My 8-year-old son and his neighborhood buddies (ages 6 to 8) were also naturally drawn to the bikes as they went from box to assembly, beckoning like little alloy sirens. The boys were generally beyond these bikes in terms of size, but they still helped by testing toughness and durability—blasting around our neighborhood, locking up the brakes, and launching sweet schwinn dealers jumps from our driveway quarterpipe. Lightweight and highly adjustable in size, it comes pretty much pre-assembled, with removable training wheels, a midrange price tag, and REI’s reputable customer service. Do your research, both online and at local bike shops, to get the very best deal on vintage bikes or to restore your Schwinn to its original condition.
Companies like Schwinn, also Huffy, way too big of volume to be doing that kind of one-off customization. Different business model, keep prices down, things like that. We’re all about the customer and letting people choose what they wanna do. If somewhat understated, yet functional comfort is what you’re looking for choose the Schwinn’s standard coaster brake Cruiser. One of the first uses of the term “cruiser” for motobikes may have been in the WW2 era, by Mead Cycle Co., who sold via mail-order bicycles of the brand names Ranger, Pathfinder and Crusader. The Crusader “Cruiser” model was the high-end men/boy’s bicycle, and included additional features, such as front headlight, rear rack, and most importantly, the motorbike tank.
Where we differ from Schwinn, is you just look at our color selection. We use a much different pallet, pastels, colors like that, and our speed options. If you look at our women’s cruiser, Around the Block cruisers, you can get all of those in one speed, three speed, seven-speed, twenty-one speed. And actually, I don’t think there’s any other cruiser company out there really doing a 21-speed cruiser. The reason we did that is that we want the cruiser customer to be able to have the same gears that any other bike comes with if they want it.
Most kids have learned to ride a bike by the time they’re ready for one that’s 18 inches or larger. However, if your bike-antsy tyke is ready for a pedal bike early, check out our balance bike guide, which has recommendations for 14-inch balance bikes with pedal attachments. Most 16-inch bikes will be small enough that 4- to 6-year-olds can straddle the seat with feet flat on the ground for balance (the ideal way to size a bike), and such a bike will last them at least a couple of years. The durable Schwinn cantilever steel frame has been updated with tubular leading axle front fork and cushioned hand grips. It’s designed for comfortable riding with a padded saddle and wide whitewall tires that ride smooth over almost any terrain. The Cruiser 5 has
5-speed gears and hand brakes for greater versatility and range.
We also love the freewheel setup, which makes learning to pedal and to stop even easier than a bike with coaster brakes. Some Schwinn cruiser bikes are better suited for certain activities than others. For example, if you plan to use your Schwinn cruiser bike primarily for leisurely rides around the neighborhood, a Schwinn Wayfarer Hybrid Retro Styled Bike might be a good choice. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a Schwinn cruiser bike that can handle more rugged terrain, a Schwinn mountain bike might be a better option. Ultimately, choosing a Schwinn cruiser bike that fits your specific riding needs and style is important.
Beautifully built and appointed, the Woom 3 is super-light, super-zippy, and chock-full of kid-friendly features—for a price. This solidly built aluminum-frame bike from a trusted outdoor retailer won testers (and their parents) over with its easy assembly, smooth ride (on and off pavement), and ability to grow with the rider. If winter has finally loosed its grip where you live and your kindergartener is antsy to roam outside, maybe it’s time for their first pedal bike. Founded in 1974 in a Southern California garage, Mongoose has always been an aggressive brand with products that push the limits of what a rider can do.
The fat, semi-knobby tires perform well on dirt or pavement, and the bike’s coaster brake engages without the need for much force. With over 1.5 inch of adjustability between spacers on the handlebar stem and a widely adjustable seatpost, this bike can fit a wide range of kids. The minimum seat height on the REV 16 is 20.5 inches and its maximum is 25 inches.