Woom bikes work for kids up to 66 inches tall, so if your younger children love their bike so much that they never want to give it up, you can easily transition them to the larger sizes as they grow.
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Specialized
Just because a rider is young, doesn’t mean that he or she isn’t dead set on blasting through rugged rock gardens. Fortunately, kids’ mountain bikes are available at various price points and you’ll certainly be able to find affordable options at big box shops all over the country.
However, know that you get what you pay for in the bike industry, so if your kiddo is a serious rider, you may want to consider investing in a more rugged ride that can handle a beating. The Speciailized Riprock is one such bike, as it’s sturdily constructed and complete with a slew of features required for serious ripping, like modern geometry, Ground Control tires, hydraulic disc brakes, suspension and internally-routed cables.
The best part is there’s not just one Riprock to choose from—the bike comes in six different iterations (and price points) that can accommodate tiny trail riders who require coaster brakes and training wheels (the Riprock 12) or middle and high school riders who will appreciate strategically placed mud flaps, top-notch suspension and an 11-speed SRAM NX drivetrain.
Like the Jett, the Riprock is not just a pint-sized version of adult mountain bikes, as its kid-specific updates and features take into account how children grow, sit on a bike, pedal and grip the handlebars.
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Walmart
Featuring an 18-inch top tube, the Radio Dice is tailored to younger riders, offering a comfortable and controlled experience. Its robust steel frame delivers durability while remaining lightweight (it weighs just shy of 22 pounds), enabling kids to effortlessly handle the bike as they learn new tricks and conquer the park.
The Dice boasts responsive and reliable components, including a strong rear U-brake for stopping power and grippy tires for improved traction. With 25x9 gearing, young riders can easily gain speed and take on ramps and jumps with confidence. The included gyro brake system allows for smooth 360-degree handlebar spins, enabling kids to explore their freestyle potential.
Safety is paramount, and Radio incorporates a sturdy three-piece crankset and platform pedals, offering stability and control. Its eye-catching design and vibrant color options add a dash of style to the mix, making it an attractive choice for the aspiring X-Games competitor.
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Specialized
If there’s anything we can be certain of in life, it’s that kids will grow. And while you can find many styles of kids’ bikes in different sizes (road, mountain, balance and so on), unless you’re made of money, you probably won’t want to invest in a new ride every time your kid hits a growth spurt. That’s where the Specialized Jett comes in. It’s specifically designed to adjust over time so that parents don’t have to fear growth spurts (or shell out a bunch of cash every time they occur).
With the Jett, Specialized designed child-specific touch points that could withstand a young rider’s development, taking into consideration that kids’ arms and legs grow more rapidly than their torsos. Data from a kids’ research group informed the design of the Jett so that it would be perfectly proportional for younger riders looking for a casual bike (this wouldn’t be the best bike for little trail riders).
Jett bikes come with unique adjustability features, such as longer seat posts, two-hole position cranks and adjustable handlebars that allow riders (or their parents) to dial in the perfect riding position. Even though the bikes are adjustable, you’re not expected to invest in a bike that suits every single child. Rather, Jett offers a family of bikes that include lightweight single speeds or seven-speed versions for kids who need to handle hills.
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Specialized
If your kiddo is a serious rider (and you can afford to spend a pretty penny on a bike), then you may want to invest in a higher-end electric bike so they can keep up with you on the trails.
The Specialized Turbo Levo SL fits the bill, as it was designed to accommodate young riders and parents alike. The sizing system, which is admittedly a bit confusing, starts at OS, which is the kids’ version that suits kids who are 49-57 inches tall. Beyond that, older or taller children can choose from the S1-S6 size range.
Though the bike only comes in one size for kids (hence “OS”), its low step-through height and shorter wheelbase is designed to accommodate kids as they grow and help them build confidence in their riding ability.
While many less-expensive bikes do well on flat pavement, they won’t stand a chance on gravel trails and steep climbs. Similarly, budget bikes tend to come with budget batteries, which may only last an hour or two, so they aren’t well-suited to long rides. The Specialized Turbo Levo SL was designed to tackle tough trails and steep terrain, and its 320-wh battery and motor last at least 3-5 hours, depending on the terrain and the size/weight of the person in the saddle. The smaller and lighter the rider, the less weight the bike is hauling and the longer the battery lasts.
I bike toured on the adult-size version of this bike and the battery was impressive when I was riding solo, but boy did it take a hit when I piled 60 pounds of gear into my panniers.
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Wellbots
As a rule, the best electric bikes tend to be pricier than traditional pedal bikes, and electric kids’ bikes are no different. If your young’un is a serious rider and you can spare the cash, you may want to invest in a fancy e-bike with all the bells and whistles, but if you’re looking for an entry-level option, consider the Droyd Blipper Mini.
This 43-pound e-bike is made with a durable steel frame, rust-free alloy components and stainless steel spokes that are built to last. It comes almost fully assembled and if you have experience with basic bike mechanics (like attaching a headset), you may be able to put it together in 10-15 minutes. Otherwise, take it to your local bike shop to finish the job.
Though the Blipper Mini is geared towards kids over the age of 13 (who weigh up to 165 pounds), we found reviews online from the happy parents of younger kids who love this bike.
Powered with a 24-volt 250-watt motor mated to a lithium ion battery, the bike maxes out at 12.5 miles per hour, so you don’t have to worry about thrill-seeking teens barreling down the street at breakneck speeds. All the basic features are included, such as a foldable kickstand, battery level indicator and LED headlight, though proper bike lights are still recommended while riding at night. As this is a budget buy, however, the bike is heavier than higher-end versions and the ride time is only 60 minutes.
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Here at Forbes Vetted, we’re serious riders so we spend a lot of time (perhaps too much time) thinking about all things cycling. We own bikes, we ride bikes and some of us also ride with our families, so we know how important it is to outfit every member of the family with a safe, reliable bike.
To assemble the list of the best kids’ bikes, we spent time with some of these bikes firsthand and tapped friends, colleagues and industry experts for additional input. We’ve also scoured the internet to sift through thousands of reviews from actual customers who bought these bikes and rode them with their kids.
Our team has published dozens of in-depth roundups and reviews that include meticulous research as well as rigorous firsthand product testing. We know our readers rely on us for accurate, updated reviews, which is why this article is updated regularly. When there are better kids’ bikes out there, you’ll hear it here first. This article was last updated in October, 2023.
We believe that to truly uncover the perfect ride for your little ones, you need to get down to their level—literally. That's why we spent quality time with kids, watching and learning how they interacted with bikes, discovering the features that made their eyes light up and their smiles widen.
We also understood that the wisdom of parents and the expertise of bike enthusiasts are invaluable. We engaged in in-depth conversations with parents, gleaning insights into their desires for safety, durability and ease of use. We also consulted with bike experts, who shared their knowledge on the finer details that make a bike stand out in terms of performance and child-friendly design.
By blending the perspectives of young riders, their caregivers and experienced experts, we've carefully curated a list of the best kids' bikes on the market. Our dedication to this holistic approach ensures that the bikes we recommend aren't just tools for play but instruments that help children grow, explore and create unforgettable memories.
For more information Custom Kids Bike, please get in touch with us!