11 November 2026 · News · product
Choosing your child's first bike
Weight, brakes and fit matter far more than colour or tassels. What to look for in a first bike, and how to get the size right when it's going under the tree.
Most kids learn to ride on a bike that's working against them. It's heavy, the brakes are built for adult hands or hidden in the pedals, and it was bought a size up so they could grow into it. None of that stops a determined five-year-old, but it makes the first weeks of riding a wrestle.
A good first bike gets three things right: it's light, it stops the way a bike should, and it fits the child riding it today.
Weight comes first
An adult bike is a fraction of the rider's weight. A cheap kids' bike can be close to half. Put an 11 kg steel bike under an 18 kg child and it's like an adult setting off on a bike weighing more than 40 kg. Each start, each turn and each time they pick it up off the ground is harder than it needs to be.
Weight changes how quickly a child learns. A light bike is easier to balance at walking speed, easier to steer, and easier to wheel back to the start for another go. It's also one they can lift into the car themselves.
Look for hand brakes
A coaster brake stops the bike when the rider pedals backwards. It sounds simple, but it gets in the way of learning. Kids naturally push a pedal back to find their starting position, and a coaster brake stops them each time they do. It also teaches a habit they'll have to unlearn on each bike that comes after.
Hand brakes sized for children have levers that small hands can reach and squeeze. They're also how your child will stop for the rest of their riding life. Most kids coming off a balance bike with a hand brake already know how to use them.
Buy for the size they are now
Buying a size up is the most common mistake we see. A bike that's too big is hard to get on and off, hard to balance, and harder to stop. Kids grow into bikes far more slowly than parents expect, and a scary first bike can put them off for a season.
Wheel size is only a starting point. As a rough guide, balance bikes suit ages 2 to 4, 16 inch bikes ages 4 to 6, 20 inch bikes ages 5 to 8, and 24 inch bikes ages 8 to 11. Inside leg matters more than age. Your child should be able to stand over the bike with both feet flat on the ground and reach the bars without stretching. Bikes with the same wheel size can fit differently, so we measure your child before we recommend one.
Why we stock Base
Base Bikes is an Australian family business, started by parents who couldn't find this kind of first bike here. The Base 16 weighs 6.9 kg, with a low, stable frame and no coaster brake. The Base 20 adds seven gears at 8.5 kg, and the Base 24 has eight gears and hydraulic disc brakes at 9.5 kg. The Base Balance Bike has air filled tyres and a small rear hand brake, so your child already knows how to use the brakes when they step up to pedals. You'll find them in our kids' bikes.
Buying it as a Christmas present
A surprise bike makes sizing harder, because your child can't try the bike first. Measure their inside leg at home. Stand them against a wall in socks, slide a book up between their legs until it's snug, and measure from the top of the book to the floor. Bring that number and their height, and we'll work out the size with you.
We build and check each kids' bike before it goes home, so it's ready to ride on Christmas morning. Our workshop looks after kids' bikes too, from brake checks to new tyres.
Talk to us at the MC Clubhouse before you commit, and bring the measurements or your young rider.
