Best Bikes for 4 Year Olds in 2023

Once your child becomes a 4-year-old, he/she will be able to pull off more complex physical feats such as hopping, climbing, and maybe even some hygiene-based activities. In short, he/she is becoming more capable of person.

Soon enough, he/she may even be able to take part in sports if you keep encouraging him/her to hone her physical skills.

You can make that task easier for your child by picking out a good bicycle, and for your reference, we have included our reviews of some of the best bikes for 4-year-olds below.

Best Bike for 4-Year-Olds Comparison Table

Best Bike for 4-Year-Olds Reviews

Now, we can go to the reviews of the best bikes for 4-year-olds.

Woom 2 Pedal Bike – The Ideal Transition Bike

The transition from using a balance bike to one that comes with pedals is going to be one of the early challenges that a child will face. After getting used to balance bikes that allow them to focus only on steering and staying upright, suddenly having to factor pedaling and changing speeds into the equation is quite the change.

Several features allow the Woom 2 to serve as a good transitional bike.

For starters, its form is still reminiscent of a balance bike. The wheels are placed at a distance still consistent with what you would see in a balance bike, and the handlebars are elevated a bit but remain easy to reach for a 4-year-old.

The designers then introduce other features that are supposed to introduce kids to the concepts of advanced bike riding such as the pedals and the v-brakes.

It is odd though that the designers still decided to feature coaster brakes in the bike. They are superfluous additions and they just increase the odds for more falls to happen. Other than that, there’s really nothing else to complain about in this bike.

Strider 14X – The Bike Suitable for the Late Beginners

Not everyone thinks of teaching their kid to ride a bike at just 2 or 3 years old, and while there is nothing wrong with that, it does make catching up more complicated.

The folks at Strider evidently thought that some families may be facing that exact issue and they decided to come up with a bike that will get delayed learners up to speed in a hurry.

The Strider 14X is a balance bike in its most basic form, but crucially, it’s a bigger balance bike.

Strider has a reputation for designing some of the best kids’ bikes currently on the market and they did an excellent job with the 14X as well even though it is suited for a slightly different segment of the younger population.

All the features you want from a balance bike are here.

The bike remains exceptional even after undergoing the transformation and it’s a nice transitional option for your kid to have. You’ll wish the designers went with something else instead of the coaster brakes, but they probably didn’t have a choice given that this is a 2-in-1 item.

This is also one of the more expensive kid’s bikes, but your investment will pay off because you’re getting a highly useful and durable item.

RoyalBaby BMX Freestyle – A Stylish Option for the Advancing Rider

At 4 years of age, your child may be getting the hang of this bike riding thing, and in that case, a little step up in difficulty may be in order. The BMX Freestyle Kid’s Bike from RoyalBaby provides that slightly more challenging bike that your child may need.

You will also have multiple variants of this item to choose from:

1. If your kid is already a pretty skilled rider but still on the smaller side, then just get the one with 12-inch wheels.
2. If your kid’s a bit bigger already, then the option that comes equipped with 14-inch wheels should work just fine for him/her.

There’s also something to be said about the fine detailing of this bike. The additional flourishes on the handlebar grips and wheels are subtle touches, but they help to make an already cool-looking bike appear even better.

The chain guard is a pretty slick addition as well.

Huffy Star Wars – May the Force Be with Your Kid

Put it this way. You’re probably going to have a way harder time convincing your kids not to ride this bike as opposed to getting them to believe that it will be fun to ride.

The “Star Wars” franchise is beloved the world over, and just about anything related to it has a great chance to be a hit.

Your child will have three design options to choose from:

1. First off, he can get the one featuring the stormtrooper as the handled basket.
2. The next option is designed similarly to the first, but Darth Vader takes the place of the stormtrooper.
3. The third and final model differs quite a bit from the two as it does not feature any particular character and instead has two lightsabers serving as the handlebars.

You can’t really go wrong with any of those three options, but the one with lightsabers is particularly cool.

Sadly, the lightsabers may stop working after a while. They will still look cool attached to the bike, but it would be better if they could be illuminated at will.

Still, the appeal of the “Star Wars” theme is strong, and you’ll have a hard time convincing your kid to choose anything other than this bike.

Schwinn Jasmine – A Beautiful Bike for a Young Lady

Bikes specifically made to appeal to young girls are honestly not widely available in the market at the moment, and that’s a real shame. Bike riding is a great hobby for any child, and it’s not just the boys who deserve bicycles that are specifically designed to appeal to them.

Thankfully, there are still some good options for girl’s bikes available, and one example is the Jasmine Kids’ Bicycle from Schwinn.

Its standout feature is obviously its design. The combination of pink and purple works really well and the turquoise accents provide a nice bit of contrast to the two other hues.

You will also find floral accents throughout the bike. They can be seen on the frame of the bike, the chain guard, and even the seat.

There’s more to love about this bike beyond its looks though.

Many of the features have been adjusted to be more comfortable for a child to use and the frame is also made out of solid steel.

The steel brings needed durability, but it also adds unwanted weight that could make the bike harder to control.

Tauki BMX Street/Dirt Bike – A Bike Suited for the Quick Learners

If you didn’t think of having your child learn how to ride a bike at 2 or 3 years old, you may run into some problems by getting that process started now.

For one, finding a bike that will fit his/her growing body could be tricky because the majority of balance bikes may be a bit too small and he/she is obviously not ready yet for the conventional pedal bikes.

Should you ever find yourself in such a pickle, the Tauki Kid BMX Street/Dirt Bike may be able to help you out.

Even if your 4-year-old is a bigger kid, this bike should still prove comfortable to ride for him/her as a beginner.

If the initial training process goes well, you won’t even need to go out and get a new bicycle for your kid because you can simply take the training wheels off of this one and quickly transform it into a pedal bike.

The cockpit of this bike is a bit cramped however, and it can be a squeeze for some kids. That could cause riders to feel discomfort faster and it may lead to shorter riding sessions.

JOYSTAR – Built to Withstand the Learning Process

Because going from balance bikes to pedal bikes is a significant shift, you should count on there being some form of trial and error. In other words, don’t be surprised if your kid and the bike fall over a lot.

To counteract the wear and tear constantly falling over can inflict on a bicycle, you need to get one that’s designed with enhanced durability, and the JOYSTAR Kids’ Bike fits the bill quite well.

You would think that there’s a weight tax you need to pay for a steel bike this solid, but there really isn’t.

Since you’re getting this bike for a 4-year-old, you will want to purchase either the model with 12-inch wheels or the one with 14-inch wheels. Regardless of which option you choose, the bike is not going to weigh over 20 lbs, and that’s precisely what you should want.

The folks from JOYSTAR even decided to include some additional safety features to keep your mind at ease such as the reflectors and the chain guard.

It is worth noting that the pedals of this bike can be a bit tough to work with, especially for a smaller kid.

You could see that as a positive as your kid won’t be able to reach dangerous speeds, but that issue with the pedals can also make the experience of riding the bicycle less enjoyable.

Nickelodeon Thomas The Train – The Bicycle Designed for Your Little Conductor

Even though your kid is growing up, that doesn’t mean he/she has forgotten about her favorite shows. If anything, he/she may even be more into those programs than ever before and you may have trouble pulling him/her away from the tablet or TV because of that.

Well, if your kid is a fan of “Thomas the Tank Engine”, this particular bike should be something he/she will love.

The manufacturers paid great attention to the details while designing this bike.

That is evident in the good placement of Thomas’ familiar face on the bike and how they stayed true to that character’s iconic colors. They even went through the trouble of making the bike’s wheels look like train wheels.

Also included in the bike is a mechanism that produces sounds fans of the show will immediately recognize.

If you’re just looking at this item as something to get for a fan of the aforementioned show, then it will certainly appear to be an ideal gift.

Dig a little deeper though, and you’ll see that it leaves a lot to be desired when evaluated as a bicycle.

Nickelodeon Paw Patrol – Designed for the Protectors of Adventure Bay

The citizens of Adventure Bay can rest easy knowing that they are protected by the “Paw Patrol,” and your kid can join in on the fun as well by doing more than just watching the show.

The Paw Patrol Boys’ Bicycle features many of the shows beloved canine characters. Kids will be able to see images of Chase, Marshall, and Rubble plastered all across the bike, and they will feel like they are going on adventures with them as well.

Going with the red, blue, and yellow color combo is also a wise choice made by the designers because they don’t get in the way of the images, and they even stay on theme.

It’s also worth pointing out the paw prints on the training wheels. They are minor aesthetic additions, but they highlight how much thought the designers put into this bike.

The centerpiece of the bike is the handlebar plate that shows all three of Chase, Marshall, and Rubble lined up next to one another.

Regrettably, that handlebar plate also happens to be poorly attached to the bike itself. Even when you and your kid are careful, that handlebar plate may still end up coming off simply because it was not designed that well.

Glide Bikes Ezee Glider – A Good Choice for Teaching the Fundamentals

Glide Bikes’ Ezee Glider is another balance bike designed for the bigger kids, and it excels at teaching them the most important lessons about bike riding.

If there’s an issue with the handlebars, that can be addressed too.

The bike itself is also remarkably solid but still manages to come in at a good weight for a kid’s bicycle, and that allows for maneuverability and stability.

Your child can also learn about how to properly use a hand brake thanks to this bike.

The designers also included removable foot pegs together with this bike. The idea behind their design is a good one, but the execution is not quite on the same level.

Had the foot pegs been designed to be just a tad smaller, they would have worked nicely with this bike.

The foot pegs shouldn’t prevent you from getting this bike however, as it is still a fine choice for a kid who’s still trying to get started.

Dynacraft Magna Major Damage – For the Young Boy Looking for a Greater Challenge

Young boys can be really competitive. They want to show off to their friends and make it clear that they are better at whatever it is they’re doing, and that could very well include bike riding.

It’s not a good idea to teach your kid how to be boastful, but they should be allowed to show the product of their hard work at the very least.

If you want to give your kid something he can use to showcase his developing bike riding skills, then purchasing the Dynacraft Magna Major Damage Bike may be a good idea.

The people at Dynacraft knew what they were doing while designing this bike as it very much looks like something that will appeal to young boys everywhere.

A kid that already knows plenty about riding a bike should have little to no issue having fun with this Dynacraft offering.

To be clear though, this bike is not something you just want to hand over to any kid.

Beginners will struggle with this.

The inclusion of the handlebar pad should prevent some minor injuries, but even so, that’s not enough to provide adequate protection for a beginner.

Even if this bike is meant for kids, only the young boys who have a good amount of experience with bicycles should take it out for a spin.

ENKEEO 12 Sport Balance Bike – A Comfortable Bike for Fast-Growing Kids

Children grow at different rates. Some kids take time to reach the expected height and weight for their age, and others zoom past those marks. If your child falls into the latter group, finding a beginner bike for him/her may seem nearly impossible.

The good news is that there are options available to you, and one of the best currently on the market now is the 12 Sport Balance Bike from ENKEEO.

If you just look at the specs of this bike, you may assume that there’s no way it will be able to handle the bigger kids, but that is not the case at all.

The bike also continues to perform remarkably well and it will not be slowed down even when it is pushed to the limit of its weight capacity.

Unfortunately, there is a durability issue with this bike that is linked to its wheels. The foam wheels work well enough but they simply get worn down too easily, and because of that, the bike’s durability also takes a hit.

It’s a noticeable blemish on an otherwise excellent bike, but that won’t prevent this product from continuing to serve your kids well.

Buyer’s Guide

What you’ll see below are some of the most important things to keep in mind while you are shopping for a bicycle to give to your 4-year-old. They are general guidelines that will account for the majority of 4-year-olds.

• Bike Type: Balance bikes are still acceptable at this point, but you should not shy away from getting a pedal bike if your kid has previous experience with this hobby.
• Weight: Since the average 4-year-old weighs around 40 lbs, a bike that comes in at around 13 lbs would be ideal.
• Wheel Size: 14-inch wheels work best for 4-year-olds.
• Handlebar Type: Adjustable handlebars are harder to come by in bikes for 4-year-olds, so focus on looking for low or mid-rise handlebars instead.
• Brake Type: Hand brakes should be easy enough to use for 4-year-olds.

Go ahead and check out our extended Buyer’s Guide to learn more about choosing the right bike for your kid.

As this article has shown you, there are all kinds of bikes for 4-year-olds for you to choose from, ranging from ones that stand out because of their looks and others that shine due to their capabilities. Just take some time to sort through the options and you will certainly find one that is going to work great for your child.