Children love to ride, and a brand new bike is one of those birthday or Christmas presents that a child will remember forever. There's probably never been more choice and quality in kids bikes, from balance bikes for toddlers to scaled-down mountain bikes, BMX bikes and even race bikes. Let's dive into what makes a great kids' bike, explore a selection of the best options available, and answer some questions to help you find the perfect fit for your child.
Best first kids bike: Hornit AIRO balance bike
Best kids balance bike convertible to pedals: LittleBig 3-in-1 bike
Best for kids transitioning to a geared bike: Prevelo Alpha Three 20-inch
Best value junior bike: Boardman JNR Hybrid Bike - 26 inch Wheel
Best kids road bike: Frog Road 70 children's road bike
A bike is an opportunity to get off the sofa and go outside to have some fun, and kids' bikes can be the gateway to a lifetime of exercise and adventure. Youngsters can start riding at any age from about three upwards, and can start on balance bikes even earlier.
Despite Islabikes ceasing production, credit has to go to Isla Rowntree of Islabikes for pioneering the production of really good quality bikes for children. Rowntree understood that the best kids bikes don't just have scaled-down frames, but smaller wheels, brake levers, saddles, cranks and even handlebar grips.
The right size
As tempting as it is to buy a bike your growing child can use for years, choosing one that matches their current size and skill level will ensure they get the most enjoyment from it. Many of the options below start as balance bikes and can be fitted with pedals as your child grows.
Bikes for children are categorised based on wheel size rather than frame size, as the dimensions of the wheels dictate the overall proportions of the bike. The smallest kid's bikes feature 12-inch wheels, and are typically designed for children aged three to five years.
Bikes with 12, 14 and 16-inch wheels keep things simple with single gears and no complications. 20-inch wheeled bikes are where you get into gears and sometimes suspension. Bikes for seven to nine-year-olds will take kids further afield, away from the garden and into parks and perhaps even to school. You'll usually find six or seven gears to make climbing hills easier, with a twist-grip shifter for simplicity.
The same comments apply to 24-inch and even 26-inch wheeled mountain bikes for kids as for 20-inch bikes. You also find double and even triple chainsets on these bikes, but there's a school of thought that this is extra weight, complication and cost that the child can live without for another year or two.
As with any bike, it's important it fits comfortably so that your child can easily stand across the frame, reach the pedals from the saddle and grab the handlebar without too much of a stretch. Having a bike that's too small or too big can compromise a child's ability to control the bike, making it harder to ride, and may discourage them from cycling.
Lightweight
Paying attention to the weight of kids' bikes is crucial for their enjoyment and overall cycling experience and arguably, it's more important that a child's bike is lightweight than it is for adults.
A heavy kid's bike demands greater effort from a child, making it more challenging for them to control and manoeuvre, ultimately diminishing their enjoyment of cycling. Opting for a lightweight option not only eases the riding experience but also facilitates a smoother transition for a child from a balance bike to a pedal bike.
Kids' bikes used to be universally boat anchors and very cheap ones still are but, fortunately, many bike manufacturers now make sensibly priced, light machines for young riders.
Handlebar style: road or mountain?
Small-wheel kids' bikes have flat bars and mountain bike styling, but once you get into 24-inch wheeled bikes you have the option of drop bars.
At this point you're definitely into try-before-you-buy territory. Some kids simply don't get on with drop bars, and more importantly with their brake/gear levers, so don't try and surprise your youngster with a road bike if you're not certain they'll cope.
Cyclocross style extra brake levers are a definite bonus on any drop-bar bike for a kid and in our experience children will thank you for them. One other note on brakes for all kids' bikes: always check that the brake levers are proportionate to the size of the child's hand that's going to be using them, and ideally that they are reach-adjustable too.
Price vs value
A high-quality bike is built to last, and often prioritises both safety and performance. With features like smoother gear shifts, reliable brakes, and a lighter frame, these bikes make riding easier, safer and more enjoyable for kids. Plus, high-quality bikes are built to withstand bumps, scrapes, and occasional spills, making them ideal for passing down to younger siblings.
Investing in a high-quality bike can also be more cost-effective over time as they tend to hold their value well. This means that not only does your child benefit from a better riding experience, but you're also likely to get some of the investment back if you choose to sell it once your child outgrows it.
Balance bike or pedals?
Balance bikes - steerable bikes with no pedals - have revolutionised the way kids learn to ride. By allowing a child to learn to balance and steer a bike without the complication of pedalling, balance bikes make a child's first experiences with bikes simple and fun.
Balance bikes are available at a wide range of prices, from around £50 or sometimes even less. The most basic models don't have brakes, but these days most have a rear wheel brake so junior's trainers don't get worn out stopping.
A balance bike is an excellent choice for younger children just starting out, as it builds confidence and essential balancing skills. Once your child is confident with balancing and steering, a pedal bike is the natural next step as they grow and show readiness.
Below, you'll find a selection of the best kids' bikes currently available, along with additional information in the Q&A section under our product recommendations.
As always, if you're curious about how we review products and select items for our buyer's guides, you can read this article on why you can trust our recommendations over something like a hideous AI-generated list... particularly important when it comes to your child's cycling safety and enjoyment!
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9 comments
Hmm, not a word about BMX bikes. My sons graduated in turn from the little Raleigh and went onto a BMX with an 18" wheel bought from (the horror) Halfords. It was simple, durable and easy to ride. It was ok for the school commute, zzooming around the park or a bit of riding at the local BMX track. My youngest later discovered it was really good for the skatepark, so we'd go there regularly with another father and son pairing, all of us on BMXs. When my youngest finally outgrew it, I passed it over to a friend and his twin daughters rode it. He then passed it on to someone else when they got bigger.
I'd suggest that for balance bikes, a brake is really important. Initially the kid won't be able to use it, if they're young, but it becomes increasingly important as they get more competent. And then they'll be used to braking once they get a pedal bike.
Weight is something I thought was irrelevant until I realised you'll spend a lot of time carrying it! Go lightweight if you can!
We've had a Ridgeback Scoot 12 inch balance bike, which we were happy with. Currently on a 14 inch Vitus which is great.
Not a single review for 20 inch bikes. Mine have outgrown 16 but can't ride a 24 yet as they need another 6-8cm growth. I'm in market for a 20. Until they get to 8 years old.
Cnoc 20, currently £350:
https://www.islabikes.co.uk/products/cnoc-20-kids-bike-age-4
The equivalent Frog would be a decent alternative.
Vitus 20 is every bit as good as Frog and are quite cheap with wiggle/CRC right now
Just wanted to second your comment on Vitus.
We've got a Vitus 14 for our kid, since the age of four. It's a great bike, robust, adjustable, and good value. I'm planning to just keep getting the next size up.
The Prevelo Alpha Three on the main feature image is 20".
The Decathlon Run Ride balance bike deserves a mention. Ours served our 3 kids and has since gone on to a good home to serve another 2 and is still going strong after about 12 years. The design has changed in that time (I preferred the old one) and it's gotten near to double in price in that time so not quite the steal it used to be, but it's still cheaper than any of the ones listed
Frog bikes are great. With the exception of 1 Islabike, all the progression has been to Frogs
Agree about Decathlon basic balance bike. Having bought a few of them as gifts, it is indeed a good indicator how inflation works.
The lifetime warranty for a bicycle meant to be ridden for 2-3 years for each kid seems a bit funny to me.