We're making plans to test and review balance bikes for toddlers and we'd love to know which ones you'd recommend.
If you've been impressed with a balance bike in the past two years, we'd love to hear about it. Your comments will help us to create a shortlist of bikes to test out and recommend to parents.
Also, if you have any tips on what to look out for when choosing a balance bike please share them on this thread. We'll include these comments in our buyer's guide
My son was about 9 and still couldn't ride his bike- no SEN, just a bit clumsy and not very daring! I got him the larger size Strider balance bike which is suitable for older/ taller children- up to about age 10?. After months of wobbling ineffectually on a pedal bike, he got the balance bike within a couple of weeks and soon progressed to pedals. Went on quite quickly to pass 2 levels of Bikeability. We've lent it to several friends in similar circumstances and are going to pass it on to a local school for children with physical and learning disabilities.
I purchased this Halfords balance bike last year. My son starting using it from the age of 2 1/2 years. He absolutely loves it and at an affordable price. It's light weight and he rides it everywhere. Personally I wanted a metal one so it would last. I didn't like the look of the wooden ones as they looked heavy and not very durable.
It's ridiculously light and the saddle height drops lower than most others meaning small toddlers can stand comfortably over it. Ds2 just wasn't tall enough for lots of the bikes listed above so we were limited in choice but the Cruzee has been brilliant.
My advice would be to measure the child's inseam before you get a bike. The saddle height should be at least a cm higher than the inseam for a toddler to stand any chance of being comfortable riding it.
My husband did A LOT of research and we ended up with a Vitus Nippy. It's crazy light, under 2kg, which we decided was very important for us. Under £40 as well.
Wishbone bikes are good - they start as a tricycle, then convert to a balance bike (with two height configurations). We've had three good years of use and a really smooth transition to a pedal bike.
We have a littlebig bike which seems good so far, not had it long though. We bought it because it transitions from balance bike to pedal bike to bigger pedal bike so should last for many years. www.littlebigbikes.com
Pmk. I'm looking for recommendations for larger balance bikes for a 5 yr old who needs one around the 105cm+ height range. Eyeing up the ridgeback scoot XL but other recommendations welcome.
