In our store, we offer balance bikes with different wheel sizes (8”, 10”, 12.5”)—only at 🤔 —so which one is the right balance bike?
On our website, we provide an approximate age range; however, the child’s individual development, saddle height, and stride length are more important than age! After all, these factors can’t always be determined based on age alone.
The prerequisite for riding a balance bike should always be that your child can walk independently and safely.
Unlike on a “regular” bike, your child’s feet should also be able to touch the ground completely. This makes it easier for them to push off and, of course, to stop.
It is recommended that the step height be 2 cm longer than the seat height of the balance bike.
But: How exactly do you measure stride length?
It's very simple:
- The child is standing with his back to the wall, legs together and straight
- A book is held horizontally between the thighs and pushed all the way up
- Now measure the distance from the top edge of the book to the floor.
That sounds strange at first, but it works great!
Here is an overview of the respective seat heights:
Model |
Saddle Height |
Age |
Handlebar Turn Limit |
Running 8 |
28 - 36 cm |
2 - 4 |
yes |
Running 10 |
30 - 38 cm |
2 - 4 |
yes |
Speedy 10 Wheel |
33 - 43 cm |
2 - 4 |
yes |
Speedy 12.5 Inch Bike Wheel |
35 - 44 cm |
3 - 5 |
no |
Spirit Air 12.5 Scooter Wheel |
37 - 46 cm |
3 - 5 |
no |
| GO Running Wheel | 41 - 51 cm | 3-5 | no |
Another important point is the steering angle limit:
Young, inexperienced children in particular tend to make “jerky” and abrupt steering movements, which can lead to a fall or cause the balance bike to tip over.
In this sense, the steering angle limiter provides a safety margin for young children who have not yet mastered steering skills and allows for smoother cornering.
For very young children and balance bike beginners, it's usually recommended to set a limit to prevent falls caused by turning the handlebars too far from the start and to make those first practice rides possible ;-)
For children who have experience riding balance bikes and to help them prepare perfectly for riding a real bike, our 12.5” models no longer have a steering lock. This makes the transition to riding a real bike even easier!
And don't give up right away if it doesn't work out immediately!
You'll notice that your child will start out pushing the balance bike along without sitting on the saddle. Very quickly, they'll realize that they can also move forward while sitting on the saddle.
And since your child's safety is important to us🧡: Never let them ride without a helmet! 😉