Are you looking for the best balance bike for your kid? Well, before buying you need to have a clear perception regarding this cycle. This is why I am going to give you detailed information in this regard. A balance cycle assists the kids in learning balancing and steering. What is interesting about this cycle is that it has got no drive train or pedals. The exciting part is that the kids can be 100% in control without the pedals as well.The materials used for constructing these cycles include wood and metal. The interesting aspect about this bicycle is that you can even convert a normal cycle into a run bike by removing its pedals. It is also possible to customize a run cycle according to the requirements of the children. Now, the design of the balance cycle should allow the rider to sit on the saddle comfortably or walk the cycle.
This is why it is important that when you buy a training bicycle you should let your child try it out first. This will give you a clear idea if the cycle is a suitable pick for your child or not.
Why you should buy a balance cycle for your children?
When you get hold of balance bicycle, then it can even help an 18 year old learn balancing. Your kid will also learn to jump on his pedal-less cycle in no time. The best part is that you will not need to be constantly vigilant when your child is riding a balance bike. It will not be wrong to state that this cycle is more of a learning step for your kids. After riding the balance cycle, it becomes easier for a kid as young as three years to make a straight transition to a regular cycle.
Secondly, when you get hold of a pedal-less cycle , then you will not have to worry about this cycle gliding over the rocks or getting stuck on the uneven surfaces. The pedal-less cycle can easily glide over the dirt as well so you should make it a point to get hold of it.
How to choose a balance cycle
Select the appropriate size
- You should focus on the seat height and tire size when buying a balance bike for your toddler. 14” to 16” are suitable for grade-schoolers and pre-schoolers.
- To identify the appropriate seat height the feet of your child should hit the ground while the child sits comfortably on the cycle. The ideal seat height should be about 1” to 1.5” less than a child’s inseam.
Identifying the appropriate weight of the bike
- Remember that the bike should not weigh more than 30% of your child’s weight.
- The best approach is to go for a lightweight cycle that makes use of high-end components.
The general design of the pedal-less cycle
- The best balance bike should have a small gap between the seat and the rear tire when you adjust the cycle to the lowest level.
- When you get hold of a good balance cycle, then it has got plenty of space between the seat and the handlebars.
Evaluating the tires
- The tires of the cycle decide how smooth it will ride. You can get five basic types of tires in the market. This includes big apple, plastic, rubber, foam and air tires.
- If your kid enjoys jumping, then Big Apple tires will work well for you. They have extra cushioning and traction so that they can accommodate active kids.
- If cost is a factor, then you can consider opting for EVA foam tires. They are puncture proof and light. However, the foam tires work well on paved surfaces only and lose traction on the terrain surfaces.
- Now the rubber tires have a better quality in comparison to the foam tires. They are a step up in traction and cushioning in comparison to the foam tires. If you get hold of Rubber honeycomb tires, then they offer sealed air chambers that help to provide cushioning.
- If you are looking for the best tires, then air tires are the best option. They have the most traction and cushioning. They work well for all-terrain surfaces as well.
- However, make sure that you avoid the hard plastic tires. They are quite low in quality. They offer no traction or cushioning.
Considering the brakes
- The brakes are also an important consideration when you buy a balance cycle. Go for the short-reach brakes for the pre-schoolers.
- When buying the balance cycle, make sure that you test the brake using your pinky finger because it can easily simulate the strength of a kid’s hand.
Best Balance Cycles
Strider Sport | KaZAM v2e | Strider Classic | Banana Bike LT | Schwinn Bike | Chicco | TheCroco | Enkeeo | Bixe | Teddy Shake | |
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Weight | 6.7 LB | 8 LB | 6.7 LB | 7.3 LB | 10.5 LB | 5.95 LB | 4.3 LB | 5.9 LB | 3.6 LB | lightweight |
Age range | 18 month to 3 years | up to 5 years | 18 Months to 3 Years | 2, 3 & 4 Year | 3-4 Years | 3+ years | 1.5 to 5 Years | 2 - 6 years | 2-6 Years | 18 Months to 3 Years |
Tires | No-Flat Tires | EVA tires | No-Flat Tires | No-Flat Tires | air tires | No-Flat Tires | No-Flat Tires | EVA tires | EVA tires | EVA tires |
Footrest | ||||||||||
Tools | ||||||||||
Handlebar Pad | ||||||||||
Padded Seat | ||||||||||
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Warranty | two-years | 2-year | 3 year | |||||||
Number Plate |
Now, that I have defined the criteria for choosing the balance cycles, I will just list down some of the best options available.
Strider – 12 Sport Balance Bike, Ages 18 Months to 5 Years
The Strider offers the perfect balance of value and performance. The reason isthe presence of the quick release clamps, handlebar pad, padded saddle and custom grips. Additionally, Strider offers an extra-long seat so that your pre-schooler can be seated with ease. You also get a 2 year factory warranty with Strider. This means that if you encounter any issues within this period, then the manufacturer promptly fixes them. What needs to be mentioned here is that the popularity of Strider Sports is growing every year and the company has sold 1 million balance bikes since 2007. If you are interested you can read our details Strider balance bike review.
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KaZAM v2e No Pedal Balance Bike
KaZam has an exclusive footrest that helps your child to balance and glide with ease. The foot board is adjustable as well. This pedal-less cycle has adjustable handlebars and seat. It can easily accommodate kids up to 5 years of age. KaZam has Eva tires that are puncture resistant. The best part is that you get ample color choices when you buy this bike. You can go for red, pink, orange, green or blue color. The color choices will surely excite your child.
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Our detail KaZam balance bike review
Strider – 12 Classic Balance Bike, Ages 18 Months to 3 Years
Stride-12 Classic Balance has an adjustable seat. You will not need any tools to loosen the seat. Moreover, this biker has footrests that help in gliding. Strider 12 Classic has EVA Polymer tires. The benefit of these tires is that they need minimal maintenance.
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Balance Bike for Kids – 2, 3 & 4 Year Olds – Lightweight Banana Bike LT
The saddle of this bike measures about 12.2 inches and it has a perfect frame design. These are the reasons the Banana Bike is perfect for all kids who are about to start their bike journey. The Banana bike has superior quality because it has got quality metal handlebars and a quick release seat.
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More detail on this bike can be found on our banana balance bike review page.
Schwinn Balance Bike, 12-Inch
Schwinn offers adjustable handlebars and seat. This makes riding this bike a comfortable experience. Schwinn has air tires that provide more traction when you are riding off the road. What is worth appreciating is that Schwinn has got an exclusive foot to floor design. This will generate confidence in your child when he rides this bike. Get the full schwinn balance bike review here.
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Chicco Red Bullet Balance Training Bike
Now, the biggest issue for most of the toddlers is maintaining their balance. Well, Chicco gives the best assistance in this regard. It has soft tires and this makes this bicycle an ideal pick for children aged 3 years and more. The puncture-resistant tires facilitate a comfortable ride.
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TheCroco – LIGHTEST Aluminum Balance Bike, (4.3 lbs), Ages 1.5 to 5 Years
TheCroco helps the toddlers in developing their motor skills. This is because they can easily control the lightweight aluminum frame of the bike. You can also adjust the height of the seat from 11.5 to 18.5 inches. The seat adjustment will make it easier for your child to ride the bike. Your kid will not get painful ankle strikes due to the presence of soft and quality plastic handgrips. Detail Croco balance bike review.
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Enkeeo No Pedal Balance Bike
Enkeeo helps your child to learn bike riding fast. This cycle promotes high performance because it has a carbon-steel body that is anti-rust. The EVA tires also contribute to a smooth ride because they are quite stable. What makes Enkeeo stand out is that it makes use of eco-friendly materials that are safe for your child. This cycle has a light-weight frame that makes it much easier for your kid to control the balance cycle.
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Bixe Best Balance Bike
The Bixe Bike has a quick release clamp that helps to adjust the seat with ease. Moreover, Bixe has an anodized aluminum frame. The seat of this bike is also made up of sturdy fabric. Additionally, the wheels have a nice bearing setup as well. Read full Bixe balance bicycle review.
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Teddy Shake Best Balance Bike
What is so interesting about the Teddy Shake Bike is that it has five pieces only so you can put it together in under 5 minutes. The tires of this balance bike utilize the airless technology. Teddy Shake has a superior quality pewter coat. This helps to prevent rust formation on the bike.
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Cycling Deal | Vilano | Bavel | Maxtra | Cruzee | Costzon | Anacaixin | Enkeeo | Costzon | Banana Bike | |
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Weight | 4.4 LB | 5.5 LB | 6.7 LB | 6.4 LB | 4.4 LB | 6 LB | 4.3 LB | 5.9 LB | 4.4 LB | 7.2 LB |
Age range | 2-6 years | 2 - 3 years | 18 Months to 4 Years | 2 to 5 Years | 18 Months to 4 Years | 2-7 years | 6 months to 24 months | 2-6 years | 2-7 years | 2, 3 & 4 year |
Tires | EVA tires | air tires | EVA tires | EVA tires | EVA tires | EVA tires | EVA material | EVA material | EVA material | EVA tires |
Footrest | integrated | integrated | ||||||||
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Padded Seat | ||||||||||
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Cycling Deal offers kids Child Push Balance Bike Bicycling12”
If you are looking for the best balance bike, this is one good candidate. These bikes are available in three colors- white, blue and black. They also have adjustable seat. The key features: You have a good frame that is built to last while the handle bar is steel anodized. Tires are light weight, durable and made of rubber like foam. The height of the seat can also be adjusted to 1 ft 4.25 inches.
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Vilano
Vilano comes in 5 colors. It is a great bike for preschoolers and offers the durability and sturdiness you would expect from a good balance bike.
Features: You have an adjustable height system, while the adjustable handle bars offers better grip.
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Bavel
Bavel is a 12” bike for age group 18 months to 4 years. Available in 7 colors, it does not have pedals, chains or stabilizers. Children gain confidence and coordination as they ride balance bikes.
Features: Offers minimum height of 15” from the ground and maximum height of 20”, making it convenient for all kids.
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Maxtra
Maxtra is a’ Lightweight Adjustable Kids Training Balance Bike with footrest’ for age group 2 to 7years. It comes in 3 colors. Maxtra has a unique floor to foot design which helps in teaching the basics of balancing. Features: The seat post and stem can be extended with growing height. It also has a foot rest that offers proper support to the feet.
Features: The seat post and stem can be extended with growing height. It also has a foot rest that offers proper support to the feet.
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Cruzee
It is an ‘UltraLite Balance Bike’, for ages 1.5 to 5 years, and available in 10 colors. Riding a Cruzee bike is both fun and healthy.
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Costzon
Costzon is a 12” ‘Classic No pedal Balance Bike Kids Walking Bicycle’ available in 2 colors. It is ideal for those looking for a simple bike for their little one. Key features: Adjustable seat height and handle height. It also offers a well designed seat to offer firm sitting and no slip offs on sloppy surfaces.
Key features: Adjustable seat height and handle height. It also offers a well designed seat to offer firm sitting and no slip offs on sloppy surfaces.
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Anacaixin
The bike ‘Mini Trike’ is most loved by parents and kids and is a’ 7 color Baby Balance Bikes/ Children Walker for 6-24 months No Foot Pedal Infant Four Wheels First Bike’.
Top features: There are three wheels, double in front and single in back, offering greater stability to the child.
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Enkeeo Balance Bike with bell & brake
Enkeeo is a 10” cycling, walking bike with bell and hand brake for kids aged 2 to 5 years. It comes in 2 colors for you to choose from.
The key features include: Bike is made of eco friendly material so it is safe and non-toxic. You also have an adjustable handle bars and seat with a high capacity of 110lbs
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Costzon
Costzon is a ‘12” Classic No- Pedal Balance Bike Walking Bicycle’ for kids aged 2 to 7 years. Available in two colors black and pink, Costzon is a complete value for money.
Features include and adjustable seat height and handle height.
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Banana Bike GT
Banana bikes are light weight bikes designed for kids that are 2, 3 & 4 year olds. The latest model is available. The bike comes in four colors- Blue, blue 2016, green and pink. You might just want to go in for the 2017 model, which features a new and improved design. It includes: upgraded bearings; new and upgraded seat; new quick release seat bracket; Upgraded handle bars and stronger metal headset. Customers who bought the new version are raving about it. The latest design and latest features are drawing immense satisfaction. Little bikers are happy to own it.
Features: The bike can be disassembled. The handle bars, wheels and seat can be easily unlocked, making it easy to carry in cars and vans. The bike is light enough for a two year old to carry around.
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Radio Flyer Air Ride Toddler Balance Bike
Radio Flyer’s Air Ride Balance Bike is the perfect pedal-free beginner bike for your little one. With a lightweight frame and 12” rubber air tires, this balance bike gives your child the freedom to explore their world with ease. The easy-to-adjust seat grows with your toddler from ages 1.5 years to 5 years so they can start on this great ride earlier and continue using it longer. Plus, you can easily adjust the seat height without any tools! The grip tape on the frame helps keep your little one stable while riding.
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Final Verdict
I believe that after reading the reviews about the best balance bikes, it should not be a problem for you to make your pick. The presented products are currently the best in the market. If you want to make the best pick, then make sure you evaluate your requirements first and then make your choice.