Buying a first bike for your youngster? Here's how to choose the correct one

The Star

28-05-2025

If you want to buy your youngster a first bicycle, bear these tips in mind.
'Learning to ride a bike actually starts earlier,' says Thomas Geisler from German cycling association Pressedienst-Fahrrad (pd-f).
Depending on what toys are available, children often lay the basic foundations for bike riding with their first scooter or sliding vehicle.
These types of vehicle allow kids to gain experience in terms of speed and steering.
They often then learn to balance on a balance bike. So once they get a children's bike, they can learn the business of pedalling rather just pushing off with their feet.
Pick the right size – this is crucial. Don't be tempted to buy a larger bike for your youngster to grow into.
'A bike that is too big or too small is simply no fun,' says Geisler. 'The most important thing is that the children can easily reach the brake levers with their fingers and pull them.'
When you adjust the saddle height, make sure your child is still able to put both feet on the ground, at least for the first few rides while they are learning.
'Kids are still familiar with how to brake using their feet from their balance bikes and in a dangerous situation, they will do so intuitively,' says Geisler.
'Always set the lowest saddle height on a new bike and make sure that your child can reach the ground with the tips of their feet,' echoes Nico Langenbeck, project manager at Stiftung Warentest, a German consumer advice organisation. That will enable them to stop at traffic lights without losing balance.
As they gain experience of cycling over time, you can raise the saddle so that they sit more ergonomically and can stretch their legs better when they are pedalling.
Orientation on site and with the sizes
'We recommend buying a bike from your local dealer,' says Langenbeck.
Doing so means you can test ride different models one after the other, and also that you can also get advice and service before and after making the purchase.
Geisler agrees. But if you are planning to get the bike as a surprise – or to orient yourself in the shop at the start of the process, you can use the size of the tyres as a guide. Some manufacturers provide information online as to which body sizes the information in inches is roughly suitable for.
But you cannot transfer this directly from one manufacturer to another, as their specifications may differ as to which wheel sizes fit which range of body sizes.
And body size alone is only a guideline, as the lengths of kids' legs and upper bodies can also vary greatly.
The bikes usually start at 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30cm) – often these have wheels but do not have pedals though there are also models in this size with pedals. These are often suitable for children around one and a half years old to three.
From around three to four years of age, you might want a model with 14-inch (35.5cm) tyres. Parents with kids starting school at around six years of age often opt for bikes with 20-inch (50.8cm) tyres. This is also the size where there is a greater choice of equipment, for example in terms of brakes and gears, Langenbeck says.
Using a local store for a first bike for your youngster means you can get advice and test out different models. Photo: CHRISTIN KLOSE/dpa-tmn/dpa
The weight of children's bike
One of the most recent tests supervised by Langenbeck involved bikes with 20-inch tyres. Some of the models were pretty heavy, some even more than 15kg – heavier than some adult bikes. Others only weighed around 8kg.
When choosing a bike for younger children in particular, it makes sense to look for models that are not too heavy, as they are easier for the child to handle, whether starting off or picking up the bike.
The weight also depends on the frame material. A bike with a steel frame may be a little more stable, says Langenbeck. 'But it is also significantly heavier than an aluminium one, for example.'
'Many manufacturers are now focusing on building children's bikes that are as light as possible so that kids don't have to carry too much weight and accelerate,' says Geisler.
These days, children's bikes are more in the mountain bike segment meaning without pannier racks and fewer accessories. Often, aluminium is used for the frame material.
Entry-level models with 16-inch (40.6cm) wheels weigh around 6kg to 7kg, sometimes even just 5kg. But as with adult models, 'the lighter the bike, the more expensive it becomes,' says Geisler.
Equipment on the bike
Most kids' bikes have two hand brakes – otherwise it would be necessary to switch from coaster brakes to hand brakes later on. Hand brakes can also be controlled better in terms of when and how you slow down, says Geisler.
Langenbeck also advises against using a back-pedal brake, as you would first have to be in the correct pedal position to be able to pedal back quickly enough and with sufficient force in an emergency.
Some manufacturers offer different coloured grips on the left and right for the front and rear wheel brakes.
When it comes to lights, you can usually choose between a hub dynamo and a lighter, removable battery light.
You rarely find side-wheel dynamos these days, or only on very cheap bikes.
Depending on the regulations where you live, legally, bikes for children under the age of eight often do not need lights, as they are considered play vehicles and may only be used on pavements.
More is not always more
When choosing a bike, try not to be overly tempted by technical bells and whistles.
Some models already have a suspension fork or full suspension. 'But that's pointless, especially for small children on their first bikes.
They can't even trigger the suspension yet because they are simply too light,' says Geisler.
Shifting gears only makes sense for older children, as they can operate the gear lever properly and enjoy the benefits gears bring.
Smaller children can often get distracted by gears, a concern especially when out in traffic.
You can also get mountain bikes with 16-inch tyres with gears, which can make sense for off-road use. If your kids want to do regular cycling out and about though, Geisler suggests these bikes are best for kids starting from age six or seven at the earliest.
Take a test ride first
Do an extensive test ride, is the advice of Stiftung Warentest. If something rattles, squeaks, wobbles or is hard to operate, then you are better off not buying it.
If you order online, bear in mind that the bike may not yet be fully assembled. If so you may still have to fit, adjust or tighten parts such as handlebars or pedals. If you don't want to do so or lack the right tools, you can get someone to do this for you at a workshop.
Another disadvantage of buying online is that if the bike doesn't fit after all, you usually have to repack it and send it back, which is time-consuming and expensive, though some mail order companies also have retail outlets. – dpa