Some of the thrilling milestones for a kid is the second they study to trip a motorcycle. It’s a ability they’ll have for all times, in spite of everything, and you may set them up for fulfillment by offering them with a cushty, easy-to-ride first pedal bike.
Everyone learns at their very own tempo, however most children are prepared to start out pedaling on their very own between the ages of 4 and 6, so we centered on bikes with 16-inch wheels. Whether or not your child might be tearing up the native pump monitor or cruising metropolis sidewalks, an excellent first “huge child” bike will preserve them protected, construct their confidence, and produce a number of pleasure to the training course of.
We spent over 24 hours evaluating 11 pedal bikes on pavement, on grass, and at an indoor BMX monitor in late 2023 and early 2024, and we’re assured that the Guardian Ethos 16 Inch Bike is the very best first bike for most children.
If you happen to’re searching for a barely greater bike for an older child, we’ve additionally examined a smaller group of 20” bikes and have some suggestions.
Our choose
This fantastically constructed bike was a success with testers due to its comfy, kid-specific geometry and splashy, colourful design. Dad and mom cherished the revolutionary braking system.
The 18-pound Guardian Ethos 16 Inch Bike has a light-weight metal body, a number of dimension adjustability within the seatpost and handlebars, and an revolutionary braking system that prompts each the entrance and rear brakes with the rider’s press of a single hand lever, distributing the braking energy evenly in order that it’s inconceivable to lock up the entrance brakes and flip over the handlebars. This function permits youngsters to achieve extra velocity and trip extra adventurously, realizing that they will simply cease if they should. Plus, the bike’s kid-friendly geometry places the rider in an upright place leaning barely ahead, maintaining them comfy whereas permitting for loads of energy going up hills.
- Bike weight: 18 kilos
- Standover top: 16.75 inches
- Brake kind: single hand brake
Runner-up
This solidly constructed aluminum-frame bike works effectively for riders of various sizes and ability ranges—on pavement, dust, and pump tracks—however is barely much less maneuverable than our prime choose.
The REI Co-op Cycles REV 16 Children’ Bike weighs 18 kilos, similar to our prime choose, and has geometry that labored effectively for our testers, however it isn’t as compact and maneuverable as our different picks. And whereas the coaster brake is straightforward to make use of and low-fuss, we want hand brakes for his or her management and superior braking energy. This bike comes with simply detachable coaching wheels (although they’ve been the main target of some purchaser complaints not too long ago), and since its seatpost and handlebars are extremely adjustable, it may possibly proceed to suit youngsters as they develop, simply as our prime choose can.
- Bike weight: 18 kilos
- Standover top: 17.5 inches
- Brake kind: coaster brake
Improve choose
This high-end bike is tremendous mild, tremendous zippy, and chock-full of kid-friendly options. However it doesn’t accommodate coaching wheels (which is by design).
The Woom 3 16-inch pedal bike is a gorgeous bike, beloved by youngsters and oldsters alike. Its aluminum body has ideally suited geometry for teenagers, with a decrease standover top than on any of our different picks and normal BMX-style raised handlebars. At 13 kilos, it’s by far the lightest of our picks and extremely maneuverable. Our testers zipped round on it, simply gaining velocity whereas additionally feeling assured with the twin hand brakes, which function color-coded levers that assist train riders to brake with each fingers however to favor the rear brake.
- Bike weight: 13 kilos
- Standover top: 16.5 inches
- Brake kind: two hand brakes
Price range choose
In contrast with different less-expensive bikes, this mannequin is straightforward to place collectively, sturdy, and unfussy—however its metal body makes it a lot heavier than our different picks.
The Joystar Totem Children Bike is the very best of the sub-$200 bikes we examined. Its coaster brake retains issues easy and simple to take care of, and its sturdy metal body ought to final by means of a number of youngsters. Whereas its geometry was comfy sufficient for our youthful testers, it additionally allowed our skilled 7-year-old tester to speed up rapidly and cost up hills. However at 20.5 kilos—the heaviest of our picks—this mannequin is prone to be harder for smaller kids to maneuver.
- Bike weight: 20.5 kilos
- Standover top: 17.5 inches
- Brake kind: coaster brake