So, your loving kid is wondering about having outdoor riding, but you don’t actually know how to find the perfect kid’s bikes, right?
Don’t panic! In order to find out one of the best bikes for your little child, it’s not necessary to do 72+ hours of deep research, yep. All you have to do is read my writing from top to bottom to make your purchase as easy as ABC!
From the age to the height of your child, you should keep in your mind a couple of things more. Listen, before making a final purchase, be sure to consider the wheel size, saddle, brake, and overall structure of the bike; guess why? Because an adult bike and a kid’s bike aren’t alike.
Not clear yet? No worries, this is why I’m here to break all your doubts and confusion. So, let me show you every single detail of a perfect kid’s bike.
Criteria for Selecting a Kids Bike
In order to make your purchase easier and even better, I’ve done some research on the factors that you need to consider before you buy the perfect bike for your kids. Stay tuned!
What Is the Age of Your Kid?
Yes. The age of your children matters the most as there are different bikes for different ages of children.
At the age of two or above, you can give your kid a balance bike that has no pedals. It runs by the power of the legs. But for a grown-up kid with three to five years old, choosing a bike with stabilizes won’t be a house of cards at all.
As you can see, it’s essential to give priority to your children’s age while selecting the bike.
What Is the Height of Your Kid?
For easy riding, the bikes should be selected according to the height of the kids. If they don’t feel comfortable while cycling, they won’t be able to learn the bikes properly.
In that case, you can take the help of a chart of the bike sizes according to the height of the kids.
What Is the Purpose of Using?
Just like the age and height, different bikes are available for different roads and usage. So, you have to find the bikes which can fulfill your purpose in the best way possible.
For example, mountain bikes are well-known for riding over rough or uneven terrains, whereas BMX bikes can be used in the cities or countryside for stunt riding or road cycling.
So, before making a final purchase, it’s a wise decision to know about the purpose of having a particular bike.
What Are The Features to Keep In Mind?
Don’t mix up the measurements between the adult bikes and the kids’ bikes. Usually, adult bikes are considered through the height of the seats or the size of the frame. Kid bikes, on the other side, are measured through wheel sizes.
Check the writing out on the wheels, brakes, and body of the bikes that’ll help you identify a kid bike way too easily.
Wheels
I’ve classified wheels into 3 different sizes, such as small, medium, and large, just to give you a better understanding of the wheels. This also refers to the different ages of the children.
- Small
Basically, 12 to 14 inches wheels for 2-5 years old kids come in this category. Since this bike is designed for very little kids, it doesn’t include hand brakes or such features.
Bikes such as tricycles and balance bikes are a popular choice for this age category of kids since they can easily control them.
- Medium
For 4-6 years old kids, the wheels of the bikes are usually around 16 inches. Most of these bikes come with features like a set of gears and a hand brake.
The advantage of having a gear set is that they have a freewheel hub, which helps your kid to go back while riding.
In addition, the speed that your kid is getting because of the gear set can make them feel like a roller coaster ride. Many children prefer these kinds of bikes since they want to explore their abilities while riding.
- Large
Finally, the 20-inch wheelers for 5 to 9 years old children are the perfect choice for both riding and racing, whether it’s on roads or off roads. In this category, you can find bikes like the cruiser, road bike, and mountain bike.
Hands down, these are the perfect bikes that include all the features you need, including the handbrakes, gear sets, suspension systems, and many more.
Brakes
Brakes are the most common feature that you must check to ensure the safety of your kids. Cheaply constructed brakes can cause accidents that might hurt your loving child.
However, a well-made easy brake can cost you a little bit more than the regular expense. But it’s more safe and comfortable for your child. To judge and identify the perfect brakes, you can check with your pinky finger whether they’re working smoothly or not.
Don’t pick coaster brakes since they aren’t the best option for your kid to pedal backward. Moreover, when your little one switches the pedal bike from the balance bike directly without proper training, they can suddenly stop and fall over the ground, which will be unexpected and, of course, painful!
Your 4-year kid is capable of mastering the hand brakes than the coaster ones. So, be sure to check if the bikes have both the brakes or not.
Body
The materials used in the body are as important as breathing oxygen when you’re finding the bikes for your adorable child. Don’t believe me? Alright, I’ll explain it to you.
In the market, you’ll find most bikes having a heavier body made of metals. If the bikes weigh more than half of your child’s weight, then it no longer remains a kid bike. It becomes an adult bike that you’re looking for right now!
If the bike has an iron-made body, then it seems heavier and a bit hard to handle. So, go for lightweights, for example – the aluminum or titanium-made body. The lighter the weight, the easier to control, especially when it comes down to kid bikes. Clear?
A Couple of Things to Do Before Shopping
Now, you’re just one step away from purchasing the bike that you want to make your son or daughter happy. But before you do that, consider the following facts:
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Measure the Height
Yep. Take a quick measurement of your child before you go out shopping. For that, you can make your child stand against any wall without shoes. Next, take a measuring tape and make sure to measure the height, starting from the feet to the top of the head.
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Check the Inseam
For the inseam measurements, ensure to copy the same stance against the wall without shoes. Afterward, mark the spot with a pencil where the crotch meets the spine of your child. Record the measurements in inches (or centimeters if you prefer).
After taking both the height and inseam measurements, you’ll have to find the bike from the specific “bike-chart” and then you’re good to go!
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Let’s Go for Shopping!
Since you’ve taken all the measurements and done research on the bikes, let’s have a look at some things that you need to do while shopping.
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Selecting the Right Shop
The shop from where you’re buying the bikes must be reliable. Sometimes choosing the wrong shop might give you a pretty hard time.
It’s better not to order from online shops as people get confused about the size and materials. And guess what? You might find trouble doing the maintenance of the bikes that are ordered from online stores.
So, it’s pretty safer and easy to buy from your nearest stores. But that should be reliable, of course!
Checking The Compatibility of The Seat and Handle
Apart from selecting the right shop, don’t forget to check the handlebars and seats all by yourself. Focus on them deeply to see if they’re comfortable or not for your child.
Also, let your child sit on the saddle to check the height of the kid’s bike.
Testing for Drive
It’s always better to do the test on the bikes just to be sure that it’s perfect for your little one. Make your child is feeling much comfortable, and he/she can transfer it with ease from place to place.
Listen, if your loving kid isn’t that excited while riding it, then what’s the purpose of buying it? So I think testing for a short drive won’t be a poor plan.
Safety Tips for Your Kids
If you don’t want to let your child play with fire, be sure to teach him/her about safety, especially if your kid is a beginner rider. So here I’m giving you a couple of tips to make riding safer and even better.
Tips-1: Wearing Helmets
In order to ensure optimal safety while riding, a helmet is the most important thing to have. Often, the kids find it hard to buckle the straps. So, you must choose the right helmet that is comfortable enough to put on.
I’d suggest having a kid’s helmet that’s effective and at the same time fantastic to look at.
Note: Alongside a particular helmet, I prefer getting elbow and knee pads so your kid won’t get any scratches or pains after falling off to the ground from the bike.
Tips-2: Checking the Tires
If you see the tires aren’t inflated properly, then it might get shaky and cause serious accidents. So, in order to avoid that, make sure to check the tires once a week from head to toe.
Besides, if you have your own gauge and the pump in stock, then you get the advantage of checking the tires at home without much hassle, thankfully.
Tips-3: Maintenance and Frequent Checkup
Maintenance is required for all vehicles, from small to large. Therefore, checking the bikes weekly is a better option to ensure the safety of your child.
If the bikes need to be repaired due to any mishaps, then you can take the assistance of the professionals to check the damaged parts out.
Speaking of having free services, many stores provide free inflation of tires or sometimes cost as cheap as chips. So, don’t miss the regular checkups for the better health of your child as well as the bikes.
Conclusions: How To Find The Perfect Kids Bikes?
The article on how to find the perfect kid’s bikes ends here. My writing will definitely help you find out one of the best bikes for your little one, for which you can put a smile on his/her face!
And yes, don’t forget to buy an extra helmet for your kid so he/she can maintain maximum safety while commuting or road cycling.
Hi, this is Ivy Audren Charity. The appliance lover fell in love with baking but had a big problem finding the right bike for him. I understand that in this job I am comfortable buying the right bike. Meanwhile… More