Are you looking for the ultimate toy bike for your little rider?
Then look no further, you have come to the right place. We’ve done all the leg work to bring you 10 great toy bike options for toddler’s aged 1-to-2 years.
From ride-on toys to balance bikes, our two-part series titled, “10 ultimate toy bike’s for toddler’s 1-2-years” has something for every budding young rider.
Why can you trust us?
Our lifetime of bike riding experience, merged with our education and psychology expertise enables us to explore, research and play with kid’s bikes so that we can meet our mission.
That is to bring you the very best, non-sugar coated, straight down the line information on all things bike so that you can be well-informed whether a bicycle product will be the perfect fit for your unique little rider.
Welcome to Part 1 in our series, which brings you numbers 1-to-5 of our ultimate Toy Bike’s for Toddlers aged 1-to-2-years.
** Important Note:
While the below products come recommended, its important to practice perspective when choosing any bike for your child. Remember, your child is unique, and not all bikes are created equal.
Some bikes (and products) will suit and fit your child, other’s simply will not. So, we always recommend doing your own research and trying out a product before making your final purchase.
Let’s get riding!
*** Affiliate disclosure time: Note, we are a customer supported website. Affiliate links are used in this review. If you click on those links and make a purchase within a time frame, we earn a small commission.
10 ultimate toy bike’s for toddler’s 1-to-2-years
Part 1 – Numbers 1-to-5
To help you navigate our top five, its essential that we first explain the types of bikes available for this age group.
Essentially, there are three modes of bikes available to cater for toddler’s around 1-to-2 years. These include;
- Ride-on-toys
- Tricycles and bikes with training wheels, and
- Balance bikes
Out of these three alternatives, we recommend just two. Ride-on toys and balance bikes.
Our reasoning is simple and is directly related to our ultimate goal. That is, we want to help your child to learn how to ride a bike and for you to be better equipped to teach them.
The best method to do this is for your child to develop the key physical capabilities intuitive to riding a bike. The most essential of these skills is balance.
At 1-year of age your child will not yet have the physical capacity to balance on a bike, but we can encourage and develop the motor patterns that will help them get there quickly and in a fun way by providing them with the right toys.
Ride-on-toys provide the right first step in developing the essential skills before graduating to a balance bike anywhere from around 12 to 24 months. These ride-on-toys you will notice, except for the Micro Kickboard, have a quad wheel design which is more stable than a balance bike, but less stable than a tricycle or bike with training wheels.
This degree of instability almost magically allows your child to develop the correct motor patterns of balance and coordination required to eventually ride a bike on their own.
Ok, now that you have a better understanding of what and why, let’s take a look at some fun toys (the how) that are a great option for your budding little rider’s.
Ride-on Toys: 12-to-18 Months
1. GOMO Sprout
Price: USD $44.99 at Amazon.com
Weight: 4.2 lbs.
Pros: Soft, adjustable horse saddle seat, adjustable handlebars with bumpers, durable lightweight aluminum frame, two-year warranty
Cons: More confident toddlers can tilt the bike over
Feature Summary: The GOMO rocks some great features including adjustable handlebars and seat, durable aluminum frame, seat post and handlebars, EVA foam tires, soft comfy grips with bumpers that you would do well to find on a balance bike, a two-year warranty and a more robust build than most ride-on toys on the market.
Overall, we really like and highly recommend this little riding toy as a great introduction to riding.
*** Note: This item is also available in a GOMO Sprout flip model which has been designed to allow your child to ride the bike for longer. The frame can be flipped to adjust the frame’s dynamics.
This may see your child happily ride the GOMO for an additional 6 months (up to 2 years), however the added expense (USD $69.99 at Amazon.com) we recommend is best saved and put into a kids balance bike between ages 18-to-24 months instead.
2. Hape Scoot Around
Price: USD $57.37 at Amazon.com
Weight: 5.7 lbs.
Pros: Sustainable wooden design, simple fun set-up with restricted steering
Cons: No adjustability available for seat and handlebars
Feature Summary: This cute, environmentally friendly, award-winning bike is a great option for toddler’s around 12 months. More like a toy than a bike, it has restricted steering, small, rubberized wheels that are best used indoors, and a wider quad-wheel design that provides a little more stability than some of its quad-equipped competitors.
The wooden frame is basic yet functional and is finished with non-toxic water-based paints.
Just make note that due to its non-adjustable set-up, some toddler’s may outgrow this bike relatively quickly. That being said, your little rider should have lots of fun on this bike from ages 12-to-24 months.
3, Ancaixin Baby Balance Bike
Price: USD $39.94 at Amazon.com
Weight: 4.4 lbs.
Cons: No seat or handlebar adjustability
Feature Summary: One of the more durable ride-on toys you will find, this little toy is perfect for toddler’s around 12 months.
We like the simple quad-wheel design that while stable, provides just the right platform to stimulate the right motor patterns of balance and coordination, similar to the GOMO Sprout.
It has a soft seat, low-noise, non-marking plastic wheels best suited for indoor use, and a huge range of funky colors to choose from.
We have no hesitation in recommending this slightly more budget friendly bike for toddler’s around 12 months of age.
4. ** Micro kickboard mini deluxe 3
** This toy is our go-between recommendation for kids closer to 18 months. The Micro mini kickboard can be transformed from firstly, a sit-down ride with two seat heights, to second a scooter with a short O-bar, and third to a scooter with an adjustable T-bar.
Price: USD $119.99 at Amazon.com
Weight: 3.4 kgs
Pros: Three unique riding options means triple the fun, detachable seat has two available heights, durable non-marking wheels designed for indoor and outdoor use, T-bar scooter mode can be used for toddler’s up to 3+ years, 4 bright colors to choose from and 2-year warranty
Cons: once the seat is removed toddlers will develop motor patterns and skills unique to riding a scooter and not those specific to riding a balance bike
Feature Summary: As mentioned above, this toy is a go-between option that is a lot of fun.
The Micro kickboard converts from a ride-on toy to a small and then larger scooter.
It has grippy, soft yet hardy scooter-specific wheels that offer smooth gliding, and overall tough build and adaptable design that promotes longevity for your little rider’s as they can potentially use this toy for up to 3+ years of age.
Just be aware that while this product is highly recommended as a ride-on toy / scooter, toddlers will develop specific skills that are unique to riding a scooter.
In saying this, all skills of coordination, strength and balance are transferable and will only enhance a toddler’s development and help their transition to a balance bike at around 2-years of age.
For a similar item that we like the look of, check out the Cooghi V3 Pro 3-in-1 kid’s scooter. This ride-on toy has three modes: baby stroller, scooter and balance bike.
Balance Bikes: 18-to-24 Months
5. Norco runner 12 balance bike
Price: AUS $199.20 (was $249.00) at cambriabike.com
Weight: 10 lbs. (4.5kg)
Seat height range: 11″ to 17″
Pros: Light weight yet durable aluminum frame, 12″ by 2.25″ air tires, rear alloy V-brake, super low stand over frame, true headset, quick release seat height adjust, and long wheelbase (586mm)
Cons: Exposed axle bolts, handlebars are very high when seat is in its lowest position
Feature Summary: Our first balance bike in our post, the Norco runner has caught our eye due to its jam-packed features.
This budget friendly bike brings with it some higher-end features that you would normally see on more expensive balance bikes. Of note are the air tires (perfect for off-road riding), V-brake with a tiny lever that is adjustable, true headset, quick-release seat post clamp and long wheelbase that provides added stability.
All of these excellent features sit nicely on the Norco Runner’s frame which has an ultra-low step-through design making mounting and dismounting a breeze for even your smallest of toddlers.
The result?
This balance bike blends a practical design with excellent safety features allowing toddlers to begin their bike riding journey on a budget friendly, practical ripper of a balance bike.
Overall ilovetoridemybike.com conclusion
In sum, when looking for the right toy bike for a 1-2-year-old here’s a quick review of those key points to look out for.
- Don’t hesitate to introduce your toddler to a toy-bike at around 1 year of age, even if they are not yet walking. In fact, we recommend earlier the better!
- Purchase a toy-bike first as a perfect introduction to riding fun, then
- Introduce your little rider to their first balance bike (and helmet) at around 2 years
- Allow your child to explore the toy-bike / balance bike at their own unique pace with lots of encouragement that emphasizes the fun-factor of simply enjoying riding!
- As always, we recommend that you match the bike to your rider, not the other way round
Just remember, every child is unique, and not all bikes are equal.
Try to match the bike to your child’s temperament, unique physical characteristics and/or special needs, and the environment they will be riding on. This will help ensure your child has a wonderful introduction to what we hope is a lifetime love affair with a bike.
If you have any questions or comments, please leave these below. We are here to help.
In addition, if you would like to learn more about some key ideas on how to teach your child to ride a balance bike, head on over to our posts,
- 10 Essential Tips for Parents Teaching Their Child How to Ride a Balance Bike – Part 1 and Part 2
- What Age Should a Child Learn How to Ride a Balance Bike, and
- Our two-part series on How to Teach Your Child to Ride a Bike
We are sure you will find these most helpful.
Happy riding!
If you’re a parent looking for the perfect toy bike for your toddler aged 1-to-2-years, you have plenty of options to choose from. In my experience, balance bikes that allow the child to push themselves along with their feet are a great choice because they help children develop balance and coordination before transitioning to a regular bike. Additionally, I have found that bikes with adjustable seat heights tend to last longer as the child grows. However, opinions on which toys are best may vary depending on personal preferences and what works best for each individual child. A discussion among parents about their experiences and recommendations could be helpful in making an informed decision. One question that comes up frequently is whether a three-wheeled bike or two-wheeled balance bike is better for young children. Ultimately, it may depend on the child’s physical abilities and preferences.
Hi, thank you for taking the time to comment on our post.
You are correct in saying that parents discussing which bikes and toys to use and providing personal testimonies of products is a very good strategy when looking for ride-on toys or balance bikes. Word of mouth is a good strategy when combined with personal research.
We do however, advocate for kids not to learn on tricycles or bikes with training wheels as this hinders the development of the physical skills of balance and coordination essential for riding a bike. While fun, these toys will not enhance the correct motor patterns.
Ride-on toys and balance bikes are the best method to correctly develop these skills. If you have any further questions please reach out, we are here to help.
Oh my, these little toddler bikes are so adorable! Particularly the GOMO Sprout Balance Bike with the quad wheels. It’s something I am quite interested in. I like the thick, soft grip it provides for their hands and the sufficient support of the vinal seat.
It is interesting that of the 3 modes of bikes, you do not recommend the tricycle. In our family, all of our toddlers started with the little tricycle. It is a good thing there are companies like yourself educating us concerning the best approach to teaching our little ones balancing in this regard. Who would have thought that such a small detail as starting our kids out with a quad wheel instead of a tricycle, actually enhances their ability to develop balance and coordination? It’s quite amazing.
I think there is still much ignorance and trivializing of the importance and purpose behind teaching our kids to ride a bike. Most of the time people simply buy their kids bikes for them to have fun, or for them to stay occupied for longer. Instead of seeing it as a means of bonding and engaging more deeply in the child’s physical, cognitive and emotional development.
It is such a good thing that there are products like these helping little ones get started from their first year already. Starting the child on these little bikes around the first year or before, oblige more hands-on engagement from the parents than when they are older and grow less dependent on the parents. In the first year, teaching the little one to get on a bike, involves more impactful involvement from the parent in the child’s physical, cognitive and emotional development because it is a means of fun for the child which ultimately builds a much stronger bond with your child in the process.
Hi Ruachal, thank you for your thoughtful comments.
We are so glad that you found our article helpful. You are right in saying that their is a degree of ignorance and misinformation when it comes to teaching your child to ride a bike.
There are toys that will enhance the developmental process of learning to ride a bike, and their overall development in parallel. Then there are other toys that will be counterintuitive to the learning process.
Keeping parents well informed is what we are here for, as we aim to support and educate our readers on the best practices and products to help their children thrive on a bike and encourage parents to actively engage with their children during this special yet key time in their lives.
Please reach out to us with any further questions you may have. We are here to help.