If you have kids around the age of 4 to 5 years old, one of the best things you should consider getting them is 16 inch bikes. In this article, we’ll take you through the best options available and also show you the key things to look out for when getting one for your child.
When getting a bike for your child, one of the key things to ensure is that you get them a bike that will build their skills. However, today, there are different options on the market, which makes it difficult to choose the ideal bike for your child.
To make things a lot easier for you, we’ve reviewed different products on the market and come up with our list of bikes for 4 year old girls and bikes for 5 year old. We have also included boys 16 inch bikes in this article. Continue reading to find out more.
Tips for Choosing the Best 16-Inch Bike for your 4 or 5 Year Old
As we have highlighted earlier, there are different options to buy on the market, and this only makes it difficult to select the best option for your kid. With that, it’s important to know the key things to look out for, and they include the following:
Boy 16 Inch Bike vs Girls 16 Inch Bike
You might be wondering whether there’s any difference between 16 inch girls bike or boys bike. Apart from their design patterns and colors, there isn’t many differences. Although there are cheaper options for girls, and they usually come with swooping frames. However, today, all the available options you’ll find have identical components and frames, whether it’s for girls or boys.
Also, the different brands available offer bikes in different colors for girls and boys, including neutral colors. Therefore, you won’t need to start looking for 16 inch girl bike or 16 inch boy bike. You only need to get a color that your kid will like. Another thing to note is that there are different accessories that you can get to make the bike more feminine or masculine.
Size
In general, a 16 inch bike is generally the best option for a 4 or 5 year old child. However, if you have a tall child, you might want to consider the 18 inch or 20 inch options to accommodate for their growth.
It’s worth nothing that the wheel size within the 16 inch bikes also has seat range heights. For a very small 16 inch bike, the recommendation is an 18° minimum seat height, while with others, the seat height is 21.5°. Therefore, you also need to consider the seat when getting a bike for your child.
For a child that hasn’t mastered pedaling, it’s important to ensure that the seat are within their inseam measurement, while a child that has mastered pedaling will have the seats placed 2° above their inseam. This is to enhance their pedaling efficiency.
Weight
Weight is also an important consideration when getting a bike for your kids, and the ideal thing is to ensure that the bike is not more than 30% of their body weight. Heavier bikes are hard to control, especially for kids who are yet to master pedaling and balancing. With lighter bikes, it’s a lot easier to train them, and it will be less tiring. Lightweight bikes will boost their confidence and make it so much easier for them to ride their bike.
Frame Design
The bike frame design is important because it places a key role in the performance and general feel of the bike. Some bikes are designed to place the child in an upright position to make righting feel so much natural for the child, making it ideal for neighborhood riding. With other bikes, the child will have to lean forward for a better grip on the handlebars, which only places the child in a more aggressive position. Bikes that place kids in this type of position are a better option for adventurous and experienced riders.
Brakes
The common brakes you’ll find on most 16 inch bikes are coaster brakes. However, it’s important to note that this type of bike only hinders the ability of the child to learn to balance and pedal at a time. This is because as kids learn to balance and pedal, they tend to pedal backwards to regain their balance. For a bike with a coaster brake, pedaling backwards automatically activates the brakes, and this will only cause them to crash. Therefore, it’s best to go for a bike that does not have coaster brakes and choose one with brakes that are easier to operate.
Gearing
Gears are not important for kids between 4 to 6 years, and you won’t easily find 16 inch bikes with gears. Despite that, it’s still vital to consider gearing when getting a bike. For this, you’ll need to consider the gain ratio of the bike, and this is the feature that determines how difficult it will be to pedal the bike.
With high gain ratios, it won’t be easy to start pedaling, but maintaining speed will be a lot easier. On the other hand, lower gain ratios are easier to pedal, but the bike won’t get to its maximum speed. For 16 inch bikes, the best thing is to get a bike with mid-range gain ratios.
Training Wheels
For a child that’s new to pedaling, it’s best to get them a 16 inch bike with training wheels before you gradually transition to a pedal bike. Another option is to buy a pedal bike and remove the pedals. This is so that your child can learn to glide and scoot on the bike, and once they master this, you can install the pedal. You can either apply this strategy or get them a bike with training wheels.
Price
Whether you’re getting a 16 inch bike with training wheels, or any other type of bike, you’ll also need to consider the price of the bike. In general, you won’t find a good bike that’s cheap, which is why you need to have a budget first and work towards getting a bike within your budget. While doing this, you need to ensure that you’re not getting a substandard bike. The most important thing is to get a bike that your children can have fun with and equally stay safe.
7 Best 16-Inch Bikes for Kids
With everything, we have written above, choosing the best 16 inch bike for your kids will be a lot easier. However, if you don’t want to go through the stress of choosing a bike, consider our recommendations below. We have reviewed different options available and come up with a list of leading options you’ll find on the market today. They include the following:
1. Woom 3
The main selling point of this option is the super lightweight and upright body position, which makes it a perfect option for beginners. Woom 3 bike is a child-specific high-end bike with smaller frames for kids. The bike is lighter, smaller, and provides a lower center of gravity, unlike other bikes you’ll find on the market. Another impressive thing is that the bike is easy to pedal and balance, and it’s designed with a unique brake system that’s perfect for beginners.
Key specifications
- Weight: 7lb
- Unique features: Upright and comfortable geometry
- Seat height:1° – 24.8°
- Product Link: https://rascalrides.com/woom-3-kids-bike-review/
2. Prevelo Alpha 2
Prevelo bikes are designed to have a low center of balance frame, lightweight, and high gearing. It’s an ideal option for kids who like to ride for long because of the high gain ratio, which makes it easier for the child to cover a longer distance with a pedal stroke.
This is an exception ride to get for your child because it’s easy to maneuver. It will also help the child to build track confidence.
Key Specifications
- Weight: 9lb
- Unique Feature: Aggressive riding, suitable for all terrain and long distances
- Seat Height: 17° – 26°
- Product Link: https://rascalrides.com/prevelo-alpha-two/
3. Cleary Hedgehog
Anyone looking to get their kids a 16 inch bike with a sturdy steel frame that makes it perfect for adventurous riding should consider this option. The bike is designed with a lightweight steel frame, and you can rest assured that it will offer impressive stability for your kids. The handbrakes are very responsible, and the gain ratio is low.
Another impressive thing about this 16 inch bike is that it’s one of the most durable options you’ll find on the market today, which makes it a great option for families. Kids can pass the bikes to their younger siblings.
Key Specifications
- Weight: 5lb
- Unique Features: Matte paint job, vegan leather saddle, and sturdy steel frame
- Seat Height:5° – 24.5°
- Product Link: https://rascalrides.com/cleary-hedgehog-review/
4. Joey 3.5
Low center of gravity frame, lightweight, and no coaster brake. These are the main selling points of the Joey 3.5 bike. For someone on a budget, this is also the best option to get. The bike comes with dual handbrakes but no coaster brake. As mentioned earlier, coaster brakes make it harder for beginners to learn how to ride, but this type of brake is not included in the Joey 3.5 bike.
Key Specifications
- Weight: 5lb
- Unique Features: Dual hand brakes and No coaster brake
- Product Link: https://www.tikesbikes.com/collections/joey-bikes/
5. Raleigh Jazzi 16
This is one of the best options you should consider getting for your child because of the amazing features it comes with. These features include the lightweight aluminum frame, durable design, lower seat height, and quality construction. All these features make the bike a perfect option to get for kids.
Raleigh Jazzi 16 bike is designed to stand the test of time, and kids can easily pass it to their younger ones when they outgrow the bike.
Key Specifications
- Weight: 5lb
- Unique Features: Cute design and durability
- Seat Height: 19° – 23°
- Product Link: https://www.amazon.com/Raleigh-Bikes-Jazzi-Training-Wheels/dp/B079W9QP68
6. Guardian Ethos
Sturdy design and lightweight are the main selling points of this option. Another unique feature is that the bike features a proprietary brake system known as SureStop. This brake system is designed to reduce unsafe braking on the bike. Usually, braking with front brakes, especially at high speed, can cause the bike to tilt forward. However, the SureStop feature in the Guardian Ethos bike is designed to prevent this from happening.
Another amazing thing about the bike is that it’s a budget-friendly option to get. You won’t have to spend so much to get a bike with amazing features.
Key Specifications
- Weight: 5lb
- Unique Features: Proprietary brake system
- Seat Height: 18° – 23.5°
- Product Link: https://guardianbikes.com/products/16-inch-bike?utm_medium=AFF&utm_source=Two+Wheeling+Tots
7. Pello Revo
The last option on our list is the Pello Revo bike, which is also a high-quality bike with different amazing components. The bike comes with knobby tires, which makes it a perfect option for trail riding. Another impressive thing is that the bike is perfect for anyone who’s on a budget.
Key Specifications
- Weight: 3lb
- Unique Features: High-quality components and knobby tires
- Seat Height: 20° – 24.5°
- Product Link: https://www.pellobikes.com/bike-shop/revo
Comparison Chart
| Bike | Weight | Minimum Seat Height | Freewheel Option | Dual Handbrakes | Training Wheels |
| Woom 3 | 13.1lbs | 19” | Yes | Yes | No |
| Prevelo Alpha 2 | 14.9lbs | 18” | Yes | Yes | No |
| Cleary Hedgehog | 16lbs | 19” | Yes | Yes | No |
| Joey 3.5 | 17.5lbs | 19” | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Raleigh Jazzi 16 | 18.5lbs | 19” | Yes | Yes | No |
| Guardian Ethos | 17.5lbs | 18” | Yes | Yes | No |
| Pello Revo | 16.3lbs | 20” | No | No | No |
Conclusion
We have provided a list of the 7 best 16- inch bikes for boys and girls, and in addition to that, we have also provided an outline of the key things to look out for when buying a 16-inch bike for your child. You can consider any of the options we have provided above with the assurance that your kids will like them. Alternatively, you can use the tips we provided above to choose an ideal bike from the different options on the market.