FirstBIKE Cross with Brake - Parent

I was first introduced to balance bikes while doing an internet search to see what age toddlers are able to use pedals. I was all set to plunk down the money for a Kettler tricycle because I wanted something that would last, preferably through multiple kids, and the Kettler seemed to be the best option. Then I came across a safety video showing how easily tricycles tip and how dangerous they can be. It was a video promoting the use of balance bikes. I was hooked.I started out wanting to get a wooden bike because that's what I saw everywhere, the Skuut, LikeABike, Prince Lionhart, etc. But then I started reading about how they don't hold up to abuse, and my son is a rough boy. I knew I needed something more durable. It came down to this and the Kinderbike Laufrad Mini, which looks like a great bike in its own right, but the Kinderbike appears to have some quality control issues that I did not want to deal with. Everything pointed me in the direction of this bike. With it's maximum seat height adjustability with the lowering kit (an additional 15 bucks, but you get 2" of lower seat adjustment down to 12"), the composite frame that is guaranteed for life and won't rust or warp, and all the rest of the safety features, I decided this bike was worth the extra 30 bucks over the Kinderbike. I wanted a bike with real rubber air tires, a comfy seat, and preferably a brake, even though he probably won't use the brake right away. I research everything (sometimes to death) and this bike was no exception. I found TONS of useful information on a site devoted to balance bikes called Two Wheeling Tots.I purchased this for my very active 19-month-old as an Easter gift (we still have 2 months until Easter) knowing that he may still be too short to ride it until summer. I decided to let him try this bike out before Easter to see if he can ride it, and he is still a little too short to ride comfortably, even with shoes on. He is currently about 34" tall and 25 lb. I think if he grows another inch it will be perfect. Right now he is on his tiptoes, and he seems nervous about being on the bike. Since I don't want him to be nervous, I put it away again.It was very easy to assemble. I just watched a YouTube video and it was put together in less than 10 minutes. The lowering kit was a snap to install as well, and that took about 5 minutes with the respective YouTube video. I recommend watching the videos because the instructions that come with the bike are not as easy to follow. Not hard to follow, but not as easy as watching the videos.I picked the Cross model, even though I really wanted blue, because we plan to take this on gravel on occasion and it was priced lower than the Street model. I wish they offered all the models in all the colors. The red is pretty though, and plenty neutral in case we end up passing this down to a girl someday. Or you could look at it from the standpoint of resale value (most boys won't want pink). This bike is not cheap, and it was a splurge for us. The more I read about the benefits of balance bikes, the happier I am that I spent the money on this. I don't intend to buy any tricycles, scooters, etc. This is it.I purchased the Catlike Kitten helmet for my son to use with this and it fits him like a glove. Highly recommend.I can't wait until we can get him outside this summer. He's going to love it.Update 3-22-15A year plus some later, and we are FINALLY getting our almost 3-year-old interested in this. We had the lowering kit on last year, but he was still not comfortable riding it. I hauled this out two days ago when we had a warm-ish day and told him if he rode it to the playground he could play. And he did. He rode it home, too. I could see some improvement right away. On the ride home he was using the seat and going faster. Today I took the lowering kit off, thinking that at a hair shy of 39", he doesn't need it. He doesn't, but the seat is on the lowest setting. My son is quite tall for his age, so most 3-year-olds are going to need the lowering kit. I am hoping to spark his interest in it enough that we can get him good enough to go on bike rides this summer.Bottom line, this bike is really best for 3 and up.Update 4-9-15Three weeks of riding daily and my son has mastered this bike. He is putting his feet up and balancing. I am so happy I bought this, as he will be all set for a pedal bike next summer, and we are going to go on our first family bike ride this weekend!Update 7-14-15My son transitioned to a pedal bike 2 weeks ago, a week before his 3rd birthday. It took him about 5 minutes to get the hang of pedaling it (no training wheels) and he rides it daily. This bike was instrumental in allowing him to achieve this a week shy of 3. Balance bikes are worth it!

Great Product!Many friends told me balance bikes were the way to go when your kiddo is first learning to ride a bike.I did some research and found the FirstBike. The price of the FirstBike was around the same cost as a name brand balance bike at my local bike shop.I ordered off amazon and the bike came quick and assembled in a snap.My son was a little frustrated at first as a balance bike at low speeds is kind of tough. He stuck with it and practice got him gliding along in no time. He ended up loving the balance bike and enjoyed it for months. Once he had mastered the balance bike we purchased him a "big boy" bike on amazon. Here is the best part! The first time we took him out on his new pedal bike he took off! First try! The balance bike gave him the skill he needed to balance and all he had to do was start peddling. I would highly recommend this product or at least any balance bike before moving on to a pedal bike. Skip the training wheels and the false security they give.This bike is great quality, it’s light, and it has limited steering which helps new riders not over-turn and crash.I wish they made pedal bikes!

We bought this bike for my son’s second birthday. He is tall for his age and we bought the optional lowering kit and it works great! He loves this bike it is light weight and there is nothing that sticks out that he can hurt himself on. Is a unique look. The things that I really care about and wanted were air inflated tires as we have a lot of gravel and he doesn’t stay on the pavement. And the hand brake. I think that him learning to stop will be very important, he doesn’t quite get it yet but I think he will use this for several years. we really liked this bike, and he loves it!

After 3 years of use this balance bike is still going strong. First my son used it for a year and half and then graduated to a big boy bike. Now my daughter enjoys the bike and has recently started to ride her big girl bike. These balance bikes do work, kids have to get used to it and keep practicing. Both my kids have skipped the training wheels without a problem.Update 5-21-20My 3rd child is using this balance bike, while my other kids enjoy their big kid bikes. I've had the bike for 6 years now and it still works well.

For some reason, our 4-year-old son refuses to ride a bike with pedals. He had a wooden balance bike that finally wore out, so we ordered this bike for him. He absolutely loves it! I wish we would have bought it for him sooner! He very quickly learned to balance all the way down the hill on our street. He can even balance pretty well at very slow speeds. Love that it has a hand brake, since that is something that will be on bikes as he gets older. He already uses it, which is fantastic. Initially, I wished the bike had pegs or a small area to rest his feet on while he is balancing, but I suppose that he is strengthening his core as he holds his legs up... Anything like that would impede his ability to stride his legs, anyways. Great bike, definitely worth the investment!