Best bike for a 3 1/2 yo boy, very active and with good balance?

[KiwiKat]

DS has informed us that he wants Farmer Christmas to bring him a big boy bike with just two wheels. He's a bit of a gun on his scooter, and loves to play on other kids' bikes, so I think we won't go with a balance bike. Any suggestions re reasonable price, durability etc gratefully accepted.

We bought a second hand Raleigh for £10 in great nick on eBay. Not sure what they cost new, but there are lots to choose from. Whatever you buy, make sure it's got proper pneumatic wheels as some starter bikes just have hard rubber ones that aren't very good to cycle on. And don't bother with stabilisers - just get one small enough for him to reach the ground with his feet, take his pedals off with a spanner at the beginning and let him practise balancing until he can pull his feet up and ride for a while (just like with a balance bike). Then pop the pedals back on and he'll be off. Make sure his little fingers can reach the brakes!

Decathlon are good for durable, reasonably priced bikes, if you want to get him a new one.

Thanks for the tips - very helpful.

We got one from Mothercare - a push along one which you can steer with the push along handy for DS. It is now on it's 3rd child in our village - is a proper sit up bike which DS loved and he was the first one of his peers to ride without stabilisers and I think this was through using this very practicle, durable, light weight bike.