![How do I choose the best bike for a 4 year old? 16″ bikes for kids! [2021]](https://thismombikes.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/THIS-MOM-BIKES-2.jpg)
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Your child is outgrowing their first pedal bike and they are ready to size up. In this guide you will find everything you need to know to make the best decision on a 16 inch bike for the kid in your life.
Contents
Overview of the best bikes for 4 to 6 year olds
| Brand | Model | Recommended Age (years) | Weight | Brake Style | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spawn | Yoji 16" | 3.5+ | A little over 14 lbs | Tektro v-brake | |
| Garneau | Petit Louis or Petite Quelle 16 | n/a | Tektro v-brake | ||
| Woom | 3 | ~4-6 | 11.68 | colour-coded v-brake | |
| Prevelo | Alpha Two | ~4-6 | 14.5 (with pedals) | Tektro v-brake | |
| Prevelo | Zulu Two | ~4-6 | 17.15 (without pedals) | Tektro hydraulic discs | |
| Islabikes | Cnoc 16 | ~4+ | 12.35 | v-brakes | |
| Cleary | Hedgehog 16" | Tektro v-brakes | |||
| Guardian | Airos | ~4-6 | 16 | surestop (equal/shared braking across levers) | |
| Early Rider | Belter 16 | 3.5-6 | 12.34 | Tektro v-brakes | |
| Priority Bicycles | Priority Start 16" | 3-7 | 15.9 | v-brake | |
| Norco | Roller 16" | 4-5 | v-brake |
Extra details on fit
Here are some more specific details on fit that might help to paint a better picture of how these bikes might fit your child. Hopefully you can try one out in person, but if not this should help:| Brand | Model | Recommended Age (years) | Minimum Inseam (inches) | Standover Height (mm) | Top Tube Length (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spawn | Yoji 16" | 3.5+ | 16 | 380 | |
| Garneau | Petit Louis or Petite Queen 16" | 447 | 405 | ||
| Woom | 3 | 4-6 | 19.09 | 400 | |
| Prevelo | Alpha Two | ~4-6 | 16.5 (learner) 15 (confident pedaler) | 391 | |
| Prevelo | Zulu Two | ~4-6 | 18.1 | 389 | |
| Islabikes | Cnoc 16 | ~4+ | 16.5 | ||
| Cleary | Hedgehog 16" | 17 | |||
| Guardian | Original | 18.5 | |||
| Early Rider | Belter 16 | 3.5-6 | 420 | ||
| Priority Bicycles | Priority Start 16" | 3-7 | 18.5 | ||
| Norco | Roller 16" | 4-5 | 403 |
Our Family’s Choices
We tried a few different brands and went with the bike that was local to our hometown at the time (they have since moved operations to Squamish, BC). My younger brother’s family opted for another Canadian brand that’s a little more inexpensive.
Spawn: Yoji 16″ (formerly the Banshee)
The Banshee was the first pedal bike we bought our eldest when she was 3. She learned to ride it quickly (it was pretty amazing to watch) but we should have bought her the 14″ Furi (we listened too much to the sales guy about how “we all grew up riding bikes that are too big for us…”) as this bike was too big for her once she realized she had to tip it slightly to put a foot down. Our 4 year old easily transitioned to it this fall (at 4.25 years old) and likely could have been on it since she was 3.5 years old.
Spawn makes great bikes. There’s not much more to say. After having owned two of them now (bought with our own money, i.e. not sponsored), I would highly recommend their products.
The Furi & Banshee have been replaced and upgraded to the Yoji 14″ & 16″, respectively. The Yoji 16″ clocks in at a little over 14 pounds, about a third of the weight of your average 4 to 6 year old, which is amazing.
Garneau: Petite Queen or Petit Louis 16
A Canadian brand that makes wonderful little bikes that are still not exactly cheap, not your very lightest weight choice (but not too shabby either), and — most importantly for many — not your most expensive option. My nephews have ridden the crap out of their Garneaus in Nanaimo, BC and they are still standing strong — that is why I recommend them.
My only beef with Garneau is that they’ve ‘genderized’ their bikes, ugh. I guess if it’s what’s gonna get your kid riding… but, really, please get with the times, Garneau.
This model is no longer sold (as of 2020) and has been replaced with a model that is a bit intense with a chain guard and everything and I am not endorsing it. However, I’m keeping this model here as I think it’s a worthwhile affordable option to look for used if you live in Canada.
Other excellent choices
Here are more suggestions for high quality 16″ bikes for your little ripper. We have two smaller Spawn bikes and they have been great and I know people who have happily used every other model.
Woom 3
We have yet to ride a Woom bike but have a couple of friends whose kids absolutely love them and they do, too – each having used multiple sizes now, including this one. I am admittedly smitten with the looks of them: I am a big fan of the top tube design and upright riding position their bikes have.
I don’t think that you can go wrong with Woom. Check out their well designed, full coverage helmets for kids, too.
Prevelo Alpha Two
California-based Prevelo has two offerings in the 16″ category: this model is their high-quality urban or beginner 16 incher. The geometry is slightly more upright and the bottom bracket is a little bit lower (since it’s not specifically designed for mountain biking, thus its riders likely won’t need as much clearance). It is spec’d with v-brakes (as opposed to discs).
This family run company does not mess around with bikes – their products are excellent. Our youngest is currently testing their rigid 20″ Prevelo Alpha Three and it’s been awesome.
Prevelo Zulu Two
The Zulu Two is Prevelo’s offering for little rippers who already seriously love to ride trails. Available in either rigid or front suspension air fork (Zulu Two Heir, pictured above).
The Zulu has a slightly higher bottom bracket (so that kids can clear roots, etc. a little easier), disc brakes for epic stopping power for their size, and slightly more aggressive/forward geometry. Plus, the option to have a suspension fork, if desired.
I would argue that if you have a kid who is super in to mountain biking, then this is the bike for you.
Islabikes Cnoc 16
Islabikes no longer have an American headquarters, but these bikes can still be found used and are a fantastic option. This brand is a pioneer in lightweight quality kids’ bikes and you can expect that to show through in the used market, i.e. if basic maintenance is done then you can expect these high quality bikes to last.
The word “cnoc” means round hill or knob in Gaelic. And the ‘c’ is silent. If you can find a used Islabikes Cnoc 16 in North America, I’d say go for it, especially if you’re looking for a bike for the city, touring, and/or some smoother trails.
FYI, Islabikes is not shipping from Europe to North America at this time.
Cleary Hedgehog 16″
Cleary’s Hedgehog 16″ Single Speed is another example of quality equipment for kids. These clean lined bikes are a great choice as an all round lightweight kid bike.
Guardian Bikes: Airos (or Ethos)
Guardian bikes are proving to be a decent and less expensive option. I find it easier to trust brands that skip coaster brakes altogether and that they do, with their highly regarded SureStop braking system (which applies pressure to both wheel rims).
Guardian has two models on offer for this size range: the Airos and the slightly pared down Ethos, with the latter being $100USD cheaper.
Early rider bike: Belter 16
At 5.6 kg (12.3 lb) this super lightweight, beautiful bike is all real and just fabulous. Well built, excellent components, and designed to go through many kids. Plus a quiet belt drive, ta boot. This British brand is available at REI in the USA.
Priority Bicycles: Priority Start 16″
Priority Bicycles‘ signature is a belt drive on every bike, even their kids’ series! Having used a belt drive on my bakfiets cargo bike for years now in all seasons, I can attest that they are strong, clean, smooth, and quiet! I’m a fan. This is definitely a “chain” that is not going to rust out and will last for many, many kids to come.
I love the white paint job on this bike (it comes in charcoal or sky blue, too) and the upright position completely inspires confidence! This will be a stylin’ urban adventure ride for any little kid and is on the more affordable side of the high end bicycle spectrum.
Norco Roller 16″
The Norco Roller 16″ is their coaster brake-free offering with nice wide, 1.95″ tires that will float on dirt for your little trail demon. My first mountain bike was a Norco so I have a soft spot for them, plus they’re a classic Canadian offering available worldwide.
Another choice in the higher end spectrum that doesn’t break the bank quite as much as some (although still definitely not cheap by any stretch of the imagination).
How to Buy the Best Kid’s Bike
This section covers all of the points to consider when buying a bike for kids: weight, fit, brakes, and gearing.
Your preschooler has mastered their 14″ bike and it is time to size up. The process is very similar to when you selected their first pedal bike as the next size of bike is also single speed. So, where to start?
Ideally, you will have your kid try the bike in person at your local bike shop at which time you will check these key three things:
- The standover height,
- Look to see how stretched out they are (reach or cockpit); plus,
- Can they reach the brake levers?
Alas, many of the higher end 16 inch kids’ bikes still do not have a local dealer and are only available online or second hand through local Facebook buying groups, Kijiji, or Craigslist and similar. While it is a leap of faith buying sight unseen, keep it real, do your kid a favour and do not buy a heavy and very likely poorly assembled department store bike.
Please keep the weight in mind, something especially important when starting young children on pedal bikes. The bike’s weight relative to your kid’s really can make a big difference in fostering a love for the sport. A lighter bike is easier for them to maneuver while getting on or off and is less of a blow if the bike bonks them in a crash.
The lightest bike in this guide is the Woom 3. The runner ups are the Islabikes Cnoc 16 and Early Rider Belter 16.
Fit
This is not the time to maximize your dollars and buy the next frame up because it jussssst fits. Believe me, we made that mistake once, almost twice. Too small is far better than too big. On that note, do not rush to size them up! Bigger wheels are nice but not at the expense of confidence and safety.
Aside from bike weight, fit is the most important factor. I have condensed all of my kid bike fit advice into one post. Definitely have a read as I love to share the mistakes that I’ve learned from with you!
16 inch bike age range
It really depends on your child’s inseam and height. Some kids may even head straight from a balance bike to a 16″ wheeled bike. We tried but it didn’t work for our more timid kid.
In general, the approximate age for a 16″ bike will be about 4 to 6 years old. Some will start a little earlier (around 3.5, give or take) and some may move on to a 20″ bike by the time they’re 5 years old.
Read here for more information and recommendations for smaller riders:
Brakes
All of the bikes listed in this guide on buying the best 16 inch bike for your kid come with hand brakes and it is what I recommend as the best choice out there. Skip the coaster brake: they confused the heck out of my kids! Bikes recommended here are either default freewheel or have a freewheel kit option (otherwise they don’t make the cut).
When we were kids, special kid-sized brake levers didn’t exist. Yes, we successfully grew up on coaster brakes (and may still enjoy burning some rubber with them on occasion), but hand brakes are where it’s at and this is especially important for a kid learning to use a pedal bike for the first time. Now that we have kid-sized brake levers, this is especially true. Both of my kids were back pedal-ers before they figured out forward pedalling; if they had coaster brakes it would have been extremely confusing. In fact, my eldest borrowed a single speed coaster brake bike while we were on holiday once and it was a maddening disaster for her.
Most 16″ kids’ bikes have Tektro v-brakes and they work just great in our experience. While they might not be the disc brakes that you are now so accustomed to, yourself, v-brakes are more than sufficient for riders in this ability and age group. The Prevelo Zulu Two listed here does come with a hydraulic disc, which is sweet for kids who are seriously shredding at this stage, but unnecessary for most.
Gears
Gears are not yet an option for this sized bike which is good because it keeps things simple and lighter.
However, these single speed bikes do come with different set-ups for gear ratios between the front chainring and the rear cog. As these are all high end bikes, this ratio has been well thought out. But, if you live in a particularly hilly area or spend lots of time riding the bumps at the pump track or on the trails, you might want to use the gear ratio as a defining feature when choosing between two bikes, choosing the easier geared option.
If you like, you can put the chainring (front) teeth number and the cog (rear) teeth number in an online calculator like this one to help you figure out how many “gear inches” you will get or what your “gain ratio” is. I like to use gear inches as it’s what I’m familiar with, eg. my touring bike (also set up to haul kids) has about 15 gear inches as the easiest gear and I can spin up many a hill with it, but that would be an annoying number for most people/kids on flatter terrain, so with a single speed you want something a bit bigger than that. For the calculator, you’ll need to input the wheel size (16″ x whatever tire size or the closest to it), crank length (usually around 100-105 mm for this bike size), input the chainring teeth number (eg. for 24T, type just 24 and ditch the T), and the custom sprocket number (eg. for 12T, use 12).
Different types of 16″ bikes available
The frame styles for little kids’ bikes are in the urban/hybrid category and some times they lean more towards a mountain bike with a slightly more aggressive stance.
Balance bikes
For this age group, there is a 14″ balance bike by Woom called the Woom 1 Plus — it’s aimed at the 3 year old crowd. This is a great option for the less confident rider, late starter, or for a kid who still loves to rip on a balance bike but needs something more in proportion for their body.
There is also the Strider Youth 16″ model aimed at older kids, aged 6+.
But really, any bike can be transformed into a balance bike by either removing the pedals or having your local bike shop remove the entire bottom bracket (plus cranks and pedals along with it).
Need more info on balance bikes, even for older kids? Here you go:
Hybrid and mountain bikes
Many of the bikes suggested in this guide are hybrid frames, suitable for basic mountain biking. Some bikes, like the Frogs, come with two sets of tires: slicks and knobbies.
I would caution you against getting a bike with shocks for your young child. Kids this size barely have the body mass to actuate a front shock so this feature really just adds a lot of extra weight to their bike. Some kids are hung up on having this feature because they want to be just like mom or dad, but you know best!
If your kid must have shocks or is a serious rider, then Spawn or Prevelo Zulu Two is your best bet.
BMX bikes
BMX bikes are sweet. They have a great sloping top tube and the racing models are very lightweight in their basic design. There is a decent used market for them, too. Plus, with the right chain ring/cog combination, a BMX bike can be ridden up almost any hill.
Another feature of BMX bikes that I love (many other brands of bikes take advantage of this in their 14″ and 16″ wheeled offerings): an adjustable handlebar that you can lean fore/aft to change the reach of the cockpit.
Whether or not you get a 16 inch BMX bike, be sure to spend some time at your local pump track for skills development (plus, it’s super fun).
16″ wheeled BMX bikes might also be referenced by their race classes of “Micro Mini” or “Mini”, FYI.
Budget
Let’s face it: these bikes are not cheap. Lightweight kids’ bikes is a niche market that is growing so there is a bit more competition now, but it’s still not budget-friendly. But, you know what you are doing and consider this an investment. You’re just like us: you want to support your kid’s journey into biking because you want to share your passion with them and you know that the right equipment helps accelerate their ability. It is more fun to ride a bike that is less than half of your body weight than one that is 3/4 of your weight!
Chances are if you are actually researching what 16 inch bike to buy your kid, you are not heading to the department store because you are looking for something lightweight and good quality. Or, perhaps you’re hoping to support your local bike shop (LBS) instead of a big box store.
Some of these brands can be found at most mainstream LBSs, others at only boutique ones, and most are only available online.
Having sunk a crap tonne of cash into our eldest’s first pedal bike, I have been reassured that the resale value of these beautiful bikes is excellent (for example, inflation aside, kijiji action tells me we will be selling our Spawn Furi for $0-50 less than what we paid for it). So, while it may cramp your cash flow, be confident that you will recoup the majority of your hard earned coin while haven given your kid the best chance at becoming proficient at cycling and loving it.
Used kids’ bikes
They go like hot cakes! On kijiji or our local kid’s outdoor playgroup Facebook group, any high quality kid’s bike that goes up for sale is gone within days and has multiple offers. Some bikes resell for practically full price.
Set up alerts on an app on your phone. That’s what I did, and I still was usually only second to contact the seller so have yet to succeed in buying second hand but highly recommend it!
Start your hunt months ahead of time and good luck.
Good luck with your decision and happy trails!
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