As a father of a 2.5-year-old soon my wife and I will embark on buying him his first bike. Now the question is what kind of kids’ bike should we buy? Should it be a balance bike or one that has training wheels? Then we will have to look at the size of the bike, its wheel size and if it is of high quality to even take it off-road. Now given that my little one is not even 3 yet, a kid’s bike that requires him to be pedalling is probably out of the question at this stage. So, do we get him a new children’s bike or a second hand one? Or do we look at getting the best kid’s bike that is available? There are so many things to consider too, like your child’s weight and height so you can get the right size bike for them.

Now as all parents can attest to, it is not a situation where one size will fit all kids when it comes to children’s bikes. So, it is important to get the right bike for your child or your older children. 

In this article we will look at kid’s mountain bikes, pedal bike, BMX bikes, girl bikes as well as bikes that are ideal for road riding.

One of the first things that parents should look at when it comes to buying their kids first bike is the type of bike their child wants. As there are numerous options available to you, it will ultimately come down to your child’s age and how much experience they have riding a bike. With mountain bikes they are made so that you child can ride on all different types of surfaces, so they are great for riding pretty much anywhere. The type of tyres that they have are a bit thicker and are more durable so they can easily go over rough terrain that has rocks, stones, branches etc as well as having a lot of gearing options so your child can easily cover anything they encounter off-road.

Now my boy’s first bike was a balance bike and a lot of parents that my wife and I spoke too were all in agreement that a balance bike is a great first bike option as it teaches a child of any age whether they are 4 years old or 5 years old or even younger to learn how to balance properly on a bike. The best benefit that comes with a balance bike is that all your child’s focus goes into balancing on the bike rather than trying to balance while pedalling. By doing this it will make the transition from the balance bike to a regular road bike and they will often, will not require training wheels.

Then there are BMX bikes. If your child is on the older side (4 years old) and are confident when riding, then this is a great choice for your child. They are generally light and small, and they are usually made for off-road racing and stunts by professional riders. Another good option is the good old-fashioned road bikes. They are usually the best option for kids as they are made so that riding on the road and other flat surfaces is made easy.

Mountain bikes are designed to handle all kinds of terrain, particularly unpaved surfaces so are great for riding around the backyard.  These bikes have thicker and more durable tyres to be able to go over small rocks, branches and logs and have more gears. Below are some top options for a mountain bike for kids.

Many parents would agree that the best learner bike Australia has is a balance bike.  A balance bike is a two-wheeled pedal-less bike designed to teach young children (as young as 18 months) how to balance on two wheels.  With a balance bike, the child puts all their efforts into balancing rather than pedalling, this provides them with the skill of balance so they can go straight to a regular child’s bike without the need for training wheels.

If you have a child like mine and he is a little tyke, then a good bike option is one that is light. Because as they are learning how to ride they will no doubt fall off at some stage and it might fall on top they and if this does happen you want a lightweight bike for your child so they  are not injured. With a bike that is light in weight it will also be easier for them to move it around. As a rule, for their first bike, parents should look at getting a bike that is roughly under half their body weight.

The other thing to consider is that your child has more than enough space between the handlebars and the child’s seat, although most bikes come with an adjustable seat. The main reason that parents should check this is because you do not want your child’s knees hitting the handlebars when they are turning corners or just turning in general. Another thing to think about when it comes to the handlebars on their bike is that you should check to make sure that they are not too low or that they are not too high because this will inadvertently but unnecessary stress on your kid’s body in particular their back and neck. According to experts, the ideal height for handlebars is where it allows your kid’s hands to basically be inline with their hips.

The next few things to think about when it comes to your kids’ bike is the pedals and brakes. According to experts there is a factor which is called the Q-factor. This is pretty much the positioning of the bike’s pedals. If the pedals are too far apart for your child then when they are riding they will have to hold their legs out wider so that they can pedal properly and if they are too close together that is where their ankles can get hit by the bike.

With the brakes of your child’s bike, especially in Australia they must have two braking systems. This basically means that a brake system must be on the back pedal which is known as coaster brakes and the other braking system is on the handlebars. According to experts most kids who are young find that this is the easiest way for them to brake so perhaps looking at kids bikes that have this is the way to go.

There are other different things to consider too. Now according to the experts if you child has a good grasp of their bikes brakes the ideal seat height should most likely be about 2 to 3 cm above your kid’s inseam which is the length between the inside of their leg all the way to their crotch. Now if your child has not got a good grasp of their bike brake and the best seat height should ideally be the same as their inseam and this would mean that they can put the feet easily on the ground. So, all this is the right height so your child can easily stand over a thing that is called the top tube and that is the tube that joins both the front and back of the bike together.

Experts say that the size of your child’s bike is crucial, other things you should think about is the size of the bikes tyres, the height if the seat, along with both the pedal and handlebar positioning so that the bike is the best choice for them. The size of the tyres in general are a good way to determine the size of bike and what age the bike is suited for.

Next, we will have a look at some of the best children’s bikes available in Australia. First up is the 12-inch Huffy Motox and is ideal if you are looking to buy a new bike for a 3-year-old boy like mine. It is ideal for the smaller kids who love to ride. It also had training wheels that can be taken off, so it is great if your young boy is just learning to ride. According to experts it is the best kids’ bike that has training wheels and has wide tyres and brakes on both the front and back of the bike. On top of that it looks good and has great racing designs that make it look like a great dirt bike. Also, it is super easy to put together. It has easy steps to follow and as a durable steel frame so it can withstand all the falls that will come with kids learning to ride.

Now if you were like my wife and I, in deciding to get a balance bike for your child’s first ever bike you have numerous options and one you could look at is the Zoomy kids bike. It is a great option for kids who are aged between 18 months all the way up to kids who are 6 years of age. It is a lightweight bike and it made from material that is rust free. It has thick tyres, an adjustable seat and has a weight limit of 27 kgs. It is simple to put it together and the range of colours it comes in makes it a great balance bike for both boys and girls.

Now if your child is a little older and has a little bit of experience in riding then a good choice for your child could be the BYK bike. It looks good and it great to ride around outside. It is a light bike, weighing just the 8 kgs and its standover height it low which makes it easier for your child to hop on and off the bike. It comes with some great features too, 3 different level gears, the chain guard is well protected and has brakes on the back pedal. If your child is a little older (around 5 or 6 years old) and is confident in riding, then a bike like this one could be a great choice.

If you are after a bike that comes with training wheels for your child or if they do have some experience, then the 14-inch Child’s bike could be a good choice. It is made to the highest quality and has a two-brake system (both hand and pedal brakes) thick rubber tyres, the chain guard is protected, and it has no slip pedals. It comes in a variety of colours and is a great choice for both boys and girls.

We have named just a few bikes that you could consider for your child. From the best balance bikes, a scooter, girls’ bikes, your child’s first pedal bike or if you are wanting to get an adult bike for when they are older there are a wealth of options. Having a look at a lot of buying guides will help you make an informed decision and you can even buy them online through amazon. Your child could become the next great cyclist with the right bike but as with many things it will ultimately come down to preference and person choice. Happy shopping.