The Best Bikes for 4 Year Olds: Ready To Ride In 2023

(Last updated on March 6th, 2023)

Age 4 is a great age to move your children from tricycles and hot wheel-style bikes into more advanced, upright bikes. They’ve learned balance and coordination and are improving their hand-eye coordination.

But if you’re looking to purchase a new bike for your child, you might wonder which one to get. Should you get them a bike with training wheels or a balance bike? We’ve got you covered!

In this article, I’ve rounded up the best seven bikes for 4-year-olds.  I’ll give you the key specs and the size to help you know which is best for your child. Let’s get started!

The 7 Best Bikes for Four Year Olds: A Quick Look

	Brakes	Training Wheels	Size	Style	Bike Weight	Ease of Assembly	Frame	Chain Gaurd	Price	Rating
Schwinn Koen & Elm Toddler and Kids Bike	Rear coaster and front caliper	Removable	12, 14, 16, 18	BMX	20 pounds	Ready to be assembled	Steel	Yes	$139.93	9/10
Ralleigh Bikes Jazzi Kids Bike	Coaster Brakes	Removable	12, 20	Step-through	17.74 pounds	Ships partially assembled	Steel	Yes	$160.00	8/10
Co-op Cycles REV 16 Kids’ Bike	Rear Coaster	Removable	16	BMX	Unavailable	Free in-store assembly and adjustments	Aluminum with steel fork	Yes	$229	10/10
JoyStar Kids Bike	Rear Coaster, front caliper	Removable	12, 14, 16, 18	BMX	22.8 pounds	85% Pre-assembled	Steel	Yes	$139.99	9/10
RoyalBaby Freestyle Kids Bike	Rear coaster, front caliper	Removable on 12,14, and 16-inch models	12,14,16,18,20	BMX	22 pounds	95% Pre-assembled	Steel	Yes	$143.99	8.5/10
RoyalBaby EZ Kids Bike	Rear Coaster, front caliper	No. Balance mode and pedal mode	12, 14, 16, 18	BMX	17.9 pounds	98% Pre-assembled	Aluminum and steel	Yes	$199.99	9.5/10
COEWSKE Kid’s Bike Steel Frame Children’s Bicycle	Rear coaster, front caliper	Removable	14, 16, 18, 20	Cargo / Step through	23 pounds	95% Pre-assembled	Steel	Yes	$138.99	10/10

Top 7 Bikes for 4 Year Olds

What to Look for When You Buy a Bike for a 4-Year-Old

Bike Size

One of the most critical points of purchasing a bike for a 4-year-old is getting one that fits correctly. Kids’ bikes are sized according to the size of the wheel. Most four-year-olds will ride a 12, 14, or even possibly a 16-inch bike. But it depends on how tall they are.

According to REI, a child between the ages of 2 and 4 who is 30 to 39 inches tall with an inseam between 12 and 17 inches will be most comfortable on a 12-inch bike.

A child aged 3 to 5, who is 37 to 44 inches in height with an inseam between 16 and 20 inches, will probably be most comfortable on a 14-inch bike. And a child who is 39 to 48 inches tall, with an inseam of 18 to 22 inches, will probably fit best on a 16-inch bike.

Keep in mind that these are just guidelines. Ultimately, your child needs to be able to stand over the bike’s top tube, so they can easily get on and off the bike. In addition, they need to be able to reach the pedals, the handlebars, and the brakes without feeling like they will fall off the bike.

Avoid buying a bike your child will ‘grow into.’ Of course, most of the bikes on this list can be adjusted at the seat and the handlebars, but a bike that is way too big won’t work even if it is adjusted as far as it can go.

So choose a bike that is the right size for your child. Let them try it out, if possible, and make any needed adjustments.

As an adult, if you want to ride along with your child, consider a cargo bike, such as the Ride1Up 700 Series.

Bike Weight

A bike that is too heavy will be hard for your child to pedal. The bikes on this list fall between 17 and 23 pounds. If the bike is much heavier, your child may not have the muscle strength to get it going.

However, a bike that is too light might be too easy to knock over and not durable enough.

Durability

Kids’ bikes need to be tough. So look for a durable bike – you’ll probably want a steel frame, which is comfortable to ride and will take a lot of bumps. You also want it to have good-quality wheels and a chain that won’t fall off.

Most of the bikes on this list are made of steel, except for the Co-op Rev, which is made of sturdy aluminum with a steel fork.

Chainguard

A chainguard is a cover that goes over the chain to protect your child from getting tangled. Again, this is critical for younger children’s safety and is sometimes required by CSPC.

The chain guards are usually made of hard plastic. They work to prevent your child’s clothing, shoe laces, and fingers from getting stuck in the chain as they pedal.

Brakes – Coaster or Hand brake

Adult road bikes have hand brakes with levers on the handlebars. You squeeze the lever to activate the brake and stop or slow the bike. A lot of kids’ bikes have coaster brakes. Coaster brakes are easy because you must pedal backwards to slow down or stop the bike.

Most of the bikes on this list have the best of both worlds. That is a rear coaster brake and a front-hand brake. First of all, kids will have much stronger legs than hands. So they’ll do the bulk of the slowing down with their feet, which prevents them from being launched over the bars if they only stop with the front brake.

The handbrake in the front gives them good practice for when they graduate to a bigger bike. It also helps them learn hand-eye coordination and gives more braking power than just their feet.

Also, if a child has trouble with coordination, they have trouble activating one or the other of the brakes. Having a combination of brakes gives them multiple ways to stop their bike, but there are plenty of ways to help your child learn to brake safely.

Coaster brakes with the additional hand brake are a good way to introduce your child to braking safely, so when they’re ready to move up to bigger bikes, such as the mountain bikes, they’ll already know how to brake.

Wheels

Most kids’ bikes are sized according to the wheel sizes. So a 12-inch bike is really a bike with 12-inch wheels in diameter. A 14-inch bike has 14-inch wheels, etc. Since the wheels point to the size of the bike, you’ll want to make sure you size yours correctly.

For example, a 4 year old wouldn’t be big enough to ride a full size bike, even if it had 26 inch wheels.  But a 12 to 14 inch bike might be just right.

Another important aspect of the wheels is the tread. Kids’ bikes need extra traction rather than extra speed. So a slightly wider tire with a different grip can help kids just learning to ride. They’ll have more ‘grip’ on the road surface, which prevents falls, and the ride will be a little more comfortable.

Most kids’ bikes will have inner tubes. If the tire gets punctured, you can typically purchase a replacement tube at any big box store selling bicycles. Make sure you pick the size tube that coordinates with the tire size.

Also, make sure to inflate the tires according to the pressure recommendations on the side of the tire.

Ease of Assembly

If you order a kids’ bike, you’ll probably have to put it together yourself. Thankfully, the bikes are generally 80- 95% put together. Next, you’ll need to attach the handlebars, seat, and training wheels. Some bikes will require you to put the wheels on, as well.

You may need some basic tools such as Allen wrenches and screwdrivers. Some bikes will come with pedal wrenches, as well.

If you have trouble putting the bike together or feel like it is unsafe enough to ride, you can always take it to your local bike shop. Fees for putting together kids’ bikes are generally less than building an adult bike.

Balance Bike or Training Wheels

Most of the bikes on this list include training wheels. Training wheels can help kids learn to ride without the fear of falling. They’re great for kids who may not understand how to pedal fast enough to keep the bike upright, who need help learning the coordination patterns to ride, or who just aren’t ready to balance on a bike.

However, some people feel kids should go directly from a balance bike to a pedal bike without using training wheels.

Balance bikes are bikes without pedals. Your child can sit on the bike and push themselves along the ground, learning balance, steering, and coordination before having to learn to pedal.

The Royal Baby EZ Kids bike is a bike that converts from a balance bike to a pedal bike. The pedals are included and attach easily to the bike when your child is ready for them.

Aesthetics

Chances are, if you let your child pick out their bike, they’ll choose based on looks and accessories. They may like the bike basket, the color, or the cartoon character stamped on the bike. There’s nothing wrong with this as long as the bike meets the other requirements.

Price

You may be nervous about spending money on a bike your child could outgrow very quickly. But all of the bikes on this list are between $100 and $300, so the cost is small compared to the joy and experience your child will get from learning to ride their first bike.

Final Thoughts on the Best Bike for 4-Year-Olds

Our favorite bike on this list is the COEWSKE Kid’s Bike Steel Frame Children Bicycle ., We love this bike for several reasons.

First, it’s adorable and looks like a miniature version of a grownup cargo or e-bike (no motor included). Second, it’s a great price at under $150. It has both rear brakes and front caliper brakes and a chain guard. It’s available in multiple sizes and multiple colors – appealing to your child’s aesthetics and their need for a safe bike. It’s also 95% put together, so it is easy for you to assemble right out of the box.

Close behind is the Co-op Cycles REV 16 Kids’ Bike. Although this bike is better for a larger 4-year-old, we love it because it includes free setup and adjustments, so if you aren’t confident in your abilities to build a bike, REI has you covered.

Frequently Asked Questions