Raising Kids Gear and Products The 9 Best Bikes for Kids of 2021 They'll get from point A to point B in style By Ashley Ziegler Ashley Ziegler LinkedIn Ashley Ziegler is a lifestyle writer specializing in motherhood, family health, and consumer products. She has written for Romper, Moms.com, and more. Learn about our editorial process Updated on September 21, 2021 Fact checked by Marley Hall Fact checked by Marley Hall on March 28, 2021 LinkedIn Marley Hall is a writer and fact-checker who is certified in clinical and translational research. Her work has been published in medical journals in the field of surgery, and she has received numerous awards for publication in education. Learn about our editorial process Print Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. There’s nothing quite as fun for a kid as going outside and cruising around the neighborhood on their bike. Bike riding is not only fun, but it’s also great exercise, helps develop gross motor skills, and is an activity they’ll be able to do into adulthood. Still, you want to be sure your child is riding a bike that is safe and will hold up as long as possible. If you’re in the market for a new ride for your little one, here are some of the best bikes for kids to choose from. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Joystar Totem Kids Bike at Amazon Ideal for learners, it’s equipped with a foot or hand brake while the durable steel frame is designed for kids on-the-go. Best Budget: Huffy 18-Inch Rock It Boys Bike at Masteroutletinc.com A bike that’s easy on the wallet without sacrificing safety, this single-speed option is equipped with safety measures. Best for New Riders: smarTrike Breeze 3-in-1 Toddler Tricycle at Amazon Ideal for transitioning from a bike seat to the open road, this pick can be used as a ride-on and two types of tricycles. Best Balance: Strider 12 Sport Kids' Balance Bike at REI Designed for young beginners, your child can skip training wheels altogether thanks to the bike’s balance-styled design. Best Mountain: Hyper 20" Shocker Bike at Amazon Perfect for more advanced bike riders, this mountain bike features hand brakes, seven speeds, and an adjustable seat. Best Premium: Segway Ninebot Kids’ Bike at Amazon It’s designed to give your kid a comfortable ride with an adjustable seat, front-wheel suspension, and easy operation. Best Transitional: Co-op Cycles REV 16 Kids' Bike at REI Kiddos can comfortably learn to ride on this single-speed bike with removable training wheels and a rear coaster brake. Best BMX: Royalbaby Freestyle Kids’ Bike at Amazon The seat and handlebar heights are both adjustable while the chain guard works to prevent injuries. Best Lightweight: Woom 1 Bike at Woombikes.com This bike is known for its lightweight aluminum design with a low entry point, allowing kids to hop on-and-off as they please. Best Overall: Joystar Totem Kids Bike View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Joystarbike.com Pros Can be used for several years 85 percent of assembly already complete Foot brake or hand brake Cons Not recommended for children under 2 years old Costly In addition to its cool design and multiple color options, this bike is great for children from ages 2 to 9 years old. It comes with training wheels for little ones who are learning how to ride a bike but can be taken off when ready, allowing kids to ride on just two wheels. Parents love that the bike arrives with 85 percent of the assembly already complete. It is equipped with a foot brake for younger kids but does come with a hand brake option for older children. The bike’s premium steel frame is specifically designed to survive any bumps for kids on the go. For children who are just beginning to ride a bike, parents can help out thanks to the seat’s holder-style design. Product Weight: 18.5 to 22.8 pounds | Product Dimensions: 36 x 7 x 18 inches (16-inch) | Height Recommendation: 33 to 59 inches | Brakes: Foot and hand | Weight Limits: Not Listed | Age Recommendation: 2 to 9 years old Best Budget: Huffy 18-Inch Rock It Boys Bike View On Masteroutletinc.com Pros Budget-friendly Durable Hand grips Cons Not recommended for children under 4 years old Coaster brake only For someone looking for a bike that’s easy on the wallet without sacrificing safety, this 18-inch Huffy bike has you covered. The single-speed bike comes with training wheels that can be removed to turn the bike into a two-wheeler, and a padded seat with adjustable height. Your child just needs to push the pedals back to stop while riding thanks to the coaster brakes. It also features a bright yellow design and reflectors to make it easily visible, has durable rims to keep it looking nice, and has comfortable hand grips to avoid slipping. This bike is best for kids between 4 and 8 years old, or those between 42 to 49 inches tall. Product Weight: 22.22 pounds | Product Dimensions: 36.22 x 7.28 x 16.93 inches | Height Recommendation: 42 to 49 inches | Brakes: Coaster | Weight Limits: Not Listed | Age Recommendation: 4 to 8 years old Best for New Riders: smarTrike Breeze 3-in-1 Toddler Tricycle View On Amazon View On Dick's Pros 3-in-1 option Can be used for children as young as 15 months old Cons Low weight limit Once your little one is tired of riding in a bike trailer or bike seat and is ready to start learning how to hit the open road themself, this 3-in-1 bike is a great introduction. Available in four colors, this bike can be configured into a ride-on bike with a parent handle and safety sides to avoid falls, a tricycle with a parent handle, or a traditional tricycle. Kids as young as 15 months can be pushed around in the first stage configuration and the third stage can hold kiddos up to 37 pounds. Product Weight: 16.5 pounds | Product Dimensions: 23.2 x 8.7 x 16.9 inches | Height Recommendation: Not Listed | Brakes: Not Listed | Weight Limits: 37 pounds | Age Recommendation: 15 months to 3 years old The 9 Best Ride-On Toys of 2021 Best Balance: Strider 12 Sport Kids' Balance Bike View On REI View On Striderbikes.com Pros Skips training wheels altogether Padded seat Cons No brakes Costly Balance bikes are designed to teach young kids how to ride a bike, but instead of focusing on peddling it focuses on balance, so your child can skip training wheels altogether. This particular balance bike is designed for kids between 18 months and 5 years and is built with 12-inch wheels. It’s made with a durable lightweight steel frame and ergonomically-padded seat. As for maintenance, the tires never go flat, and children can even rest their feet on the built-in footrests. Product Weight: 6.5 pounds | Product Dimensions: Not Listed | Height Recommendation: 11 to 16 inches | Brakes: None | Weight Limits: 60 pounds | Age Recommendation: 18 months to 5 years old The 8 Best Balance Bikes of 2021 Best Mountain: Hyper 20" Shocker Bike View On Amazon Pros Kickstand included Rear wheel suspension Cons Assembly required For more advanced bike riders, this mountain bike has 20-inch wheels, hand brakes, and seven speeds, which can be changed using a hand-controlled grip twist. The rear wheel features suspension to make off-roading rides a little less bumpy and the seat height can be easily adjusted without the use of tools. This bike is designed for kids between 4 feet 2 inches and 5 feet tall and 135 pounds or less. Product Weight: 31 pounds | Product Dimensions: 54 x 22 x 37 inches | Height Recommendation: 4 feet 2 inches tall to 5 feet tall | Brakes: Front and rear | Weight Limits: 135 pounds | Age Recommendation: Not Listed Best Premium: Segway Ninebot Kids’ Bike View On Amazon View On Walmart Pros Front-wheel suspension Adjustable rim brakes Cons Expensive If you’re looking for a top-quality bike, consider this one with 18-inch wheels, a kickstand, and both coaster and hand brakes. Additional safety features include adjustable rim brakes to fit your child’s hands and a fully enclosed chain to avoid pinches. It’s also designed to give your kid a comfortable ride with an ergonomic seat with adjustable height, front-wheel suspension, and easy operation. Kids between 5 and 10 years old can safely ride this super sleek and stylish bike. Product Weight: 24 pounds | Product Dimensions: 49.0 x 21.3 x 31.9 inches | Height Recommendation: 3 feet 9 inches to 4 feet 9 inches | Brakes: Coaster and hand | Weight Limits: Not Listed | Age Recommendation: 5 to 10 years old Best Transitional: Co-op Cycles REV 16 Kids' Bike View On REI Pros Durable steel frame Comes with stickers for customization Cons Expensive No suspension Kids 80 pounds or less can comfortably learn to ride on this single-speed bike with removable training wheels, rear coaster brake, and adjustable seat. It has 16-inch wheels and a durable steel frame so the bike will last and look good while doing it. The bike also comes with a pack of stickers so your child can customize it to their liking. Product Weight: 16 pounds | Product Dimensions: Not Listed | Height Recommendation: Not Listed | Brakes: Rear coaster | Weight Limits: 80 pounds | Age Recommendation: Not Listed The 9 Best Child Bike Seats of 2021 Best BMX: Royalbaby Freestyle Kids’ Bike View On Amazon View On Royalbabyglobal.com Pros Attached water bottle Seat and handlebars can be adjusted Cons Not recommended for children under 3 years old Available in a variety of colors, this bike comes with five different wheel options, a kickstand, and an attached water bottle. It has both rear coaster and hand brakes so kids between 3 and 9 years old can use whichever system works best for them. Both the seat and handlebar heights can be adjusted, there is a chain guard to avoid injuries, and the bike is made with a durable steel frame to help it last for years. Product Weight: 20.3 to 32 pounds | Product Dimensions: Not Listed | Height Recommendation: 33 to 65 inches | Brakes: Rear coaster and hand | Weight Limits: Not Listed | Age Recommendation: 3 to 9 years old Best Lightweight: Woom 1 Bike View On Woombikes.com Pros Lightweight Specially-designed steering limiter Cons No kickstand Coming in at 6.6 pounds, this bike is one of the lightest bikes on the market thanks to its light, aluminum material. It's designed with a seat low enough for young children to easily hop on-and-off when they'd like. The tires are 12 inches, but Woom designs bikes for older kids as well. This particular bike is great for beginners because of its specially-designed steering limiter, leaving behind oversteering, swerving, and less accidents. Product Weight: 6.6 pounds | Product Dimensions: Not Listed | Height Recommendation: 30 to 41 inches (depends on bike design) | Brakes: Hand | Weight Limits: 110 pounds | Age Recommendation: 1.5 to 3.5 years old Final Verdict There are a lot of factors that go into finding the right bike for your child, like age, skill level, and general interests. However, if you’re simply in the market for a bike that is durable and safe, go with the Joystar Totem Kids Bike (view at Amazon) or the Hyper Bicycles Shocker Kids Mountain Bike (view at Amazon) for advanced riders. What to Look for When Buying Bikes for Kids Size The most important factor when it comes to purchasing a bike for your child is the size restriction. All bike manufacturers include sizing guidelines, from height to weight, to ensure that you are choosing a bike that fits your child's body properly for a safe and comfy ride. When you first begin shopping for a kids bike, you'll want to keep in mind that kids bikes are measured by the wheel instead of the frame like adult bikes. Wheels can come in any size, typically 12 inches to 26 inches. Smaller wheels, like a 12-inch, are best for younger children, such as toddlers, whereas a 26-inch bike would work for children over the age of 10. Either way, you want to buy a bike your child feels comfortable on. Purchase a bike that works for your child now instead of one they will grow into. This ensures your child is comfortable, learning how to properly ride a bike, and is safe because the bike is the correct size. Capability Is your child a bike riding newbie or are they basically a pro? Keeping in mind their capability will help guide you when choosing a bike. For your new riders, a balancing bike or one with training wheels will be the best option. For your experienced riders, a dirt bike or an option designed for older kids would be ideal. Style There are lots of bike styles out there for your little one to choose from. From colors to accessories, there are seemingly endless options. Consider the design that fits your child's personal style so that they are even more excited to ride it. To get a better idea on styles, here are some of the most popular styles of kids bikes. Balance Bikes: These are a very simple style of bike as they don't have chains, brakes, kickstands, or any additional features. They are designed with handlebars, the frame, and pedals, all in hopes of encouraging children to balance their way on the bike with no training wheels. This style of bike is perfect for toddlers who are just learning how to ride a bicycle. Small/Middle Wheel Bikes: Think of your traditional bike for children just learning how to ride a bicycle and that's where you'll find this style. Perfect for younger children, these types of bikes are what's next after children outgrow their 12-inch bikes. Mountain Bikes: Designed sometimes with shocks, kids' mountain bikes typically have bigger and wider tires to accommodate for rougher terrain. They're perfect for off-roading, experienced riders, or big kids. There are mountain bikes available for toddlers on the market, but be sure to look into the wheel size. Road Bikes: Opposite of a mountain bike, road bikes are designed for paved roads rather than a rough terrain. Some kids' road bikes are made with a 20-inch wheel, but typically start at 24 inches, making the age recommendation around 8 years old. BMX Bikes: BMX, or "Bicycle Moto Cross," is all about off-roading and stunts. These bikes often have thicker tires, and can usually be enjoyed by children above the age of 7. Why Trust Verywell Family? Ashley Ziegler is a staff and freelance writer who covers lifestyle, home, parenting, and commerce content for a variety of platforms. She’s a mom to 1-year-old and 4-year-old daughters and an aunt to 3 nieces and 2 nephews ranging from 5 to 11 years old. In addition to regularly scouring the internet to find the best things for herself, Ashley spends multiple hours a week researching, comparing, and writing about products specifically for kids and families. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get expert tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 1 Source Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. How to choose kids' bikes. REI Co-op.