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Best Overall
Woom 4 MicroShift
The Best Kids Mountain Bike
REI Co-op Cycles Rev Drt 24 Kids Mountain Bike
The Best Brake System
Guardian 20-Inch Small Bike
Best for Older Kids
Priority Start 24-Inch
Most people think I bike with my kids because I like exercise, or because I want to combat climate change. Neither is true (or, the entire answer, at any rate). No, it’s just that sitting in pick-up or drop-off lines in a car makes me want to yeet myself straight into the path of an oncoming 18-wheeler. Now that my kids are 7 and 10, and old enough to bike with me, it’s also much more fun to watch them hop curbs and swing their legs and shout, “We live in a jungle!” than it is, again, to wait for traffic lights to change.
The WIRED Gear team has many children, and we enlisted many of them to test so we could pick the best kids’ bikes for rides to school, on the trails, or around the park. These are our top picks for every age and size. You will note that there are no electric bikes because children do not belong on electric bikes. And if you’re looking for a bike for yourself, check out our Best Electric Bikes, Best Cheap Ebikes, and Best Electric Cargo Bikes for Families guides.
Updated March 2025: We added two kids’ mountain bike picks, the REI Co-op Cycles Rev Drt and the Prevelo Zulu Four. We also removed out-of-stock picks and updated links and prices.
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Bikes are expensive. It’s tempting to future-proof your purchase by buying a bike a size or two bigger, for your child to grow into. Do not fall into this trap! Not only is it uncomfortable, it’s unsafe. How would you expect to control a bike that was two sizes too big for you?
Sizing by age range is also risky; for example, my 10-year-old daughter is half the size of some of her peers (sorry, sweetie). To find the correct size, you’ll either have to measure your kid’s height or their minimum inseam length. Children’s bikes are measured by wheel size, so a 12-inch bike refers to a bike with 12-inch wheels, and so forth. When you get the bike, see if your child can stand over the frame with flat feet comfortably on the ground. Make sure your child can get on and off easily and that their hands can reach the brakes and shifters if the bike has them.
Other Factors to Consider
Brakes: Most kids start with coaster brakes, also known as pedal brakes. They let you stop by pedaling backward. An older kid might want hand brakes so they can pedal backward like Mom or Dad. Rim brakes are cheaper, but a disc brake will help them stop faster.
Shifters: Once your child is big enough to comprehend basic physics, an intuitive twist shifter will help them keep up with Mom or an older sibling. I can always hear my 7-year-old’s shifter frantically clicking behind me and his sister on our way to school.
Suspension: Are you planning on dragging your kid mountain biking with you? Then you might be considering a bike with shocks. However, these will add considerable weight and expense to the bike. Kids are also usually light enough so suspension might not work. I would suggest prioritizing bigger wheels and better brakes first.
While I think around $400 is a reasonable price for a brand-new kids’ bike, that’s a lot of money. Do not get the cheapest brand-new bike at the big box store; I have done this before and ended up carrying tiny bikes to the nearest shop for replacement parts. There is a healthy secondary market for kids’ bikes that children have outgrown. You might want to check Craigslist, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or ask your neighbors.
If you want to teach your little kid to ride a bike—especially one that’s trying desperately to keep up with an older sibling—it’s very tempting to just screw some training wheels on and figure that you’ll teach them later. It’s even more tempting because you don’t want your kid to get turned off riding bikes altogether.
However, if you’re a child that’s learned to bike with training wheels, it’s very frustrating to have them taken off and learn how to balance from scratch. I highly recommend skipping the training wheels entirely and letting your kid figure out that they can coast on two wheels all on their own. This video is a good summary of the process (although they call the bunny hop the “frog hop,” which I disapprove of, as bunnies are much cuter than frogs). A properly fitted bike also goes a long way to ensuring that your child feels comfortable.
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Photograph: Adrienne So
Best Overall
Woom 4 MicroShift
Woom is my favorite bike brand for children. You can start with a 12-inch Woom balance bike and upgrade to bigger models from there, all the way up to the Woom 6, which is a 26-inch bike that even I can ride. The build quality is excellent—no cracked pedals, no wobby handlebars, nice Schwalbe tires—and it’s so much lighter than many other available bikes, especially in the smaller sizes. Kids are small. It’s hard to learn to ride on a cheap, heavy bike that weighs 30 pounds when you yourself are only 40 pounds.
At 5, my son sized into the 20-inch Woom 4, which is when children should start learning how to shift. The standout feature on the Woom 4 is MicroShift, which is an intuitive twist shifter to cycle between seven gears. My son shifts so rapidly on his way to school that it sounds like he’s calculating on an abacus, but in a year of riding, the chain has never fallen off the gears or gotten stuck. That’s amazing. Something to note is that Woom’s sizing might be a little optimistic; my now 7-year-old son sized into a Woom 4 when he was 5, and the ergonomic grips were just a little too big for his hands.The Woom 4 starts for kids who are 45 inches tall (3.75 feet), and Woom also provides a bike sizer tool.
Best for 6 to 8 years old
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Photograph: REI
The Best Kids Mountain Bike
REI Co-op Cycles Rev Drt 24 Kids Mountain Bike
REI’s Co-op Cycles Rev Drt 24 is aimed at kids looking to get in some time on singletrack. With 24-inch wheels and 2.6 inches tires, the REV 24 is a capable bike for most 8-12 year olds (it should fit children in the 4’2″ to 4’10 height range). The Rev 24 is a surprisingly well-designed, well-built bike for the price, with a nice frame and variety of colors, quality Shimano and Tektro components, and a sleek look.
I’ll confess I was a little skeptical of the value of 2.6 tires on a 24-inch wheel, but my son has loved how he can roll over things he couldn’t on narrower tires, and the Rev Drt has definitely increased his confidence as a rider, especially on rougher terrain. If there’s a downside to this bike (and my son has repeatedly said there is not, he loves it), I would say it’s the shifter, which is a Shimano Tourney Revo 8-speed. It’s fine, but the bulky grip-style shifters do not lend themselves to quick, responsive shifting. Then again, children are likely less bothered by this than I might be, and my son has never complained about it. Overall, this has proved a fantastic MTB to learn on and it’s a bargain, especially if you can score one during an REI sale event.—Scott Gilbertson
Best for kids 8 to 12
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Photograph: Adrienne So
The Best Brake System
Guardian 20-Inch Small Bike
My daughter rode the steel Guardian 20-inch from the time she was 5 to when she was 7. The stand-out feature is the brake system; there’s no pedal brake. Instead, Guardian has a patented SureStop brake system. There’s only one handbrake, and it always triggers the back brake before the front brake, so it’s impossible to flip the bike. This is a great bike for kids whose underdeveloped prefrontal cortexes haven’t quite caught up to the rest of their bodies—if they’re speeding straight towards a stop sign, they won’t catapult over the handlebars when you scream at them to stop.
The cabling system is a little longer and more complex than on most bikes, and I did sometimes get the front wheel tangled up in the brake cable. But I gave it to a 20-year-old to see if he could flip it and he couldn’t, so there’s that. The Guardian is lighter than a 30-pound Target bike, although it’s a steel frame, so it does weigh 20 pounds. Guardian also has kid-specific geometry, with small grips and a lower center of gravity. It’s compatible with training wheels, which I did put on and take back off again. Of the many bikes I’ve tested, it’s also one of the easiest to put together out of the box. This bike is reliable and has lasted for years. It fits kids who are 43 inches tall, and Guardian also provides an online RideSizer tool to make sure you order the right-sized bike.
Best for 5 to 8 years old
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Photograph: Adrienne So
Best for Older Kids
Priority Start 24-Inch
The Priority Start fills the gap between children’s bikes and adult bikes and has everything you could ask for on a bike for an upper-elementary-age kid. The geometry of the bike promotes effective pedaling, and at roughly 23 pounds, it’s a lot lighter than most competitors. The Priority Start’s best features though are its components, starting with the hassle-free Gates belt drive. Often found on commuter bikes and ebikes, this carbon band takes the place of a chain but won’t rust over, crust up with dirt, or slip off. That belt drive connects to an internal hub gear with three speeds. This also helps avoid maintenance issues, though my 9-year-old daughter complains she’d like a few more speeds. (It does seem like the lowest gear could stand to go a little lower.)
The Priority Start is great for kids starting to take on longer rides like commuting to school, occasions where its worry-free reliability is massively appreciated. My daughter has grown far more confident in her riding in the 8 months since she started on the Priority Start, which is the main thing you want from a bike bridging the gap between a traditional kids’ 20-inch bike and a standard adult 26-incher. —Martin Cizmar
Best for 7 to 13 years old
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Photograph: Adrienne So
Best Kids Mountain Bike Upgrade
Prevelo Zulu Four
I really need my kids to like mountain biking so they can ride around while we’re camping. We’ve tried several, but finding a mountain bike that fits this particular niche is tough. Most kid mountain bikes are just tiny versions of adult bikes, but kids have a different body shape and ride differently than adults. They’re smaller, weaker, they need to be able to reach the brakes easily, and they like to sit up—they don’t need to lean forward to muscle around big obstacles. The bike also has to have mountain bike features, but still be light. It’s hard for a 55-pound kid to manage a 30-pound bike on a trail. (It’s hard for me, too, but whatever.)
The 24-inch Zulu Four is expensive but it hits this niche perfectly. (and be honest, $1,299 is probably a lot cheaper than your mountain bike). At 22 pounds, it’s extremely light for all the features that it’s packing, which includes hydraulic brakes, a front air shock, a 10-speed MicroShift derailleur, and pretty big Kenda tires (not as big as the Rev Drt above). That’s in combination with a few other design decisions, like a lower center of gravity and ergonomic handlebars that make it easy for her to sit up. I have an extremely petite 10-year-old and I am shocked by how hard she’s charging on this thing, considering she wouldn’t even pedal the Trek Wahoo. She’s already a lot faster and more confident than she was on her old Cleary.
Best for 8 to 11 years old
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Photograph: Amazon
Strider 12 Sport
As a trained volunteer at my children’s elementary school, I have taught multiple (multiple!) children how to ride bikes, and the first step is simple. First, start with a balance bike, or a bike without pedals. Once they can push themselves off with feet on the ground, encourage them to balance and coast by jumping with two feet off the ground. (I suggest you do this by chasing after them and shouting, “Jump! Jump like a bunny! Jump!”)
We have long since given this strider bike away, but this was my daughter’s, and then my son’s, first balance bike. It has a sturdy steel frame and grippy grips for slippery little paws. It can fit an inseam of 12 to 20 inches. The weight capacity as stated is 60 pounds, but a 165-pound dad may or may not have sat on this and wheeled around, and it was fine. We never did get around to doing this, but you can also add a foot brake so your child can stop if you push them down a steep hill.
Ages 18 months to 5 years
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Photograph: Adrienne So
Best First Baby Bike
Early Rider Bella Velio
Taking my toddler outside to learn to ride a bike has felt intimidating. The kid managed to fall and smash his hand on a tricycle-style scooter the first day I bought it. Early Rider relieved some of that stress with the Bella Velio balance bike, made for toddlers to use indoors rather than on the street. Instead of falling and scraping his knee on the sidewalk or street, he tumbles onto the carpet for a softer landing.
The Bella Velio is designed for ages 10 months to 24 months. It’s a short bike with fat, fully round wheels, and even though my son is a little over the suggested age range, he still likes riding it, and I can see the balance challenge it gives him. He can roll in just about any direction, which makes it both easy to maneuver and challenges him to stay balanced and going the direction he actually wants. It’s nice and low, too, so the fall isn’t bad when it happens. The small bike is a little over 6 pounds and is 13 inches tall at the handlebar, and it comes with a tall handle you can add to the back to help balance your kiddo too. Mine refused any assistance (2-year-olds are fun!), but I imagine it’s ideal for the younger ages this bike can support. Extra bonus? The bike is beautiful on the eyes, with three pastel color options, and a cream or all-black version too. The adorable design makes it a fun addition to your home rather than another ugly kid toy. —Nena Farrell
Best for 1 to 2 years old
Honorable Mentions
Photograph: Adrienne So
Linus Roadster for $349: We tried the 20-inch Roadster and it’s a little kids’ bike, with coaster brakes and no gears. The reach is also a little far for a 7-year-old. However, it is a beautiful bike, with an aluminum alloy frame and gorgeous, vegan leather handlebar grips and seat. You also get a bell and a kickstand.
ByK E-450 for $191: This first pedal bike has an alloy frame that puts its weight at an insanely light 18 pounds. It’s also cheap for everything you get—a big saddle, a bell, and both coaster brakes and hand brakes.
The Best Accessories
Getting the bike is the first step. Here are a few bike accessories my children use every day.
Giro Fixture II Helmet for $75: We’ve tried pretty much every helmet out there. Style-wise, my kids tend to prefer the skateboard-style helmets, like the Lil Linus ($69). But personally, for my own peace of mind, I prefer to put them into the Giro MIPS helmet, which is more comfortable and versatile for camping and mountain biking. The vents are bigger and it’s a little lighter.
OTTOLOCK Sidekick lock: Unless you’re splurging on the $1,200 mountain bike above, kids don’t generally need the slight upgrade in security from a Kryptonite lock that weighs and costs twice as much as this 1.65-pound, $40 U-lock. The Sidekick has three keys so you can give your child one to teach responsibility, keep one at home, and still have a spare on your own keyring. It also has a nice soft silicone cover which dramatically lessens the chances of your kid needing another tetanus shot. Both my children and reviewer Martin Cizmar’s daughter have been using this lock at their elementary schools with no problems. We will update our Best Bike Locks story soon.
Thousand Front Traveller Magnetic Bike Light for $35: Kid bike lights are different from adult bike lights; my 7-year-old is not biking 12 miles in the dark at 25 mph without me. I want bike lights that are affordable and easy to take off and stash in a bag or pocket. This is my favorite light for my kids’ bikes, but if the bad reviews scare you, we also like these.
