This all-new balance bike transitions easily between Balance Mode and Pedal Mode and back again so your child can learn to ride at their own speed. He tried them on pavement, in dirt, and on gravel, in rain and sunshine, and quickly developed favorites. As a result, a spent battery can easily be swapped out while on the go (purchase of extra battery required). If that seat-to-bar distance is too great, the child will be hunched over and placing too much weight on the handlebars.

Both the handlebars and seat are adjustable, so the My First Balance-to-Pedal Bike grows as your kid does and is easy to transition to riders of different skill levels and heights. If you want a version of our budget pick that’s available for a bit less: The Banana Bike LT, our former budget pick, is essentially the same as our current budget pick, the Banana Bike GT. While many children may enjoy products at different stages of their development, this rating is our suggestion for an age range which will best enjoy the product.

Designed with a composite frame with smooth edges and recessed bolt pockets, there isn’t a sharp or blunt edge on this entire toddler push bike! Eliminate the need for training wheels – balance bike graduates usually learn to ride a pedal bike in about 5 to 10 minutes, DRAMA FREE. While the Swagtron K3 is a deal for budget-minded families, just keep in mind that while we think the design is great, this isn’t a bike that’s going to last you for generations. It also has solid-quality air tires, a sleek matte aluminum frame, a true headset, and weighs under 7 lbs.

Agile, simple to assemble, and sized right for the smallest kids, this is the balance bike for bike-enthusiast parents who want their child to have a pro-level tyke bike. As with our top pick, Jenni’s son appreciated the REV 12 for its mix of stability and agility—it could wind through cones, but it was also durable enough for him to ride off-road. This Guardian bike, which has been available for about a year and a half, is a heavier-than-average 8. pounds, this model isn’t the heaviest of the bikes we tested, and it turned out to be the Goldilocks weight for kids in the 25-to-30-pound range.Strider also includes a terrific booklet (PDF) with the 14x Sport that not only explains the how and why behind teaching a child to go from striding to pedaling but also describes a few games that you can play to make the experience as fun and natural as, well, riding a bike.