1. BIKESTAR BI-16-CR-BLUE
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It has a modern and stable steel tube framework, with an impact resistant glitter metallic paint finish that will protect it from rust or direct sunrays. It measures 46.1 inches by 26 inches by 30.7 inches when fully assembled, and it is a bit on the heavy side as it weighs 24.2 pounds. It has an adjustable saddle – 50 to 62 cm with extremely comfortable springs to help with bumpy roads, and an adjustable, certified non-toxic safety handlebar – 64-67 cm. It features an ISO sealed bottom bracket with square CrMo tapered axle and bearing shells that are made from a forged alloy of wrought iron for more safety and durability. The design crank gives the final touch, while the thick 16-inch pneumatic tires on high-quality aluminum rims ensure a relaxing cruising. Suitable for kids age 4 and up, it comes with 2 types of brakes: a handgrip-placed one, with an adjustment function, and a backpedaling one, allowing your kid easy access to them whenever he or she needs. It comes in three types of colors: a champion blue, creamy violet, and glamour pink, and it has a ring bell.
| PROS
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CONS
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- Adjustable saddle and handlebar
- Impact resistant paint
- Strong and durable frame
- 2 types of brakes
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- Some complained about it being too heavy
- There were some complaints about it being too bulky
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| VERDICT
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| A strong and reliable bike that can accommodate your kid as he or she grows, it comes with adjustable handles and saddle. Best used by kids 4 years and older, it offers support and stability even on bumpy roads thanks to its springs and thick tires. |
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It has a 13-inch thick frame made from steel, ensuring its durability and time resistance, while its paint finish will protect it from rust. Ideal for ages between 3 and 8, and it measures 46 inches in height, 22 inches in length and 9 inches in depth. It weighs 23 pounds, and it can support up to 300 pounds, while the single speed gear it comes with is located inside the hub of the rear wheel, for protection against elements. However, if your kid needs even more speeds, it has a 3-speed and a 7-speed model as well. It has thick, 20-inches aluminum wheels, while its 2.12-inch Kenda White Wall tires, providing a cushioned and relaxed ride, regardless of how bumpy the road can be. Moreover, both the saddle and the cruiser-bend style, chrome plated handlebar can be adjusted to fit the rider, in height and angle, thus providing your kid with a durable and solid bike. It has rubber grips and rubber block pedals with a steel kickstand included. It has a chain guard to protect pants, while the coaster brake is placed in the rear, easily accessed by paddling backward. Additionally, training wheels can be easily installed if needed, and it has 6 different color options: baby blue, mint green, pink, purple, vanilla and white.
| PROS
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CONS
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- Strong and stable frame
- Thick tires
- Several springs against bumpy roads
- Rubber grips and pedals
- Backpedaling brake
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- Some complained about the bumpers not being time resistant.
- There were some complaints about the kickstand not holding very well
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| VERDICT
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| A great way for your kid to learn how to ride a bike, as it can work well with training wheels as well. Safe to be used, it has a durable and solid frame, while the backpedaling brake will ensure your kid’s safety. |
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Ideal for kids ranging between 5 and 9 years old, it has a classic and sturdy premium aluminum frame, and several color choices to choose from metallic lavender, metallic teal, gloss white, magenta pink, gloss sky blue, matte gray, matte spruce, and teal. It has a padded seat, for increased comfort while the dual springs will cushion your kid regardless of how bumpy the road can be. Moreover, it has an adjustable seat and handlebar, so you don’t have to worry about your child outgrowing the bike too quickly. It has a single speed design and a backpedaling break, making it extremely easy and safe to use. It has dual density, two-tone Crayton grips for an ergonomic touch, allowing your kid to use the bike without his or her hands getting tired. Its wheels are 20 inches and come with fenders that will redirect splashes to allow your kid to stay clean and dry. Moreover, it has smaller wheels for younger ages, as well: 12 inches for 3 to 5 year and 16 inches for 4 to 6 years. It is able to support around 150-200 pounds, and a rider with the height of 44-56 inches. Additionally, it allows a front basket attachment and it has a lifetime warranty from the moment of your purchase.
| PROS
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CONS
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- Adjustable seat and handles
- Padded seat with double springs
- Sturdy and durable frame
- Easy assembly
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- There were some complaints about it not being time resistant
- Some complained about the instructions not being clear enough
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| VERDICT
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| A perfect way for your kid to travel around, it offers a stable and durable frame with a lot of cushions for bumpier roads. Thanks to the adjustable seat and handles you won’t have to worry about your kid overgrowing the bike, while thanks to the backpedaling brake, his or her safety is assured. |
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Capable of sustaining training wheels if needed, it has a single speed and a coaster, backpedaling brake, making it extremely easy to use. Other models, with more speeds, are also available, as they come with 3, 7 or 21 speeds according to your kid’s preferences. It has a 13-inch steel frame and it measures 40 inches by 21 inches by 10 inches and it weighs 30 pounds, while it is able to support up to 150 pounds. It has a dual spring oversized cruiser seat for added comfort, while the thick 20-inches aluminum wheels with 2-inch wide white-wall tires will make sure the ride is pleasant regardless of how bumpy the road is. It also has 2 more options regarding tires, as if they can be either 24 or 26 inches thick. It has a wide range of available colors: baby blue, pink, white and white with pink. Recommended for kids between 4 and 10 years old, it comes with front and rear fenders, while both seat and handles can be adjusted in height and angle if needed.
| PROS
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CONS
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- Adjustable handle and seat
- Backpedalling break
- Strong and durable frame
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- Some complained about it being heavy
- There were some complaints about it not assembling quickly
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| VERDICT
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| Strong and sturdy, it provides your kid with a safe and relaxing way to travel. Thanks to the adjustable handles and saddle, it can be used for a long time, while the backpedaling brake makes it easy to control. |
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It measures 47.2 inches in length, 21.6 inches in height, and 7.9 inches in width, and it weighs 3.62 pounds. It comes with a Sting-Ray style steel frame, with a banana seat, “sissy” bar and fenders, and with a Smart Start geometry design, that is made to perfectly fit a child’s body. Thanks to its low stand-over it is beginners friendly as well, while the rear placed coaster foot brake will allow your child to stop safely whenever she needs. It has large, 20-inch wheels, thus it provides your kid with a comfortable and smooth ride even on bumpy roads, while the lightweight frame allows easy maneuverability and transportation. The recommended age is between 6 and 15 years old, and it comes with a single speed drive train to allow your child to ride it easily. Both seat and handlebars can be adjusted, so your child can use the bike for a longer time period. The saddle adjusts in height, while the handlebar can only be moved forward and backward. While it doesn’t come with a basket, one can be attached to it. Additionally, it comes with a limited lifetime warranty, from the moment of your purchase.
| PROS
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CONS
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- String-Ray frame style
- Smart Start geometry made to fit a child’s measures
- Large wheels
- Adjustable seat and handlebar
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- Training wheels can’t be attached to it
- There were some complaints about its tires
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| VERDICT
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It will allow your girl to cruise in style, thanks to its beginner-friendly design and adjustable seat and handlebar. Additionally, you won’t have to worry about your child’s safety, as she can easily use the rear foot brake to stop safely whenever she needs to. |
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It has a 13-inch thick steel frame, and it measures 46 inches by 22 inches by 10 inches and weighs 23 pounds, and it is able to support up to 150 pounds. It has 20-inch aluminum wheels with wide, 2.12-inch White-wall balloon-type tires that will help your kid experience a smooth and cushioned trip, regardless of how uneven the terrain might be. It has rubber black grips and rubber block pedals and comes with a steel-made kickstand for easier use. It features a single speed and comes with a rear, backpedaling brake for increased safety and easy use. Its seat has a dual spring system for additional comfort, while both seat and Chrome Plated handlebars are adjustable in height and angle for a more personalized riding experience. Recommended age is between 4 to 10 years old, and it allows the addition of training wheels if the rider needs them. Additionally, it comes with front and rear fenders that not only contribute to the overall design, but they also help keep your boy clean and dry.
| PROS
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CONS
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- Adjustable handles and seat
- Strong and sturdy frame
- Cushioned seat
- Ergonomic grip
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- There were some complaints about the instructions not being clear enough
- Some complained about it being too heavy
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| VERDICT
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| It will allow your kid to ride in style and safety, as it comes with a durable and strong frame. The double spring set seat together with the wheels will provide a cushion against bumpy and uneven roads and terrains, offering a smooth ride |
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It comes with a step-through cruiser 14-inch frame, which provides a comfortable riding position which won’t harm your back. It comes with a single-speed drive train for easy maintenance, and it has a rear coaster brake which will offer your child the ability to stop whenever he or she needs. Additionally, it comes with a padded saddle which will provide a comfortable riding, while the full-wrap front and rear fenders will not only add style to it, but it will keep it clean as well as dry. Moreover, it has a rear rack, on which you can attach a basket, or simply store different items. It has large, 24-inch wheels; thus the ride will be comfortable even on bumpy roads. It comes with instructions regarding its assembly and it measures 40 inches in height, 26 inche sin width and 71 inches front to back, and has a weight of 42.4 pounds.
| PROS
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CONS
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- Padded saddle
- Colorful design
- Rear coastal brake
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- There were some complaints about the lack of color choices
- Some complained about the tires
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| VERDICT
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It will offer your child the ability to ride in style, while still being comfortable throughout the trip. Thanks to its large wheels your kid won’t feel the bumpy road, no matter how uneven it might be, while the backpedaling break will help your kid stop in time, for increased safety.
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It measures 37 inches in height, 25 inches in width and 54.75 inches in length and it weighs 28.5 pounds. It has a sturdy and time resistant, cruiser-style steel frame, and it has cruiser-style fenders to prevent mud or debris from splashing on clothes. It comes with a front basket, which can easily be detached if you don’t want to use it, and it is recommended to be used by kids with ages between 8 and 12 years old. It will fit riders between 48” and 56” and it can sustain a maximum weight of 100 pounds.
The seat is made from a mixture of foam and synthetic leather, thus it is comfortable providing your child with an even ride even on bumpy roads, thanks to the suspension it comes with. Additionally, it has front and rear reflectors, for increased safety, and it has large 20-inch tires, with a coaster brake to help your kid stop whenever she wants to. It comes with a limited warranty on all parts that come with a workmanship defect, respectively a lifetime warranty for the frame and a 6-month warranty for the other components, from the moment of your purchase.
| PROS
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CONS
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- Strong and durable frame
- Backpedaling brake
- Padded seat with double springs
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- It doesn’t support training wheels
- Some complained about the assembly being a bit difficult
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| VERDICT
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Thanks to its large wheels and comfortable seat, it will provide an even ride, despite bumpy roads. It comes with fenders, which will keep mud and dirt away from your clothes, and it has a backpaddling brake to allow you to stop safely. Plus, it comes with a detachable front basket, for quick item storage.
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Coaster Brakes or Hand Brakes?
Bikes for kids are usually made with a simpler design in mind, allowing children to get familiarized to riding a bike, with or without training wheels. However, while some may consider coaster brakes easier to use, some might argue that a hand brake is more accessible. And since you want only what’s best for your child,
the brakes play a major role in deciding what type of bile to invest into. So let’s take a look at what each type of brake means.
Coastal Brake
Placed on the hub of the rear wheel, it springs into action when the child rotates the pedals backward, in reverse, thus also being known as ‘backpedaling brakes’. While it might seem safe, it does require the child to get used to them, as the child might have to anticipate the need to stop beforehand and place the feet in the corresponding position. Moreover, it is prone to skidding, when too much force is applied by mistake. On the bright side, though, it require little coordination and is relatively easy to learn, and it works well in all types of weather conditions, promptly stopping the bike.
Hand Brakes
Placed in the front, they come into action when the levers from both sides – or from only one side, depending on the model – are activated by the rider. The biggest problem they pose is that they tend to be a bit difficult to get used to, as the levers might be simply too large or hard to press down. Additionally, they require coordination and skill to master it without dangerous situations appearing, and they are not as reliable as their counterparts in wet conditions.
Conclusion
All in all, there is no wrong option when choosing a bike, regardless of it having a coaster brake or a hand brake. However, if you want to be perfectly sure that your child has several ways to stop, you should consider investing in a bike that has both types of brakes. In that way, you can be sure the bike will surely stop. Both ways of braking can be taught to your child, and his or her preferences are bound to change with time.
Kids need to have a bike that matches their age and built, for them to be able to enjoy the ride. If the saddle and handles are adjustable, then your kid will be able to use it for an even longer period, as he or she grows. BIKESTAR BI-16-CR-BLUE provides you and your kid with all the necessary attributes for a first bike. Both its saddle and handles can be personalized to the rider’s needs, while its comfortable springs will make sure your kid won’t feel the irregularities present in the road. Moreover, it has two types of brakes, a handgrip and a backpaddling one, so you don’t have to worry about your child’s ability to stop the bike whenever he or she needs to.
If you’re looking for a strong and resistant bike, Firmstrong 15101 is able to support up to 300 pounds. It has a 13-inch thick frame made from steel, so it won’t deteriorate in time, while thanks to its paint finish, it comes with rust and corrosion protection. It, too, comes with a comfortable saddle, and an adjustable handle, so your child will have a pleasant ride. Moreover, if your child needs additional stability, the bike supports training wheels, so you can easily attach them.
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