If you’re looking for a durable mountain bike for your child, this option from Co-op Cycles is designed with extra-wide, all-terrain tires for smooth and stable riding along trails, according to the brand. It has six gears dynacraft bike to help customize their pedaling, which can be easily adjusted using a twist shifter, according to the brand. It has a weight limit of 80 pounds and has a 4.5-star average rating from more than 100 reviews at REI.
Bikes under $100 are easy on the pocket book, but not always the easiest and safest to ride. The Kent Chaos is your best bet for a boy’s bike in dynacraft bike this price range. If you’re interested in checking out mid and high-end bikes, read our Kids’ Bikes Comparison Charts and Recommendations page.
Not only does the Chaos have dual hand brakes and no coaster brake, the hand brakes actually function pretty well and our 8-year-old tester had no problem engaging them! You do need to be cautious, however, with kids with smaller hands. Our 6-year-old tester was able to engage the brakes without a safety issue, but it was a little more of an effort for him to do so. By the time a child is on a 20” bike, they are waaaaay past the point where there should be coaster brakes on their bike. Reality is, coaster brakes are far cheaper than hand brakes and are pretty typical of any kid’s bike under $200.
Co-op Cycles also offers a 24-inch version of this mountain bike for older kids and teens. It features a durable and lightweight alloy frame and high-grip tires to handle dirt roads and off-road cycling, Fuji Bikes says. Made from lightweight aluminum, the Woom 4 bike weighs under 20 pounds, making this the lightest option on this list for kids above 6 years old. When shopping for a kids bike, you want to make sure you’re getting a bike that will actually fit your child.
Song recommended Cannondale as a good high-end brand to consider that offers a variety of kids options. The Cannondale Quick bike has 24-inch wheels and seven gears, which can be great for older kids and more advanced riders. The brand says the frame is made of aluminum and is extremely lightweight, weighing in at only 20 pounds.
Road bikes are made with a lightweight frame and aerodynamic seating position. The mountain bikes have sturdy frames and rugged brakes. You can go for hybrid bikes that can be used on roads and on tough terrains. The other models include cruisers, folding and specialty bicycles. If you are looking to upgrade your kiddo’s bike or buying them their first, we have options here too. Choose from tricycles, balance, transitional or pedal bikes.
There are so many benefits to riding your bike to work or school. Some people ride for exercise, and it becomes their way of life. I see my neighbor fine-tuning his bike almost every day, and he rides every morning before work. The children in the neighborhood are starting to ride their bikes again which reminds me we need to check the condition of our bikes again. Regretfully, last year we didn’t do a lot of it, and now my boys have outgrown them again. With a longer wheelbase, our testers found the Kent Chaos to be the smoothest ride because they had sufficient room to ride, no crowding of legs!
The Huffy saddle is longer and more narrow, which bothered our 8-year-old tester. Size is the most important feature to get right when choosing a bike for your child. Unfortunately, one of the primary difficulties with bikes under $100 is that they aren’t built in the right proportions for a child. The positioning of the handlebars can also make quite a difference. When the handlebars are too high, it limits overall control and maneuverability. Both Huffy and Dynacraft are a little cramped but aren’t the worst offenders we’ve seen by far.
Its mid-rise handlebars allowed their arms to extend properly and maintain proper control of the bike. Although this bike is by far the heaviest, if you have a confident rider, at this price point the smooth ride outweighs the heaviness. However, if you have a timid rider, heavy bikes will always be more difficult for them to get and maintain balanced.
It’s an excellent way to get the kids active, and it promotes family togetherness. My husband and I have always loved biking, and now that the kids are old enough, we’re getting them involved as well. In fact, it’s become one of our frequent family activities. The kids love to get out and see the world fly by, and they love to be doing big kid activities with mom and dad.