Child’s bikes other than frog

Looking for a first child’s bike with pedals (second hand). Fingered out a frog 40 is the right size but want to know what other brands to look for. There must be others that are good or pretty good in the small child range.

Early Rider Belter
Giant ARX

Both in 16 inch wheel, but well designed frames for the size to last longer.

Squish 14
Vitus 14

Not sure how available they are though.

If you can afford it right now, don’t worry about buying new, if it doesn’t get too beaten up, you’ll probably be able to sell it for a respectable amount.

Pinnacle. Excellent and very well thought out kids’ bikes. You get stable long geometry, proper fat tyres unlike Islabike and Crud Catcher bosses.

my boys Hoy is really nice , seems well thought out .

Carrera Cosmos is available in 14 and 16″ wheels, and is what I found s/h for my daughter’s first pedal bike.

Nice light alu frame, proper aheadset, Kenda tyres, mini V brakes with little (adjustable) levers – all the stuff you’d expect of an Isla or Frog but Halfords snobs pass them by.

Good roundups of the other options at:

The best 14″ starter bikes for children aged 3 and 4 years

The best 16″ wheel bikes for 4 and 5 year olds

Thanks for the list looks good. I think 16″ maybe too big but there are some new ones for me to look for.

Dawes Academy 14 as well, it’s the same as the Squish but with a BMX style bar. Lovely bikes but don’t think for a second it will hold its value like an Islabike.

We’re about to sell youngest daughter’s Vitus 14, been really happy with it – lovely little bike, I’d highly recommend them.

Another vote for Carrera cosmos. A quality and light alloy bike but it is from Halfords. So if you can cope with that then its a winner.

Isla bikes? Can’t believe a kids bike thread hasn’t had them mentioned.
Or the Hope Academy for a bit of bling.

+1 Carrera cosmos

But also, if it’s in stock, they do one called a Carrera star that’s the same bike but with a dropped crossbar (“girls” version) so standover height is better. Makes it easier for learning to ride for all little ones that don’t want to bash their bits.

Taken a punt on a Black Mountain as they are belt drive as well as morphing and growing a little to perfect fit. On the verge of ‘you could buy a car for that’, but all on a par with Early Rider / Isla / Frog with no compromise components.

Little one loving it so far. Easy to carry.

.

We’re about to sell youngest daughter’s Vitus 14,

Where are you based? We may have a point of good timing?

Our LBS does a trade in and second hand frogs so after the initial outlay it costs me 50quidish a bike to size up. Worth checking out! (Velo Ulverston, of you’re lakesish)

Ridgeback Dimensions are nice – lighter and better finished than Frogs. Also fit better – Frogs are too long for many.

https://www.ridgeback.co.uk/bike/dimension-14-turquoise-2020

speccy do a 12″ and a 16″ riprock – both light and cheap

I’d go Islabike, fit well, light, well thought out, UK independant business, and because of resale, it sounds expensive up front but keep it nice and when junior moves on you’ll sell it on isla bikes 2nd hand FB page in minutes.

The Team20 looks seriously good fun, but no idea how specs match up to other brands for the money (they were all 20% off around last weekend).

https://www.planetx.co.uk/c/q/bikes/superior-bikes?sort=price-asc