Best BMX Bikes for Kids and Teens

If you’re anything like most loving moms and dads, you invested in a nice balance bike for your tot at some point. But that was then. Now, they’re older because kids grow every day. They want to graduate to something more serious. And they won’t stop harassing you until you buy them one of the best BMX bikes for kids and teens out there.

Related: Best MTB for Kids and Teens

But there’s all sorts of BMX bike models to choose from. And all of them look more or less the same. You can’t for the life of you figure out why option A costs more than option B.

As a new parent looking to purchase some BMX bike for your child,  you’ll slide into myriads of search-related rabbit holes. In the end, you’re still unsure about what to pick, frustrated, and even wondering whether you should buy your kid a mountain bike instead.

I put together this resource to make your shopping journey a tad less daunting.

Who Won the Race?

*Affiliate Links Disclosure: This website participates in the Amazon Associates program. And as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That said, the opinions expressed here are my own.

Let me tell you why the super popular 18″ Royal Baby Freestyle BMX Kids’ Bike came out on top. It’s because it’s rad, well-welded, and super tough. Bikes of any kind bought online tend to come with bent or damaged frames, missing hardware such as axle nuts, wobbly wheels, and low-quality components. Not the case with the 18″ Royal Baby Freestyle BMX Kids’ Bike.

And when assembling some bikes, you have to pull cables and twist things endlessly to get the bike to work as intended. That’s not what happens with this bike: assembly is simple and fast, and the tools needed for the job are in the box.

What’s not so great about this choice? It’s a really rad, solid bike, and someone in your neighborhood might want to walk away with it! Here’s a few neat bike storage ideas to learn if you have the time.

What Are BMX Bikes for Kids (and Adults)?

BMX stands for Bicycle Moto Cross. A BMX bike is a small bike (the wheels are always small, usually 20″) designed mostly for racing and performing stunts out on the streets and jumps at dirt mounds. It’s a tough bike, something built to take all sorts of abuse from the rider without falling apart.

They have an extremely sturdy frame. And the wheels are usually knobby for better grip so that the rider doesn’t wash out when navigating turns. It’s mainly an off-road bike, but some kids use it to commute to school, go to the grocery store, or visit friends.

BMX Bike vs Regular Bike

A BMX bike looks and works different than a regular road bike or mountain bike. It features a noticeably smaller , shorter frame that makes for amazing flatland and aerial maneuverability. Additionally, it comes with fewer components to keep things clean and light, but it’s tougher and more durable than ordinary bikes. Also, it comes with powerfully built small wheels whose strength depends on the number of spokes in the design.

Related: How to Clean Your Kid’s Bike

Another difference is that BMX bikes lack freewheel assembly, have only one gear, and ride backward with ease. One more thing: some BMX bikes are brakeless while others have either a rear brake or a front brake.

Being brakeless keeps things nice and light. Plus there’s a zero chance of the brakes catching on the handlebar when the rider is 360’ing. Most kids’ BMX bikes come with brakes for safety though.

On the whole, a BMX bike is a small, tough bike built for endless street fun, thrilling curb stunts, dirt jumping, and racing rather than long-distance biking or climbing steep hills or hurtling down rocky terrains. Plus, these bikes look really cool. This is why kids everywhere want to own a BMX bike.

BMX or Mountain Bike for Kids?

What do you do when your kiddo outgrows their beautiful but well-used balance bike? Buy them a pedal bike, of course. But what will be for your tyke, a BMX bike or a mountain bike?

Kids can use decent recreational mountain bikes with ease once they learn how to ride, just like they can ride a BMX. But kids who BMX a bunch before getting into trail or technical mountain biking often find that their riding skills transfer to their new riding style.

Buy your kiddo a BMX bike and let them decide whether they enjoy this riding style. Some kids end up not riding their BMX at all while others ride the hell out of the thing and become stunt and race pros in no time.

One good reason to buy a BMX bike for your kid instead of a mountain bike is that a $500 BMX bike is amazing while a $500 mountain bike tends to have low-quality or OK-ish components. Another reason is that it makes kids look really cool to their neighborhood buddies. Plus, it’s lighter than most bikes, making it a great choice for small riders whose strength isn’t where it will be a couple years down the road.

Girls vs Boys BMX: What’s the Difference?

Lots of BMX brands today offer boy’s and girls’ BMX bikes, but there really is no difference between them. They’re all kids’ bikes with the only distinguishing factor being just color. Girls’ options are often available in purple, pink, and white while boys tend to prefer darker colors such as blue, black, dark green, and brown.

IMO, there shouldn’t be bikes for girls and bikes for boys. Companies should simply describe their products as kids’ or toddlers’ BMX bikes and leave kids to pick the colors they want regardless of sex.

How to Choose a Good BMX Bike for a Kid

Related: How to Teach a Child to Cycle

Anything that costs $100 or more is an investment, and buying it should never be an afterthought. Buying a BMX bike should be a carefully thought-out and researched decision to avoid disappointment once the package arrives.

In this guide, I take you through a list of little and big things to keep an eye on as you shop. If at the end of this kids’ BMX bike buying advice you’re not sure what to pick, read the BMX bike for kids reviews below and see if anything piques your interest.

Pick a Suitable Kid’s BMX Bike Style: Racing, Freestyle, or Jump BMX?

There are three types of BMX bikes namely:

• Racing BMX bikes
• Dirt jumpers/Dirt jumping BMX bikes
• Freestyle BMX bikes/Street BMX bikes

Each bike type excels at a specific thing or in a given riding environment. You need to consider how and where your tyke will mostly ride. Let’s take a look at each kind of BMX bike to help you decide which type would best suit your child’s riding style.

Racing BMX Bikes: The Racer’s Dream Bike

This is the quintessential BMX bike, usually what people have in mind when they’re talking about BMXing. These bikes first came on the scene in the late 1960s.

They were a smaller, simpler, lighter, and stripped down version of the motorcross motorcycle. Their nimble design allowed the rider to ride super fast round berms and over dirt jumps. It wasn’t long before all kids wanted to own a BMX bike.

These bikes are super lightweight as are all kinds of racing bikes, but the frame is also extremely sturdy. The handlebar sits upright and features crossbars, the seat/saddle is small, the crank is quite long, and it comes with rear hand brakes.

In terms of materials, racing BMX bikes are fashioned from chromoly (a really lightweight, super strong kind of steel alloy) or aluminum. While Chromoly frames add a bit of weight to the frame, they’re sturdier but heavier. Also, chromoly steel BMX frames are cheaper to manufacture compared to aluminum frames.

Aluminum BMX frames are lighter, easier to forge into all kinds of frame designs, and less prone to rusting. However, aluminum frames are more expensive to produce compared to steel alloy ones and aren’t as solid.

These bikes are available in different frame sizes, and it’s important to pick a choice that’ll fit your kid. In the section below (how to size a kid’s BMX bike), I describe how to handle the process right.

Even though these bikes are created with racing needs in mind, there’s no reason non-racing kids can’t use them to commute to school or visit their friends.

Conclusion: Racing BMX bikes are purposely built for racing, but kids can use them for other purposes such as doing grocery store and school runs.

Freestyle/Street BMX Bikes

Not long after the entry of racing BMX bikes into the biking space, freestyle BMX bikes showed up. This bike works best for flatland stunts, curbside tricks, and other street-style BMXing and not racing.

If your kid wants to do any kind of aggressive street riding or riding vert at skate parks, this is the bike for them. They can also use it for rides to school and back, getting stuff they need from the local store, etc.

Unlike racing BMX, freestyle options don’t prioritize being lightweight. Instead, these bikes focus on sturdiness. The frame may not be the lightest choice, but it’s extremely sturdy because this bike takes a decent amount of abuse.

The tires of freestyle BMX bikes tend to have a diameter of 20″, and they’re normally 2.125″ wide. The wheel rims can be extremely thick (double-wall rims), and the spokes can be as many as 48. The more the spokes, the stronger the wheel set and the longer the wheels stay true/straight.

Usually, these rides come with axle pegs. Axle pegs are pieces of metal protruding from each side of the rear wheel where riders stand when landing flat ground tricks.

Unlike racing BMX bikes, freestyle BMX bikes come with both a rear brake and a front brake. To prevent the handlebar from tangling the brake cables, manufacturers run the front brake cable through a detangler. Running the front brake cable through a detangler makes it possible for your tyke to 360 without endangering their life.

Dirt Jumpers

Some people call them jumpers, and as the name implies, dirt jumpers are for jumping off “found”or built dirt mounds to a landing space down below. They are a cross between freestyle and racing BMX. This means that dirt jumpers are heavier and bulkier than racing BMX bikes but more lightweight compared to freestyle options.

Unlike their freestyle counterparts, dirt jumpers don’t usually have a front brake. Also, their wheels have fewer spokes, 36 spokes for dirt jumpers vs 48 for freestylers.

The wheels are the knobbiest of all three BMX bike types, and some options come with 24” wheels, making this choice ideal for bigger dirt jumpers.

*Don’t let your kids to ride a dirt jumper or any other bike without a helmet. Helmets sure don’t guarantee complete safety, but they help…substantially. Here’s a list of the best bike helmets for kids you can get for your kiddo.

Frame Strength/Resilience and Maintenance: Steel Alloy or Aluminum for BMX?

If you’re wanting a bike that takes abuse like a champ, get a BMX bike with a chromoly frame and not an aluminum frame. Aluminum frames are noticeably lighter than steel alloy ones and are rustproof. However, aluminum frames aren’t as sturdy or durable as steel ones.

And in terms of maintenance, steel frames are easier to maintenance compared to aluminum ones. If your steel frame cracks or something, you can easily get a professional welder to solve the problem. Fixing broken aluminum frames is more challenging and costlier.

Go with an aluminum frame when your kiddo wants a bike for casual riding and not tricks performance. But when your LO is into stunts and jumps, a chromoly frame is the best bet.

Get the Size Right: How to Size a BMX Bike for a Kid

For the most part, BMX bikes come in a single frame size and full-size BMX bikes typically have 20″ wheels. But there are 24″ BMX bikes known in the bicycle motorcross world as “cruisers.”

When buying for a child in the 5-7 age range, look for options with 16″ wheels. For 7 to 11-year-olds, try to stick to 18″ wheels. For older kids (older than 11 years), 20″ wheels should be a good choice.

One great thing about this bike type is that you can change from one size wheel to another depending on your child’s height. Think of it as a bike that evolves as your little one does.

Even though frame size stays more or less a constant, there may be differences in frame length, and you need to pay attention to that. There are 4 different BMX frame sizes to choose from when shopping for a child’s bike.

4 Different Kids’ BMX Bike Frame Sizes

• Mini BMX frame size
• Junior BMX frame size
• Expert BMX frame size
• Pro size BMX frame size
  

Mini frame size: This frame size comes with a low stand over height and works best for 4-6 year olds. A bike this size normally comes with 20″ tires and 155mm crank arm length, the shortest crank length of any BMX bike.

BTW, does crank length matter in BMXing? Yes, it does. Generally, the shorter the crank arm length, the easier it is to catch the pedals when whipping.  And the longer the BMX crank,  the easier the pedaling and the better the leverage. Tire width is typically 1 1/8.” Trick-focused riders tend to prefer shorter cranks while speed-oriented BMX riders tend to want longer crank arm lengths.

Junior size: The junior BMX frame size is a bit larger than the mini frame and normally fits kids in the 6-9 age range. The wheels typically measure at 20″ in diameter and 1 3/8″ in width. As for crank length, it is 165mm which is on the shorter side of things.

Expert size: The Expert-size BMX frame features a longer top tube compared to the junior size. The crank is 5mm longer at 170mm, and the 20″ wheels are 1.5-1.75″ wide. This BMX bike is most suitable for 9-13 year old kids.

Pro size: The pro BMX frame size is the full-size option and it is for kids aged 12 and above. The crank length hovers between 175mm and 180mm. BTW, 185mm is about the longest crank I’ve seen on any BMX bike. This bike size often comes with 20″ tires with a width of 1.75″-2.2″.

Kids don’t develop or grow at the same rate or in the same way. A bike size that fits most members of their age group may be too big or too small for them. If you have a petite or bigger rider, I suggest the both of you go to a bike shop and have them handle bike sizing/fitting for your kiddo.

Single-piece Crankset vs Three-piece Crankset for a Kid’s BMX Bike?

Cheap kids’ BMX bikes often come with a single-piece crankset while better options come with a three-piece crankset. Why are single-piece cranksets cheaper?  It’s because the components used for this build are lower quality compared to the materials (spindles, bearings, and races) used to build out a three-piece crankset.

Kids’ BMX Bike Wheel Spokes: Are More Spokes Better?

BMX bikes for young children often have 16″-18″ wheels. These wheels’ compact design and thick rims immensely help them withstand impacts and wear. More spokes normally means a stronger wheel that doesn’t need constant truing and vice versa.

However, there are riding instances where wheels with more spokes perform worse than those with less. As spoke count increases, wheel strength increases but acceleration decreases due to the wheel’s increased rotational weight.

A BMX bike with fewer spokes is lighter and more responsive than one with a higher spoke count. And a bike with a higher spoke count handles stunt and jump impacts much better.

If you’re shopping for a child who’ll mostly ride casually on less challenging terrain, a bike with a lower spoke count should be OK. But if purchasing for a kid or teen who intends to spend entire weekends pushing their limits out at dirt jumps, curb sides, and skate parks, definitely get a choice with the strongest wheels possible (more spokes).

Do BMX Bikes Have/Need Suspension?

Many kids’ BMX bicycles come without suspension, but having a suspension system isn’t a bad thing. In fact, some of the best MBX bikes for stunts, speeding off dirt jumps, going downhill, and riding over rugged terrain are full-suspension/dual suspension. Remember: there’s nothing like a cheap BMX bike with dual suspension.

Can you add suspension to aftermarket suspension to a kid’s BMX bike? Yes, that’s possible, but it’s not always a good idea. When you put in suspension to a bike that whose original design includes a rigid fork, it gets noticeably harder to handle and maneuver the bicycle.

Why? Because adding in suspension tends to steepen the head tube and to elevate the front end. These two results force the young rider to transfer most of their weight to a more forward position. And this makes handling and maneuvering the bike more of a hassle and less of the enjoyable experience it should be.

Which Are the Best Kids BMX Brands Out There?

Mongoose, Sunday, Fit, Haro, Redline, and GT are pretty popular BMX brands. Don’t whip out that credit card before reading customer reviews of the model you’re looking at. Because even amazing brands sometimes crank out junk and still charge a premium price for it. And every once in a while, even average brands offer real awesomeness at reasonably low prices.

Price: What’s Considered a Fair Price Point for a Kid’s BMX?

There are $100 BMX bikes and $500 BMX bikes. As you might expect, $100 options are crafted from cheaper, heavier materials while $500+ ones are made from better-quality, stronger, lighter components. With a $400-ish budget, you can find a bunch of good BMX bikes for kids. There are many options that look nice and are lightweight all while riding like a dream.

5 Good Kids’ BMX Bikes You Should Consider

*Affiliate Links Disclosure: This website participates in the Amazon Associates program. And as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

1. Schwinn Predator BMX: Retro Style for Big Kids & Adults

The Schwinn Predator BMX Bike retains the retro look of the 1989 design, and you can get in size 20″ or 24″. For the price, you get a hi-ten steel frame and not chromoly, which isn’t too bad.

How is the design of this thing similar to the 80/90’s version? First off, the headset’s design stays old school. Also, the components look similar (read on to learn about a serious discrepancy), and the bottom bracket size is more or less the same.

Even though the company says this is a superior racing bike, I don’t believe them. Because this piece of steel is pretty heavy.

For racing, you want to get a better bike, typically a high-end option. But yes, it’s a fun ride for teens, bigger kids, and adults who want to look cool as they ride around the neighborhood.

I have a little gripe about what the ad says about the bike’s finish. It says it’s a chromoly finish. Well, it looks like it, but it definitely isn’t chromoly.

Here’s another part of the description the seller needs to correct: tubular crank set. Contrary to what the listing states, the Schwinn Predator doesn’t come with a tubular crank set. Instead, the bike comes with a single-piece steel crank set.

As someone who’s owned and ridden BMX for a couple years, I can see that this set isn’t a superior quality crankset. You’ll want to replace it with something better. That’s what I did.

Look, the crank set isn’t entirely horrible, and a teen or bigger kid could be happy with it because they don’t know much about cranksets. But it definitely isn’t what you think you’ll get.

I ended up changing the seat, hand grips, crankset, brake levers, pedals, and even the wheels. The cost went up plenty, but the final product was a much better bike, something anyone could stand. Definitely move on and buy a bike with high-quality parts if you don’t want to do all these upgrades.

The brand did confirm that the ad was misleading and promised to edit out the error. But as things stand, they’ve yet to do that.

And why plaster the bike with all these stickers? If buying this bike to ride with your kiddo, you may want to peel off some of the stickers because Schwinn really went to town on that.

If you’re wondering what axle size this bike comes with, it is a 3/8″ and not a 14mm axle. I mean, it’s a race BMX bike and not a park, trick, or freestyle BMX bike.

For precision BMX wheelies and serious bunny hops, this is too big of a bike for that. It’s not of those really small BMX bikes designed to do all sorts of daring tricks and stunts. It’s something teens and most adults can ride without it looking like there’s no bike under them!

2.Royal Baby Freestyle Kids Bike 18″: Winning Pick

Like most BMX bikes for kids, the Royal Baby 18″ Kids’ BMX Bike is rad. And it comes in a wide variety of colors so that there’s a color for every kid.  It best fits 5-9 year olds, at least most of them.

It’s one of the most popular children’s BMX bikes out there judging from a nice 4.6* rating on Amazon after 14K+ customer reviews. According to Royal Baby, this bike and other Royal Baby Bikes are accessible to kids in at least 80 countries across the globe. Please check the current rating as nothing stays the same forever. My sons love this bike, and so do I.

And this thing grows with your kid, and I like that. Your kiddo will get tons of wheel-y play out of this thing before they’re too tall to need a bigger size. You can adjust the seat (it adjusts easy) as well as the handlebar to customize the fit to your child’s most comfortable position.

The wheels are wide, wider than those on most mountain bikes. They’re 2.4″ in width, and they grip dirt paths and other surfaces really well as your daredevil pushes the limits of this whip’s capabilities. Since this bike lacks any kind of suspension, the generous tire width helps loads.

Its frame is steel, which means it’s really sturdy and a little heavy. One great thing about steel frames is that they stand up really well to all kinds of free-styling abuse. On top of that, they’re easy to get back into shape if they break or get damaged in some way.

When this bike arrived, hubby grabbed the provided tools (they didn’t look like top quality tools BTW) and went to work. To be specific, there was a usable pedal wrench as well as an Allen Wrench in the right size.

Assembly wasn’t difficult at all. Attaching the pedals, handlebar, and saddle was simple. We didn’t have to deal with wobbly wheels, missing hardware, misaligned brakes or a bent/damaged frame as is often the case with cheap bikes of any kind. BTW, this bike comes with a regular handbrake for the front wheel and a coaster brake for the rear wheel.

The completed build had every component fitting together like perfect pieces of a solved jigsaw puzzle. We’ve had bikes that we fought with and twisted tons of things to get working, but we can’t the same for this one.

Parts quality? It wasn’t like fantastic or anything like that, but for the price, we didn’t expect that level of quality and condition even after handling and transportation by warehouse folks. Heck, even the rim brakes came properly adjusted and did the job without killing our son’s wrists.

Also thrown into this deal were a water bottle and a sturdy bottle holder so our sons could stay hydrated while out riding. The water bottle also seemed to enhance the overall appeal of this 18″ kids’ BMX bicycle.

Overall, this is a decent kids’ BMX bike that comes in at an equally great price. Small wonder I plugged this bike into the top slot of my list.

3. Mongoose Legion L100 : Best Freestyle BMX for Tall Teens

Anyone that grew up in the 1980s knows that Mongoose was a big name when it came to BMX bikes. Decades later, Mongoose is still around, meaning there’s something the company’s been doing right ever since. If you’ve watched kids in a park as they romper around on their BMX bikes, you must have noticed plenty of Mongoose models.

So, is the 20″ Mongoose L100 a good BMX bike for a child? The simple answer is yes, but I read on to learn the longer answer.

One thing many teens and adults love about the Mongoose L100 is that it comes with a full chromo frame. When it comes to BMX bikes, a chromoly frame is every serious rider’s dream.

The thing about chromo is that it tells others you’re a serious BMXer, plus it’s lighter and stronger than regular hi-ten steel frame. And yes, a real chromo finish makes any BMX bike all at once elegant and tough.

If you’re a big teen/tall teen or a college kid looking for something close to a real BMX bike without having Dad or Mom spending her life’s savings, the Mongoose L100 is the real deal.

I bet you’re wondering why I’m beginning to sound like a shameless marketer for Mongoose bikes. To be clear, I’m not one of their employees nor do they pay me to toot their horn. I’m just expressing an honest opinion about this company’s bikes in general and the Mongoose L100 in particular.

Admittedly, some of the parts on this bike are so so. However, few BMX bikes at this price point provide a better foundation for building out a better bike. I mean, the frame is full chromo, and you can build out a really nice and reliable bike off of this frame. If there’s a department where the L100 wins hands down compared to its competitors, it’s its ability to evolve as your riding skill does or as components wear out.

But that’s not all. The Mongoose L100 boasts double-walled rims, and this is super important for anyone who plans on doing all sorts of stunts, tricks, and jumps. Hubby tells me he went through a bunch of low-cost BMX bikes as a kid that had single-walled rims, and they couldn’t stand up to all the playful abuse he threw at them.

If you’re willing to upgrade to a better chain and crank set, you could gift your teen a really good bike, something they could ride…forever. Speaking of upgrading this bike’s chain, why is this important?

We noticed that the existing chain started stretching after about 40 miles out riding. As a result, the chain started derailing and sliding off the sprocket. It was really annoying. I suggest that you invest in a decent half-link chain.

But why a half-link bike chain? A half-link chain allows you to remove a single chain link so that you can fine-tune the placement of the rear wheel. When you do this, the odds of the chain sliding off the sprocket dip dramatically.

Overall, this is an awesome bike for the money because its all-chromoly frame makes it possible to evolve the bike to a much better quality ride over time.

4. Mongoose Legion L20 BMX: With Foot Pegs

With the Mongoose L20 BMX, you get as much bike as your budget deserves. I love the brown grips and wheels because this color makes the whip rad. It’s a 20″ bike, but the frame’s designed to fit kids aged 7-9 years.

Your son or daughter may be older or younger than the stated age range, but it doesn’t mean they won’t fit on it. Measure the height of your child, and if they sit anywhere between 4’8″ and 5’4″, they most likely can fit on this ride. Many petite adults, some teens, and older kids live in this height range.

The parts are good enough, but you’ll likely replace the crank set and pedals down the road. The handlebar spins well. Consequently, your LO can do smooth bar spins and other easy tricks. But this isn’t the bike to use for the hairiest technical maneuvers at the skate park.

Maybe you’re wondering how the Mongoose L20 differs from the L100. The main design/spec difference is that the L100 has a full chromoly frame while the Mongoose L20 boasts a hi-ten steel frame

Also, while the L20 comes with foot pegs, the L100 doesn’t. But many kids and adults don’t even use foot pegs or need them at all.

I bought the Mongoose L20 for one of my sons as a birthday gift, and they loved it instantly. We found no tools in the box, but as a biking family we had all the tools needed for the assembly. With our Allan Key and metric socket sets, we did it in about 60 minutes.

Given hubby’s decently mechanical hands, it shouldn’t have taken him that long to set up this bike. He spent the majority of the time trying to figure out the rear brake (there’s no front brake).

I read a bunch of reviews where parents returned this bike because the brakes installed hard and didn’t work safely in some cases.

Here’s how to correctly install the brake cable of the Mongoose L20:

• First off, tear down the brake lever. Use a 4mm Allen Wrench to work the screw. Once you disassemble the lever, take it off the bike.

The brake lever consists of 2 parts: 2 bushings (plastic), one on each side of the lever and a spring of some variety.

• Super important: Before dismantling the brake lever, look at it closely to learn how everything fits together. Because assembly is the reverse of disassembly, right?
• Feed the brake cable through the lever mount.
• Line up the brake cable and brake barrel in the hole (on the lever) and rotate the lever into place to increase leverage.
• Use all the coordination you can muster to re-seat the lever arm. *Make sure every part remains on the lever arm as you attempt to get them (parts) onto the handlebar mount.

*Describing technical stuff like this can be extremely difficult. If my little brake-fix guide wasn’t super clear, I strongly suggest taking the L20 BMX to an experienced bike mechanic so they can correctly install the brake cable. Or ask the bike nerd in your riding community to help fix it.

5. Huffy Marvel Spider-Man BMX: Best for Toddlers

The Huffy Marvel Spider Man BMX is one of the best toddler BMX bicycles I know of. Kids who want to be Superman at some point in their future will love this little tot-friendly ride. It comes with training wheels for stabilizing your little one as they learn to ride a bike.
The frame looks clunky but it’s not too much of that, and the Spider Man graphic on the down tube are nice. What’s more, there’s lettering spelling the word Spider Man on the side of the micro top tube, but it doesn’t feel like too much.

The icing on the cake is the blue spider working its way up a red web on the front of the handlebar. The webby design extends to the handles, making them anti-slip for safety.

I wonder why Huffy elected not to add a crossbar on the handlebar of this toddler’s BMX bicycle. But it’s not like tots this young (3-5 year olds) do an awful ton of riding. If you’re wondering whether this little whip will fit your little Mr. or Miss, stop wondering right now and measure their height. As long as they stand 37″-42″ tall, I guarantee the little ripper will fit on this bicycle.

This was the first bike we bought for our older son. We later gave it away to a relative who needed it. And it was in good enough condition to be an acceptable hand-me-down.

I’ve seen BMX bikes for older children with impossible-to-remove brand names plastered pretty much everywhere on the bike, even on the wheels. Plain suck-y marketing right there, but that’s not the case with this bike.

The frame is all steel, and it takes abuse without groaning. Our 3-year-old son could easily access both front and rear hand brakes. Plus there’s a coaster brake built into the design. Together, these brakes made stopping nice and easy and safe each time the tyke applied them.

Award-winning freestyle BMX riders who perform hard-to-believe stunts at competitions can ride brake-less bicycles all they want. But young children are always going to need good brakes.

The seat adjusts easily when you work the lever on the seat post. Simply yank the lever and push the seat up or down into the tube, and that’s it.

Assembly is pretty simple. Grab the training wheels, saddle, and handlebar and click or snap them into place and done! Not everyone handles stuff like this easily, so if you’re one of those folks watch a YT video or two and you’re good.

An Allen Wrench was in the box, but the included user manual is trash since it is generic and doesn’t offer model-specific instructions. I find this to be case with pretty much all bike brands.

BMX Bike for Kids FAQs

Is Mongoose a Good BMX Brand?

Yes, Mongoose is one of the best BMX brands out there. While not every bike from Mongoose pleases every parent and kid, most do as long as they’re the right size for the rider’s size.

What Age Kids is a BMX Bike for?

Kids as young as 2 years can ride a BMX bike if it has training wheels, but most parents tend to introduce kids to BMXing from age 5-8. At this age, kids can comfortably ride a size 16″ BMX. If you’re how tall kids in this age range are, they typically stand 3’7″-4’6″.

What Age is a 20-inch BMX Bike for?

A 20-inch BMX bike is suitable for kids as young as 7 years as well as short, medium sized, and larger adults. Bigger adults may want to get a larger/longer frame size though.

What is the Number One BMX Brand?

Hard to say, but many parents seem to really like Sunday, Fit, Mongoose, Redline, GT, and a few others. If I had to list down the best 3, it’d be Mongoose, Fit, and Sunday.

Which BMX Bike is Best for Kids?

The best BMX bike for kids is one that fits their small frame perfectly, rides smoothly, and is suitable for the child’s riding style without costing too much.

Which BMX Bike is Best for Teens?

The Mongoose Legion L100 is a great option especially for tall teens. It comes with a lightweight but super strong full chromo frame and looks nice to boot. While it’s not the cheapest choice, it rides well and lasts long.

Final Thoughts on the Best Kid’s BMX Bike

The Royal Baby Freestyle BMX for kiddos won the contest because it looks really nice and is available in a whole bunch of cute colors. It’s the lightest option on the planet, but it’s not too heavy.

Unlike many other bikes I’ve seen, this bike is quite easy to assemble. You don’t need doing the job, and every tool you need for the exercise are in the box.

While the parts aren’t pro-level quality, they’re good enough, and you’re unlikely to find the frame bent out of shape, the wheels warped, the brakes out of alignment, or missing hardware. It seems like the folks over at Royal Baby have a check list while building their bikes to make sure they don’t miss a thing.

The price is great, too, but be careful or the social miscreants in your neighborhood might begin having ideas LOL. Here’s a few bicycle storage tips so you can keep your spaces better organized and your bikes in great condition.