Best Bike for 5 Year Old - What Size Bike for a 5 Year Old?

Best Bike for 5 Year Old Comparison in 2021

We have compared the main features of the best bike for 5 year old kid, you can can find the right bike for your 4-6 years old kids.

What Size Bike for a 5 Year Old?

What we talk about when we talk about kids' bike sizes is the diameter of the wheel instead of the frame size like an adult's bike. The right size will depend on your kids' growth. If they are taller than the rest, you can easily get one size larger to last two years or more.

What happens when you settle for a bike of the wrong size is that it will have to wait in the garage inside the package that it came in or you can pass it on to your nephew James, who unlike your child, probably has not outgrown the bike yet!

Adults do not put much thought into getting the right size nor do they go through the trouble of measuring, but it is different from a child since they do not have the reflexes or know the tactics to balance an unfitting bike. That is why getting the size right is more important than looking for a bike in your little one's favorite color. We are attaching a list of kids' bike sizes against their age, average height, and inseam below to give you a head start! So you can understand the best size bikes for your 4 to 5 years old kid.

What Size Bike Do I Need for a 4 Years Old Boy?

If you do not want to rummage in your house on weekends for Band-Aids and antiseptics, get a bike in the right size for your kid, and thank us later. The perfect sized bike for your dearest 4 year old boy or girl will not be a tough row to hoe since we already showed you the size chart. But, if you are thinking about why inseam height is important, you will get your answers right here.

Measurements:

If the bike's height from the ground to its top tube is more than your child's inseam, they cannot naturally rest their feet on the ground. Since 4-5 years is merely the starting age to learn how to ride a bike, it would be greatly inconvenient for your child. They might not like biking at all due to this problem and take over a sizable share from your television time. While getting the perfect wheels does the job pretty well, once you consider the frame size too, you leave no room for doubt. Closely follow our instructions on how to measure the right bike size for your child!

First, take the measuring tape in your home and use the centimeters side. Step two would be praying that your kid stands straight for a moment. All jokes aside, your kid should stand straight with their legs well-spaced and you should consider the distance from the ground to their crotch as the inseam length.

• The frame size of a Mountain bike: leg inseam in centimeters x 0.66
• The frame size of a Road bike: leg inseam in centimeters x 0.70
• The frame size of a City bike: leg inseam in centimeters x 0.685

 What is important for you to remember is that be it a dirt bike, road bike, city bike, or mountain bike- each is built differently and thus your child does not require the same frame size for all types of bikes.

For a pedal bike, you would want to get a bike that has a saddle height at least as tall as your child's inseam; if not, the difference should not be more than 2 inches. Otherwise, it is difficult for them to touch the ground to balance the ride. It may not be that big of a problem with training wheels on but once you take them off, riding a much taller bike becomes a fuss.

Best Bikes for 5 Year Old - Kids 16" Bike Review in 2021

An active child is naturally encouraged to take up healthy pursuits throughout their lives and stay focused during hardships. Although it is a matter of the distant future, the best you can do now is to pick your dear kid up from the couch and get them moving.

A bike is undoubtedly a good option but if you cannot get your ducks in a row about what specs to look for, we have short-listed some of the best bike for 5 year old kids that will get you a good bang for your buck!

1. John Deere - Best 16" Bike for 5 Year Old

With pneumatic tires and top-notch steel construction, this 16" kids' bike by John Deere takes the lead and sports an eye-catching look your child is bound to love! This bike comes in deep green color with the John Deere logo on its top tube. The vivid yellow rims of the wheels give the bike a punch of style. It is not a random kids' bike; in fact, it is an all-rounder!

It comes with durable training wheels that make the bike fit for being your child's first pedal bike. You have the option to remove them later on when your little one has mastered balance. Now, moving on to the tires- this bike has two 16" heavy-tread tires which are just perfect to rock on all kinds of terrains! Yes, we are talking about sidewalks to dirt roads, pavements to hilly tracks. The saddle is not only comfortable but also adjustable, giving the bike plenty of opportunities to grow your child!

Features:

• Quick-release seat clamp
• A 100-pound weight limit
• Comes with a limited 90 days manufacturer's warranty
• 16" heavy-tread tires

Rating: 4.3/5

Pros:

• Comes with a carrying rack
• Easy to assemble
• Front shocks, stunt bars, and hand brake
• Easy to reach brake levers

Why We Like It: We like this bike because it has everything you would want in your kids' bike. It can be your child's first pedal bike as well as the first bike they can take to the skate park to sport some bike tricks! To double the safety, this bike has easy to pull brake levers for a hand brake. The rear coaster brakes are there as well; making sure that braking becomes a breeze when your little one sets out for a ride!

2. Schwinn Boys Bike

Next up is a one of a kind boys' bike your little one will love taking out for a spin. This bike is not so heavy as regular kids' bikes that can go as high as 40 pounds! Rather it is lightweight yet sturdy featuring Schwinn's very own SmartStart Technology. It has easy gears and forward-positioned pedals and cranks to give your boy the best comfort it can get from a kids' bike.

Training wheels, chain guard, and number plate come included in the box. The saddle is adjustable and for your convenience, the seat-tube angle is slightly slacked so that the bike can grow with your child. The coaster brakes and front caliper brake give them a scope to have an advanced bike's experience which only has hand brakes.

Features:

• Quality training wheels for better balance
• Available in three fabulous  colors- red, blue and black
• Comfortable grips and saddle
• The 16" wheels are best for a 4-year-old

Rating: 4.1/5

Pros:

• Comes with a kickstand
• Sturdy steel frame
• Looks vibrant and attractive
• Seat handle for pushing the bike around

Why We Like It: Its generous weight limit makes it easy to run for a couple of years even if you do not have a younger child to pass it on. The top of the chainring, which might come in contact with your kids' legs if they are not careful, is covered with a chain guard for your peace of mind. As for the coaster brakes, all your kid has to do is pedal in the backward direction and the moving bike will come to a stop. If you think you will face difficulty while teaching your kid how to pedal or helping them to learn balance, the handle at the back of the saddle will make your work easier than ever!

3. Huffy Girls' Bike

If you are looking for a good bike for your 4-year-old girl, Huffy presents you with this 14" girls' bike that not only rides smoothly but also looks phenomenal! This is a bike that you can set up in 4 simple steps and your child is good to go! The pink training wheels will support your little one till they can balance the bike on their own. The sparkly streamers flowing from the handlebars give the bike a fabulous look.

The shimmering graphics all over the frameset, white wheels, pink rims, and the decorated chain guard make this bike quite hard not to love. Moreover, the saddle, as well as the top tube and pedals, are pink; they give this ride a nice burst of colors. Do not think this bike is all about looks; Huffy has once again outdone themselves by incorporating handbrakes to give your daughter a feel of adult bikes.  

Features:

• High quality steel frame
• Rear coaster brakes and hand brakes
• Looks attractive with a great color palette
• Quick connect assembly

Rating: 4.2/5

Pros:

• Comes with a carry bag at the front
• Removable training wheels
• Suitable for 4-6-year-old girls
• The quick-release seat allows easy height adjustments

Why We Like It: This bike can be a good beginner bike for your little girl who is just starting on her biking journey. The cushioned saddle, single-speed feature, and dual-braking system allow your little one to have a good time with the bike with utmost safety. Its lightweight build makes it super easy to maneuver and the all-terrain 14-inch tires make comfortable riding possible on most surfaces. Another cute feature of this bike is the vivid pink carry bag located at the front for carrying toys!

4. Coewske Kids Bike

This girls' bike can topple any bike for 4-6 year olds and become your little ones’ most favorite! Coewske presents you a bike that has it all- good brakes and gears, awesome safety features, and a sporty look. The plus point of this bike is that you would not need extra tools to put it together. It comes 95% assembled so it will only take a moment to set up the bike once it arrives at your doorstep.

The 16-inch tires are made of durable rubber and they are wide enough (2.125 inches) to support your girl in learning how to balance well before settling for thinner tires. The height of both the handlebars and the saddle is adjustable. This will be an incredibly fun ride for your girl and not mention, the safest beginner bike she can start with!

Features:

• Wide all-terrain tires
• Easy to assemble; no tools needed
• Doesn't come with a kickstand
• Rear coaster brakes and hand brakes

Rating: 4.4/5

Pros:

• Comes with a rear seat and front basket
• Colorful streamers and a bell
• Sponge-filled saddle
• Full chainguard for maximum protection

Why We Like It: This bike caught our eyes with its cute bell, shimmering streamers, and flowery basket. Your little one can keep toys, food, and water and set out for an afternoon ride with her friends at the park. Its comfortable saddle has a thick sponge inside that will save her from bumps on the roads. It also has a rear seat for your child's favorite doll. To put your mind at ease, the bike comes with a good set of training wheels to keep occasions like tipping over, falling at bay. And even with all these features, this bike weighs only 22.5 pounds; still lighter than most kids' bikes at the store!

5. Huffy Kids Bike

This kids' bike by Huffy sports the Disney Cars theme; even though your little one may not be a fan, they are sure to love its fun tire case storage that gives this ride a serious look. Its quick-connect feature means that putting together the bike after it is shipped is a child's play! The red and black color scheme as well as the all-over Cars design will turn heads around the block!

The bike apart from having a great look has a high-quality steel frame backed by Huffy's limited lifetime warranty. The quick-release seat post makes it very easy to adjust the saddle to a preferable height. McQueen took his place at the bike's top tube sporting his signature racer's smile and the Cars logo stamped tire case basket at the front is unique in this ride.

Features:

• Available in three colors
• Chainguard covers only the top of the chainring
• Removable training wheels
• Weighs 30.3 pounds

Rating: 4.2/5

Pros:

• You can choose between a tire case and lights & sound shield
• Limited lifetime warranty on the frame
• Backpedaling slows and stops the bike
• Slack seat-tube angle for more comfort

Why We Like It: This bike stands out for the top-level features it has to offer. To begin with, it has a comfortable saddle and long handlebars for the rider's ease. The pedals roll smoothly without a fuss so it's extremely convenient to take out for a spin on dirt roads or sidewalks. You can adjust the saddle to a suitable height and position. A flexible seat-tube angle means that your kid will comfortably stay in position no matter how bumpy the road is. The lights & sound shield style lets your kid enjoys a realistic dashboard that lights up and a racer's engine that roars with just a push of a button! 

6. RoyalBaby Kids' Bike

RoyalBaby presents you with a bike that is packed with many useful features. For example, this 16" kids’ bike comes with a kickstand as well as training wheels. The distance between the handlebar and easy to pull brake lever is the shortest you are going to find in a kids' bike; this makes learning how to hand brake a cinch for your little one!

The all-terrain tires are relatively wider than those of most kids' bikes with a width of 2.4 inches, giving your child more comfort as they learn biking ABCs. The sturdy training wheels showcase RoyalBaby's patented one-piece structure and they will live up to wear and tear for longer periods. The foam seat is super soft and it has a seat handle that you can hold onto while your kid practices without training wheels for the first time!

Features:

• Never-bent training wheels
• Water bottle carrier at the back
• Comes with a kickstand
• Available in a wide array of colors

Rating: 4.2/5

Pros:

• Non-slip and easy rotate pedals
• Soft foam seat with adjustable height
• Full chainguard
• Front caliper brake and rear coaster brake

Why We Like It: This bike caught our attention with its amazing details to the bike components; rather than focusing on a handful of features, RoyalBaby perfected all the small to big things that equally add up to altering your child's comfort and safety. When your kid learns how to pedal, they can do it forwards and backward and that is when the rear coaster brakes come to use. As they master the basics, they are ready to have the hand brake experience offered to you by its front caliper brakes. Moreover, its wide pneumatic tires add stability to their safe and fun-filled biking experience.

7. Joystar Totem Kids Bike

If you are looking for a decent beginner's bike for your precious 4-year-old, this could be the one. Not all kids like a flamboyant bike and keeping that in mind, Joystar kept the look of this bike simple. The stable training wheels make riding a breeze for your little one when they take their very first biking lessons.

The foot brake or rear coaster brake helps your child to have better control of the bike before picking up hand brakes in a more advanced model. The full chainguard makes sure that all the gears are safely enclosed for increasing safety. The bike rides at a uniform speed which means no complicated gears for focused learning!

Features:

• Premium steel frame
• Available in ivory, silver, and pink
• Quick-adjust seat height
• Rear coaster brakes only

Rating: 4.5/5

Pros:

• Requires minimum maintenance
• Spacious seating
• Fully covered chain guard to prevent accidental pricks and bruises
• Single-speed all-terrain bike

Why We Like It: The 16-inch wheels are of the perfect size to begin your 4-year olds’ biking lessons. The saddle is comfortable and the pedals are easy to rotate. The single-speed feature takes away the hassle of servicing complicated gears now and then. The DIY decal means that your child can unleash their artistic mastery upon it and style the new bike of their own accord!

Buyers Guide to Get the Best Bike for 5 Year Old Kids

So there you have it, our picks for the best bikes for 5 year old kids. Before you go out and purchase one of these, make sure you know what you are looking for your kid.

What to Look for in a Good Kids' Bike?

Since the bike you are going to buy for the 4-5-year-old age group is likely the first bike in your little one's life, you would leave no stone unturned to look for the best one out there. But how do you know which one is the best? Going for the more expensive of the lot may save your time but there is no guarantee that it is going to cater to your child's needs. Brand, cartoon merchandise, shipping, provided accessories raise the total pricing which has nothing to do with a bike's safety features.

We are listing some important attributes that you need to look into patiently before making a purchase.      

Hand Brakes or Coaster Brakes:

While foot brakes/ coaster brakes are relatively easy to master since all it takes for your kid is to pedal backward, they will eventually have to settle for a hand brake since it is the major braking mechanism for adult bikes.

Freewheel rides and balance bikes do not have coaster brakes and thus give your child ample opportunity to get accustomed to hand brakes. Hand brakes are best suited for riding on off-road and hilly terrains while coaster brakes are largely for afternoon sidewalk cycling.

The reason why parents have a hard time to choose is that both brakes have their share of pros and cons. Fortunately enough, most kids' bikes these days come equipped with both and they may provide conversion kits to replace the coaster with a freewheel. Moreover, good bikes have little distance between the handlebar and the brake lever that allows a child-friendly easy to pull braking for the ease of riding.

Chain Guard:

A chain guard is a protective covering over the bike's chainring. It is essential because there are many little and sharp components in that area and you certainly do not want your child to mess with them. Moreover, children are a bit clumsy when it comes to riding a bike for the first time. That is when they are more susceptible to getting harmed. A chainguard saves your precious one from accidental pricks and bruising on their legs when they pedal.   

Adjustable Saddle Height:

When the saddle height is adjustable, you have the option to lift the seat to a higher position if the bike, by any chance, is a bit smaller than what you initially thought. A quality bike will not only have an adjustable saddle but also a comfortable and spacious one. It is important because a hard and narrow saddle creates discomfort and not to mention, they can contribute to pain in your little one's crotch and back due to biking.             

Bike Height & Weight:

Heavier bikes are difficult to maneuver and if your child is not ready to handle the bike's weight, the bike becomes a burden instead of their fun-filled getaway. Bikes with hand brakes are lighter than bikes with coaster brakes. A good bike weighs lighter without compromising the materials. The bike's height is the length from the ground up to its top tube, which is best to keep as high as your child's inseam as mentioned before. You will readily find this information in the specs section of the product.     

Bike Accessories:

As much as an adult can do without any bike accessories at all, it is of the utmost importance from a child's point of view. A good bike, according to 4-5-year-old boys and girls, should be flamboyant, sparkly, have vibrant designs as well as a nice basket and yes, most of them prefer it if the bike makes a lot of noise. Which is why, merchandise of their favorite animation stays ahead of the game. You can find lots of fun decorative items on Amazon that you can set up on your kid's bike like bicycle stickers, bike bells, front handlebar basket, spoke lights, etc. A good bike may come with blank decals that your kid can color and create a unique style that is their own!

Differences Between Bikes for 5 Year Old and 6 Year Old

If getting a much bigger bike for your 4 year old kid is something you have given a thought, we will tell you that it is not going to be an economic fix for your home. In the same way, a smaller size does no good.

Here we will talk about a few areas on which kids' bikes differ to a noticeable extent as you go up and down the sizes.

Pedals and Tires:

Kids' bikes in the 4-5-year-old age range usually have all-terrain tires that your child can use on BMX tracks, dirt roads, pavements, etc. There are tubeless options that you can go for- lowering the chances of flats! Tires for the next age group come in not only all-terrain tread but also specific treads to boost mountain biking, road biking, and so on. Anti-slip and easy-rotate pedals are available on both.

Speed:

Bikes for smaller children usually incorporate a single-speed system for easy riding. However, many bikes for 5-6-year-olds have gears for multiple speeds.

Wheel Size: 

16" wheels are best suited for 4-5-year-old kids while 5-6-year-olds make good use of bikes with 18" wheels. But if your kid is 4 years old and a bit tiny, you can easily get them a 14" bike to start their biking journey!

Bike Weight:

Single speed bikes weigh less since they have fewer components in the gear. Bikes with coaster brakes weigh heavier than the ones with hand brakes.

Seat Height: 

The saddle height from the ground as well as the top tube length differs in both bikes. 5-6-year-olds want to balance the bike without having to keep their feet on the ground consistently like younger children; so, their bikes have higher seatposts.    

Safety Tips for the Little Bikers

You should consider good quality safety guards for your young rider an investment because they will save your child when it happens to be in an accident. As a parent, you can easily prevent that by teaching your kid all the biking basics from scratch as well as keeping an eye on them when they are starting, at least in the first two weeks.

However, other things can help them to ride comfortably without their safety at stake. Here are some tips your little boy or girl can follow-

Don't Forget The Helmet:

A helmet can save your little one from day to day biking troubles and it also puts your mind at ease. When they gather speed or pedal a bit late, the bike, however expensive it is, is subject to leaning towards the ground or they can tip over. With a helmet, your kid will come laughing out of it, dust off their shirt, and be on their merry way once again!

Strap on Knee Pads:

If you have spotless knees or legs then maybe you were not an adventurous one in your childhood days. But can you say the same about your kid? You do not want to wait and find out! Get them a pair of knee pads and stay worry-free!

Get A Headlight:

If "What would a child do with a headlight?" is the question that just popped up in your head, we are telling you that it does have a safety measure to serve. For better visibility at night or when the weather gets bad on a sudden, a headlight will safely guide your kid home.

Dress Accordingly: 

Bikers wear close-fitted yet breathable clothes because it helps them to pedal easily. A loose outfit is no less than a nuisance because it might get stuck to the chain. Dangling sleeves of clothing make it hard to grab the handlebars and brake comfortably. You can get cycling tights or knickers for your little one but a pair of shorts and a tee will do.

Know What Terrains to Avoid:

For a 4-5-year-old boy or girl, it is quite difficult to keep in mind all the biking hacks to rock their bike around the town in all seasons. So, they should avoid muddy and slippery streets, steep slopes, uneven dirt roads for now.

A Pair of Good Cycling Shoes:

Cycling shoes are a must-have to boost your kid's riding experience. They don’t slip around like sandals; rather they lock into the curves of the pedals so that it takes a minimum effort to pedal the bike for a long time. Road shoes, mountain shoes, BMX shoes, or track shoes go well with a bike.

Best Bikes for 5 Year Old  Video

Bottom Line

You cannot keep an eye on your child 24/7 nor can you stop them if they want to set out from the home to fight monsters with their friends on bicycles like the kids from Stranger Things; what you can do is at least get them a good bike. We discussed what size bike is ideal for your 4-5 year old child, handpicked and reviewed a number of great bikes, and added a few safety guidelines for you to go over. We cannot stress enough how important biking is for your 5 years old's growth and well-being and it is all the more reason to get a nice bike for them right away!