Kids First Bike/Balance Bike Suggestions Please

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

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.

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

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...

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...

CB

Jaco's little bloke does a mean wheelie