Recommendations for best bike for 4 year old

[Random18]

He can ride a bike but it’s early days.
His balance is brilliant and he can start off on his own but struggles with any incline although can quite happily go downhill.

He has a 12 inch bike at the moment but not sure it’s the best.

Any tips for a bike that he can really get the hang off? Not sure he’s quite the height for a 14 inch bike although not checked that out.

He still keeps going back to balance bike as he can go so much faster on it. Looking for a good bike that he can quickly get to like as much as his balance bike.

Depending on your budget have a look a frog or Isla bikes they are lightweight which helps the kids manoeuvre them.

Thanks. I will have a look. The bike is very heavy so this may be a solution. Although we normally buy bikes from Halfords 🙈 But he is doing so well that I don’t want the bike to hold him back.

We have a few local places that do Frog by the look of it.

Isla May be a bit more difficult to see by the looks of it but we neighbour Shropshire so could visit there fitting centre albeit a bit of a drive.

Specialized bikes are also lightweight ones and easier to get hold of. Look for aluminium frames.

We have isla bikes and they are lightweight and lovely, quite costly new but there is a useful secondhand page on Facebook for both Isla bikes and also frog bikes. You might want to look on the brands websites first to look at their heigh and inside leg measurements to decide which size you need to look out for, you can also pop 'wanted posts' on there too.x

Our DS is just outgrowing his 14" bike at 4.75yrs old - he was riding it comfortably a year ago so your son may well be ready to move up (we skipped 12" entirely for DS - he went from 10" balance bike to his MX14).

Frog and Isla bikes are lovely but ££££ even 2nd hand. They do hold their value well though. We found the Ridgeback a good compromise, lighter than the Halfords equivalent and with better bearings and real brakes but cheaper than Frog.

Other things to check if your DS is struggling is that the seat is set for his height, the tyres are properly pumped up, the brakes aren't binding and the wheel bearings and chain have had some oil in living memory. Fundamentally at this point though bigger wheels = faster so he will be better on the biggest bike he can manage with the seat right down than on a smaller bike with the seat right up.

Carrera from halfords. One of the best kids bikes we ever came across, it even came in top 10 Independent’s bikes

We got an Isla bike secondhand off eBay in perfect condition for 1/2 of what they retail for. It will soon see us through two dc, so well worth having a look there.

We got an islabike it made a massive massive difference of how she could ride her balance was much better. We got half price from gumtree and I'd do it again, keep an eye out on selling sites

We love near a velodrome and they do cycling sessions for children from age 2 upwards, starting off with bkance bikes, then progressing to pedals.
The balance bikes are normal bikes, without the pedals on.

They used to use trax bikes, but now use frog bikes.
My daughter has a 12 inch bike, but was growing a bit tall for it. When I saw a second hand 14 inch trax bike for sale on a local Facebook page, that looked in good condition I snapped it up.
I think the trax bikes were previously sold by Halfords, but when I was looking couldn't ding them new.

We got the Wiggins bike from Halfords. My youngest really struggled with his Halfords own 12 inch bike once the stabilisers came off (they snapped which forced the issue). It was too heavy for him. He couldn't get up hills and often fell off, leading to much frustration.
We got the Wiggins one, which is an aluminium frame as mentioned upthread and the difference was instant. Flying up hills and perfectly balanced the day he got it.
Frog is also fantastic brand, as friends have them and rave about them.
DS1 (8) has a heavy BMX and oh how I wish he let me change it to an aluminium frame bike like a Frog or Wiggins. He bloody loves it and the style of riding though.

Definitely Islabikes if your budget stretches to that. If you don't buy second hand, you can certainly sell a new one on for quite a bit. They are so light and easy for a child to start on. We sold on the first two pairs of DT's online.

I agree Frog and Isla are both great. My eldest isn't very good at balance and sporty stuff in general and it made a huge difference to him learning to ride. A different kid might well have been fine with a cheaper bike. They have good resale value too. Mine has been through two kids now and will be good to sell on once my youngest has outgrown it.

Think I will definitely get him an aluminium frame bike and i think he can probably go up a size.

He’s not yet 4.5 and not that tall.

Think it might be a carerra bike my eldest has now.

She had a heavier bike before and was fine but he’s desperately trying to keep up with her so losing patience.

Will look at all the options 😀

Echoing what everyone said... it cost s blimmin fortune but my son’s riding improved more in his first hour on the frog bike than it has in the six months previous on the older, heavier bike... and I worked it out on a price per child basis ;)

Frog or isla.
Second hand.
They hold their value.

There is zero point putting your small child on a shit bike if you want them to enjoy cycling with you as a family.

It’s not just the weight - it’s the components are properly scaled for children as well.

Hoping we can stretch to one bike a year between the 2 kids!!

Last year was eldest and she will most likely be too big for her current bike next year.

www.decathlon.co.uk/900-alloy-kids-bike-red-16-id_8487244.html

decathlon bikes are ok and have a lot of features for little riders. This one is aluminium which makes it about half the weight of most kids bikes which makes a difference when they are very small.

Thanks - he might just be ~105 cm.

Not a Decathlon that close to us 😭 typical we were nearby last week. But can always take a trip

www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/kids-bikes/carrera-cosmos-kids-bike-14-wheel-white

We have had Islabikes but I read really good reviews on this one and it has been excellent for my 4 year old son. He went straight from a balance bike to this, with ease.

I think that decathlon bike is online only... we bought another in the range and I think it was shipped from France...

@Carpetburns beat me to it. We’ve had Carrera Cosmos blue. Very well made, light frame and fast. Kidding you not, the minute DS went to the park his friends were asking for a shot on it.

We've got a Carrera Cosmos with 16 inch wheels. Very lightweight and both my kids have had it as a first bike so I assume the 14inch wheel version is the same. Personally I have clumsy boys so would never pay out for a premium brand when its going to be scratched to bits after its first use!