In this article, I will be reviewing tricycles/trikes, balance bikes & best bicycles for kids in India. The objective is to make a comprehensive guide on how to select the cycle for your child. This guide should also help you select the ideal cycle for your kid as per his/her age and requirements.
Riding a cycle is one of the healthiest forms of exercise for your kids. Riding at a young age helps them build their motoring skills. Skills required for coordination and balance. Cycling also helps them build up strong muscles. Children who spend time cycling during the day also tend to sleep well at night.
How to select the right bicycle for kids in India?
A lot of parents have this question. It is important for you to find the best bicycle for your kid. However, there is no easy answer available on the internet. So I have made this table which should work fine for most parents.
- Toddlers (Under 2 years) – Tricycles
- Kids from 2 to 5 years – Balance Bikes
- For Children from 3 to 6 years – Small wheel bicycle – 12 or 14 Inches (With training wheels if needed)
- Kids from 6 to 9 years – Mid-sized wheels, 20 Inches
- Kids/Teens from 10 to 14 Years – 24 Inches wheels
Note – This is a rough estimate to give you an idea of cycle size. Select the size as per the height of your kid. You can also refer to the table below for some more idea about what size works best for your child.
p.s. – Don’t forget to look at the recommended bicycles in each category in the article below. I have covered bicycles for both girl child and boys in this review.
| What Size Bicycle to Buy for Kids in India? | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Size | Kids Age (Approx) | Kid’s Height |
| 10 | 2 – 5 Years | 85 – 90 cm |
| 12 | 2 – 5 Years | 90 – 100 cm |
| 14 | 2 – 5 Years | 100 – 110 cm |
| 16 | 5 – 8 Years | 110 – 115 cm |
| 18 | 5 – 8 Years | 115 – 120 cm |
| 20 | 5 – 8 Years | 120 – 135 cm |
| 24 | 8 – 15 Years | 135 – 145 cm |
| 26 | 15+ Years | 145 – 160 cm |
| 27.5 | 15+ Years | 160+ cm |
Which are the Best Bicycles for Kids in India?
1. Bicycle for Toddlers (Aged under 2 Years)
If you have a baby who has just started to walk and wish to buy a cycle for him/her, a tricycle would be a good option for you. Trikes are also a good bet if you wish to gift it someone (Baby’s first birthday etc).
Since your baby would be still figuring out how to balance, you will need to buy a good product that has some safety features in it.
I personally recommend buying a Balance Bike instead of Tricycles (For recommendation of the best balance bike, scroll below the tricycle section). As the name suggests, these bikes help your baby learn to balance the bicycle first. They can then easily learn how to pedal after that. Tricycle teach them the other way round.
Factors I would look at for buying a Tricycle:
- Safety features. Since the baby might not be able to balance properly.
- Push handlebar with direction control. So I can take my baby out on his/her new toy for a ride.
- Options to remove the safety features and handlebars. This is useful when your kid grows up and is able to ride on his/her own.
- Any other features (Not required but good to have).
Based on the factors mentioned above. I have shortlisted the R for Rabbit Tiny Toes Striker as the best product in this category:
a. R for Rabbit Tiny Toes Striker
R for Rabbit has quickly become the go-to Indian brand for kid’s products in India. The products are really good quality and offer an amazing value for the money that you pay for it.
R for Rabbit has multiple different types of Tricycle available for sale on online platforms like Flipkart and Amazon. However, I really like the Tiny Toes Striker. Have a look at the product below:
R for Rabbit also offer a more premium version of the Tricycle called the Tiny Toes Benz. Similarly, they also offer a cheaper version of this model called the Tiny Toes Grand. You can choose the one that suits your requirements and budget.
Key Features:
- Comes with a simple seat belt that goes around the baby. If you wish a better (5 point harness) seat belt, you can opt for the “Benz” version of this product.
- Has a safety bar. This bar can also be utilized by your baby to hold on to.
- The product is EN71 Safety compliant (European standard)
- Comfortable push bar with direction control.
- Comes with a removable canopy
- Has a rotation seat. You can place your child facing you and can use this product as a stroller
- Lots of other interesting features. Use the link above for more details
b. Amardeep Multipurpose Tricycle
You may not find the name of the product really appetizing but the product is good.
This tricycle also comes with a lot of features that the R for Rabbit product above had, like:
- Safety bar cum armrest for the baby
- A belt to keep the baby safely harnessed
- Removable canopy
- Handlebar with direction control
This product is available in two distinct colour (Blue and Red) at the time of writing this review.
2. Cycles for Kids aged between 1.5 to 5 Years:
In this age group, you can opt for the balance bike. This product can easily keep your child entertained till the time they are about 4 to 5 years old.
After that, they are ready to move on to a real bicycle with pedals. This transition would be really easy for them as they already know to keep your balance on the cycle.
Mostly, you won’t require trainer wheels for the new bicycle that you buy.
a. Strider 12 Sport
This is the best balance bike in India that you can buy for your toddler. Although a bit on the expensive side. So if you can afford or wish to buy an expensive ride for your baby, this is the best product out on the market.
Strider is the best selling balance bike globally. They have only recently entered the Indian market.
This balance bike can be used by the child till they grow to be around 4/5 years old. You can buy a good bicycle post that.
Key Features:
- Kids can start riding this bike as early as when they become 18 months old.
- The seat can be adjusted so low that kids can easily sit and walk using this balance bike, to begin with.
- The handlebars can be adjusted to your baby’s height as well.
- The bike is very lightweight and you can easily carry it with you in your car.
b. Brilrider Balance Bike
If Strider is beyond your budget, for now, you can opt for the Brilrider.
It is a well-made balance bike and has some good feature similar to what the Strider has.
Key Point to Note:
- A product made by an Indian company
- Available in a lot of different colours
- A lightweight product that can be easily carried around
- 6 months warranty offered by the company
Best Bicycles for Kids Between 3 and 6 Years Old:
a. Artic100 & DarkHero by Decathlon
If you are sports enthusiasts you would have heard about Btwin and Decathlon. Decathlon operates a chain of stores across Indian and product cost effective buy good quality sporting goods. Btwin is the name of their bicycle brand. They make bicycles for both children as well as adults.
Key Points to Note:
- DarkHero is slightly bigger compared to Artic100.
- DarkHero can be used by kids above 3 years old to up to 6 years of age (Depending on the height)
- While Artic100 can be used by kids aged between 2 and 5 years of age
- Both are great quality bikes which should easily take care of your child’s needs
- There is also a white version available. Use the link above to check the available options
BEST CYCLES FOR KIDS 