One of the many important milestones that every kid should have the pleasure of going through is learning how to ride a bicycle, and it’s a skill that should continuously be developed throughout their childhood.
Here’s the good news- kids bikes are affordable and perform surprisingly well. And if you manage to find the right bike for your kid, you’re investing in something that has the potential to grow with your child and last for many years to come.
To help you on this journey in searching for the best bike for 4 year old kids, I’ve provided a review of the 10 best kids bikes on the market, as well as a short buying guide to help you make the right decision.
Top 10 bikes for 4 year olds ranked:
Here are the ten best bikes for four year olds this 2020 that are guaranteed to give your little one a fun and exciting time in exploring the thrills of riding a bicycle, all without the worry, the hassle, the danger, and the often hefty price tag.
Take a look at each of these bikes’ noteworthy specs and features, how they perform and handle, the pros and cons of each product, and what makes them the right bicycle for your little kid.
The number one best bike for four year old kids is the Royal Baby kids freestyle BMX bike with training wheels, which is just the right side of challenging for kids who are quickly developing skills on how to ride a bike, and ride it right.
This is one finely detailed and intelligently crafted bicycle that not only looks dashing, but also comes with plenty of must have features, such as the handlebar grips, the chain guard, the bell, and the training wheels, that make this bike truly excellent and just short of perfection.
It’s fun and easy to ride with the training wheels if your kid is not yet adept at balancing a bicycle, but it can quickly transform from a practice bicycle to an adventure bike, making it a great choice that your kid can grow with.
Pros
Cons
2. Raleigh Bikes MXR kids bicycle
Your second best bet is the Raleigh Bikes MXR kids bicycle, coming from the popular and well loved bike brand, Raleigh. It’s a superior choice for a kids bike, which is something that you can expect from all Raleigh bicycles.
It’s excellently built and is highly durable despite the affordable price, so it’s definitely a smart and worthy investment. It’s also easy to ride with or without the training wheels, since the frame geometry makes for an upright riding position.
Plus, it comes with various features such as a chain guard that will keep your kid safe. It’s somewhat lightweight than many kids bikes that are made of steel, so it should be easy enough for a child to ride. And, it comes in a girls’ version too, the Raleigh Jazzi.
Pros
Cons
3. Retrospec Critical Cycles balance bike
Taking the third spot is the Critical Cycles Cub balance bike by Retrospec, which is a simple yet elegant kids bike that’s perfect for kids who want to learn how to balance a bike the right way, and without the training wheels.
This bike features a floor to frame geometry that’s the right side of easy and safe while still being challenging enough that kids will have much to learn. It also means that it’s easy to assemble since almost everything is already intact and ready to go.
And, this very design is what makes the bike much less prone to accidents and injuries that bikes with training wheels are more susceptible to. Not to mention, it’s manufactured by Retrospec, a popular bike brand that always delivers good quality bikes.
Pros
Cons
4. Coewske kids princess style bike with training wheel
Ranking fourth is an oh so pretty and princessy kids bike, the Coewske kids princess style bike with training wheels. It’s perfectly beautiful and girly, and it’s even customizable too, so if your kid wants something a little different later on, well, not to worry.
It comes in lovely pastel colors in different sizes, and with lots of amazing accessories such as the training wheels, chain guard, fenders, reflectors, front basket, handlebar grips, bell, basket, streamers, and a rear doll seat- everything you could ever ask for.
Moreover, this bicycle is built with a strong steel frame that’s surely durable, air filled tires that make for a stable ride, a wide foot rest that makes the bike easy to ride and pedal, and many more. It’s easy to assemble, too.
Pros
Cons
5. Diamondback Bicycles Jr viper youth BMX bike
Right smack in the middle of this list is the Diamondback Bicycles Jr viper youth BMX bike, which is yet another promising kids bike manufactured by a well known and trusted brand of all things bikes. As with any other bike in their collection, this one is reliable and affordable.
This bike’s main selling point has to do with its frame geometry that allows for an upright riding position, making it easy and comfortable to ride for little kids, so they can have fun riding a bicycle without the pressure and challenge of a more advanced bike.
It also features a chain guard to protect your child from dirt, grease, and injury, handlebar grips that make it easy to maneuver, thick tires that allow for a stable ride, and removable training wheels so your kid can practice for a while then ditch.
Pros
Cons
6. Royal Baby honey buttons cube tube bike
There is also the honey buttons cube tube bike, another product by Royal Baby. It comes in various colors that aren’t too terribly girly or boyish, so it’s a great bike to share among siblings or with friends, and is easy to customize as well.
And, regardless of which design, style, and color palette you go with, you can rest assured that all the bikes under this model not only look great, but ride like a dream as well, making them highly suitable for young kids who love to explore.
This bicycle features a unique square tube frame, an adjustable seat and handlebar, a front hand brake and rear coaster brake, non slip pedals, a protective chain guard, and of course, removable training wheels- all in all, a complete package.
Pros
Cons
7. Huffy Moto X quick connect boys bicycle
A great racing bike for little kids just past that tender toddler age is the Huffy Moto X quick connect boys bicycle, which is a decidedly cool and amazing looking bicycle that is sure to be the envy of adults if it came in, well, adult sizes.
It’s also highly durable since its main bike frame is made of steel, and it comes with a protective chain guard, a handlebar plaque, and of course, training wheels, so it’s a perfect mix of adventurous yet safe bike for hyperactive pint sized kids.
What’s particularly unique about this is that it features a quick release seat that lets you adjust the seatpost height easily. And, there’s also a different model of this bike specially made for girls, which is the Disney Princess girls bike by Huffy.
Pros
Cons
One really pretty and stylish kids bike made for little girls and boasting a well known brand name is the Schwinn Jasmine girls bike with training wheels. From the low frame, the removable training wheels, the fenders, and the front basket, everything on this bike is well thought of.
It’s also a highly durable bike made of high tensile strength steel, which is perfect for little kids who are still a bit clumsy and will most likely drop their bikes on the ground a lot of times. And of course, all the features are adjusted to work for tiny hands and feet.
The real clincher, however, is the bike’s thoughtful and appropriate design that you can tell is made with a young girl in mind. It’s beautiful, elegant, and everything a feminine yet sporty kid can ever ask for.
Pros
Cons
9. Dynacraft Magna boys BMX dirt bike
If your little kid feels that he’s a bit too old for a typical kids bike that’s for “babies” and wants something that comes with a bit more challenge, and hence, thrill and fun, the Dynacraft manga boys BMX dirt bike may be a great place to start.
Sure, it’s a starter bicycle that still features training wheels, but sans that, it’s a competitive bike that’s built for adventurous kids who want to experience the true joys of riding a bicycle, as well as showcase his developing skills as a junior cyclist.
This bicycle is not only appealing and high performing, it’s also built with some nice features, such as handlebar pads to keep your tiny human safe. All in all, it’s a must try kids bike for more experienced junior riders.
Pros
Cons
Last but not the least is a cute and simple balance bike, the Strider sport no pedal balance bike, which is perfect for little kids just starting to learn how to ride a bike. What’s really great with this is that, unlike many balance bikes, it can easily be upgraded into a normal bicycle.
This is, in fact, a pretty big balance bike, which is why it’s perfect for transforming into an actual bicycle with pedals that little kids can grow with. It’s designed with basic coaster brakes, but it’s also engineered to be easily modifiable once you turn it into a pedal bike.
If you’re looking for a two in one transitional kids bicycle that is durable and highly useful, not to mention easy to assemble and upgrade, the Strider sport 14x is well more than worth the hefty price tag. Trust me- it’s a smart investment.
Pros
Cons
Best bike for 4 year olds buying guide
Choosing a bike for your four year old can be tricky, since there are quite a few things that you need to consider, and some of these are slightly different than when selecting an adult bike, so you really need to know what you should be looking for.
To help you out, here are the most important factors when choosing a kids bike:
Bike size
This is the most important, since you want to make sure that your kid can safely and easily ride the bike, meaning, it’s not too big for him or her to even reach the pedals, but it’s also not too small that your kid can only ride it for a few months.
When looking at the size of a children’s bike, it’s not really the frame size that matters. Rather, it’s the size of the wheels and your kid’s inseam. This will determine whether the child can reach the pedals conveniently, and still allow room for growth.
If you look up size charts for kids bikes, you’ll see that the wheel size comes with a respective inseam measurement and a recommended age range. For example, it’s usually two to four years old for 12 inch wheels.
Type of bike
When it comes to kids bikes, there are pretty much three main types- balance bikes, training wheel bikes, and two wheel bikes. Balance bikes don’t have any pedals, and they are designed for the youngest kids who want to learn how to balance, not ride, a bike.
Bikes with training wheels are what you’ll see with most four to eight year old kids who are learning how to ride a bike, but don’t yet know how to balance perfectly. Remove these training wheels, and you’ve got your typical two wheeled bike.
For a four year old, you want a bike that’s easy enough to ride, since your kid is just past his toddler phase, but you also want something that can easily be upgraded and modified so it grows with your child and stays useful for many years.
Other features
Bikes come with various features, whether it’s an adult bike or a kids bike. This includes the materials that the bike parts are built with, extra accessories that come with the bicycle, how easily the bike can be modified, adjusted, or upgraded, and so on.
One thing you want, aside from the training wheels, would be a chain guard to keep things on the safe side. Fenders are also excellent, since you can bet your kid will be riding over pools of muddy water as soon as he gets the chance.
Depending on your child’s preferences, a basket, rear seat, and other frilly accessories might also be nice to have. And of course, choose a bike that’s in a color or design that your child will love not just now, but a few years down the road as well.
Related Post
Final verdict: The best bike for a 4 year old is…
There are plenty of amazing kids bikes out there, and finding the perfect one requires careful consideration. For me, the best bike for a four year old is the Royal Baby kids freestyle bicycle with training wheels.
It’s a well crafted and detailed kids’ bicycle that is built with high quality materials modified with a child in mind, and packed with features that make the riding experience as fun, smooth, and exciting as possible. And, it poses a bit of a challenge to keep your kid learning and growing.
Leave a Reply