Kids are just free souls and so much full of energy. God that reminds me of my childhood. How I use to go outside with my mother and father and use to ride a bicycle with my friends. Those joyful moments I can never forget.
Biking is not the only way to enjoy but also it has tremendous health benefits. Yay, the best way to teach our kids to stay eco-friendly at this young is a must thing.
Apart from the above benefits, the first bike of a young toddler or pre-schooler should be a comfortable one.
This is not going to be their first independent thing but also it will help them in boosting confident, independent and self dependance.
Are you in a Hurry? We Recommend ==> RoyalBaby Honey & Buttons Kids Bike
Best Budget Bike for 4 Year Kid ==> Radio Flyer All-Terrain Balance Bike
“ANY BIKE IS BETTER THAN NO BIKE”
So are you one of those parents who want to gift their young champs a life rememberable gift and make their 4 year age a memorable one. Congrats you are at the right place.
We have visited 10 different websites, 4 nearby stores and we also have few words with the brand managers who have a concern with the bikes especially for the four-year-old girls and boys.
Top 7 Reviews of Best first bike for 4 year old:
1. RoyalBaby Honey & Buttons Kids Bike
This is a unisex bike which is known for its premium build as well as kids love this bike for its minimal looks. Variety of Colors available and a lightweight frame makes it a perfect deal.
Royalbaby Honey Kids bike comes in various sizes i.e. 12 inches to 18-inches. This brand only deals with the kid’s bike so they know better what first-timers face problems while learning how to ride a bike.
Since this post is exclusively in search of the best first bike for 4 years old. We recommend it’s two sizes 12-inches and 14-inches, yes both come with the training wheels.
Also, you can think to buy a 16-inch bike because it comes with the kickstand and training wheels if your kid is above the average height of its an age group or already comes up from balancing the bike.
The unique solid build for a square-shaped tube frame makes it extra stronger. What we hear from both young kids under the age of 5 years about this bike is that they love its saddle, I admit this. The saddle is soft foam and also has an extra grip for the parents to handle the ride manually.
The Size of Tires is 2.4″ wide, which surely gives stability to bike and kid who ride this. Minimal bike with only one speed, so no worries about the speed change (gear system). Changing gear is cumbersome for kids because they are too young and it will add only confusion in their minds.
Dual Braking System is another fact that seems to be lucrative features in any bike at this price range. Kids often have small hands so brake needs to be close enough at their reach. Reverse paddling is the pretty cool braking system.
Pros:
- Square Shape Frame
- Chain Protection
- Separate Brake Lever
- Easy to Assemble
- It has 6 different vibrant colors
Cons:
- Bad hand grip (you might need a cover)
- Pedals seem hard for a few weeks but it will ease out after 2 weeks.
2. JOYSTAR Kids Bike with Training Wheels for 12 14 16 inch Bike
Top-selling bike on amazon. This is a perfect gift for birthday, new year, or Christmas. You may surprise your kid and he/she will love this bike.
It comes in 6 different beautiful colors. Training wheels are already attached for the bike 12″, 14″ or 16″. But you can detach them once a 4-5 year kid learn the riding process.
The main concern for the parents is side guessing from the chain. Clothes get tore or dirty for this reason. Joystar kids bike provides the full chainguard, so no chance for grease.
The stainless steel frame is strong and sturdy, It will not cut or break at any point and also corrosion will not occur for a long time.
Costal Braking means that your kids need to pedal backward to stop the bike. This is a good braking system for the best first bike for 4 year old. Because the young hands don’t have enough power to use the handbrake.
Pros:
- Limited Lifetime Warranty for the frame.
- Only Costal Braking
- Lightweight
- Parent assist behind the saddle
Cons:
- No Hand Brake
- Seat Height Adjustor is little tighter
- Confusing while assembly
3. Dynacraft Magna Gravel Blaster Boys BMX Street/Dirt Bike 12″, Black/Green
The bold graphic bike with the BMX or Dirt Bike look. This bike only weighs 21 pounds thus making it easy to handle and controllable bike for the first time bikers.
It has a handlebar pad that has the matching HD gloss finish with stickers on frame other parts of the bike.
The best part I personally like about this bike is its ability to adjust the training wheels also. And add to its stability the rims are of bright color matching to the overall color of the bike.
We always recommend coaster brakes for the first time bikers who are of the age group 4 years. Yet another product with the lifetime warranty on frame and fork.
Pros:
- Costal Braking
- Dirty Bike Look
- Handlebar Pad
- Lifetime warranty on frame
- Lightweight only 21 pounds
Cons:
- Partial Chain Cover
- Lubbing is required more often
4. HWZQHJY Freestyle Kid’s Bike for Boys and Girls
The brand is known to produce high-end premium quality bikes for kids. It will be 95% assembled from the manufacturer. All you have to do is to install the quick training wheel, pedals, and saddle. Yes, assembly tools will be provided free of cost.
Looks are 100% sporty, and control is exceptionally excellent. It had a dual brake system. The front caliper brake and rear coaster brake. Thus gives complete control to a child and they can retard or stops the bike as per their ease.
We all start to face some sort of pain after the long session of biking on the back lower part. But thanks to cushioning saddle our 4-5 years kids did not have to face such a situation.
Dirty Clothes are old day thing. This HWZQHJY Freestyle bike has no room for the dirtiness because of full chain cover.
Tires are 2.4″ wide, thus provide the extra balance. Kids are flawless, they simply ride rough and terrain free biking. As a result, the low-quality balance wheel start degrading and creates a lot of noise. But not in the case of rubber made balancing wheel of freestyle.
Pros:
- Noiseless bike riding
- Dual Braking System
- Wide 2.5″ tyres
- Freestyle biking glimpse
Cons:
- Price
5. Strider – 12 Sport Balance Bike
One time investment is your goal. Relax we at Best10Lab does all the work to save your time and money. The Strider Sportbike is a bike that can be used from 18 months to 5 years. All you have to do is adjust the size of the handle and seat as per the growing height of your kid.
This is lightest weight bike in the list of Best first bikes for 4 years old. It just weights (6.7 pounds) 3 Kgs only. Seriously any kid from 2 years to 5 years can handle without the support of their parents.
My main concern stays in mind about the puncture or maintenance of tires. But this bike eliminates this concern as well, it has puncture-free tires. This way you just not able to save money but also gifted a year of the fun bike to a 4-year-old champ.
As we have discussed earlier also, the balancing bikes are best if you want to gift a bike to the kid who is going to have the taste of biking experience for the first time.
Most of the time kids get tired within a few minutes, another build in footrest is there to make your kids unstoppable.
Pros:
- Balancing Bike
- Weighs only 3 Kgs
- One time investment product
- Adjustable handle and seat (18 months to 5 years)
- Build-in footrest.
Cons:
- No Pedals
6. RALEIGH Bikes Rowdy 16 Kids Bike for Boys Youth 3-6 Years Old, Green
Don’t think that if we suggest 16″ wheels for 3-6 years, then it is not meant for this age group. Well, this bike fills the purpose for the same young kids.
This bike comes in two colors green and blue. And you can find three variants based on wheel size i.e. 16, 20 and 24 inches.
We all know the ideal weight should be half of the kid who is going to ride this bike. Aluminum frames are always won the race if in comparison with steel both weight wise and durability.
Kids wish to move both forward and backward from the handle that’s another advantage of this bike it is meant to take care of those movements.
At this young age, our kids are just on the learning spree, which means they might have to face urgent and instant stopping of a bike. If they aren’t able to control or stop with ease they might face an accident.
Wait to be the parent I will never ever let this happen. To overcome such a situation this first bike comes with the Alloy V brakes. Better control and easy stopping.
Pros:
- Aluminum frame bike
- Alloy V Brake
- Single Speed
Cons:
- No Gear
- Partial Chain Cover
- No supporting wheels
7. Radio Flyer All-Terrain Balance Bike:
If you are on the budget side and also can’t compromise with the quality of the bike. This is the high rated balanced bike one you need to look into for your kid.
This Radio flyer bike for 4 years is focussing to teach a kid about balancing with the pedal free beginning. The Air tire are meant to act as the shockproof whenever bike goes through the different terrains or with the bumps on the road.
As a child grows you can adjust the height of seat with that of child inseam. This bike is made of sturdy steel for extra durability.
Pros:
- Real Bell
- No Pedal
- Lightweight
- Budget-Friendly
Cons:
- No place to rest feet
- Quality of Steel
- Air filed
Quick Things:
- Weight of bike (less than half of the weight of kid), high end are lighter in weight
- Height of seat- Inseam height should be such that newcomers can stop with their feet touching ground easily
- Price
What size bike for a 4-year-old
Choosing the perfect size for our lovely kids is a must thing to prevent any injuries. In adults bikes, we choose the size depends on the frame size but in case of kid’s bike we look at the size of wheels.
The four-year-old kids need to choose mainly from 12-inch or 14-inch bikes if choosing the balancing bike. But if it’s not a balancing bike choose the 14-inch or 16-inch for pedal bike size for quick growth of a child.
Balancing bikes are the bikes without the pedals, in these types of bikes, your child sits on the seat of the bike. Their inseam height should be more to touch the ground while having seat on the bike. That’s the reason if you prefer balancing the bike you should prefer the smaller ones.
Pedal bikes are the ones on which you pedal without touching the ground. But for four-year-old being their first bike you need to choose the size of seat little less than that of the inseam of kids.
How to measure a child for a bike-
The measurement of insight beam between the legs is not for the kids as we have told it’s all about the size of the wheel. All you have to do is that you need to measure the overall height of the kid from toe to head.
Whether you are giving surprise to your four-year-old child or you want the size of near perfection. We recommend the following chart.
Height of 4 Year Child (Inches/Cms): 37 inches to 40 inches (94 cms to 100 cms), Bike need is of 12-inches.
Height of 4 Year Child (Inches/Cms): 40 inches to 42.5 inches (100.5 cms to 107 cms). The bike needed is 14-inches.
The average height for both the girl and boy kids at the age of 4 years is 40 inches (101 Centimetres). So your kid can be anywhere from 37 inches (94 cms) to 42.5 inches (107 cms). The highly recommend a size for the first bike of 4 years old is 12 to 14 inches bike. As per the above Chart.
You can choose the 16-inch bike only if your 4-year-old kid is comfortable with the 14-inch balancing bike or having the long legs.
Know what your kid needs – Balance, Pedal or Training?
It’s all about the adaptability and with how much ease younger legs can learn. We highly recommend choosing the Pedal bike if it’s first bike and kid is at its early 4 years of age. Every kid is different from one another. Some kids learn quickly while others might take some time. Hey, who is in a hurry ? after all let them grow and learn at their own pace.
Training bike or supportive wheel on either side or both sides of the wheel is another option you can consider. But we don’t recommend this type of bike if your kid is 2-3 years old.
Also, training bikes helps them in learning the process. The training wheels can easily be joined to the backside wheel. With this help, they can have hand-eye-legs coordination easily.
If a kid finds very difficulty in learning the bike Balancing bike, they need balancing bikes for no reason later on. But if you are not sure and you want to surprise the kid pedal bike can be their first bike.
How to teach your 4-year-old kid to ride a bike?
Here is a bonus video to teach your kid how to ride a bike. But you have to make sure about the safety of kids first at any cost.
He is wearing a helmet and knee protector. Also, make sure that the bike is fully functional i.e. bell, brakes, tires are in working condition as well.
Step-1: Walk – Firstly let your kid stand with in-beam so he/she may touch the ground with his feet comfortably. Then let him walk easily so he/she may get cozy with the bike. This is a slow stage.
Step-2: Run – Once they have gain confidence from the walk, they are ready for the little run.
Step-3: Gliding – At this stage, your child could have to know the balance very well. Now the kid can glide easily.
References:
https://www.bicycle-guider.com/bike-articles/bike-size-chart/