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Kids First Bike/Balance Bike Suggestions Please

By mclutterham - Posted on 05 March 2010

Hi All,

Just wondering if anyone can recommend the best first bike/balance bike for a 2 Year old. My son has a birthday coming up and I would like to get him one but not sure if he is too young.

I have been looking at the Avanti Lil Ripper and the JD Bug Trainer.

Any experience or suggestions? Brakes or no brakes?

Cheers

Matt

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General Gear (stuff for any rider)

sent,

Submitted by Bernd on Fri, 05/03/2010 - 07:31.

u a PM to put u on to someone who just bought one for his son!!

scooter

Submitted by Lach on Fri, 05/03/2010 - 07:36.

I found it helped with the balance thing if they learnt to ride a scooter first.

JD bug great but it's all about the kid

Submitted by O on Fri, 05/03/2010 - 08:26.

We got our 2 kids the JD bug bikes at the same time. She was 4 he was 2. She was straight onto it and loved but has since regressed (in terms of balance) to a trainer wheel "big girl" bike as she started school and doesn't like riding the "little girl" bike. Brakes pointless, never used. He was too short at 2 so perservered with his plastic trycycle, only just now starting to use it at alomst 3. I even took the seat right off and padded the top bar with foam but he still was too short. He's not a short lad either. Definitely worth a measure before you get them the bike. Bikes are great though, nice and light, had a few punctures which can be annoying.

On the scooter front I have found the scooters with 2 wheels at the front much better than those with 2 wheels at the back. Our daughter was constantly hitting her heels on the back wheels while trying to scoot and taking skin off.

skuut

Submitted by stevenb on Fri, 05/03/2010 - 08:51.

Our girls loved these, $169 delivered: http://skuut.com.au/
I can't fault the quality either - very good.

First Bike

Submitted by ADtheglorious on Fri, 05/03/2010 - 12:01.

There is only one original called "First Bike" they come in wooden frame and plastic, my son rides his to death and picked it up quite quickly and once we showed him how to use the brakes he was off and has just about shredded the rear tyre through constant sideways sliding brake action! I'll have to replace that tyre before his brother gets it, he's two and can sit on the seat and just touch the ground with his toes, so might be a few months off getting to ride it.

My suggestions are to buy a First Bike ours has a solid tyres (no chance of flat tyres), it has a rear brake which has no external working pieces so little fingers cannot get stuck in them, they might not look as cool as some other that have hit the market, but they're quality, your boy may not be big enough just yet, but when he is look out!

Cheers

Measure him and it

Submitted by fer on Fri, 05/03/2010 - 12:09.

I had the same problem with my kid. I got him a balance bike when he was 2 and 3 months but could not ride it because he didn't get to the floor, he still can't so the balance bike is sitting in a corner waiting for him to grow a bit more.

Another tip - Once your

Submitted by MarkkyMarkk on Fri, 05/03/2010 - 13:38.

Another tip -
Once your liitle 'uns grow out of the balance bike & you get them a proper 16" one, ditch the training wheels & take the pedals off. This allows them to get used to the bigger bike but still have the feel of a balance bike. Then, once they've mastered that - put the pedals back on & they'll get the hang of pedalling in no time.
Its great fun watching them take off for the first time....

I can recommend this as a first 16"er - Used it for 2-3 years & sold it for about 75% of original price on eBay.
http://www.mongoosebikes.com.au/bikes/detail.php...

Had great fun with First Bike

Submitted by jacojoco on Fri, 05/03/2010 - 16:36.

See: http://nobmob.com/node/10935

I got the bike when he was 2, but he was too small. He got on it at 2 years 2 months and kicked arse. Now he is 2.5 and doesnt care so much. He has never used the brake. The First Bike is a bit expensive at around $300 or $345 with reducer bracket. You can get similar wooden for around $100. From my experience I would go the cheaper and not worry about the inflatable tyres or groovy build or internal brake. But then if you have the dosh just go for it. My first mountain bike was $500 so not sure if $345 is justifiable for a 2 year old.

+1 for firstbike

Submitted by CB on Fri, 05/03/2010 - 17:19.

My youngest is now 4 and still loves his balance bike. First got it when he was 2 1/2. as said before he was just a little too small ( I got the reducer bracket too). By 3 he was off like a demon. Solid tyres are good and he does like to use the brake on steeper downhills. He's starting to make noises abiut getting a 'big boys bike'. The most positive aspesct is that his balance on the bike is really good compared to his older brother ( who is 9) who grew up on training wheels...