But all of these materials are fine as long as the trike is stable. The SmarTrike 3-in-1 Breeze S Toddler Tricycle felt flimsy, with plastic wheels and screws that are tough to tighten. And the harness didn’t tighten well; Jenni’s 15-month-old daughter kept nearly falling out. When an adult pushes this convertible trike, the handle (rather than the kid steering) directs the front wheel, which is ideal for younger kids. But our top pick and runner-up pick simply felt safer and more durable, and they were easier to build. As a child grows, these little-kid extras are stripped away, leaving a trike they can ride independently.
We tested tricycles made from steel, aluminum, and plastic, in varying combinations. Compared with trikes that were 100% plastic, trikes with at least some steel tended to age better and more consistently stood up to a beating. They also help develop a child’s visual processing abilities while in motion.
The Joovy Tricycoo 4.1 Kids Tricycle (our previous pick in this guide) was loved by our kid testers, and it has a short, five-minute build time. The materials are mostly plastic, which got dinged up after just a few weeks of testing. Many parents complain in reviews about losing pieces of the Joovy over time; the screws, the plastic basket, all tend to fall off. It also got stuck on any surface that wasn’t pavement. Tricycles certainly aren’t just for kids; they’re both fun and practical for adults, too. The Radio Flyer Deluxe Big Flyer is a decent version of the Big Wheel–style trike, and it’s intended for kids who are 3 to 7 years old.
Both versions of the bike are sturdy enough to hold the weight of most adults. Both writers also threw “bike parties” with a dozen kids, ages 1 to 7, along with the parents, and they noted which options everyone gravitated toward and which they ignored. The seat should ideally include some back support to help brace a child’s trunk, especially if they’re under age 3, said Rebecca Talmud, DPT, a pediatric physical therapist in Washington, DC. We looked for trikes that can be passed down from child to child.
However, you will find some difference between saddles in Schwinn’s range of adult trikes. Some saddles are slightly wider and better padded than others and some are sprung for shock absorption. That being said, even the slightly narrower and less-padded saddles are more cushioned and comfortable than an average schwinn bicycles bicycle seat. Tricycles are great for adults who either can’t ride standard Schwinn bicycles or don’t feel all that comfortable riding them on the roads or out in public. With an adult tricycle, you can confidently enjoy bike rides with your family or friends or use your trike for commuting or running errands.
I’d guess the single-speed freewheel/freehub on the jackshaft has something wrong with its pawls. I posted about this about two years ago and the other trike is no longer on the road. New trike (got it about a year ago) is now having the same issue as the last. I have a video on twitter that I just did to explain it better.
She’s the author of our guides to the best jogging strollers and the best kids hiking backpacks, and she’s a mom to two children. As Jenni was writing the current version of this guide, her kids were 15 months and 3½ years old—perfect trike-testing age. Install Rear WheelsLocate the side of the wheel with a flat section that matches the flat section on the rear drive axle. Align the flat sections on the hub and axle, then slide the wheel onto the axle until it stops. Slide one washer over the axle end, then thread the locknut on and tighten it with a wrench. Repeat for the second rear wheel, then turn the tricycle right side up.