Balance bikes are an awesome way to teach kids how to balance on two wheels, and they also help them learn other important skills like coasting and eventually pedalling. They’re usually pedal-less bikes with only 2 wheels; however, some have the ability for parents or caregivers to add a third wheel in order for their little one’s feet not touch the ground at all.
Balance bikes for sale online Australia
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Buyers Tips:
Balance bikes are not one-size fits all. To find the best fit, measure your child’s inseam and compare it to the seat height of the bike. Look for a balance bike with minimum seat heights that is equal to or less than your children’s inseams! Air tires are better than foam ones; air offers more cushioning on bumpy roads and trails while also providing improved stability when cornering at speed
We’ve tested over 100 different balance bikes and have come up with our top 5 balance bikes:
Forgotten Rascal 12” Balance Bike
The Forgotten Rascal Balance Bike is a perfect first bike for youngins learning to ride & get their balance. It’s packed full of epic parts and features that make this the ultimate entry into the wonderful world of BMX!
Specs:
Top Tube Length: 12.5”
Chain Stay Length: 8.15”
Head Tube Angle: 72°
Seat Tube Angle: 70°
Bottom Bracket Height: 7.4”
Stand Over Height: 4.72”
Bar Rise: 2“
Bar Width: 19.7”
Bar Back Sweep: 9°
Bar Up Sweep: 2°
Colony Horizon Balance Bike
Built around a light weight alloy frame, coupled with appropriately sized geometry, makes these the perfect bike for the younger, smaller BMXers starting out. Progression & having fun with BMX with come naturally with the Colony Horizon series of BMX bikes.
Frame: Colony Horizon Balance Alloy
Forks: Colony Horizon Balance Alloy
Handlebars / Stem : Colony Horizon Balance Alloy with quick release height adjustment
Wheels : 12″ Sealed Bearing Tuff Wheels with composite puncture less tyres
Seat: Colony Horizon Balance with alloy post & quick release clamp for height adjustment
Weight: 2.12kg’s (2122 grams)
Colours: Black, Blue, Red or Pink.
STANDOVER HEIGHT
FROM GROUND TO REAR STAY: 150mm
FROM GROUND TO SEAT: 250mm
We The People Prime Balance (2020)
Back in two radical colourways, the Prime is the raddest balance bike on the market. Packed full of custom features like a super short reach CNC machined stem and knurled footpegs, WTP are hyped to have an even younger generation of shredders begin their journey in BMX on a WE THE PEOPLE bike.
FRAME – 1020 hi-ten
Why a Balance Bike?
The better way to learn
A normal bike is a far from ideal way to learn how to ride. Stabilisers take away any requirement for balance, and normal bikes can be too hard to balance on whilst learning!
A balance bike solves both of these problems, and that’s why they’re the most sought after toy for toddlers. The specially designed training bike makes it far easier to train your child’s balance, coordination and confidence.
How it works
There are no pedals involved, so the child moves the bike by pushing it with their feet. The special design means that the child’s feet are never very far from the floor. They can try balancing, and if they don’t quite get it right, they can simply put both feet on the floor and regain their balance.
The balance bike makes it incredibly easy to learn with simple steps. The child can start by simply ‘walking’ on the bike. Then the child can progress to gliding, where they push themselves along on the bike and freewheel for a short distance. The child can very gradually increase the distance of balancing until they’re able to glide without a problem and then move onto a normal bike! This can allow a child to learn far quicker.
We always recommend that the child wears a cycling helmet and any suitable protective equipment..
Balance bikes
Balance bikes
Balance bikes
Difference between Wooden Balance bikes & Aluminium
If you will notice, wooden & metal balance bikes don’t have any pedals. Learning how to pedal is a pretty basic skill that almost all kids can pick up within minutes. But the biggest challenge is learning how to balance themselves on a 2-wheeled bike. In the past we’ve given our youngsters bicycles with stabilisers to help them make this transition, however, those training wheels really defeat the purpose. Your kid learns to depend on those training wheels to keep him up instead of learning how to balance. And that is why so many youngsters are frightened and have a difficult time learning how to ride a real bike.
But wooden balance bikes are a little different. It’s because they have no pedals and your child isn’t forced to learn to balance while he’s moving at a fast speed or pedaling, he will simply sit on the seat and either run or walk the bike to put it into motion. In the beginning you’ll notice your child standing astride the bike and walking it. Then he’ll gradually move to a sitting position and start lifting his feet to coast. And before you know it your kid has already learned the way to balance himself on his wooden balance bike. We gets a lot of questions on how to ride a balance bike so we produced a 2 minute video on his website to show how easy it is. Within 30 minutes of a child gliding on the balance bike, he was able to progress on to normal children’s bike without the need for stabilisers.
Another good thing about these wooden balance bikes is that since your child isn’t traveling at a very fast speed and he’s able to manage it better than a real bike, he can ride this bike indoors where you can keep a watchful eye on him or simply enable him to learn without the danger of falling off into the street or the traffic.
Because these are wooden bikes they are very sturdy and very simple to clean. Simply wipe with a damp cloth or sponge. If cared for correctly a wooden bike will last for years and all of your youngsters can learn to ride on it before they move on to a bigger, 2-wheel bike. They are easy to assemble and the seats are adjustable to fit any child.
Children love these bikes because of how quickly and easily they can progress to the ‘Big Kid’ bikes. Since they typically have both feet on the ground there is no danger of falling that you’ve got to worry about with traditional bikes so your child is much happier and much more willing to learn to ride. And because they’re so light weight these wooden bikes are also easier for your child to control. So get rid of the training wheels and help your child learn to ride a bike with a wooden balance bike.
There are commonly two different kinds of balance bikes. The first is a normal, wooden balance bike, while the second comes with a cradle that turns the bike into a rocking horse-type toy. Children can use this to build up their confidence in the saddle before hitting the streets for the first time.
How to Ride a Balance Bike Video:
Why are our Natural Wooden Balance Bikes far quicker and safer than a traditional bicycle?
Our wooden balance bikes are moved by your child pushing with their feet against the floor. This also allows the child to remain balanced far easier compared to a normal bike.
With our wooden balance bikes, children learn how to ride a bike quicker – Our bikes allows the child to stay balanced and upright even without the use of stabilisers. This means that the child can start learning how to balance immediately and learn in easier steps. Most kids you see riding at the age of 2 have leant initially on a balance bike
Why are our Bikes safer – Much less likely to fall over. Both feet are never far from the floor.
Why are our Bikes simple and easy to use – Specially designed so the child can push against the floor to ‘walk’ on the bike
Why are our Bikes strong and light-weight – Made from durable wood and weighs only 3.5kg. Light enough for your child to carry.
So if you want your child to learn how to ride a bike quickly and safely, then our balance bikes will be ideal.
Is your child too young to ride a bike? Buy them a zoom epic rocking horse which transforms into a proper zoom epic balance bike when they’re ready to learn!
What Features Should You Consider when Purchasing a Balance Bike?
Wondering which balance bike is right for your child or grandchild? We recommend the Strider bike, Mini Glider from Glide Bikes or Kinderbike Laufrad Mini for our very youngest riders. These bikes are extremely lightweight and can be manuevered by 2-year-olds. These three bikes have seats that lower to 12″ or lower.
For big kids learning to ride for the first time, we recommend the Go Glider from Glide Bikes. The Go Glider features 16″ wheels and is designed for kids ages 5-10.
The other balance bikes in our store should be just fine for all the riders in between. The wood bikes are solidly constructed and will stand up to repeated riding, so it’s all a matter of personal taste. If you’re having trouble deciding which bike is right for your son or daughter, give one of our sizing experts a call at 1-888-264-9199.
You’ve come to the right place to purchase your balance bike, so let make sure we get your purchase right. There are a number of factors to consider when making a decision about which balance bike is right for your child. The most important being getting the size of the bike right. Not all balance bikes are the same size, so make sure you’re considering the following when making your selection.
Saddle (Seat) Height:
Getting the size right is the most important aspect of your balance bike purchase. Some models like the Strider preBike and the Mini Glider are best for the very youngest of riders because of their low seat height. Other balance bikes like the KaZam model are the perfect fit for kids who are in a 4T or have an inseam of around 14″. The KaZam seat raises up to 17.5″ and supports a child weighing up to 65 lbs giving significant room for a child to grow with the bike.
Kids need to be able to place their feet flat on the ground to effectively control their balance bike and propel themselves.
Be sure to measure your son or daughter’s inseam and select a seat height that is at least 1″ lower than their inseam measurement, giving a little room to get on and off the bike and providing a more secure feeling. If your child has to tiptoe to touch the ground, the seat is too high.
Metal or Wood Frame:
Balance bikes come in either wood or metal. The bikes made from wood are more popular in Europe than the U.S. and are perceived by kids as “toys.” That can be good as it encourages experimentation and reduces fear for some children. For durability, the metal bikes are a better option. The bikes are manufactured using either steel or aluminum alloys and vary in weight.
Steel frame bikes tend to be heavier and sturdier and will support more weight. The aluminum bikes are lightweight, but generally won’t support children weighing more than 60 lbs. For very young riders in the 18 month to two-year range, the lighter the bike the better (Strider preBike, Mini Glider). For older children, consider the weight limit of the bike when making your decision.
Tires:
The two most common types of tires on a balance bike are conventional air or made of foam. Foam tires offer durability and convenience, but lack grip on the road. Standard air tires offer a comfortable ride with good traction, but often go flat. You will find foam tires on most of the bikes designed for the youngest riders. Bikes for older riders tend to use air tires because of the additional traction. Both are suitable materials for a child’s bike, they just offer different benefits.
Brakes:
Some balance bikes include hand brakes. These are not likely to be the means by which your child stops their bike, but they do train the child to grip and ride while holding the brake which makes the adjustment to a pedal bike with hand brakes smoother. Your child will be stopping the bike with their feet. Take that into consideration when deciding which shoes they get to wear while riding their bike!
Turning Limiters:
This is a mini-controversy within balance bike community. Those who favor limiters believe it makes the bike safer by preventing any sharp turns and “jackknifing” where the child goes over the handle bars. Detractors state that limiters limit a full range of steering that a child should experience. The truth is that their effect is relatively minor. Our experience with our own children suggests that overly sharp turns generally occur at slow speeds, not fast, and we are comfortable teaching on bikes without limiters.
Footrest:
A few models of balance bikes come with a footrest. The KaZam bike has a central foot rest built into the frame. Strider bikes have a spot for kid’s feet on the frame behind the seat. The Mini Glider from Glide bike sports foot pegs. Some kids may find the footrest more of a nuisance than a feature as they can get in the way. Definitely not a must for a balance bike, but riders who can coast downhill might find it a convenient feature.
Keep all these things in mind as you shop, but the two most critical factors in your purchase decision should be the height and weight of the bike. Choose a balance bike that your child can comfortably straddle with their feet flat on the ground.
We strongly encourage you to measure their inseam to make sure you get the fit right. If your child is under three, select one of the lighter bikes as they will struggle with a heavier bicycle. If your child is school age, look at the maximum seat height to make sure they will have some room to grow and consider the maximum allowable weight for the bike.
Conclusion
There is simply no better way to teach your child to ride a bike than with a balance bike. These bicycles are designed to allow kids to focus on developing their balance and motor skills first. Kids who learn to ride using these pedal-free toddler bikes will never need training wheels and will learn to balance quickly, naturally and easily. We’re passionate about helping your children learn to ride a bicycle in a way that’s fun.
You’ll be absolutely amazed at how quickly your son or daughter will learn to control their bike when they no longer have to struggle with pedals and can focus on balance and steering. This will build incredible confidence and self-esteem without the fear and anxiety that often haunt kids who are forced to learn to ride a bike using training wheels. Once your child is ready to ride a pedal bike, they will make a quick and easy transition because they’ve already mastered the most important skill they need to ride a bike.
We were hooked on the balance bicycle concept and its amazing ability to teach kids to ride in a way that’s easy and fun. We decided to share our enthusiasm and passion for balance bikes with the world. Now it’s your turn to witness the remarkable transformation your child will make riding their balance bike. Shop with confidence knowing you can take advantage of our no hassle return policy and secure checkout. At BMX Australia you’ll receive stellar customer service every step of the way. We look forward to helping you make your child’s dream of riding a bike come true. For information on bikes and cycling visit Cycling Australia or for where its legal visit: Bike Law PDF
