SmarTrike Xtend 3 Stage Bike review UK 2024

Price on writing: £300 | Buy now from Very | Buy now from Sports Direct | Buy now from Currys

Our rating:

What we like

Converting design from balance to pedal bike
Extendable frame to grow with your child
Good value for money in the long run

What we don't like

The instructions could have been clearer
The included tools were not up to the job
Tricky to put together - we recommend asking a professional to assemble it for you

Key specs

Our verdict

You’ve no doubt heard of SmarTrike’s adjusting tricycle (awarded Mumsnet user's top pick on our best trikes for babies and toddlers), but when it comes to choosing a first bike, SmartTrike’s adjustable Xtend 3 is certainly worth considering.

Starting off as a balance bike, a chain and pedals can added to the 3-in-1 SmarTrike Xtend 3 when your little one is ready for the next stage. An extendable frame means it can easily see you through to your child’s 8th birthday, providing excellent value for money.

On the downside, we found the SmarTrike difficult to assemble, and the instructions could have been much clearer in places. It also doesn’t come with stablisers, which would have been a useful safety net for any child struggling with the transition from balance bike to pedal bike.

How we tested

Mum having a fun conversation with her child

My daughters, aged five and six, tested the SmarTrike Xtend 3 Stage Bicycle over a number of weeks, taking it to the park, rec, shops and on the school run,putting the bike through its paces on a variety of terrains, including pavements, up and down dropped kerbs, over rough patches of twigs, over grass, through the odd puddle and on dirt paths. The SmarTrike Xtend 3 Stage Bicycle was scored on how easy it was to assemble and use as both a balance bike and pedal bike.

What is the SmarTrike Xtend 3 Stage Bicycle like to assemble?

The Smartrike Xtend 3-Stage Bicycle arrived partially assembled, and we had to loosen some nuts and bolts during the assembly process. As these were done up very tightly, it took a fair bit of elbow grease.

Building the balance bike wasn’t too difficult, although my husband complained the tools that came with the bike were flimsy and not up to the job, but changing it up to a pedal bike proved much, much harder. Cue lots of huffing and puffing and repeat trips to the toolbox. We both agreed that the instructions were not particularly clear and the whole experience was a world away from when I assembled the SmarTrike Xtend Ride-On by myself earlier in the year.

The box recommends getting a trained bike mechanic to assemble the SmarTrike bike for you, which is probably a good idea after watching my husband, an experienced engineer and cycling enthusiast, struggle with putting it together.

What’s the SmarTrike Xtend 3 Stage Bicycle like to look at?

The bike is black with bright pink or blue highlights on the wheels, handlebars and footrest. There are no cartoon characters or overly fussy design, which takes into account that whatever aesthetic your child may be into age three, may well be old news by the time they hit eight.

What’s the SmarTrike Xtend 3 Stage Bicycle like in day-to-day use?

As a balance bike, the SmarTrike is stable, robust and is more than capable of absorbing a few knocks as your little one finds their feet. There is a handy bell, so they can thoughtfully warn the pedestrians up ahead, plus there is also a brake on the right handlebar, although this only works once the pedals and chain are attached. One word of warning, the SmarTrike is not the most lightweight balance bike that I have ever come across, so be prepared in case your little one decides to decamp and you have to carry it home.

Once the bike had been converted to a pedal bike, my six-year-old took it for a spin. She found it easy to ride, but was irritated by the way she couldn’t pedal backwards to ‘line up’ the pedals before pushing off. Pedaling backward activates the rear brake, which she found very frustrating.

My daughter is not particularly tall for her age, yet she needed the bike seat on its highest setting, so I’m not really sure how she could comfortably use the bike at age eight. The frame extends by around two male thumb lengths.

Is the SmarTrike Xtend 3 Stage Bicycle good value for money?

The SmarTrike Xtend 3 Stage Bicycle is selling on Very for £300 at the time of writing (June 25th, 2024), which does feel like a lot of money to part with. However if you do keep the bike for the full six years from the ages of three to eight, then this equates to £50 per year. It’s even better value if you have younger siblings to pass the bike down to. However, if you feel £300 is a bit much to shell out on a balance bike, we have plenty of pocket-friendly alternatives on Mumsnet’s guide to the best balance bikes.

Looking for more outdoor family fun this summer? Check out Mumsnet’s guides to the best paddling pools, best outdoor toys and the best trampolines, as tried, tested and recommended by Mumsnet users.

About the author

Laura Cooke is a Content Editor at Mumsnet, with a special focus on child’s play, outdoor play and toddler play content.

Laura started writing Swears By articles for Mumsnet in 2021, writing buyers' guides and product reviews to help Mumsnetters make informed choices when it comes to parting with their pennies.

Laura is also a freelance journalist and has written articles for publications including the Daily Mirror, the i, Metro, Stylist and Happiful magazine.

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