In addition, the padded seat is designed to be a little farther back and with a lower center of gravity. No, you won’t get the ultra-compact folded size of a bike with 16- or 20-inch wheels, but the bike will still pack down much smaller than a traditional bike, and will fit easily into your trunk. A pivot point on the seat stay allows the back of the bike to fold toward the front in one move; just remove the front wheel and it’s ready to stow.
If the bike has a derailleur 3/32″ / 2.4mm chains are used. Derailleur chains are also specific to the number of rear gears. 6, 7 and 8 speed systems use the same chain. The Captiva is stylish and simple, and its modest 7-speed gear range is perfect for getting in those morning miles down at the beach, or cruising into town for dinner. To maximize the chances that your kid will come to enjoy balance biking, Strider’s McFarland, bike guru John Bradley, and fellow Wirecutter editors recommend the following.
Its surface is not too slick and not too sticky and comprises a durable yet just-soft-enough foam rubber. The bike comes with two easily interchangeable seat tubes—one short (8.6 inches) and one long (11.5 inches)—allowing adjustment heights from 11 to 20 inches, the widest range of any bike we tested and among the widest of any balance bike. Combined with handlebars that can rise nearly 5 inches on their own, you have a tiny bike that could be comfortably ridden by our 2-year-old tester and even my 8-year-old son.
Step-by-step instructions, both printed and online, were easy and fun and never frustrating. Final assembly consisted of fitting a couple of nylon bushings that comprised its super-tough and simple steering headset, then tightening the quick-release levers that raise and lower the seat and handlebars. The quick-release levers are even notched where they’re supposed to sit. Like the Strider 12 Sport, the REV 12 features a very low step-in height of 8 inches—a key aspect for a balance bike—and its seat height is adjustable between a very respectable 13.5 and 18.5 inches. The seat also has a neat little “grab handle” at the back for when the grown-ups need to give it a lift.
It’s an electric-assist bike, a cargo bike, and a folding bike—with 4-inch-wide tires that would make a Lunar Rover jealous. City riders will appreciate how easily the fat tires roll over potholes and other road imperfections. Its rear rack is capable of hauling quite a bit of cargo, and the full bike has a load capacity of 275 pounds.
When it’s set up, the Strider’s pedal assembly is engineered with very narrow cranks and pedals—half as wide as you’d see on any other bike. These are key because when most kids transition from a balance to a pedal bike, they’re hardwired to use their feet as brakes—especially if their balance bike didn’t come with hand brakes. The narrowness of this setup allows them to continue to stride and brake like Fred Flintstone until they develop the coordination to engage the pedal and coaster brake in concert. Other bikes with wider pedals will catch kids in the leg if they put their feet down.
Huffy’s Panama Jack Beach Cruise doesn’t just come with a cup holder—it also has a cooler bag, a bottle opener, and a rear rack for carrying all of your beach day essentials. A 10-year frame warranty comes standard with this bike, so you can ride confidently. And since it’s made from aluminum, this beach cruiser is both lightweight huffy beach cruiser and durable. If you’re searching for a fat tire beach cruiser bike, we recommend this electric version from SOHOO. Plus, this cruiser features a pedal-assist mode and can reach speeds up to 28 miles per hour. And we love that it has a digital LCD display, so you always know exactly how fast you’re going and how far you’ve traveled.
Though the bars can only be raised about 2 inches via the stem (compared with nearly 5 inches for the Strider), angling the bar upward provides an additional half inch of height. The bars are not quite an inch wider in diameter than those on the Strider with about a 3-inch grip, but they’re definitely still kid-size. A properly fitted balance bike can enable children to balance on two wheels with astonishing speed even as young as 18 months and is a fun first step toward learning to ride a bike. Plus, once they master it, they’re well on their way to riding their first pedal bike. Our experts advise that learning to ride a bike has changed over the years (no more training wheels) and balance biking is the first step. Once they can balance, they learn to use a hand brake and, finally, learn to pedal, skipping training wheels altogether.
As soon as you sit down, you’ll feel like this Perfect Fit frame is designed specifically for you. As you pedal, your legs can fully extend forward, which helps to eliminate wrist, arm, neck and leg fatigue. While you’re seated at a stop, both feet can be kept flat-footed on the ground.
The Huffy 26” Beach Cruiser is the perfect blend of vintage style and modern simplicity. This single-speed bike is easy to ride and will get you to the coffee shop, the market, or even to happy hour. The Rookie series offers 4 perfect bike sizes for toddlers to age 9 with cool designs and colors. A kids’ bike is the perfect way to turn every trip outdoors into an adventure. We have a range of boys’ and girls’ bikes to take them from learner to pro. Choosing a child’s bike is a big decision, there’s plenty of information available so you can make the right choice.