If the distance between the handlebars and seat is too tight, the child will be uncomfortably upright, or even leaned slightly back and scrunched up, and their knees will hit the handlebars as they grow if that seat-to-bar distance is too great, the youngster will be hunched over and placing too much weight on the handlebars.
The lithe, aluminum Woom 3 is remarkably lightweight (13.6 pounds) thanks in part to its wheels, which incorporate proprietary alloy rims and just 16 spokes each (most of the other bikes we tested had 28). The Co-op Cycles REV 16 also has smoother welds, a nice (unisex) paint job, and tougher, better-designed components. That said, it has a lower top speed than our pick, which made it less fun for our more experienced testers, and its tires-which are smoother than the REV 16’s-didn’t handle dirt paths as well. Our testers liked the medium-aggressive riding position that allowed easy out-of-the-saddle riding, the quick acceleration (and stopping) on mild to moderate inclines, the adjustable seat height, which-similar to the Co-op-ranges from 19.5 to 24 inches-and a handlebar stem that adjusts by 2.5 inches. While the Jazzi and the MXR (currently out of stock) are delineated by Raleigh as girls and boys bikes, respectively, the differences between the two models are cosmetic, not substantive. However, the Raleigh Jazzi manage to hit that price while featuring what we consider to be the most important options for kids: a lightweight aluminum frame (at 17.75 pounds for the Jazzi, the bike is only slightly heavier than our top pick), kid-friendly geometry, and sizing that will suit a good range of ages (we’d estimate from 3 years up to 6). Kids bikes costing $150 or less usually drop in quality dramatically. If we had one complaint, it’s that the 17-inch-wide handlebars are a bit narrow, which in our testing meant that the bike responded sometimes too quickly for first-timers. The paint job, welds, and componentry-from headset to alloy wheelset-are top-notch, as are REI’s customer support, warranties, and return policies. We also liked the bike’s gearing, which performed well on moderate hills and allowed for good acceleration. The 1.75-inch, semi-knobby tires perform well on dirt or pavement, and the 1.5-plus inches of adjustability on the handlebar stem and a seatpost that ranges between 20.5 and 25 inches means this bike will fit a wide array of kids. (Kids who learned on balance bikes and are accustomed to putting their feet down to stop will have a small adjustment period in learning to use coaster brakes.) The REV 16 comes nearly completely assembled and ready to ride within a few minutes-unlike two-thirds of the other bikes we tested, which required more wrenching (or possibly a bike shop visit). It is light (16.9 pounds), has kid-friendly geometry, and was a favorite of our testers because of its versatility-it comes with removable training wheels and is highly adjustable, and its old-school coaster brakes make it easy for kids to get going without much fuss. The REI Co-op Cycles REV 16 Kids' Bike is a nicely designed, mid-price bike from REI, a nationwide retailer run by actual outdoor enthusiasts.