Best Kids' Bikes

Best tricycles

Tricycles are the first step to a two-wheeled bike. For kids between the ages of 3 and 6, we found the best reviews for the Schwinn Roadster 12-inch Trike (*Est. $66). Parents at Amazon.com, Walmart.com and Target.com all give it very high ratings, saying it's a rugged tricycle with a durable steel frame that can be adjusted as a child grows. They also say it is easy to put together. Reviewers love the Roadster's retro look and say the tricycle is small enough for a very young child to handle. It has a bucket seat and a low center of gravity that makes the bike stable, and air-filled tires provide a smooth, comfortable ride. Some parents complain that the Schwinn Roadster is too heavy for their small child, but at 21.5 pounds, it's actually lighter than many comparable tricycles. We did see several reports that the tricycle can rust easily if left outside.

The Kettler Air Navigator Trike (*Est. $220) also gets very good reviews, but it's significantly more expensive than other tricycles. The Air Navigator is designed for 3- to 5-year-old children, and the frame adjusts easily to grow with them. While it's not difficult to find less expensive trikes, experts say German-made Kettler tricycles are rugged and durable. The trike gets high marks for its comfy bucket seat, which keeps kids from sliding off (you can even buy an optional seat belt). Wide air-filled tires and a low-to-the-ground frame help provide a stable ride. Parents can also choose to lock the handlebars in place while kids are learning. The Kettler Air Navigator Trike also comes with a long parent handle to help your toddler "steer." Many parents say Kettler tricycles are well-made and very durable -- the Mercedes-Benz of trikes. The Air Navigator also gets a Babble Best award from Babble.com. Nicole Feliciano says the tricycle is "worth the price tag" because it's durable and kids love it. Cookie magazine also picks the Kettler Air Navigator as one of the best bets among tricycles, although it echoes parental reviews in saying that the trike is hard to assemble. Parents also note the owners manual is not very helpful.

For children 5 years and up, the Razor Rip Rider 360 (*Est. $90) gets very good reviews. Older kids love this trike because it has two caster wheels in the rear, so the trike can do 360-degree spins and move in more directions than a traditional tricycle. ConsumerReports.org tests seven summer toys with a group of children, and 10 of the 11 children pick the Razor Rip Rider 360 as their favorite of the bunch. The kid testers liked the trike because it goes fast and spins (ConsumerReports.org cautions that protective gear is a must). On owner-review sites, parents say their kids love the Rip Rider, especially for doing spins. Parents like it because it's easy to assemble. The Razor Rip Rider's frame and fork are constructed from steel, and the trike weighs 20 pounds. The trike has a 160-pound weight limit, but parents note that older kids (around the ages of 10 or 12) may find their legs too long to fit behind the steering wheel.

Toddler bikes with training wheels

When your toddler is ready to graduate from a tricycle to a two-wheeler, 12-inch bikes are a good choice. These are the smallest two-wheeled bikes available, and all come standard with removable training wheels. These bikes are best for children between the ages of 2 and 4 with inseams between 14 and 17 inches. We found few reviews of 12-inch bikes, but the Tonka Mighty Tough Bike (*Est. $72) does get high marks from parents on Amazon.com and Buzzillions.com. The Mighty Tough has a dual-suspension frame and a fully enclosed chain. Overall, parents say the Tonka Mighty Tough is a good starter bike for kids. The bike is very heavy at 31 pounds, and the seat doesn't adjust much, so numerous parents complain that their child was either too short or too tall for the bike. Still, most parents are happy with the Tonka Mighty Tough and recommend it to other buyers.

Unfortunately, Kent doesn't make a corresponding girls' version of the Tonka Mighty Tough Bike, but we found good owner-written reviews for the 12-inch Huffy Sea Star bike (*Est. $40) on Walmart.com. This bike is designed for 3- to 5-year-old girls, and it includes a pair of removable training wheels. Parents say the bike is a hit with their daughters, and they praise the value and easy assembly. Some parents complain of assembly problems at Wal-Mart, which is why we recommend taking these bikes to a specialty bike shop for a tune-up.

Huffy also makes the Disney Princess bike (*Est. $80) in a 12-inch size. While the Disney Princess has not been discontinued by Huffy, it is hard to find in stores. This single-speed bike has a steel frame, coaster brakes, a double chain guard and training wheels. Huffy also makes the Pro Thunder (*Est. $75), a similarly built bike for boys, in a variety of sizes, including 12 inches. Both of these Huffy bikes attract few reviews, and the ones we found were mixed. At ToysRUs.com, parents say that the Huffy Disney Princess is decent for the price, but that the tires wear down quickly. However, most owners at Amazon.com are happy, saying the Huffy Disney Princess bike is easy to assemble and comes with extra features that impress their daughters, like a handlebar bag and streamers.

One professional reviewer, Bicycling magazine, recommends the 16-inch Electra Mini Rod (*Est. $220) for boys and the 16-inch Electra Hawaii for girls. Sixteen-inch bikes are designed for kids with inseams between 18 and 21 inches, and the Electra Mini Rod and Hawaii come with removable training wheels. The steel frame isn't the lightest, but reviewer Christine Bucher says the bike is durable, and "even with minimal maintenance, it should last forever." We also found an older review in The Virginian-Pilot that recommends the Electra Mini Rod, where it's deemed a stylish choice for young kids. Electra bikes are typically sold in bike shops, but the Mini Rod and Hawaii are also available at REI.com.

We found good user reviews at Buzzillions.com for the 16-inch Huffy Pixar Cars bike (*Est. $80) for boys and the Mongoose Maiden bike (*Est. $90) for girls. The Huffy Pixar Cars bicycle comes with training wheels and a handlebar bag, and parents say it provides a sturdy and stable ride for their tikes. However, some note that components can loosen easily and that the bike requires frequent adjustments. We also saw a few quality complaints about the Mongoose Maiden, but most parents are happy with the bike.