5 best bikes for balance for your 3 to 5 years

Most bicycles for balance are designed for young children, but what about preschoolers? It may be tempting to put your four -year -old on a train pedal bike, but if they haven’t overcome the bike for balance, do them harm.

Bicycle for balance will develop a bike handling skills that they need to master a pedal bike (Sans Training wheels) and enhance their confidence without frustration and tears associated with prematurely pushing a baby on a pedal bike.

During the last decade we tested and reviewed a lot of bikes for balance. The following is a list of our favorite bicycles for 3, 4 and 5-year-old balance, as well as several tips on how to choose the best bike for your child.

Our top choice

Woom 1 plus

Price: $ 299

Long fans of smaller Woom, we were super excited when Wom announced the edition of their new bike larger size – the Woom 1 plus– For preschoolers. This balance bike has everything: double -hand -coded color coded, “Surf Ploce” for the coast, a short seat necklace, a removable steering boundary and more.

The bike has a limit of a 132 -pound rider’s weight, which means that he can look for any abuse that your three -year -old can throw at him (and mom can probably play on him).

Read our review: Woom 1 plus

Dirt hero off-road balance of bike

Price: 280 USD+

Dirt Hero, of Kids Ride Shotgun, comes with 12 -inch wheels or 14 inches. For children of this age, you will need to choose a 14 -inch child.

Designed to be driven off-road (as well as included) the bike has thicker, rubber tires from the majority, and may include a disc brake for an additional cost. This bike is not cheap, so don’t choose it if you are on a budget, but if you are a family who loves a mountain bike, it’s a top choice.

Read our review: Children drive a shotgun dirty hero

Saracen Freewheel

Price: $ 249

Although this bike actually has 12 “wheels, the frame is large enough to continue to recommend it for older children. They were made by a popular Mountain bicycle manufacturer in the UK, this is a real bike.

Pneumatic tires with high volume (air), wide control straps and a real V-Kocje make this bike with a good choice for children who like to engage in Road. It can easily handle grass, mud, gravel and dirt. The maximum seat height (19 ”) is slightly lower than other bicycles on this list, so keep that in mind.

Read our review:: Saracen Freewheel

Ridgeback Scoot XL

Price: $ 299

IN Scoot XL It comes with two seats to allow growth and extra wide adjustable steering wheel that is perfect for athletic preschoolers. A durable aluminum frame comes in several bright, attractive colors and is durable enough to last through several hands.

Although Scoot is in the middle of the road when it comes to prices, it comes with all the accessories-bells, an internal cable housing and rear V-boots.

Likeabike jumper

Price: $ 379

If your child plans to take your bike for a bicycle to a bicycle park, a BMX track or a mountain bicycle path – Likeabike jumper It should be your best choice. The jumper is unique in that he is the only bicycle on this list that has a shock, which makes it perfect for – you guessed it – a hurry.

Even after your child has moved on a pedal bike, he’ll want to keep this one around.

What to look for

There are specific things to look for when buying a bicycle for balance for your 3 or 4 (or even 5) years. Obviously, the bike itself should be bigger than what you would buy for your child, but you should look for these features when buying a bicycle for a preschooler.

Pneumatic (air) tires

I prefer pneumatic tires (aka air) over foamy or plastic tires for all ages, even toddler. This is said, toddlers can often get safe without them.

On the other hand, the four -year -old is far more aggressive and will ride faster than the child. Because pneumatic tires provide top -notchThey are safer when they ride on the jumping of grass, gravel or out of jumps.

Handbrake

About 3 years children develop eye coordination that is required to use a handbrake. Also at that age, the children start driving fast enough that they will literally roll the toes from the shoes using them as brakes.

For this reason, I I strongly recommend buying a bicycle with a hand brake balance. Just make sure it is a suitable handle that is easy to ride; Some bikes have better brakes than others.

Also, with the introduction of children into the brakes while still on a equilibrium bike, they will have a skill and ability to use them when switching to a pedal bike.

Wheel size

Children of this age will best manage on a bike of 14 ”Although I also included several 12 ”bicycles with larger frames and higher maximum seat heights. Bicycle sizes are balanced to the size of the wheels rather than the size of the frame.

Before buying a bicycle for your child, Be sure to measure their Inseam. You want their Inseam at least as much as the minimum bicycle seat height, and 2 ”less than the maximum seat altitudes so that they have room for growth.

Use a comparison chart at the bottom of this post for minimum and maximum seats altitudes for each of our recommended bicycles. You might also like to check our post (and video) about the Kids bicycle dimensioning.

Price

Although I always encourage my parents to spend as much as they can realistically afford on bicycles for children, it is a little harder to bring that bicycle argument to balance when your child is already 4 or 5. They will not be on a bike for so long before they are ready for a pedal bike.

If you can find one of the bikes on this list usedTurn! If you can justify the full price payment for the Likeabika jumper, you will not be sorry.

Another option is if you feel a little hesitant in spending money on bicycles for balance, it is to buy a convertible bike for balance. These bikes are converted from a bicycle to balance into a pedal bike after your child is ready. If this sounds of interest to you, see our list Best convertible bikes.

Finally, you can also consider buying a bicycle for a slipper of the right size and then (temporarily) to remove the slippers. In this way, children can still learn to throw and balance without wheels, but you do not have to worry about the cost of buying a bike for balance and later a pedal bike.

If you decide to want to go to this route, see our list Best bikes for pedals for 3 and 4 years.

Weight

I usually less concerned about the weight when it comes to athletic four -year -old than I am a tiny child. Accordingly, lighter weight bike will still be easier to maneuver and drive faster for children of all ages.

When looking for a bicycle to balance for your five -year -old, choose a bike weighing about 13 pounds or less. If your little one is only 3 or especially small, choose something even easier. For example, the liqueur jumper is only 7.5 pounds.

Comparison chart

Still not sure which bike is best for your child? Here’s how they agree.

(Note: You may need to look at the table computer to see all columns).

Find out more about bicycle balances

About us

Rascals are three families. Kristen (Mom), Blair (Dad) and Parker (Kiddo). We started driving, when Parker was born and we didn’t want to give up our passion for cycling. As we found out, we shared. Over the years, we have tested hundreds of children’s bicycles, helmets, bicycle trailers and more.

Kristen is a coach of certified cycling in the USA -ui likes to share his passion for cycling with other families. Blair is a cycling geek, a mechanic and a hill for mountain bikes. Parker is our resident tester and inspiration.

If you see us on the track, say hello!