A kids’ bike like the RoyalBaby BMX Freestyle Kids Bikes is the perfect gift for a young one just learning to ride. All children love to ride. At a very young age, they are their happiest riding along in their little tricycles. A little bigger, they want their own bicycle. Some children are discerning enough to ask for their own BMX, which is why most kids’ bikes made these days are BMX.
Jen’s Top Pick: RoyalBaby BMX Freestyle Kids Bikes
As a parent, you try to give your child the best. But the problem with choosing something like a bike is that you know your child is eventually going to outgrow it, making you have to buy another in no time. Which is why we picked the RoyalBaby BMX Freestyle Kids Bike as the best kids’ bike for an affordable price. It comes in a variety of sizes and even if you bought the smallest size, you could still adjust the seat as your child grows in height.
The price of our step up pick, Tykesbykes Fat Tire Kids Bike is certainly not for the faint of heart. But for the price you pay, it is undoubtedly one amazing ride. The wide tires with rubber coating make the bike easy for the kids to balance and control. This bike is one that will make your child feel more adventurous, confident and daring as he learns to ride his bike.
Our budget pick, the Razor 62042 High Roller BMX/Freestyle Bike, is a BMX bike which is sure to delight the little adventurer. It is less expensive than the top pick but is not without its thrills. It is a sturdy first ride with a steel frame that comes to you for a little more than a hundred dollars.
If you are planning to buy your little one his or her first bike, before you do your initial research (which we have done for you here) there are a few things you need to know so that you can find the best suited bike for him (or her). The proper bike size, what kind of fit it should have and the weight of the bike should all play crucial parts in determining the best bike for a child.
Bike Sizes
Before you buy a kids’ bike, the first thing you need to know is that sizing of kids’ bikes are done differently from adult bikes. Whereas adult bikes are sized according to the frame size, kids’ bikes are sized according to the wheel size.
Kids’ bike wheel sizes start from 12′ for the youngest cyclist and can go up to 18′ for a twelve year old. As mentioned in this guide to kids’ bicycles a 12′ bike would suit up to a five year old and go on from there.
Other important factors
Other than the size of the bike, the fit and weight of the bike should also be considered. Just because you know that your child is about to have a growth spurt, don’t be tempted buy her a bigger bike. Not only will a bigger bike be more uncomfortable for her to ride, it will be harder to balance and control and will not be as safe for her as a fitting bicycle would be.
It is important that a kids’ bike does not weight much. While it should be sturdily made, a kids’ bike should be light enough for a child to straighten if it happens to topple. In addition, a heavier bike would take a lot of work for a little one to ride making the ride not much fun after a while.
How we chose our picks
The criteria we used to determine the best kids’ bike was easy. The best kids’ bike had to be safe. Safety incudes a lot of factors such as the quality of the brakes, the width of the tires and so on and so forth.
For instance, for a kids’ bike, how fast the brakes would work is very important so that a child can stop a bike fast and not get into any accidents. Also the wider the tires would mean more balance the kids would have when riding the bicycle. We also liked to look at bikes with less weight as they proved to be a safer option for kids. The lighter the bicycle, the bigger the chance a child would have in mastering how to balance it faster.
A good kids’ bike must also be comfortable to ride in and it must be able to be assembled easily. It must also be worth the price a parent would pay for it.
Finally, as mentioned in kids’ bike guide, when buying a kids’ bike, while extras such as ribbon streamers are certainly attractive to little ones, they are not essential parts of a bike. So we didn’t consider them to be important unless we were looking for specialty bikes about which you will read on later.
Our top pick: RoyalBaby BMX Freestyle Kids Bike
Jen’s Top Pick: RoyalBaby BMX Freestyle Kids Bikes
This is the bike kid’s dreams are made of. It’s easy to assemble. It’s easy to ride. Even though it is manufactured in China (as most modern bikes are) it is made with RoyalBaby’s own patented parts. The frame of the bike is sturdy and is made with steel. To ensure the safety of young feet the chain on the bike is fully enclosed in a chain guard. The bike also comes with heavy duty training wheels with rubber outer layers to minimize the noise. The training wheels can also be removed when your young one is ready to balance the bike on his own.
Something else we liked about this bike was the fact that it came in a range of colors for the little ones to pick and a range of wheel sizes from 12 inches to 18 inches. This means that you can choose a RoyalBaby BMX Freestyle Kids Bike for the youngest in your family as well as for an older child. Most importantly it is great bike for a girl or a boy which has been designed and built to be compliant with international quality standards.
The most crucial factor to be taken into consideration when buying a bike for a little one is his or her safety. It is vital that the bike meets stringent safety standards. The RoyalBaby BMX Freestyle Kids Bike does so. It also comes with a rear coaster brake and a front caliper brake, ensuring that you child can easily stop the bike when he wants to. In addition, the tires are 2.4′ wide, making it easier for kids to balance the bike easily.
All young children like emulating grownups. Taking that into consideration, the RoyalBaby BMX Freestyle Kids Bike is a kids’ bike which has been built for kids, but looks like an adult’s bike, making the kids feel grownup and big. It also features a space for a water bottle which comes in handy if are riding in the harsh sun and a very comfortable seat good for kids cycling for long periods of time.
This bike isn’t too hard on your wallet. The RoyalBaby BMX Freestyle Kids Bike is our top pick for the best kids bike because not only do the kids who ride it love it, but also the parents who bought the bike felt that it is a great bike for their kids.
Flaws but not deal breakers
We found only two negatives to speak about the RoyalBaby BMX Freestyle Kids Bike. However even these two negative points were turned into positive ones by the great customer service of the RoyalBaby bike company.
One of the complaints was that the bike came scratched and not according to the given specifications when it arrived at our doorstep. But then careful thought made us realize that this was really not the company’s fault. Any product which is being shipped across the seas will inevitably be need to be checked for breaking. If there are loose joints or components, it is very important that the bike be adjusted before being given to a child to ride on. To us that felt like simple common sense. Even if the bike arrived at your doorstep in apparent great condition, before giving it to your child, do a thorough check up and make any adjustments as necessary.
The second complaint was that the pedals broke after a while and had to be replaced. However, the RoyalBaby bike company sent us the replacement pedal in no time at all and assured us they would continue to send us any parts we needed replacing in the long run such as pedals or the water bottle.
In our books, this is indeed great customer service and nullifies the negative feelings completely.
Our step up pick: Tykesbykes Fat Tire Kids Bike
Tykesbykes Fat Tire Kids Bike
The Tykesbykes Fat Tire Kids Bike is quite a step up pick. At more than four times what our top pick costs, the Tykesbykes Fat Tire Kids Bike is a standout. If you are a little dubious as to why you should pay such a lot of your hard earned money for a kids’ bike that your child would eventually outgrow anyway, let us tell you why.
Here’s the first thing you need to know about this bike. Tykesbykes Fat Tire Kids Bike is not a bicycle for smaller kids. If your child is seven years or older, then this bike would be great for him or her.
Now here’s the reason why this bike is costly. It has been made to be ridden on practically any surface, whether it’s a paved road, gravel, snow, sand, mud or concrete. If you want to take your little fellow along when you go mountain biking next time, this is the bike you should get him or her. Because this bike can be ridden on mountain trails without a problem as well.
If the bike has to be stopped at a moment’s notice that can be done with the help of both front and rear disk brakes which are operated by brake levers that have been designed to fit small hands. The fat tires make the bike stable and easier for the little ones to balance while the rubber coating on the tires give them a better grip when on the city roads. The big price tag on the Tykesbykes Fat Tire Kids Bike is justifiable considering that the bike has Shimano gear components giving the bike 7 speed options.
The Tykesbykes Fat Tire Kids Bike is a great bike for a child wanting to play grownup alongside their parents. Actually, we thought that this bike would be perfect for a child in a family who loves to do family stuff together and keep fit.
For some reason, let’s pretend that our top pick isn’t quite what you’re looking for. Or when discussing which bike to get him, that your kid said ‘Ow mom! (Or dad!) I’m not baby anymore, I want a bike like yours!’ But if the step up pick is a little out of your budget, then we also have a list of kids’ BMX bikes to entice your little daredevil.
Razor 62042 High Roller BMX/Freestyle Bike
Razor 62042 High Roller BMX/Freestyle Bike
This bike can practically be considered our budget pick. It is a great deal for that price. The Razor 62042 High Roller BMX/Freestyle Bike is a basic BMS bike with a steel BMX frame and is suitable for a child between seven and nine years. This bike comes equipped with front and rear hand brakes, front wheel pegs, a four-bolt stem and an adjustable seat.
X-Games FS20 Freestyle Bicycle
X-Games FS20 Freestyle Bicycle
There is no doubt that seeing this bike would make your little risk taker erupt in glee. The X-Games FS20 Freestyle Bicycle certainly has its cool factor in the game. This bike surely is a proper BMX Freestyle Bike which is sure to make any child feel like a grownup.
The frame of this bike is made from steel and the tires topped with rubber grip the road well. And when the bicycle was made every effort has been made to ensure the safety of the little one riding it. For better and faster braking, there are front and rear alloy brakes. In addition, the assembly of the bike is very easy.
Diamondback Bicycles 2014 Mini Viper Kid’s BMX Bike
Diamondback Bicycles 2014 Mini Viper Kid’s BMX Bike
When we were researching to find the best kids’ bike, we were wondering where on earth the Diamondback kids’ bikes had gone to. We were kind of getting worried that there was no Diamondback kids’ bike to satisfy our criteria. Then to our joy, we came across the Diamondback Bicycles 2014 Mini Viper Kid’s BMX Bike.
This bike is a real kids’ BMX bike. When we say real, we mean that Diamondback uses real BMX parts to manufacture this bike. In addition, the saddle is padded so that your little one can ride in comfort. It also comes with removable to training wheels.
Schwinn Boys’ 12-Inch Grit Bike
Have we already told you that we like Schwinn? Schwinn is a bicycle brand that has been around for a while and has a good following. People like Schwinn bicycles because they are reliable. And you can almost always find a Schwinn bicycle to suit anyone.
There is something rather fantastic about the Schwinn Boys’ 12-Inch Grit Bike which endears it to parents with little cyclists: The parent push handle. No more back aches trying to push the kids’ bicycle around. While your little tyke learns to control the bicycle and pedal it, you can easily steer the bicycle from behind with the push handle. When he has learnt to manage the bicycle on his own, the push handle can be removed.
As we’ve discussed before, when buying a bicycle for a child, the most important factor to consider is the safety of the child. To ensure that their little feet do not get tangled in the chain, the Schwinn Boys’ 12-Inch Grit Bike comes with a fully enclosed chain guard. Like many of its competitors, it also comes equipped with removable training wheels which are quite sturdy. If you are worried about pebbles and grit being scattered and hurting the little one when he’s riding, that fear can be minimized a little because this bike comes with front and rear fenders.
The Schwinn Boys’ 12-Inch Grit Bike also has a water bottle mounting cage on the push handle bar. The bike seat can be adjusted to suit the height of your child as he grows up, so that you need not invest in another bike for a while. Because the tires are wide and the frame is sturdy, the bike doesn’t tend to topple over easily, so there is no need to worry that your child will fall and hurt himself while riding it.
The Schwinn Boys’ 12-Inch Grit Bike can be bought from Amazon.
Magna Girls 12″ Sweet Heart Bike
Magna Girls 12″ Sweet Heart Bike
This bike is a very girly bike. It’s pink with white detailing. Why we included this bike in the list is because of its price. This bike is rather inexpensive compared to other kids’ bikes you find in the market. The low price is owed to the fact that the Magna Girls 12″ Sweet Heart Bike is a basic coaster bike with a 12′ wheel. As expected in a kids’ bike it has training wheels and a two piece pad set.
RoyalBaby Stargirl Girl’s Bike
RoyalBaby Stargirl Girl’s Bike with Training Wheels and Basket
The RoyalBaby Stargirl Girl’s Bike comes from the maker of our top pick, the RoyalBaby Bicycle Company. The bike looks very aesthetically pleasing and would be a great birthday or Christmas gift fit for a little princess. This bike comes in three wheel sizes, the 12′, the 14′ and the 16′.
The RoyalBaby Stargirl Girl’s Bike frame comes in two color choices to pick from, blue and pink. The frame is sturdy and is made from steel. The wheels have aired tires and are 2.4′ wide, stabilizing the ride on any bumpy road. Because of the wide tires your little one would have no difficulty in learning to navigate this bike.
This bike comes with a front caliper brake and a rear coaster brake similar to those of our top pick. Just like our top pick, this bike also comes with heavy duty training wheels with a rubber outer layer. To match your growing child, the seat is also adjustable. As extras for the bicycle, a bell, a basket, ribbon streamers, assembly tools and an instructions manual come with the bicycle when you order it. In addition, to safeguard little feet, this bike also features a fully enclosed chain guard.
To inspire young kids into cycling and to make it more joyous for them, there are kids bikes made after their favorite cartoon or television characters. They come all put together with cartoon stickers, words and other graphics that kids find delightful.
If your young one would also like such a bike, we have rounded up a few to give you an idea of what you can find in the market.
Thomas the Train Boys Bike
Thomas The Train 8514-96TJ Boys Bike
Does your young fellow always go around the living room mimicking a train? Choo! Choo! Choo! And can’t get enough of Thomas and his railway friends? If that’s the case, this specialty bike just might be the way for you to teach him how to ride.
This Thomas the train bike has Thomas graphics and details on the handlebars, handlebar shield and the bike tube. It’s a simple coaster bike that would be good for the very beginner. Just like other kids’ bikes, this Thomas bike also comes with training wheels. The seat on the bike is adjustable to fit your child.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Boy’s Bicycle
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Boy’s Bicycle
This bike comes in two sizes, 12′ and 16′. Both sizes come in either silver or black color. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Boy’s Bicycle comes equipped with coaster brakes, training wheels and an adjustable seat. All children who love Donatello, Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael will find this bike a delightful gift whether your give it to them at Christmas or for a birthday.
One great balance bike: Schwinn Balance Bike
Schwinn Balance Bike, 12-Inch
When we were looking for the best kids’ bike, a type of bike that we kept on coming across was the balance bike. We realize that balance bikes are a relatively new concept in the field of kids’ bikes. Not too long ago, when parents wanted their kids to learn how to balance their bikes, they would easily remove the pedals on the bike and lower the seat as low as it would go so that the kids can put their feet on the ground. This way, the kids learnt that if they couldn’t balance the bike while riding, they could simply put their feet down and manage not to topple.
But now, the process of removing the pedals and lowering the seat had been made easier for the parents with the invention of the balance bike. Because balance bikes are only a transient bike for kids which would make way for them to ride a kids’ pedal bike, we didn’t want a balance bike that was too expensive. But that being said, it also had to be safe. The last thing we needed was the child to be scared off cycling forever just because the first bike they rode fell and they got injured in the process.
The Schwinn balance bike ticked all the necessary boxes. We know that Schwinn is a bicycle brand which has proven themselves to be good over and over again. Our trust in them was not misplaces this time around either.
The Schwinn balance bike comes with the 12′ wheel, perfect for the youngest cyclist just upgrading from a tricycle. Both the seat and the handlebars are adjustable to fit the young one eager to get started on riding. It is not too heavy that a child who falls cannot lift it up by him or herself. The frame is sturdy enough for the practicing cyclist. The tires are made from rubber and are air filled so the ride is smooth. The seat of this balance bike is a standard Schwinn bike seat, albeit made smaller so that it fits a child.
This is the perfect balance bike to instill confidence in the youngest of riders and inspire them to start wanting to ride a bike with pedals. It also teaches them control without the parents having to worry about them losing their balance and falling off.
If you want to teach your young one how to control and balance on two wheels, the Schwinn balance bike with 12′ wheels is a great choice for much less than you would typically pay for a regular kids’ bike.
One last ride
All kids love to ride. First they ride their cute little tricycles. Then when they see a big kid on a bicycle, they start clamoring for one. Most children now start off with a balance bike to learn how to balance themselves on to wheels and proceed to a regular bicycle from there. Or else, they can easily start off with a kids’ bike with training wheels. The more adventurous children who love a challenge start right off with a bike with no training wheels and learn to balance by trial and error. They fall down, get up and ride again. They repeat until they get it right and can ride off without their parents holding on to the back of the seat.
For any child who wants to learn to ride, the RoyalBaby BMX Freestyle Kids Bike is a great pick. It comes with training wheels which can later be removed. Its pedals can also be removed easily converting the bike into a balance bike. Therefore it is a great choice for a rider in any stage of learning to balance, be he the utmost novice or a pro rider. We loved it. We are sure you and your young ones will too.