Best 16-inch Bike For 4 And 5 Year Olds: Ask The Experts (2023)

Best Kids All-rounder 16-Inch Bike

1. Woom 3

Our Rating

4.9/5

$449.00

KEY SPECS

Woom has created an extraordinarily thoughtful and innovative bike for young riders. Aimed at riders ages 4 to 6 and 41 to 47 inches tall, this bike has elements perfect for new or unsure riders. 

First, the frame is high quality and lightweight aluminum, so the bike isn’t too heavy for a small rider to drag around. Next, it has a low-top tube to make getting on the bike easier. But what I really love is that the geometry of the bike is created around smaller riders. 

So the cranks’ length, the pedals’ position, and the handlebars’ position are created to be comfortable and safe and make pedaling more efficient. The single-speed bike is geared for beginner riders, with an 18t chainring in the front and a 10t cog in the back to make pedaling easy. And, of course, the chain is covered by a chain guard to keep curious fingers safe. 

Finally, the longer wheelbase makes the bike more sturdy and balanced. 

Another innovative aspect of this bike that makes it stand out from other brands is the brake system. The brakes are color-coded to help kids learn which is which, and they are also adjustable so you can finetune them to your child’s smaller hands. 

The bike is available in red, yellow, green, blue, and purple. 

I love how Woom has thought through all the details for your little rider yet kept the price very reasonable. No wonder these bikes are so popular – they’re just fun for your child to ride! They won’t be worrying about safety features, and neither will you. The bike has the tools needed to assemble it and complete instructions. 

Rating

OUR VERDICT

This bike is nearly perfect – except you need to assemble it yourself. Overall, it is a well-thought-out back with ergonomic designs and plenty of safety features. Unfortunately, it didn’t get a full 5.0 because you must assemble it yourself. 

Best Customer Support for a Kids’ Bike    

2. REI Co-Op Op REV 16

Our Rating

4.75/5

$229.00

KEY SPECS

If setting up bikes is not your thing, you’ll want to look at the REI CoOp REV 16. The best thing about purchasing a bike from REI is that they will build it for you and offer a year’s worth of tuneups and adjustments. This is an invaluable service, especially if your little cyclist is tough on their equipment!

Aside from that, the REV16 has a lot going for it. It’s available in red and blue. It has a nice low standover height for smaller riders and easily removable training wheels. The rider and cargo limit is just 80 pounds, which isn’t a problem for a typical 4 to 5-year-old. Extra tall or heavy riders may need to look into a bigger bike. 

The Aluminum frame is lightweight, but the steel fork makes it a little extra sturdy. This bike has a BMX-style, upright handlebar with a padded crossbar. 

Take special notice here that the bike does not have handbrakes. If you are concerned about your child’s braking ability, this bike with coaster brakes might be a better choice. Then, to stop the bike, they only have to pedal backward.

I’ll admit, I love stickers, and this bike comes with a whole pack so your child can decorate it to their heart’s content. But, more importantly, it’s safe, durable, and backed by REI. It isn’t a fancy bike, but it will give your child hours of outdoor entertainment at a very affordable price. 

Rating

OUR VERDICT

An REI bike is the way to go if you aren’t mechanically inclined. You can always return the bike for service, and they will happily assemble it for you. It isn’t a fancy or innovative bike – it is just great quality, durable, safe, and a great all-over price, so it comes in at 4.75/5.

Best 4-Year Old Bike 

3. Precaliber 16

Our Rating

4.6/5

$299.99

KEY SPECS

If you’re a bike enthusiast, recreational rider, or racer, you’ve undoubtedly heard about and maybe even ridden a Trek bike. Ridden by pro cyclists, Trek-Segafredo—Trek bikes are known for their quality components, speed, and style. If this sounds like you, then consider the Precaliber 16. It’s everything you love about Trek in the size of a kids’ bike.

Just a word of caution, though, there is a wide variety of sizing in kids ages 4 and 5. These bikes are designed for kids 39 to 46 inches tall, just a tiny bit smaller than other bikes on this list. So if your child is on the smaller size, this might be the right bike for them. 

The Precaliber has a BMX-style frame with upright bars, positioning for safety and comfort, and a low-top tube to mount the bike easily. In addition, it features comfortable hand grips and rear coaster brakes. Oh, and your little cyclist will love the gearing on this bike – it’s made for some speed! 

I love the secret handle built into the bike seat, making it easier for you to help your child learn to ride. But if you don’t need it, you can attach a light right to the seat instead. The training wheels are easy to remove, too. 

But here’s another great feature of purchasing a kid’s bike from a bike shop – they’ll build it for you! No, fussing around with tools and wrenches. Trek has got you covered. And for an extra $50, you can have it delivered right to your door. 

Available in black and orange, this bike looks as cool as it rides and comes at a great price, even with delivery options. 

Rating

OUR VERDICT

I’ll admit, I’m a little partial to bike shops. And I love that Trek will assemble this bike for you and even deliver it. It’s a safe and sturdy bike made by a trusted bike brand, which says a lot. And your child will love it even more if someone they know rides a Trek already. 

I give it a 4.6 out of 5. I would love to see some hand brakes on the bike to make it a little more well-rounded. 

Best Overall Beginner Mountain Bike

4. Scott Roxter 16

Our Rating

4.6/5

$549.99

KEY SPECS

Not every 4 or 5-year-old is ready to shred, but some are! If your little cyclist has a sense of adventure or loves riding the trails with you, the Scott Roxter is a great place to start. 

The aluminum frame is lightweight and has a low entry point and standover height. In addition, it features an adjustable seat height so that the bike can grow with your child. 

I love the bold green color and the flat bars, giving the bike a real mountain bike appearance. Nice wide, grippy tires mean you can take it on a trail suitable to your cyclist’s skill level. 

Mountain biking calls for extra braking power; with the Roxter, you get a coaster brake and a front V brake. So you’ll get plenty of stopping power. Your child can even use both brakes to stop in a rush. 

A chain guard covers the gears so you won’t have pinched fingers. A sturdy chain connects the 26t front chainring with an 18t cog. This is a nice balanced gear with enough speed for racing without struggling up hills. 

Remember that mountain bikes must be slightly smaller than road bikes if you’re considering this bike. So you’ll want your child to test the bike to ensure it fits comfortably. 

Although this is a mountain bike, it does not have a suspension. Younger riders probably won’t be in a situation where they need it anyway, which means less bike maintenance. 

Rating

OUR VERDICT

I give this bike a 4.6/5. It’s a great bike for introducing your child to mountain biking, and the adjustable seat means they can use it as they grow. But it might only work for larger 4 or 5-year-olds. You’ll have them test it to ensure they are comfortable on the bike. If it fits, get ready to shred!  This is a great precursor to a dirt bike, too. 

You can get an idea of how this bike rolls by watching this video about the Scott Roxter 20 – it’s the same bike, just slightly larger. 

Best Beginner Mountain Bike for Smaller Riders 

5. RALEIGH Bikes Rowdy 16/20/24 Kids Bike for Boys and Girls

Our Rating

4.3/5

$280.00

KEY SPECS

Mountain biking is becoming increasingly popular, and finding an affordable kids’ mountain bike can be hard, especially for smaller riders. But Raleigh has closed this gap with a lightweight kids’ mountain bike suitable for kids 38 to 45 inches tall. 

There are three things I love about this bike. One is the wide handlebars that will give your child lots of steering control and prevent them from oversteering. The wide bars will help them get around obstacles without crashing. 

I also love the hand brakes, which give more finetuned braking control. However, you’ll have to teach them to brake safely – it just takes a little more practice than simple coaster brakes. 

Third, this bike comes with nice 2.1-inch wide tires. Wide tires offer more comfort and grip on rough road surfaces and trails, so if you go off-roading, this bike is great. 

So this bike has a lot going for it, but there are two small concerns here. The first is that there is no chain guard, so make sure your child is ready for a bike that doesn’t have one. They must keep their fingers, feet, clothing, and other items and body parts away from the chain. 

Second, this bike has been mislabeled as ‘full suspension.’ It has no suspension system, which is fine for a child’s beginner mountain bike, just don’t be confused by the labeling. 

Overall, I really like this bike for the price. And it will do the job nicely if you want a well-rounded children’s bike that can do laps around the neighborhood or shred the beginner trails. Of course, you’ll need to assemble the bike somewhat, but you also get easy delivery from Amazon. 

Rating

OUR VERDICT

This is a great little mountain bike for smaller beginners. It’s a nice balance of value, size and weight, frame style, and ergonomics, so I give it a 4.3 out of 5. 

My only genuine concern for the Raleigh bike is that it is labeled as a full-suspension bike, which it is not. There’s nothing wrong with a non-suspension bike, especially for younger riders. Just don’t let that label confuse you about it. The other concern is the lack of a chain guard, so help your child watch out for fingers, feet, and loose clothing.