CyclistBest kids bikes 2024: Childrens bike recommendations for every ageThe best kids bikes make learning to ride as easy and enjoyable as possible. And whether youre a cycling enthusiast or not, its impossible not to find joy in teaching your child how to roll on two wheels.Watching a little one master their balance and get to grips with cycling is right up there with the top parenting moments.But to help them along, youll first need to invest in a childrens bike that can properly support their learning.Whichever stage youre at in your childs relationship with cycling, our buyers guide is here to help. From toddlers to teens, this article will point you in the right direction for the best childrens bikes for all ages. For beginners from six months to six years, take a look at our guide to the best balance bikes, which includes a full list of pedalless options to make learning to ride a little easier. Related Posts How to teach your child to ride a bike Best kids bike helmets: Top picks of childrens cycling helmets for every age Best balance bikes in 2024 and how to choose the right one The best bike child seats of 2024 Best kids bikesThis list is organised by wheel size.Cube Cubie 120 Walk 12-inch: RRP 199Strider Sport 12-inch: RRP 130Hoozar Cruz 12 12-inch: RRP 199Hornit Airo 14-inch: RRP 189 Woom Original 2 14-inch: RRP 380 Early Rider Belter 14-inch: RRP 399 Prevelo Zulu one 14-inch: RRP 529.95 Frog 44 16-inch: RRP 390 Black Mountain Skog 16-inch: RRP 499Ridgeback MX16 16-inch: RRP 219.99 Guardian Bikes Ethos 16-inch: RRP $289Squish 18 Junior Hybrid 18-inch: RRP 339.99 BTwin Riverside 900 20-inch: RRP 299.99Specialized Riprock 20-inch: RRP 629Trek Precaliber 24 24-inch: RRP 325 Scott Scale 24-inch: RRP 519 How to choose the right childrens bike What size bike does my child need?Many brands will have their own height or age recommendations. However, here is a rough guide to matching bicycle and rider by using the diameter of the wheel.Size and age guideWheel sizeAgeHeight12-inch2-385-100cm14-inch3-495-110cm16-inch4-5110-120cm20-inch5-8120-135cm24-inch8-11135-145cm26-inch11+145+cmHow much should I spend?Dont put your tot off cycling for life by getting them a sub-standard bike. While its not necessary to spend loads, really cheap kids bikes will make learning harder and might not even last until theyre outgrown. Better to spend a bit, then look to swap with other parents later.Smaller kids bikes cost less. The cheapest decent 12-inch wheeled bikes start around 150. Each size increase tends to add around 20 to 40 to this. By the time you get to 24-inch wheeled bikes the addition of gears and other components causes a rapid jump. From here on in expect to pay almost the same you would for an adult bike.Should I fit stabilisers?Almost all bikes up to and including a 20-inch wheel will accept stabilisers, and some will even come bundled with them. Although fixing on this extra set of wheels will allow your child to get riding straight away, were not fans. The reason is its impossible to learn to balance with them fitted, so removing them will feel like a backwards step.Using a balance bike is a much better alternative. These crankless bikes allow kids to scoot along, teaching balance without ever building enough speed to get themselves in trouble.Why take our word for it?We live and breathe bikes at Cyclist,so we know what works. While were a little too tall to ride these bikes ourselves, we have the knowledge and experience (and children) to pick out the features that matter in a kids bike.All the kids bikes featured here are from reputable brands that wed consider for our own children.Our pick of the best kids bikes from balance bikes to 24Cube Cubie 120 Walk 12in childrens bike199 | View offerPneumatic tyres and carry handleTwo seatposts so can swap once they outgrow the shorter oneCubes balance bike is simple and lightweight. It offers low standover height and pneumatic tyres on the 12in wheels for a comfortable ride. A steering limiter helps prevent crashes.Cube includes a carry handle under the saddle, so the Cubie is easier to carry when they get tired of riding. The bike comes with a second seatpost, so you can size up when they start to grow out of the first.Buy now from Tredz (199)Strider Sport 12in wheel childrens balance bike114.95 (RRP 130) | View offerAffordable, adaptable first bikeReasonably lightweight at 2.9kgIf your child is between the ages of 18 months and five years, you may want to consider getting them started on a balance bike. Balance bikes dont have pedals, with the rider instead using their feet on the floor to control the movement.This is particularly handy when it comes to getting young children used to the ideas of balance and steering before theyre ready for the real thing.The Strider Sport is a particularly affordable and adaptable option in the world of balance bikes: rather than forcing you to buy a new balance bike every time your child has a growth spurt, this design has an adjustable seat post that can match up with inside leg measurements anywhere between 27cm and 48cm.The handlebars can be raised in accordance with this, and the saddle can be replaced if you end up needing a bigger one.The Strider Sport has a sturdy steel frame but an impressively low weight of just 2.9kg. Its one-piece composite wheels come with EVA foam tyres, which should stand the test of time as your child grows.Buy now from Amazon (114.95)Hoozar Cruz 12: 12in wheel balance bike120 | View offerGrippy, comfortable pneumatic tyresRear brake for more controlA feature-packed introduction to cycling. The 12in wheel Hoozar balance bike features a rear brake. Useful in its own right, getting familiar with stopping means one less thing to learn when your youngster makes the leap up to a pedal-powered machine.Other features are equally grown-up, like the bikes conventional pneumatic tyres. Requiring occasional attention to keep inflated, theyre nevertheless far more grippy and comfortable than solid options. Other neat touches include an aluminium frame with a steering limiter, plus pads on the stem and grips to prevent unwanted bumps.Buy now from Hoozar (120)Hornit Airo 14in189 | View offer4.18kg claimed weightLifetime warrantyHornit claims its slightly larger balance bike weighs just 4.18kg. It also sells a 12in balance bike for beginners. It looks stylish, with its magnesium alloy split frame and this larger size comes with a rear brake. Comfort comes from alloy wheels with pneumatic tyres and there are built-in footrests, so little one can get used to balancing and gliding. While the 12in Airo will suit kids with inside legs from 30cm to 46cm so from around 18 months old the 14in is designed for 40cm to 53cm inside leg, which Hornit says should be most kids from three and a half years old. Theres a shorter seatpost available for the 12in model too. Hornit offers a lifetime warranty on its bikes too.Buy now from Hornit (189)Woom Original 2 14in wheel childrens bike379.99 | View offerKid sized componentsTwo brakes, with the rear colour-coded greenWooms bikes come in a range of six sizes from 12in balance bikes all the way up to 26in bikes for kids from 10 to 14 years old. Theres a great range of bright colours too.The Woom 2 is the first option with pedals and would, according to Woom, suit rides from age three to four and a half. The 5kg weight isnt too much for smaller riders and the bike comes equipped with both front and rear brakes, with the rear colour-coded green. A removeable rubber ring between the frame and the fork helps to keep the bike in a straight line and the components fitted are kid-size.Buy now from Woom (379.99)Early Rider Belter 14in wheel childrens bike399 | View offerAlloy frame and fork help keep weight lowLow maintenance belt driveEarly Rider aims to keep its bikes light with an alloy frame and fork, alloy wheels, bar, stem and seatpost helping to keep the bike down to a respectable 5.5kg. Thats important, as lugging around a heavy bike is hard work for smaller kids, so the Early Rider Belter should be appreciated by its owner.Aimed at three-to-five-year-olds with a 36.5cm standover, the bike comes with a belt drive single speed drivetrain, so its low maintenance and the wide 2in tyres give it ride-anywhere capabilities. Front and rear brakes are sized for smaller hands. The Belter comes with wheel size options up to 24in to suit older kids as well.Buy now from Early Rider (399)Prevelo Zulu One425 | View offerJunior mountain bike for exploringSingle speed drivetrain for easy maintenanceThe Prevelo Zulu is the ideal beginners mountain bike aimed at three-to-five-year-olds, with an inseam from 14 to 17in.It has a single speed drivetrain, so its low maintenance, and 14in tyres which means it can literally go anywhere.The Zulu One comes with front and rear Tektro hydraulic disc brakes with reach adjustable short levers as well as custom made cranks created specifically for kids.The bike also has a robust BOXT rear chainstays and seatstays, and BMX track style forged dropouts that shroud the rear axle, which make sure this bike is tough enough to survive being thrown around by even the most adventurous of kids.Buy now from Prevelo (425)Frog 44 16in wheel childrens bike330 (RRP 390) | View offerReasonably lightweightFully equipped with mudguards, reflectors and a bellIf your four-to-five-year-old is looking to rip it up on a pedal bike, the Frog 44 is a really strong contender to consider. This single-speed bike looks the part, with its strikingly simple frame design coupling nicely with a range of colourful paint job options (of which there are five to choose from).The Frog 44 also has a lot of strong features: a bell, reflectors and mudguards are all included as standard, and the locking headset is perfect for learning the ropes when it comes to steering.The whole bike weighs 6.39kg, meaning its still light enough to be easily transported around and for your sprog to pedal their way up those really big hills.A set of Kenda 16in tyres with a 1.5in width should also help with any early off-road adventures.Basically, this is a brilliant little bike with a bit of an extra edge, which can serve as a great introduction to cycling.Buy now from Tweeks (330)Black Mountain Skog 16in wheel childrens bike499 | View offerConverts from a balance bike to pedal powerCovers a wider age range than most kids bikesThe Epok Series Skog from Black Mountain is one of the most capable bikes on the market. It boasts a wide range of versatile features that allow it to adapt as your child grows: it begins as a pedal-free balance bike for toddlers, and grows into a fully-fledged bicycle suitable up to the ages of five.There is also a stage in between to cover that tricky transition phase.This impressive feat of adaptability is achieved through various means: the patented growing triangle frame can shift between three modes; the gears and pedals are completely removable; the custom saddle has numerous height options; and the 14in wheels couple with 1.5in Kenda tyres to provide a smooth ride whichever mode you have the bike in.Despite all of those snazzy in-built features, the Pinto isnt overly heavy: it weighs in at 6.1kg, thanks to its super-light aluminium frame. It may have a slightly higher price than some of the options on this list, but the Skog is basically three different bikes in one.Buy now from Black Mountain (499)Ridgeback MX16 16in wheel childrens bike219.99 | View offerAffordable optionComes with a chain guard and stabiliser wheelsDown at the lower end of the price spectrum, the Ridgeback MX16 offers all the proof you need that its possible to pick up a brilliant bike on a budget. This is a sturdy single-speed bike made from solid-yet-lightweight materials, and its 16in wheels make it perfect for children around the four-to-six age mark.Its an affordable option, but it still has the basic features youd expect, and theres very little to go wrong. The saddle and the handlebars can be raised or lowered to suit your childs height, and a pair of stabilisers come included (although as above we dont recommend using these).Buy now from Freewheel (219.99)Guardian Bikes Ethos 16in$249 | View offerSingle lever front and rear brakes are easier to useQuick adjust seatpostUS-based Guardian Bikes was funded via the US version of Dragons Den to develop its kids bike range, which has a unique single lever brake system that works on both wheels, to make stopping easier for kids and safer than the more usual coaster rear brake.The steel frame should be robust and the bike is fitted out with tyres suitable for tarmac and off-tarmac use, and it comes with kid-sized parts and a quick-adjust seatpost so its easy to move it up as they grow. Theres a whole range of Guardian bikes from a balance bike right up to 26in wheels.Buy now from Guardian Bikes ($249)Squish 18 Junior Hybrid 18in wheel childrens bike339.99 | View offerOne of few intermediate sized options availableSimple set-up helps to learn the basicsThe brand claims this is the perfect in-betweener as not every child is big enough, or confident enough, to jump straight from a 16in to a 20in wheel bike, so Squish offers this hybrid with 18in wheels.Despite its larger size, it keeps things simple for children who are still getting to grips with cycling and so has a similar spec to the brands smaller bikes thats to say its a single-speed.Aimed at children aged four and up, the bike is relatively light at 6.96kg.BTwin Riverside 900 20in hybrid bike299.99 | View offer9.3kg weightEquipped with front and rear lightingAs kids bikes get towards the size of adult bikes and they sprout gears and other extras, prices begin to head upward too. Decathlon helps out with a range of own-brand bikes, including MTB style, that are more affordable though.We reckon this kids hybrid is a good option to suit six-to-nine-year-olds. Decathlon claims a 9.3kg weight, so its reasonably light. Its eight-speed gearing provides decent range and it has a brake levers sized for smaller hands and kid-length cranks. Its specced with LED front and rear lights too.Buy now from Decathlon (299.99)Specialized Riprock 20in wheel childrens bike500 | View offerA junior mountain bike for proper off-road terrainWide range nine-speed gearingWhoa! Kids bikes have got serious. Serious in terms of capabilities, and also serious in terms of price. However, if your five-to-eight-year-old really loves off-roading adventures, the Specialized Riprock has a lot recommending it. Ideal for cycling holidays in challenging areas such as the Lake District, the Specialized Riprock comes with massively chunky tyres on its 20in wheels, plus hydraulic disc brakes and a super-wide single-ring drivetrain.With a slack aluminium frame that takes its cues from radical adult-sized bikes, irregular terrain wont be a problem. At the same time, its free-spinning range of nine gears includes a vast 42t easiest sprocket to make major inclines manageable.Still light compared to less capable childrens bikes, its nevertheless very much aimed at off-road adventures and is designed to be robust. However, budding roadies may still want to look elsewhere. Either way, the Riprock makes the most of its extra capabilities by being a seriously sturdy option for rugged terrain.Theres also a larger version of this bike, with 24in wheels, which would be suitable for 8-to 11-year-olds. Whichever size you go for, youll be picking a raucous bike for off-roading families.Trek Precaliber 24 24in childrens bike325 | View offerThe Precaliber is sized for kids between eight and 12 years old, with a low centre of gravity, 24in wheels and eight speed derailleur gearing with low ratios, which is controlled via a twistgrip. Theres an integrated handle in the saddle, in case the need help with balance still and a kickstand for stops. Kid-sized components help with comfort and control. While this model is aimed more at urban adventures, Trek offers a version that replaces the rigid steel fork with a suspension fork if its likely they will want to go somewhere more rugged.Buy now from Trek (325)Scott Scale 24in wheel childrens bike429 | View offer2.4in MTB tyresEight-speed gearing to handle diverse terrainAnother junior MTB option, the Scott Scale 24in has an alloy frame and fork to keep weight down and eight speed derailleur gears with a grip shifter to make a wide range of terrain accessible. Mechanical disc brakes provide confident stopping power and the 2.4in Kenda Booster tyres provide the grip to take on awkward off-road terrain.The geometry is modern too, with a long, low frame that gives extra wheelbase length to keep the ride stable. Theres a 26in wheel size option for older kids as well and both the 24in and 26in bikes are available with a suspension fork.or join The Bike ClubHave you ever felt like buying a rapidly growing child a bike is a risky move? Of course you have, thats why most of us grew up riding over- or under-sized bikes passed down from older siblings, cousins, friends and the like.The Bike Club is essentially a bike rental service through which you can get your child the bike that is right for them, pay monthly and when they grow out of it trade it in for a bigger one.For example, this Forme Cubley 14, a super-light 6kg aluminium bike recommended for three- and four-year-olds and built to withstand the British weather, costs under 10 per month.There are loads of bikes on offer for all ages so why choose one of the above when you could have all of them?For more information and to check out what you can get visit thebikeclub.co.uk.Want to be able to ride further with your kids? Check out our guide to the best bike child seats. Related Posts How to teach your child to ride a bike Best kids bike helmets: Top picks of childrens cycling helmets for every age Best balance bikes in 2024 and how to choose the right one The best bike child seats of 2024 The post Best kids bikes 2024: Childrens bike recommendations for every age appeared first on Cyclist.