Most children are ready to start riding a pedal bike at around four-years-old, especially if they’ve been putting in the practice on a balance bike.
Getting their first proper ‘grown-up’ bike is a huge milestone for your little one, and a memory that could last a lifetime. That's why it's so important to choose the best bike for 4-year-olds. We still remember getting our first bikes and the excitement that came with it!
Best bikes for 4-year-olds at a glance:
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Best overall: Dallingridge Dragon Slayer 16" Kids MAG BMX Bike, buy on here from Amazon
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Best for design: Vitus 14, buy on here from Vitusbikes
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Best for mountains: Pedal Pals Butterfly 14 Inch Wheel Size Girls Mountain Bike, buy on here from Argos
We’ve shared everything you need to know about getting a bike for your four-year-old with our pick of the best that they’re sure to love.
What size bike does a four-year-old need?
Bike sizes for children are broken down by wheel size and can be found by measuring your child’s height. You can use the following from Halfords as a guide:
14-inch wheel: Children that are 105-117cm tall
16-inch wheel: Children that are 112-127cm tall
20-inch wheel: Children that are 125-136cm tall
Most bikes for four-year-olds will need a 14-inch or 16-inch wheel. However, if you’re unsure or caught between sizes, most bikes come with a handy age guide to help you find the right one for your four-year-old.
What to look for in a bike for four-year-olds
Alongside the wheel size and stabilisers, there are a few more features we’d recommend keeping an eye out for:
Brakes
Once you’ve put your child on wheels, there’s no stopping them! So it’s no surprise that brakes are an absolute must. As well as having brakes, your child should be able to reach and operate them without struggle. Look for short-reach levers. Most bikes in these wheel sizes will have rim brakes. The top end will have disc brakes which have superior stopping power.
Design
To keep your kid interested in learning to ride, it’s always best to choose a bike that they’ll love the look of. It could have bright colours, feature their favourite characters, or have fun accessories like tassle-ended handles and a basket for their soft toys. We can’t lie, this makes the shopping process pretty fun for parents too!
Feel
Once you’ve bought their bike, make sure it’s comfortable for them. Being able to reach the handlebars is imperative, as is being able to have your foot in connection with the pedal for a full rotation. While it's tempting to size up to get the most amount of money out of the bike, this is only recommended if your child is a competent rider to start with, a bigger bike and an uncomfortable rider will result in unhappy bike rides.
Fit
You'll know when your child's bike is too small for them, not when there's no more room left in the saddle height, but when their knees start getting too close to the handlebars. A bike which is too small will fatigue your child more readily than a bike which is bigger but fits better.
Weight
The heavier the bike, the harder your child will find it to ride it. The same can also be said of a bike that is too light as they may find it will imbalance easier. Consider if you're going for long bike rides, a child riding a heavy bike will have to lug it uphills, and it'll be harder to keep momentum on the flats. While lighter bikes are often more expensive, there's a lot to be said about a joyous bike ride.
Accessories
A bell and reflectors should be included with the bike. If it isn’t, then the company selling the bike is breaking the law. Other things to consider are mudguards (for all-weather riding), knee pads, a kickstand, a water bottle holder and a helmet.
The best bike for 4-year-old
Best first bikes for kids
14” wheel
We’ve selected bikes which start at just over £150. This is because they offer superior value to bikes cheaper than them. Yes, it’s a significant outlay for a bike that your child may grow out of quickly. However, they also offer re-sale value and durability. You could hand these bikes down to siblings, cousins or friends until you may need them back.
Best overall
Amazon Bargain at this price. Do you have yourself a wild child who loves nothing better than going to the skate park on their scooter or bike? If so, this might be the one you plumb for, a purpose-built BMW with geometry for a child. Durable, with nice contrasting colours.
Pros
- Purpose-built
- High-tensile steel is solid and durable. It’s heavy, though
- Nice colour
Cons
- Illegal on the roads in the UK, a simple front brake would change this
2.
Vitus 14
Best for design
vitusbikes.com
The material 6061-t6 Aluminium is often used in adult bikes – it’s a lightweight and durable material that is becoming more readily available as its properties are exploited for bikes. The geometry of this Vitus is such that it’s built for kids with short-reach brake levels and low rolling resistance Vee Speedster tyres.
Review: "Bought for sons 4th birthday, he had mastered the balance bike, and after 3 attempts on this bike, he is riding by himself without stabilisers. Seems so much easier to ride than those horrible heavy plastic covered things you might find elsewhere."
Pros
- Lightweight at 6.04kg
- Kids geometry
- Plenty of colour options
Cons
- Vitus isn’t the best-known name – it’s cycle superstore Wiggle’s own brand
Best for mountains
Argos www.argos.co.uk
The 14-inch wheel size is perfect for children who are transitioning from balance bikes or just learning to pedal. It’s small enough to maintain control but large enough to offer stability. he bike is equipped with easy-to-use brakes that are suitable for smaller hands. At this age, children need to learn how to use brakes effectively, and having a reliable braking system helps ensure their safety.
Review: "My daughter loves her new bike, complete with toy dog! Great customer service too."
Pros
- Nice colour
- Reliable brand
- Solid build
- Adjustable handlebars and saddle
Cons
- Selling fast
- Not suitable for under 3 year olds
www.ebay.co.uk
If you’ve ever hired a bike from Centre Parcs, the chances are very high that you’ve ridden a Forme bike. Best known for their mountain bike prowess, this is reflected in this 14” wheel by choice of tyres. The Kenda tyres have fantastic grip plus a bit thicker, so they offer a bit of suspension too. Coming in at 6.12kg, you can see why the price is starting to get a bit more expensive.
Review: "Quick, efficient, bike is great. Forme Cublet 14 in purple - son is delighted."
Pros
- Lightweight
- Grippy tyres
- Respected brand
Cons
- Difficult to find a con. The price seems justified
Treed www.tredz.co.uk
Frog have stormed the kid’s bikes market since they’ve come along, marketed themselves well, and their products have stood the test, showing their durability. They also hold their value very well, giving a reasonable resale price. You can find the usuals at this price, short-reach Tektro brakes, an aluminium frame and Kenda hybrid tyres offering excellent all-weather grip on grass, gravel and tarmac.
Review: "Love this bike which we got for our daughter for her 4th birthday. It’s lovely, perfect size and weight. Service and delivery from trees seemed good."
Pros
- Holds value well
- Nice spec
- Recognised brand
Cons
- We’re getting pricey now, and cheaper alternatives are there
16” Wheel
If your four-year-old is a little bigger and you want something that may last longer, consider a 16” wheel.
www.tredz.co.uk
We love this Boardman bike. Not only is it competitively priced, but it is also a bike which will be durable and has some really good spec, too. Lightweight, made from triple-butted aluminium, the frame is smooth welded and finished in a stunning paint job. For this alone, it bests its rivals up and down the price range. It has everything you’d expect, short-reach brake levers, tektro brakes and low-resistance wheels. It’s a brilliant buy.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Great price
- Well respected brand
Cons
- You could forget all the other options if it came with a kickstand and mudguards
20” Wheel
Our final stop for a four-year-old is the 20” wheel, which should see you good until they’re about 7/8 years old. A bigger four-year-old or a much more confident and competent rider will fit into this bike category. With it spanning such a considerable age, your eldest will likely not need to hand it down to the younger sibling. It’ll also need to last for the years you have it, which is why we’ve selected bikes which we think will be able to do this.
www.ebay.co.uk
With a low-step frame, it’s easy on and off riding built for the off-road. The front fork suspension, alongside the Kenda tyres, is a bit overkill. It adds to the bike’s weight, which is 11.42kg – so expect this bike to be for reasonably flat wooden trails. Anything uphill will tire kids out easily, even with six Shimano gears to help them.
Pros
- Low price
- Step-through frame
Cons
- Heavy
www.ebay.co.uk
This form, Orbea, has everything you need to tackle commutes to school and family bike rides. A low, step-through frame gives ease for getting on and off the bike. Generous front and rear mudguards, integrated front and rear lights, and a kickstand mean you won’t be shopping for after-market accessories. This is a brilliant buy.
Review: "Amazing build and product quality, with first-class support and excellent delivery. I will continue to be a loyal customer to Tredz as they have never disappointed!"
Pros
- Comes with all accessories
- Reliable brand
- Good price to last
Cons
- Not many at this price
Can a four-year-old ride a bike without stabilisers?
Some kids don't take to balance bikes and prefer the feeling of being able to push on the pedals. Others take to balance bikes like a duck to water. It's all down to the personal preference of the child - there's nothing wrong with going straight in by learning to ride a bike with stabilisers.
Children can learn to ride with two-wheels anytime between the ages of four and nine with practice and encouragement. That being said, your child may be a quick learner and master a two-wheeled bike in no time. If that’s the case, you can remove their stabilisers. Giving them the option will help them to build their confidence on the bike.
If your child is coming straight from a balance bike to a 'big kid bike', to keep things similar, you can always take off the pedals. This is done with a simple Pedal Spanner. Until your child is used to the feel of the bigger wheels and handlebars, getting used to brakes and the idea of pedals, you can then simply put the pedals back on again.
It is very important to remember everyone learns to ride their bikes at different times. Letting your child learn at their pace will mean they'll move off stabilisers and onto a pedalled bike much more readily. There's no need to rush. If your child still wants stabilisers when it comes to bigger wheels, these from Decathlon are perfect.
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