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Reviews of the Best Girls Bikes:There's very few items that little girls want more than a pretty bike with their favorite theme on it like Hello Kitty, Barbie or a Disney character. Kids bikes make great gifts on birthdays and especially on Christmas. Childrens bikes come in small to medium sizes with the smallest frame measuring 10" off the ground, the next size is a 12" bike, then 14" and so on all the way up to 24" bicycles. Many kids bikes have training wheels on them to help little ones learn the balancing act of riding a bike. Usually 16 inch bikes are the cutoff for training wheels and anything over that will not have them. Training wheels are always easy to take off if your child outgrows them, but they are a nice safety feature to help build confidence while children are getting used to riding. We did some research not only in retail stores like Toys R Us and Target but also online through e-tailers like Amazon and Target.com. The price range is from $50 to $100 and usually requires some assembly. We found several models that were only available online, so be sure to check websites as well as stores if you are looking for a particular type. In general, we recommend buying at Amazon since they are a trusted vendor with good prices, fast shipping, and excellent customer service. You can browse the list of best-selling girls bikes here .
Boys Bikes:Boys bikes are almost identical to girls bikes except they have different themes and as the frame size gets larger the bikes resemble more dirt bike (BMX) styles. Again, Amazon's list of best-selling boys bikes is here. The best selling boys bikes on Target.com are the Spider-Man Bike - Blue (12") for $59.99, the Boys’ Huffy Enigma Dual-Suspension Bike - 16" for $79.99 - a more modern and fancy design but still offers training wheels, the Boys’ Huffy Axis BMX Bike - Silver (20") for $69.99, the Boys' Huffy Dirt Dawg Single-Speed Bike - Blue (12") for $39.99, the Superman 16" BMX Bike - Silver ($79.99), the Boys’ Razor SPX Freestyle Bike - 20" for $129.99 - a durable bike made for tricks, the Disney Toy Story 16" Bike - Blue for $69.99, and the Ninja Turtles 16” Bicycle for $69.99. Parents said that the Huffy or Schwinns were just fine for beginner bikes, but the Mongoose and Pacific brands are better for older children who don't use training wheels and need a stronger more durable bike for longer rides. I grew up riding a Huffy bike that was great for me when I was like 5-7, but when I started going on dirt and tried taking small jumps, the forks on the Huffy bent easily and so I bought a Mongoose BMX bike which lasted all the way through middle school and never had a problem. Mongoose bikes get excellent customer feedback for reliability and toughness. The Pacific Blaze is a good mountain bike (20") boys who have some experience with gears (this is a 7 speed) and ride more on dirt. The bike retails for about $100. Most mountain bikes move you up to 24-26" wheels, but for teens these are a good investment that can easily last 10 years with proper maintenance. The list of top mountain bikes is here.
Schwinn vs Huffy vs Mongoose vs Pacific:Many of us grew up with Schwinn and Huffy bikes since they were and still are the major manufacturers of kids bikes. When I grew up I don't remember there being a Spiderman or Batman theme to bikes, I just had a regular Huffy with a silver seat and a black frame. Schwinn has been around forever and makes excellent bikes for younger children. Huffy, too, produces quality kids bikes with fun colors (these days) and bells, graphics, etc. Both Schwinn and Huffy bicycles are not built for rough riding or off road dirt use like the BMX bikes from Mongoose. Mongoose bikes are more expensive than Schwinn/Huffy but many owner reviews say the bikes last longer and break less often. The frames are usually built with superior materials and the front forks are much sturdier than those found on lesser quality bikes. Pacific is a newer brand that I don't think existed in the 1970's when I owned my first Mongoose, but they have gained market share in the childrens bike arena and are a reputable name. Experts say go with Huffy and Schwinn for kids younger than 8 years old and choose Mongoose or Pacific brands for boys/girls over 9. With adjustable seats on all bikes, anything purchased after the age of 7-8 should last a good 2 to 3 years before the child completely outgrows it.Kids Bike Helmets:Current childrens helmets seem to function and protect kids brains just fine eventhough some research has said the foam is too stiff. A good fit and the proper understanding of why helmets are useful will go a long way in helping to keep your child safe while they are riding on bikes. If you grew up in the 1970's or 1980's then helmets were considered "geeky" and definitely a rarity to see. Many deaths could have been prevented in those days if kids just wore helmets (let alone set belts). We have learned a lot over the last few decades and now realize that childrens bike helmets are great protection. For online information on helmets, laws, and reviews of the best kids helmets, go to Helmets.org/child.htm. Most kids helmets will cost about $25 and they come in flashy colors which should make them "cool" to wear for any child. Amazon carries quite a few as well as kids toy stores like Toys R Us. Some of the top sellers on Amazon.com are Giro Rodeo Kid Cycling Helmet, Louis Garneau 2006 Baby Boomer-X Kids Helmet, Bell Boomerang Infant/Toddler Bike Helmet - we own 2 of these for our children and they are not only comfortable fitting our kids like wearing them off the bikes as well, Bell Amigo Children's Cycling Helmet, and the Giro Me 2 Youth Cycling Helmet.
Do you have a quality site or product that belongs in this guide? We are always happy to evaluate or review new products and websites. Feel free to contact us at the email address below and let us know about you. If you have a demo product you'd like us to look at, please contact us before sending anything. Thank you.
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