The Best Balance Bike for 2023 Reviews by Wirecutter

They aren’t built for speed or trails, but for overall comfort on the road. But make no mistake, we can still get where we want to go in good time—we just feel great getting there,” Chad Buchanan, founder of BiKASE, says. Single speed and mulit-speed, done with multi-speed hub (sometimes called internal gearing, hub has a single drive gear) is usually 1/8″ width size 1/2″ spacing, generic stuff.

It’s an electric-assist bike, a cargo bike, and a folding bike—with 4-inch-wide tires that would make a Lunar Rover jealous. City riders will appreciate how easily the fat tires roll over potholes and other road imperfections. Its rear rack is capable of hauling quite a bit of cargo, and the full bike has a load capacity of 275 pounds.

Bradley has a son named Max who had recently, at the time, graduated from a Strider balance bike to a 14-inch Islabikes Cnoc pedal bike. Bradley is fanatical about riding with Max and observing his young cycling habits with the eye of a scientist. I also emailed with Ivan Altinbasak of WeeBikeShop and Woom’s Dave Norris. Then, we researched over 40 different beach cruiser bikes from the most trusted brands and picked the best ones based on comfort and value. We also considered size, weight, brake style, and additional accessories. The Lectric XP Step-Thru 2.0 Long-Range eBike is an awesome option for riders seeking a smooth ride.

The Boston comes in two sizes and features a riser handlebar for a comfortable riding position. The handlebar bar height itself is not adjustable via the stem—only by rotating the bar. huffy beach cruiser For our testing subjects, we enlisted our friend’s adventurous little kids, including 2-year-old Elle, 6-year-old Luke, and 7-year-old Fleet here in Charleston, South Carolina.

Online selling fees, listing creation, disassembly, packing, shipping time and cost, insurance, price negotiation, time investment, return management, tire kickers, low-ball offers. However, huffy bicycle the frame is made from steel, not aluminum like other bikes on our list. It also doesn’t come with any extra accessories, like a helmet, so you’ll need to purchase those yourself.

The ride is simple — no confusion with handbrakes, or with shifting multiple speeds. Dual density grips and two-tone pedals add to the comfort, and to the style. The single-speed bike has a durable steel frame showcasing the Huffy ornament, while the ribbed-style chainguard completes the classic look.

But we found, after polling numerous parents, that the more athletic your child is, the more likely they will take to them. The Woom 1 doesn’t compromise on anything—simple assembly, solid parts, ideal geometry—so if money is secondary and bike enthusiasm is primary for you, this is the bike for kids whose clothing size is between 2T and 4T. The Woom is designed in Europe (the motherland of most good bike culture), built in Cambodia, and dialed in with precision at Woom’s assembly facility in Austin, Texas, which gives the brand high quality control. Recessed hardware at the wheels makes it impossible for kids’ legs to snag, while a removable rubber O-ring creates a flexible steering limiter to prevent front-wheel jackknifes. The bike also teaches hand braking—the second step in learning to ride a bike, after balance—with its built-for-little-hands levers. Brakes can be a hassle to adjust for the uninitiated, but the Woom’s needed no adjustments, just like the rest of the bike.

When it’s set up, the Strider’s pedal assembly is engineered with very narrow cranks and pedals—half as wide as you’d see on any other bike. These are key because when most kids transition from a balance to a pedal bike, they’re hardwired to use their feet as brakes—especially if their balance bike didn’t come with hand brakes. The narrowness of this setup allows them to continue to stride and brake like Fred Flintstone until they develop the coordination to engage the pedal and coaster brake in concert. Other bikes with wider pedals will catch kids in the leg if they put their feet down.

Its step-through frame design, which ensures an easy time getting on and off when you’re loaded down with groceries or your commuter bag, makes it accessible to a wider range of riders. Additionally, a suspension fork with 40mm of travel soaks up bumps in the road for a smooth ride. The 850W motor helps you accelerate swiftly and climb hills without getting your blazer sweaty.

There is a wide range of options, so consider your specific needs and prioritize your preferences. From lightweight singlespeeds to cruisers to e-bikes, almost every kind of bike can be found in a folding version. We also tested the budget Kazam v2e, which features the lowest step-in height of any bike we tested, at 6 inches, and a wide, comfortable footrest. We had issues with the width of its rear tubes, which rubbed our tester’s legs.