But we also found the MyRider Midi harder to stop when going fast downhill. Many of today’s parents (and grandparents!) may have fond memories of rolling down the driveway—and perhaps over homemade jumps, definitely helmet-free—on an Original Big Wheel. The actual Original Big Wheel was manufactured in Pennsylvania by a company called Marx, which went out of business in the 1980s. Today’s Big Wheel (the name was sold) is lightweight, and the wheels slip a ton. It was difficult for Kate’s young son to get started on the trike, and he soon lost interest.
The trikes were then turned over to their kids, so they could test their durability, ease of use, speed, and inherent fun-ness. Kids took the trikes on neighborhood strolls, and they tested them on grass, pavement, broken concrete, and dirt. We paid attention to how the wheels performed and how long it took to get the trikes moving, as well as their stability. Kate timed her 3-year-old as he rode a block on a concrete sidewalk and took a corner at full speed. This demonstrated how easy it was to start and turn each trike, and it provided evidence of wheels lifting up or a trike seat being unstable. Writer Jenni Gritters researched more than 20 tricycles, and she built and tested 10 of them in late 2023.
For bigger kids, the Razor RipRider 360 is more fun and easier to use. For bigger kids, the Schwinn Roadster Tricycle 12-Inch is a shiny, gorgeous tricycle that’s fast and fun to ride. It’s low to the ground, with more of a Big Wheel style than you typically see in a metal trike. Because it doesn’t have a push-bar option, it’s not as versatile as our top or runner-up picks. But if you’re buying a tricycle for an older kid, they may prefer the style of this more-sophisticated-looking trike. Let your little rider ride around in style on this Schwinn Roadster tricycle.
Ensure the stem is inserted past the minimum insertion markings on the stem quill. Loosen the stem faceplate bolts, just enough to allow the handlebar to rotate. Rotate the handlebar into a suitable position, then tighten the stem faceplate bolts evenly. Please note, a stock image is included to provide you with a visual snapshot of this item that we could not capture otherwise. The actual product may be a different color or model. Both models are suitable for riders between 5’4- and 6’2- tall.
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But all of these materials are fine as long as the trike is stable. During our most recent round of testing, the Radio Flyer 4-in-1 Stroll ’N Trike was our favorite tricycle in the bunch. It has four configurations, to take kids from ages 1 to 5. And it offers well-thought-out accessories—including a wide and adjustable parent handle—and a sturdy frame that prevents tipping. Our kids loved to ride this trike on many types of terrain, and Radio Flyer has a solid, two-year warranty program. This model is also a bit less expensive than most of the other options we tried.
Kate lost interest even sooner, when it took a whopping 54 minutes to assemble, mostly due to the number of decals. Jenni’s 3-year-old son also screamed in schwinn tricycle frustration while using the Big Wheel and found it didn’t move well across pavement or dirt. Like its namesake, the Big Wheel is better for bigger kids.
But this trike is well made, and it’s quick to build and convert. Angeles tricycles are common at many daycares, schools, children’s museums, and community centers. These simple, industrial-strength trikes are built to last—not just through two or three kids in a family, but through two or three hundred kids over many years. The Angeles MyRider Midi Tricycle—intended for kids ages 3 to 6 and rated to hold up to a whopping 70 pounds—is the midsize option in the company’s MyRider trike line. The MyRider Midi is easy and fun to ride, close to maintenance-free, and absolutely durable.
Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). It took only 20 minutes to build the INFANS Kids Tricycle. Like the Radio Flyer tricycle, this one has a lot of parts, but the instructions are a bit clearer, and the required tools are included. The IFANS trike’s canopy is made with thicker material than the Radio Flyer trike’s canopy. That means this one can protect your child for longer during a rainstorm or provide a bit better shade coverage.
It takes 10 minutes to build, and it’s easy to adapt from trike to bike by adjusting the two back wheels into one (they slide together) and removing the pedals. It’s sturdier than many of the trikes we tried, with hard rubber wheels instead of plastic. But it doesn’t have a warranty, and the kids in our test group avoided this bike like the plague, probably because the stand-over height for the balance bike configuration wasn’t low enough. If you want a balance bike, try one of our balance bike picks. At 21 pounds, the MyRider Midi is one of the heavier trikes we tested. Yet despite its heft, it provides a very smooth ride and is easy for kids to start pedaling.