Although both Mongoose and Schwinn are bike brands, we know Mongoose for its BMX bikes and the Schwinn for their excellent commuter and road bikes. If your child has already mastered pedaling, you should set the bike’s seat about 2″ above the child’s inseam to allow for maximum efficiency while pedaling. Not every bike we test can make our Top 10, but here are a few honorable mention bikes you should also consider.
Therefore, which brand is better will depend on why you need a bike, or what your purpose for buying a bike is. When it comes to choices, Schwinn will have more options for you to choose from, but it does not have BMX or cargo bikes. Electric bikes come with a motor that can help you go that extra mile—this particular type of bike aids in giving the rider an extra push while going uphill too. After I took a closer look at Mongoose and Schwinn, I found out that their other products, besides their main lines, which are BMX and road bikes, also have very interesting features. Putting them against other products in the same industry has led me to believe that these two bike brands are worthy contenders.
Kids’ bikes tend to hold their value, as well, so when your kid outgrows their bike, you can always sell it on. Similarly, if your budget is tight, take a look for a second-hand bike. People quite often put a low price on good bikes just because they don’t need them anymore. When it comes to a bike’s weight, lighter tends to be better but will cost more.
Or, there are two new plus options with the Argus 20 and Argus 24. Each is fitted wtih 3.0″ wide tires, disc brakes, and a 1x drivetrain at $449 and $499 respectively. The Woom 1 Bike checked all of our boxes for a great balance bike.
Despite this, the frame is robust enough to handle the severest of punishment without experiencing anything more than the inevitable scratches. Once again the heritage of this fine company shines through with their Mongoose Title Micro BMX race bike. This bike is designed specifically for beginners, yet is still highly-specced to the degree that it will keep riders happy well after they have mastered the basics of BMXing. The biggest gripe I could find was one reviewer who bought it not realizing it was a kid’s bike! All-in-all this is a superb, sturdy, and safe bike to let kids learn the basics of mountain biking with confidence. The tires and wheels are no afterthought either, double-wall rims and Kendra tires are strong and grippy enough to provide great control on harsher trails.
More lightweight than other low-price kids bikes, Btwin kids bikes offer the best quality for the price. If you’re on a tight budget, it doesn’t get better than Btwin. While more expensive, the Btwin bikes are easier to ride and are better quality than the popular Schwinn Elm or Koen. Many bikes designed for kids this age offer training wheels, which can be removed once kids gain the confidence to pedal without balance assistance.
Better quality construction, more durable, a lighter-weight aluminum frame, and a lower seat height to better fit the age of child the bike is meant for. This allows riders to easily shift their weight to maintain balance on uneven surfaces, jumps, mongoose fat tire bike curbs, etc. Wider and/or knobbier tires, as well as dual-hand brakes and no coaster brakes, also help little adventurers to maneuver safely through technical terrain. Small and lower-end kids’ bikes tend to have a single coaster brake.
Lighter than those bikes, the SmartStart Series also provides a high-end, child-specific geometry which allows for a more stable and comfortable ride for kids. Compared to other bikes on this list, the Rowdy 16 is a bit larger. For example, the minimum seat height of the Rowdy is 21.5″, while the minimum seat height of the Prevelo Alpha Two is 17″.
The Tyax has high-quality components throughout, it features a Shimano-based drive train features the Altus RD-M2000 rear derailleur and Acera SL-M3000 trigger shifters. Front suspension is provided using the SR Suntour XCT-JR fork, with 100mm of movement this is more than ample to provide plenty of dampening for kids of this size. Kids get in on the action too with a new Tyax 24 with a 2x drivetrain, kid tuned suspension fork, standard 24″ wheels and tires, and a light weight build at $599.