Which balance bike for a 2 year old?

[fiamme red]

I want to buy a balance bike for my 2-year-old nephew. It would also be used by his 4-year-old sister, who is just slightly taller. Any recommendations?

[christian]

Kokua Jumper - by far the best one.

[fiamme red]

Kokua Jumper - by far the best one.Looks very nice, but rather expensive, at $300. Also, it's not currently available in the US.

[EDS]

As the father of a three year old, my advice is to get something light weight, that fits (i.e., on some the lowest seat height is still too high for some toddlers) and get them their favorite color.

My daughter has the ubiquitous Strider, which is fine. If I were to do it again I would get one of these:

http://spawncycles.com/shop/spawn-cycles-tengu/

One of my daughters friends has one and it seems well made.

[velomonkey]

Unless you got cash to burn - go to craigs list or find what's on sale - get the bike that fits 'em both and then take the peddles off.

I did that and then when my kid learned to ride - peddles went back on.

One bike; two distinctions means money saved!!!!

[foo_fighter]

We got this one...I like the convertible concept:
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=34391486&cp=&parentPage=search

It's small, which is a benefit but they might out grow it soon. Our 3 1/2 has moved on to a 16" bike.

The others like the Skuut, the seat doesn't go down far enough, which made it really hard to ride.

I've also heard good things about Firstbike. A lot of people have striders and there is a lighter Al version now.

I would not try to get one bike to fit both. It'll be too heavy for the younger one and the older one will want pedals soon.

[binouye]

We were happy with the Kinderbike, since passed along to another neighborhood kid. It has a very short seatpost (most do), so won't be super adjustable for different kids, but takes a normal 27.2 seatpost and I have extras that we used instead. You could also put a QR seatclamp on there.

[buck-50]

We pulled the pedals off our daughter's real bike and dropped the saddle. Worked pretty well.

Even better, we could put the pedals back on and see if she was comfortable pedaling. Did that a couple times. Nice not having to change between 2 different bikes. Once we got her riding, it was just a case of slooooooly raising her saddle.

[zerocool5468]

can't go wrong with a strider

[quehill]

We just bought our little guy (he's not quite one and a half) one of these... I like the flippable frame.

http://yubabikes.com/cargobikestore/for-kids/147-flip-flop.html

[p nut]

I got my daughters a Strider, which has worked well. But that Yuba looks pretty cool.

[Idris Icabod]

I got my kids the Giant Pre. It was a little over $100 but came in pink (important) and I liked the local shop that sells them. I think they do a non-pink one if you manage to live in that world.

[alessandro]

Oh come now... how can you reserve the good bikes for yourselves and deprive your toddler of the riding experience that you enjoy, and that you know will set him or her up for a lifetime of quality handlebar time. You owe it yourselves as parents to spring for either:

The swoopy CF monocoque curves and internal cable routing of the Mores Petitpierre, at just $2K:
http://www.mores-design.com/wp-content/uploads/mores-design-totale-pink_big.jpg

Or the burly CF gloss of the Zelvy, with its Aerospoke-like wheels, available with a rear disc brake (on a kid's bike?:eek:) for just $1100:
https://www.zelvycarbon.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Zelvy_Balance_Bike-03.jpg

[SpeedyChix]

FirstBike survived a wild lil' guy.
http://weebikeshop.com/store/balance-bikes/brands/firstbike.html

[Saint Vitus]

Oh come now... how can you reserve the good bikes for yourselves and deprive your toddler of the riding experience that you enjoy, and that you know will set him or her up for a lifetime of quality handlebar time. You owe it yourselves as parents to spring for either:

The swoopy CF monocoque curves and internal cable routing of the Mores Petitpierre, at just $2K:


Or the burly CF gloss of the Zelvy, with its Aerospoke-like wheels, available with a rear disc brake (on a kid's bike?:eek:) for just $1100:


Maybe there is an open mold frame and wheelset I can source from Alibaba for a tenth...

[seanile]

http://i.imgur.com/iBaSsTM.png

[DRZRM]

The NYTs did a review of balance bikes and they liked the Kinderbike. Adjusts very low (12 inches) for smaller kids (unlike the Scoot) and has a hand brake, which meant there was one less thing to learn when my son switched to a 12" wheeled bike when he was three.

NYT Review (http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/10/26/fashion/20091027-physical-slideshow_2.html)

[rePhil]

In Florida it's about more than just the bike. Strider is king. They put on Races, hold clinics at the BMX tracks, They have a very active and friendly parent group. They have Podiums and award nice trophies and Prizes. Really fun to watch. Two of my grand kids started on Striders. They were racing pedal bikes at three. I am a big believer that balance bikes teach kids to ride without traditional training wheels and at an earlier age.
They held their "Worlds" here the past few years. Interesting to see kids from other countries. Consider me a fan.

Check them out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFzD9TRSpYE

[Idris Icabod]

I remember Sasha/Vanilla building this bike for his son I think. I wonder what happened to it and man there's a kid who'll have some nice bikes in his future. You could always get on the list, probably want to get on a few years prior to conception to be safe for delivery, I can only image how nice a Vanilla balance bike would be.

[Zoodles]

I would look at your lbs for anything with pneumatic tires and spoked wheels (ie not plastic). We went through 2 - a wooden one he beat on in the house from 1 to 2 and then a better Raleigh one that he jumps etc...Great fun at the skatepark!

I am a fan of letting them use the run bike and pedal bike interchangeably. I let him take both to the park and let him decide what to ride, although lugging two bikes was a small chore he was riding without assistance of any sort by 2 1/2. At 3 1/2 my guy still goes for his "jump" bike sometimes but can ride the wheels off his bmx.

[velomonkey]

IDEA - purchase whatever license I need for this bike - hire a hipster graphic designer and have him/her design it with paint colors from the Belgium flag and Belgium blue - advertise it as "It's never too early to start thinking in Flanderion" - charge a wicked premium. Call it RITTe Bikes (the 'e' is small - so no copyright infringement).

I see a Rapha jersey for the young ones :banana:

[QUOTE=alessandro;1666162]
The swoopy CF monocoque curves and internal cable routing of the Mores Petitpierre, at just $2K:
http://www.mores-design.com/wp-content/uploads/mores-design-totale-pink_big.jpg
/QUOTE]

[p nut]

Wow.

Waiting for someone to post a fat bike.

[holliscx]

Kokua Jumper +1

We bought ours second hand but it was like new. You should be able to sell it for most of what you pay for it. Good little bike until s/he is ready for pedals.

[bikinchris]

I am sorry, but that is an awful waste of money. Instead of buying a "balance bike" and then a real bicycle, buy a nicer BICYCLE and take off the pedals. Teach them to balance, then put them back on.

If you buy carefully, you need only about 3 different sizes of bikes before they get an adult sized bike.

[pdmtong]

IMHO it doesn't matter what you buy

What matters is she likes it and you put the time into it

My daughter started out like everyone else
I put hours into riding fun places with her. to a play structure. to see birds. to have a snack on the 7th bench we rode to.

By age 9 she was railing intermediates at lift assisted Northstar-at-Tahoe on a specialized grom (kids DH specific) and riding 25/2,000 on the road (trek kdr 1000) with me including our benchmark 3.3/1300' climb.

Never had a balance bike. She got all her balance from a razor scooter at pre school

The rest was time spent and having fun

[foo_fighter]

What's her OLH time?! Just kidding...

including our benchmark 3.3/1300' climb.

[Louis]

Forget that balance bike stuff, just get one of these, he'll grow into it:

(I just love posting this pic)

http://velochimp.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/NDDCn.jpg.pagespeed.ce.feHtfeQCKO.jpg

[pdmtong]

What's her OLH time?! Just kidding...

Age 9. OLH first try. 45 minutes. Two stops - first at the lake, second at the redwood "tunnel". Fark...I know adults who can't make it in 45...

You cannot imagine my absolute shock and pride that day. Hot cocoa with fresh whip and a pastry at woodside bakery later.

That year, on that climb and her railing N* validated all those hours I spent with her. unbelievable.

[scrubadub]

I first got my oldest a balance bike from REI. Despite being her favorite color she didn't like it, I think in part bc it's a bit heavy.

We since got her a Firstbike which she loves, and we just bought my second her own bc otherwise they fight over it. The lowering kit helps depending on your kids' height.

[Louis]

Kokua Jumper - by far the best one.

Wow - watch out Danny MacAskill, they aren't far behind you!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Bxp4TjAkSL8

[flydhest]

Height adjustment matters. My daughter got a wooden Skuut at 2. It was too large but I let the air out of the tires and set it at the lowest setting and by spring it worked Over 9 months, she mastered it and was riding a real bike without training wheels or anything at age 3. Her brother is going to use the same one as he just turned 2. I don't think strikers are a waste of money especially if you have two kids and are starting at age 2 or so. They take a while to master it, at which point they have outgrown it, so the idea of just using a regular bike wouldn't work in our house.


The real question is clinchers or tubulars?

[holliscx]

I am sorry, but that is an awful waste of money. Instead of buying a "balance bike" and then a real bicycle, buy a nicer BICYCLE and take off the pedals. Teach them to balance, then put them back on.

If you buy carefully, you need only about 3 different sizes of bikes before they get an adult sized bike.

I couldn't disagree more. My son is 4 and started out on a balance bike. Riding a bike is about balance not so much pedaling. My boy was off riding by himself in less than 2 minutes on his first bike with pedals whereas many of us spent months learning with our fathers. Balance bikes excel at introducing young riders to cycling in a gentle way that will encourage them to ride vs making them afraid to fall.

[pdmtong]

The afraid to fall element is eliminated simply by lowering the seat so the kid can flat foot it they tip. As skill and confidence evolve slowly raise the seat. We got to optimal extension on each successive bike size pretty quickly especially as she got older

Every kid is different I pulled the training wheels off her 16" at age 4.5 and she immediately rode down the driveway and away. A few wobbly circles and in 15 minutes she was turnng left and right like she had been doing it for years. I felt happy but robbed of the time honored run alongside your kid teach them to ride tradition.

[wallymann]

http://www.mydutchbike.com/wp-content/themes/mydutchbike2.3.1/images/products/kinderfeets/0.jpg

[bobswire]

https://vimeo.com/109481322