How can I choose the best bike for my children?

This chart provides a general idea of the type and wheel sizes of bicycles your children can ride on, based on their age.

The best bike, from your children’s point of view, will be the one that is:

-suitable for their age as one that is too big scares them.

-in the colours that they like.

-printed with images of their favourite cartoons (for the younger ones).

-similar to that their friends are cycling on (for the older kids).

-meet their purpose, example, BMX for kids who enjoy performing tricks or road bike or fixie for those who enjoy speeding down the road on large wheels or MTBs for those who like to cycle on rough terrains.

From different parents’ point of view (I have met many), the best bicycle for their children will be the one:

-that is safest to ride on, which is usually smaller in size than the one recommended by the bike shop
because they are worried that their children cannot handle them and will be hurt.

-that is the cheapest one in the shop because they are frugal or they have a budget to meet.

-that is easy or not costly to maintain, example, with no gear components installed because they do not trust that their children will take care of the bike well.

-that can also be ridden by other members in the family because they are practical or there are too many members in the family to get each child a bike.

-that have more accessories installed like carrier, mudguards, bell and basket.

-that comes with lots of free gifts like helmet, bell and lights.

From a bike shop owner’s point of view, the best bike for children will be one:

-that the child can ride over a longer period of time (but that is bad for my business).

-that can be shared amongst siblings and, if possible, adults in the family (but that is bad for my business).

-that are installed with carrier, basket , mudguards, bell, front and rear light for children who rides to school or run errands on them.

If you are looking in that direction, consider getting adult folding bikes for your children. As you can see, the seat post and stem height on a folding bike are adjustable to cater to riders of various heights.  This also allows the cyclist to sit in a more upright position.

So, an adult folding bike in wheel size of:

-12″ and 14″ can be ridden by a child age 4.

-16″ can be ridden by a child age 5 and above.

-20″ can also be ridden by a child age 6 till adulthood.

Also, the handlebars on some folding bicycles can be removed if they are bolted on to the stems or there is a quick release mechanism to release them from their stems.

If the distance from the seat to the handlebar is too far to reach. it allows the parent to replace the current handlebar to one that is curved towards a shorter rider in the family.

There are adult bicycles in the market with smaller wheel size that their children can also ride on. This is a 16″ wheel size bicycle made for the Japanese market. A child age 5 or above should be able to ride on it.

This is also made for the Japanese market. Its rear wheel is 16″ while the front is 24″.

Some 20″ wheel size bicycles for children can also be ridden by adults. A child age 6 should not have any problem cycling on a 20″ wheel size BMX.  However, if the top tube length is too long, the handlebar can be pushed towards a shorter rider to enable him to reach it.

Just note that getting the child a BMX with a longer top tube length means that he will be able to ride it for a longer period of time.

When the child is taller replace the seat post to one that is laid back.  The increased distance from the saddle to the handlebar will make the child's ride more comfortable.

The carrier on this 20″ wheel size bicycle can handle load as it is welded to the frame. This is a suitable bicycle for a child who rides to school or have to run errands on it.  

Changes can be made to a bicycle to meet the purpose for buying it.  For example, the customer of the above bicycle, opt to attached a removable padded rear seat to the bicycle so that she can ferry her younger sibling. The original saddle was replaced with one that is larger so that seniors in her family can sit on it comfortably. A stem extender was also added to increase the height of the handlebar so that someone taller in the family can ride on it with comfort.

Here is another 20″ wheel size, low cost and low maintenance bicycle to consider getting for children age 6 and adults to ride on.  It looks like a folding bike as its top tube is low. 

If you plan on getting a bicycle for your child to ride to school on, consider getting one with full mudguards installed as it rains all year round in Malaysia.