The Best 12-to-20-Inch Bikes for Kids
Best Overall
Diamondback Bicycles Cobra 20 Youth 20" Wheel Mountain Bike
Reliable Starter
Packed with nifty features, this youth mountain bike will help your new shredder get their tires beneath them.
What We Liked
The best way to buy a bike for kids: Buy one even an adult could be proud of. That’s the story with this Diamondback, which boasts many of the same bells and whistles that adult versions do. First up: A shock-equipped fork with 40 mm of travel makes even big bumps tolerable for little ones. A trigger shifter lets them easily and comfortably change gears while riding—a hard skill for younger bikers to master. Finally, adjustable pull brakes let them safely control their speed. Buy Now.
Runner-Up
Huffy Kids Hardtail Mountain Bike for Boys, Stone Mountain
Rugged Learner
Bumps and drops can’t stop this bike.
What We Liked
Getting comfortable with riding a bike can be a challenge, so we appreciated the slight rise on the handlebars of this model, which let kids adopt a more comfortable, upright riding position versus flat bars. The Shimano TZ-31 derailleur provides six different speeds for uphill and downhill performance, all available through a comfortable twist shifter, so your kid never needs to feel like they’re loosening their grip on the handlebars. Nice touch: the nearly 2-inch-wide tires, which are built for gravel and dirt. Buy Now.
Best for Young Kids
RoyalBaby Kids Bike
First Bike
Get them started right with a stable, no-fear bike.
What We Liked
If you hate following instructions, you’re going to love this: This tiny bike comes 95% assembled, so you don’t need to mess with tools or hardware to put it together. And once it’s together, you’re ready to go, with training wheels for their first rides and even a water-bottle cage behind the seat that works just like mom’s and dad’s. Kid transitioning from a coaster brake to a hand brake? This bike includes both, so even if they panic they can quickly and efficiently stop and don’t risk being bucked or running out of control. Plus: A chain guard keeps skin and clothing from getting caught in the gears. Buy Now.