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Kids Bikes Reviews

Related Guides: Bicycle Helmets, Bike Locks, Mountain Bikes and Scooters
Many kids bikes reviews for the models on our list indicate that young riders are quite happy with their budget bikes. Adults who post kids bikes reviews often report children's eyes lighting up when the bike suddenly appears as a birthday or holiday gift or kids flying off into the wind to cruise around the 'hood. We also read numerous accounts in kids bikes reviews of all the low-cost bikes we researched, including numerous others that didn't make our list, about problems with brakes and chains, ill-fitting handlebars or pedals, and wheels that aren't true. What's not clear from the kids bikes reviews we read is whether these issues reflect poor assembly (whether performed at home or by the vendor) or poor design and build quality. To be sure, kids bikes reviews indicate that most of these problems can be overcome with some fiddling here and there, but don't expect perfection with any of these models.

Kids Bikes Ride Performance.

To ensure a decent riding experience for the child, periodically inspect the bicycle. Make sure the bolts are tight, the handlebars and seat are properly adjusted, the brakes are in good working order, and the tires are inflated to the correct pressure. If everything's in place, the child is good to go.

Two models that transition a child from trike to bike, the 12-inch Huffy Boys Rock-It (starting at $40, Amazon) and Huffy Disney Princess (starting at $67, Amazon), are sturdy and easy to ride, say kids bike reviews. In comments posted on Walmart about the Rock-It and elsewhere on the site about the Disney Princess, reviewers note that three-year-olds (and some younger kids) quickly master the art of pedaling and turning, and the small size gives them confidence to learn to ride without the training wheels. Stepping up to 16-inch wheels, the Disney Toy Story (starting at $68, Amazon), another Huffy model, is well liked by parents and grandparents, according to kids bike reviews on Toys R Us for its adjustability, stability, and what they observe as a smooth ride. Parents report youngsters really take to this model's Buzz Lightyear design and pedal about non-stop, although opinion is mixed about the training wheels; some say they're just fine but one says it's worth buying a set with more rubber on the. We also like a 24-inch bike by Huffy, the Girls Cranbrook Cruisers, a no-nonsense basic model that kids bikes reviews say appeals to girls (and women) who just want low-key cycling, whether than means cruising alongside younger family members, commuting to school or work, or tossing the bike into the trunk for a ride along the beach.

Upping the cool factor or intensity of the riding experience catapults kids and the adults in their lives into the realm of BMX- or stunt-style bikes. Most kid-size models at this cheap price level are really designed for road riding but can handle occasional and very mild off-roading or a few really simple, entry-level tricks; posts in a readers' Q&A on Walmart urge purchasers to carefully read the manufacturer's recommendations to learn what the bike can tolerate. The 20-inch Boys NEXT Chaos Freestyle (starting at $80), for example, is often the first real bike a child gets. Kids bike reviews on Walmart say riders ranging in age from about 7 to 11 (and a few teenagers, as well) get a thrill from this sturdy bike with its twirling handlebars and smooth rolling motion, although some caution that adjusting the brakes requires special care. Girls who like the action enjoy the 20-inch Girls Pretty in Pink BMX Bike (starting at $70), according to kids bike reviews on Walmart, where reviewers say the tough profile stands up to its pink coloration. A few gripe about wobbly wheels and noisy brakes on this model, and one dad notes that upgrading some of the components, such as inner tubes and wheels, pays off in a better ride. Children who aren't ready for a 20-inch BMX-like bike but want to start training can hop on the 16-inch Avigo Dirt Wave Boys (starting at $73, Amazon) or Waikiki Girls (starting at $70). Although some kids bikes reviews on Toys R Us say the ride is a bit rough and the momentum a bit slow, others say children pedal and turn easily; parents report that minor adjustments to the bearings and brakes will smooth things out.

The 24-inch wheel-size category is suited to older and taller riders with expectations of more rugged cycling. Here you'll find bicycles with multiple gears and design elements meant to withstand a bit of everyday abuse. Experts at How Stuff Works note that models ridden on bumpier terrain need extra suspension to absorb the jolts, and the dual suspension (shock absorbers on the front and back) on the NEXT Boys Power Climber Bike wins over fans for that reason. Youngsters in the 10-and-up set appreciate the comfortable ride around town and on mildly bumpy off-road trails with the Power Climber; a readers exchange on Walmart, however, suggests ratcheting down expectations because this bike can't handle jumps. Some kids bike reviews on the site also grouse about the gears, noting they slip, aren't much different from one to the next, or don't work at all.

We found some less expensive models that get dinged more often than not in kids bikes reviews. One parent who comments on the Sears site about the 16-inch Micargi BMX Bike (starting at $60, Amazon) complains that the back wheel spins and spins without any forward movement, which is enough to frustrate any rider, much less a newbie. Some young riders enjoy the 20-inch Pacific Chromium Girls Dual Suspension Mountain Bike (starting at $113, Amazon), according to kids bikes reviews on Amazon, but others are put off by tires that leak and gears that slip and are hard to change. Experience with the 24-inch Pacific Exploit Front Suspension Girls (starting at $100, Amazon) is split, according to kids bikes reviews on Amazon and Buzzillions. Some young riders find this model, billed as a mountain bike by several sellers, provides a smooth ride after some minor adjustments, but other purchasers complain about pedals positioned dangerously close to the front wheel, which makes turning a near impossible feat.

by Gina Briles (Google+ Profile)

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Pretty in Pink BMX Bike Review
Pacific Bikes Review
NEXT Bikes Review
Avigo Bikes Review
Huffy Bikes Review

Lil Della Cruz Girls 12 in. Bike
Micargi 16 in. Kids Bike
Pacific Tuscon Girls Dual-Suspension Mountain 20 in. Bike
Pacific Evolution Girls Mountain Bike 24 in.

 

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