Micro Balance Bike 2-in-1 with Stabilisers review: "compact and great quality"

Price on writing: £100 | Buy now from Amazon | Buy now from Micro Scooters

Our verdict

Micro Scooters already has an enviable reputation for making some of the best scooters for kids, but the brand also knows a thing or two about making a brilliant balance bike.

The Micro Balance Bike 2in1 with Stabilisers provides a little extra support for toddlers as they learn to get around. With a choice of two small or one standard-sized wheel at the back, this bike will help children to transition from a trike to a balance bike and beyond.

Known and loved by Mumsnetters for their scooters, Micro is a trusted brand that makes high-quality, innovative products. It’s easy to buy replacement parts if you need them and because the bike is such great quality, it can be passed down to younger siblings for many years of happy balance biking. Micro products have a great resale value too, which is handy for when your little ones finally outgrow them.

Lightweight, easy to manouver and great to look at, the Micro Balance Bike ticked all the boxes and got a resounding thumbs up from our junior tester too.

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How we tested

Our preschool tester Nuala, aged three, tested the Micro Balance Bike 2in1 over several weeks, on various terrains, including pavements, up and down dropped kerbs and on grass. The Micro Balance Bike 2in1 with Stabilisers was scored on how easy it was to assemble and use. Nuala was also sent a Micro Scooters helmet to keep her safe when taking her new wheels for a spin.

What was the Micro Balance Bike 2in1 like to assemble?

Nuala’s mum Liz assembled the Micro Balance Bike 2in1 on her own and found the process pretty straightforward.

She said: “The bike was easy to assemble with easy-to-follow instructions. 

“As a new bike, it was a little tricky getting some of the screws loose, so it might be slightly easier to have two people involved; although most should manage.”

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What’s the Micro Balance Bike 2in1 like to look at?

The Micro Balance Bike 2in1 comes in two vibrant colours, aqua and pink, and has a chopper handlebar that can adjust from 51cm to 53.5cm. It has an adjustable seat, with a large rubber stopper underneath. The main difference between this balance bike and other popular bikes, such as the Strider 12 Sport and the Banana LT Balance Bike, is the ability to swap the single back wheel for two small stabilisers to help give little ones that extra bit of stability and confidence when they ride.

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What was the Micro Balance Bike 2in1 like in day-to-day use?

The Micro Balance Bike was a huge hit with both our young tester and her parents. Liz said: “The bike is great. It's compact and good quality, and Nuala has got great use out of it already. Nuala loves the bike and is very eager to use it when we go out. She displays great confidence in getting it out and using it independently.”

She added: “I really like the choices between the two different wheels, and can see us using both until Nuala only wants to use the full wheel same as the front wheel.”

The only slight issue that Liz came across while testing involved the stopper underneath the bike.

She said: “The stopper on the other end of the seat does tread on uneven surfaces. 

“This won't be an issue when Nuala is able to have the seat slightly higher, however it does get in the way of her seamlessly using the bike on uneven payment slabs and other areas of uneven pavement, caused by tree roots, for example.”

As for the helmet, both mum and daughter love the funky design. Liz said: “It's a perfect fit from the measurement I provided and she loves the design. Nuala even received a compliment about it from a complete stranger!  I now only use this one rather than her hand me down from her sister.”

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Is the Micro Balance Bike 2in1 with Stabilisers good value for money?

Priced at £100 on Amazon at the time of writing (September 3rd, 2024), the Micro Balance Bike is reasonably priced and cheaper than other Mumsnet favourites the Frog Bikes Tadpole, Trybike and Hornit AIRO, none of which come with stabilisers as a feature.

Liz added: “I feel the Micro Balance Bike represents good value for money. It is of high-quality design and finish and Nuala will get a lot of use out of it until she is able to move to a full bike.”

Looking for further inspiration for a first bike for your child? Check out our guide to the best first bikes for kids or try best kids’ bikes for tried and tested recommendations for kids of all ages.

About the author

Laura Cooke is a Content Editor at Mumsnet, with a special focus on toddler play, child play and outdoor play. She is a mum of two and lives in Sussex.

Laura is a freelance journalist and has written for a range of publications including The Daily Mirror, the i, Metro, Stylist and Happiful.

About Mumsnet reviews

All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real parents after weeks of research and testing. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage.