Balance Bikes!

TigerLady · Apr 4th, 2012, 12:25 PM

Who has them? Which one do you have? How do you and LO rate it?

TIA!!

LeannieB · Apr 4th, 2012, 15:08 PM

Hi Toby has a balance bike since he was 2 but he probably didnt start using it until he was around 2.5. He loves it and goes everywhere on it. He is now at the highest level and he will be 4 in August. I highly recommended them I think they are great. We have a police one so Toby calls it his police bike. xx

lepaskilf · Apr 4th, 2012, 15:18 PM

Hi, we have this one:

It's a Likeabike Jumper.

Tom's had it since 3 months after his 2nd birthday, now he's 2.6 years old and he's just getting the hang of it properly and loves it!!! I think it will be a very well used piece of kit for the next couple of years!

I have friends kids who use/have used them and some were riding a proper bike by the time they were 4 with no stabilisers!!!

TigerLady · Apr 4th, 2012, 15:27 PM

I seem to hear fantastic things about them. They can be a bit spendy, though, so I'm debating. I would need 2 and they are $100 each. So, I want to be sure they will be well used before I invest!

lepaskilf · Apr 4th, 2012, 15:50 PM

Yeah, they are pretty expensive but if you look on ebay they're going for decent prices on there second hand! Which means that when you come to sell you'll get a good price

The other one to look at is the Islabike. A few people I know have this one and rave about it too.

NatalieM · Apr 6th, 2012, 00:45 AM

We have two, the Strider and the Kettler. I really do not like the foam tires on the Strider. If I were to buy again I would go for a KinderBike, although I would LOVE the Jumper like lepaskilf. There are a lot of websites that compare the brands. I would google "balance bike reviews" and do some research.

smelly07 · Apr 6th, 2012, 03:43 AM

Love them...........my eldest daughter went from a balance bike straight to riding a bike without stabilizers instantly.

I am buying my youngest a balance bike for her 3rd birthday. x

Eala · Apr 6th, 2012, 03:46 AM

My parents got one for Roo as it was a bargain on Ebay. Roo loves the concept, she's having trouble with it though as she is something of a titchy toddler and if she sits on the saddle (with it on the lowest setting) she can't quite reach the floor

So she tends to sit on the footplate and do it that way

I'll almost certainly be getting her one for here at some point, I'm just on the hunt for one which is low enough for her to use properly

lepaskilf · Apr 6th, 2012, 03:57 AM

When we went to test out some of the bikes we tried the wooden likeabike version out and it was awful!!!!! The padding around the handlebars (to stop it damaging the frame when turning the handlebars) meant that the bike had no turning movement whatsoever! My OH said to the sales guy jokingly that it's a straight line bike lol!!!

TigerLady · Apr 6th, 2012, 08:45 AM

There are definitely cheap versions out there which I am not at all interested in. Someone pointed me to a wooden one I could get for about $35. No thanks. If I'm going to bother, I'm going to get a good one. Which is why it's going to cost about $100 per bike.

I think the brands must differ from the UK to the US. After doing a bit of research, these two seem to be the best.

Glide Bikes (mini glider for my kids)
http://www.glidebikes.com/

Pros:
the foot rest is in a very similar position to pedals to help them become accustomed to it.
It has a hand brake just like a big bike would, they can learn to use it. Plus, knowing my son, he'll be dare-deviling it as soon as possible and the hand brake might be useful for him.

Cons:
It has EVC tires (like on strollers/prams)

The KaZam
http://kazambikes.com/about-us.aspx

Pros:
Has air tires

Cons:
the foot rest doesn't look as comfortable
no brake

Anyone have any thoughts on those?

Apr 4th, 2012, 12:25 PM	#1
TigerLady Mum (Mom) BnB Spammer Elite Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: In a Cave Posts: 24,275	Balance Bikes! Who has them? Which one do you have? How do you and LO rate it? TIA!!

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Apr 4th, 2012, 15:08 PM	#2
LeannieB Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Kent Posts: 886	Hi Toby has a balance bike since he was 2 but he probably didnt start using it until he was around 2.5. He loves it and goes everywhere on it. He is now at the highest level and he will be 4 in August. I highly recommended them I think they are great. We have a police one so Toby calls it his police bike. xx

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Apr 4th, 2012, 15:18 PM	#3
lepaskilf Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: I live in North Wales Posts: 3,282	Hi, we have this one: It's a Likeabike Jumper. Tom's had it since 3 months after his 2nd birthday, now he's 2.6 years old and he's just getting the hang of it properly and loves it!!! I think it will be a very well used piece of kit for the next couple of years! I have friends kids who use/have used them and some were riding a proper bike by the time they were 4 with no stabilisers!!!

Status: Offline

Apr 4th, 2012, 15:27 PM	#4
TigerLady Mum (Mom) BnB Spammer Elite Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: In a Cave Posts: 24,275	I seem to hear fantastic things about them. They can be a bit spendy, though, so I'm debating. I would need 2 and they are $100 each. So, I want to be sure they will be well used before I invest!

Status: Offline

Apr 4th, 2012, 15:50 PM	#5
lepaskilf Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: I live in North Wales Posts: 3,282	Yeah, they are pretty expensive but if you look on ebay they're going for decent prices on there second hand! Which means that when you come to sell you'll get a good price The other one to look at is the Islabike. A few people I know have this one and rave about it too.

Status: Offline

Apr 6th, 2012, 00:45 AM	#6
NatalieM Mum (Mom) New BnB member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 1	Huge difference between balance bikes. We have two, the Strider and the Kettler. I really do not like the foam tires on the Strider. If I were to buy again I would go for a KinderBike, although I would LOVE the Jumper like lepaskilf. There are a lot of websites that compare the brands. I would google "balance bike reviews" and do some research.

Status: Offline

Apr 6th, 2012, 03:43 AM	#7
smelly07 Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: England down south Posts: 3,577	Love them...........my eldest daughter went from a balance bike straight to riding a bike without stabilizers instantly. I am buying my youngest a balance bike for her 3rd birthday. x

Status: Offline

Apr 6th, 2012, 03:46 AM	#8
Eala Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Glasgow Posts: 8,444	My parents got one for Roo as it was a bargain on Ebay. Roo loves the concept, she's having trouble with it though as she is something of a titchy toddler and if she sits on the saddle (with it on the lowest setting) she can't quite reach the floor So she tends to sit on the footplate and do it that way I'll almost certainly be getting her one for here at some point, I'm just on the hunt for one which is low enough for her to use properly

Status: Offline

Apr 6th, 2012, 03:57 AM	#9
lepaskilf Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: I live in North Wales Posts: 3,282	When we went to test out some of the bikes we tried the wooden likeabike version out and it was awful!!!!! The padding around the handlebars (to stop it damaging the frame when turning the handlebars) meant that the bike had no turning movement whatsoever! My OH said to the sales guy jokingly that it's a straight line bike lol!!!

Status: Offline

Apr 6th, 2012, 08:45 AM	#10
TigerLady Mum (Mom) BnB Spammer Elite Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: In a Cave Posts: 24,275	There are definitely cheap versions out there which I am not at all interested in. Someone pointed me to a wooden one I could get for about $35. No thanks. If I'm going to bother, I'm going to get a good one. Which is why it's going to cost about $100 per bike. I think the brands must differ from the UK to the US. After doing a bit of research, these two seem to be the best. Glide Bikes (mini glider for my kids) http://www.glidebikes.com/ Pros: the foot rest is in a very similar position to pedals to help them become accustomed to it. It has a hand brake just like a big bike would, they can learn to use it. Plus, knowing my son, he'll be dare-deviling it as soon as possible and the hand brake might be useful for him. Cons: It has EVC tires (like on strollers/prams) The KaZam http://kazambikes.com/about-us.aspx Pros: Has air tires Cons: the foot rest doesn't look as comfortable no brake Anyone have any thoughts on those?

Status: Offline

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Balance Bikes!

Huge difference between balance bikes.