$30Summertime is almost here and it's time to trade in your spring jacket. Ward off sweat and sunburn with a stylish cheap sun hat!
Cheap Kids' Bikes Buying Guide
Cheap kids bikes are usually broken into four categories grouped roughly according to wheel size: 12 inches for ages 2-5; 16 inches for ages 4-8; 20 inches for ages 6-11; and 24 inches for ages 10 and up. To be sure you're getting the right size, experts suggest measuring the inseam of a child's leg and letting those results be your guide. Websites such as iBike.org provide a chart for inseam measurements in relation to the recommended bicycle size along with tips for safe and enjoyable riding at every age. Some vendors also stock less common wheel sizes, such as 14-, 18-, and 26- inch bicycles that may fit your child better and sell at prices that fall within your budget.
Of course, you can always go into a specialty bike shop and buy a fully customized bicycle that's at least three times the price of the cheap kids bikes you'll find at the mass merchandisers. At this higher end what you'll get is a bike with a frame made of aluminum or some other strong and lightweight metal, the best brakes and tires, expert adjustments to the gears and brake cables, and sometimes a free warranty tune-up, like the one REI offers in the first 100-200 miles or after the first two months. When you buy a cheap kids bike, on the other hand, you often wind up with DIY assembly and doing a good bit of maintenance yourself, which may include paying extra to replace worn parts made of plastic or lower quality steel. User reviews also indicate that these bicycles may come with poor assembly instructions, missing parts, and in colors that differ from what you thought you were ordering online; a cheap kids bike may also arrive damaged because of poor packaging.
Still, there are good cheap kids bikes to be had. The big-box stores offer low-cost options ranging from the widely available Huffy line to the Toys R Us exclusives Rallye and Avigo. Other names you'll come across at the lower end of the market include NEXT and Pacific, and occasionally Schwinn. Within this pool of discount kids bikes you'll find several acceptable options for the limited time your growing child will be riding his or her starter bicycle.
To help make your search more efficient, we focused on the four common wheel sizes and quickly noted that three brands stand out. Huffy offers the largest assortment of cheap kids bikes in all sizes, and for the most part, delivers value. Several of our picks bear the Huffy name: the 12-inch Boys Rock-It Bike (starting at $40, Amazon
We also came across reports from consumers indicating that two models by Pacific, the 20-inch Chromium Girls Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike (starting at $113, Amazon
One more thing: While shopping around for a good cheap kids bike, be on the lookout for used top-of-the-line models from companies like Trek and Isla. These bicycles are made with intense attention to detail. Up-market Diamondback and Mongoose bikes also show up on the resale market from time to time. Higher quality materials mean less maintenance in the long run, although many cheap kids bikes keep children perfectly content for a couple of years before it's time to step up to the next size.
Back to top »
Filed in:
Bicycle Helmets,
Bicycle locks,
Bicycles,
Children,
Excercising,
Family,
Fitness,
Kids,
Kids' Bikes,
Sports
Best Cheap Kids Bikes
Huffy Bikes
Huffy dominates the market for cheap kids bikes with a wide selection of boys and girls models in the primary size categories. Most reviewers are satisfied with the quality-to-price ratio despite some quibbling about components that don't hold up; young riders like their wheels. Read more »Where to buy
| Not ready to buy? | ||
Good Cheap Kids Bikes
NEXT Bikes
This brand includes entry-level bikes and models with more pizzazz; the smallest offering is an 18-inch two-wheeler with training wheels. Reviewers like the quality and aesthetics, and kids like designs that feed fantasies of stunts and power riding. Read more »Where to buy
| Available at Walmart |
Avigo Bikes
A Toys R Us exclusive, Avigo offers a limited line of 16-, 18-, and 20-inch bikes for boys and girls. Some reviewers grouse about difficult assembly, stiff hand brakes, and a bit of roughness in the ride, but most say these cheap kids bikes are sturdy and easy to adjust. Read more »Where to buy
| Not ready to buy? | ||
Cheapism.com on Facebook
Products Mentioned in This Review
Pretty in Pink BMX Bike ReviewPacific Bikes Review
NEXT Bikes Review
Avigo Bikes Review
Huffy Bikes Review
Archived Products
Lil Della Cruz Girls 12 in. BikeMicargi 16 in. Kids Bike
Pacific Tuscon Girls Dual-Suspension Mountain 20 in. Bike
Pacific Evolution Girls Mountain Bike 24 in.
The Best Cheap Sun Hats for Women, Men, and Children
Weekly Update: Price-Matching Policies Overview, Cheap Beach Gear and More
Mid-May is the perfect time to hunt for an apartment or a temp job. ...
Weekly Update: Cheap Running Shoe Recommendations, Swimsuit Deals and More
With Mother's Day upon us, Memorial Day weekend is just around the bend. ...
© 2013 Cheapism
We do not accept payment or other gratuities from manufacturers or retailers to recommend or discuss their products on Cheapism.com. Nor do we accept any payment or other gratuity from websites to blog about their news stories or posts.
Made in NYC
