Balance bikes for toddlers - recommend

p1tse

I tried a metal one for my 23 month old in a bike shop think maybe a Ridgeback Scoot it was called. He was still a little small and the bike a little heavy for him.

But will be thinking of getting one between now and Xmas.
Brands, ones to avoid, metal, wood etc.

100yoga

My niece has the pink version of this bike from Toysrus and it is great, sturdy but not too heavy. She has had it since she was 2.5 years old and is now 3.5 years old and super fast on it.

These bikes are also currently half price at £24.99 - bargain!

Magna 10" Fly Zone Balance Bike
Ref:352810

Tried to post link but it is not working at the moment - sorry!

p1tse

Thanks
Thinking of a high end metal one

Either islabike rothan or likeabike jumper

Sponge

I'm a really big fan of the bicycles made/sold by Islabikes and highly recommend them.

I have two boys: one aged 5, the other 3. They both started on the Rothan balance bike. It's a several years old and has survived really well. Apart from the odd scrape where the boys have dropped it, it's not given me any cause for concern mechanically. It's easily going to last until my 3rd child can use it. (Due next week.)

Unlike the current model it doesn't have the rear V-brake. I like the brake on the new model, but it hasn't been a problem not having one.

My eldest didn't really use the Rothan much, which was my fault I suppose. But even so, after out-growing the Rothan and showing some signs of wanting to pedal, we took him out and to our amazement he rode the very first time. I put this down to having learnt to balance on the balance bike and not having acquired any bad habits from using stabilisers.

He out-grew the pedal bike my parents had bought him so that was my chance to get him the CNOC 16 which is just in another class altogether. The bike is light, so easy to handle and with real brakes and levers that actually work with little hands. It's a quality product. But then it should be, it cost £170.

My 3 year old is more brave with the Rothan and has taken to it really quickly. He screams about all over the place and is happy to go speeding down a hill, easily negotiating obstacles (in the park, they're not allowed to ride on the pavement/road) and then slowing himself by dragging his toes on the floor. (Doesn't do his shoes any good.) I think the materials used and construction directly allow him (them) to do this. It's just so light and responsive. I can imagine the new version is just as easy to ride, but with the added bonus of the rear brake

He was doing so well we decided to try out the pedal bike yesterday (the one my 5yr old grew out of) and after running along beside him for a wee while, I let go and he was away. So first try after the balance bike and he's already pedalling. And remember, he's only 3.

The only thing now is, I want to get him the CNOC 14! It'll be lighter, easier to ride (better bearings, etc) and with front & rear V-brakes, with decent levers, will mean he'll be able to stop too. The brakes/levers on the current bike are shocking, inadequate, plastic things.

I might be biased as I have a decent bike myself and can appreciate quality components and understand that such things command a higher price; but it's just such a joy to behold, them riding a bike with such ease and pleasure. Definitely worth the extra ££.

Finally, if you're worried about such things, the bikes seem to hold their value really well. Looking on ebay, etc and they're almost fetching new prices. They'll last a long time if cared for and can be sold to recover most of the cost. I'm sure Islabikes also have a part-exchange scheme, whereby they'll buy back your old Islabike valued on condition (obviously). How much they give is another matter though. I expect, like such things, you'd get more selling privately.

p1tse

Thanks

I'm all for one about buy cheap buy twice, so would prefer to get a decent one like the islabike rothan or likeabike jumper
Both seems to get good reviews, rothan might be better as has brake option now and can start with lower seat height, but jumper maybe more comfortable with the rear suspension type, lighter?

Little lad is 2 years. He's quite confident in things once he gets going and tries, so I'm sure he'll pick it up. Just need to decide on which one and when. Already have lots for his birthday but he may get money from family which I might put towards or wait until Xmas.

Sat him on a ridgback scoot but that was too big and maybe too heavy?

p1tse

100yoga wrote: »

My niece has the pink version of this bike from Toysrus and it is great, sturdy but not too heavy. She has had it since she was 2.5 years old and is now 3.5 years old and super fast on it.

These bikes are also currently half price at £24.99 - bargain!

Magna 10" Fly Zone Balance Bike
Ref:352810

Tried to post link but it is not working at the moment - sorry!

Thanks , but little lad is smaller and generally these cheaper ones I can imagine be heavier. If he was 3+ maybe, but at 2 thinking of lighter ones

jellyhead

Mine started off at 2y years on a wooden one which was around £60 from ebay. Balance bikes weren't common at the time (it was only 4 years ago) and couldn't be bought from tesco, toysrus etc. so I didn't have much choice. He had a go on somebody else's while we were on a day out, so I bought him one. We live in a large town but I've only ever seen one child on a balance bike, and that's in the last few months.

The wooden one had 10" wheels which was a pain when a tyre needed replacing because nowhere local sold them, so at 3 years old I moved him onto a bike with 12" wheels from tesco direct, which had a brake. This was much better for us because he was riding it to nursery downhill, so the brake was better than using his shoes

At 4 he needed something bigger but hated his ordinary bike so we sawed the pedals off the 14" bike. He never used stabilisers, he just hopped onto somebody else's bike without stabilisers and rode it (at age 4, but I think most balance bike riders can use a pedal bike younger than my son did).

Anyway, I have no advice about makes, but just wanted to say that each balance bike I got only lasted 12 months before he outgrew it, so personally I wouldn't spend too much money, but he is my youngest so if I planned to pass them onto younger siblings then it would be worth spending more.

pokey128

My 3yo ds had a ridgeback balance bike which was quite dear but still looks great, it's a little heavy for my 18 mo ds though so I found a brand new joey cruiser in a charity shop for £5! It's like a cross between a scotter and q bike but he loves it so far. Ds1 now has a 14 inch ridgeback and can go at some speed down the cycle paths!

minnie123

I bought my little boy a Strider balance bike for his 3rd birthday - he is very small and it was the only make that went small enough for him to go on. It was more expensive than some of the others £79.99 but I am really glad we got it now it looks so cool and my little boy gets lots of looks on it. He is getting really good on it now. They also have a very good ebay resale price. I watched a few videos of Strider bikes on youtube before I purchased one.

minnie123

The Strider bikes are really light too - less than 7 pounds.

moneypanicker

I bought a cheapish one from halfords. Glad it didn't cost too much money coz my son refuses to use it! He won't ride it as he wants pedels like his sisters.

I was all for these bikes as my daughters took a bit of time getting their balance without stabilizers but he just doesn't like it!