Danger of falling: Why you could fall on your nose when buying a children's bike
11.4.2024
Translation: machine translated
Does a good children's bike really have to be expensive? The ADAC wanted to find out in a test with 16-inch bikes. The answer is: yes.
Parents know the dilemma: most children's products are only used for a short period of time. Before long, the offspring have outgrown their clothes and shoes and need new models again.
The use of a children's bike is also relatively short. Even if you can raise the saddle here - at some point the possibilities are exhausted and a new model is needed. This is an expensive purchase: depending on the size, you can quickly fork out between 300 and 1000 francs for a children's bike. Is that necessary? Wouldn't a cheaper bike be just as good - without compromising on quality? This is exactly what the ADAC wanted to find out in a test.
More than half are good
The German Automobile Club tested 14 children's bikes at different prices - all with 16-inch tyres. This is because many children learn to ride a bike on this wheel size. Handling, riding characteristics, suitability for the child, safety and harmful substances were the test criteria. To test the riding characteristics, the ADAC involved nine children in a practical test.
The good news is that eight bikes - more than half - fulfil good standards overall. The bad news is that you can't avoid the high price if you're looking for a high-quality bike. There are hardly any worthwhile bargains: the cheapest ones end up at the bottom of the ranking.
However, there is not necessarily a connection with the price in terms of safety. Some models tested were found to have "significant safety deficiencies and technical weaknesses", as the ADAC writes. Five bikes lacked the prescribed number of reflectors and eight lacked a complete chain guard. The loser "Pyro Sixteen" - one of the most expensive bikes tested - was criticised for the risk of falling. The "Royal Baby Freestyle" - the cheapest - due to its poor braking performance.
The test winner: the lightest and most expensive
One of the key factors when buying a bike is its weight. The lighter the bike, the easier it is to ride and practise on. The 5.9 kilograms of the test winner are also a significant factor: the "Original 3" from the trendy brand Woom is the lightest model in the test field.
The lightweight had a positive effect on the handling of the nine children in the practical test, according to the ADAC judgement. The fact that the brake lever and saddle height can be adjusted flexibly and without tools also stood out. And particularly helpful: the rear brake lever is colour-coded so that children don't confuse the front and rear brakes when riding.
These features have earned the "Original 3" from Woom a "good" rating - and the best grade of 2.0 (German grading system). However, this also comes at a price: at around 489 francs, the bike is also the most expensive in the test.
In addition to the test winner, you can also find the following "good" children's bikes in our shop:
The test loser: safety deficiencies despite high price
The "Sixteen" from Pyro is "inadequate" according to the ADAC test and comes last in the ranking. This is surprising, as it is one of the most expensive products in the test field. The problem is that the pedal distance to the ground is too small - this is particularly dangerous when cornering. "In practical tests, it happened relatively quickly that children had pedal contact with the ground when cornering. This quickly leads to falls," explains test manager Stefan Grabmaier in an interview with "Spiegel". Galaxus does not stock the bike in its shop.
For the following children's bikes, which are available in our shop, it was only enough for a "satisfactory" or "sufficient" rating:
Used instead of new
And the moral of the story? A good children's bike is expensive, whether you like it or not. But in return, you usually get a bike with a correspondingly high resale value. It's definitely worth getting more children's feet on the pedals of the decommissioned bike. Or look for second-hand bikes yourself.
Header image: ADAC/Ralph Wagner
Katja Fischer
Senior Editor
Katja.Fischer@digitecgalaxus.chMom of Anna and Elsa, aperitif expert, group fitness fanatic, aspiring dancer and gossip lover. Often a multitasker and a person who wants it all, sometimes a chocolate chef and queen of the couch.
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