One of the biggest challenges for parents when it comes to buying a bike for their children is balancing the desire to buy a good bike with the reality that your child will soon outgrow whatever bicycle you pick.
In this post, we share several options we’ve tested and recommend. This includes bikes that convert from a trike to a balance bike, and those that convert from a balance bike to a pedal bike.
For a tricycle that converts to a balance bike, we love the Wishbone 3-in-1. We love that it works for little riders from 12 months (or earlier!) up to 5 years old.
For a balance bike with pedals, our favorite option is the Prevelo Alpha One. This lightweight pedal bike for small riders can be upgraded with the Balance-Tec conversion kit that easily removes the cranks and chain for use as a balance bike.
These convertible balance bikes offer an attractive option to parents who want to buy a bike that can grow with their child for a while. For parents with slightly older toddlers or preschoolers, we also offer a DIY option.
Trike To Balance Bike
Both the Wishbone 3-in-1 and the YVolution YVelo Jr are perfect choices for kids who aren’t quite ready for a balance bike, but will be soon.
Wishbone 3-in-1
Price: $229 List
The very smart Wishbone 3-in-1 bike converts from a three-wheeled trike to a small balance bike to a bigger balance bike, making it the only thing you’ll need until your child is ready for pedals.
The very smart Wishbone 3-in-1 bike converts from a three-wheeled trike to a small balance bike to a bigger balance bike, making it the only thing you’ll need until your child is ready for pedals.
We love this bike because you can start using it incredibly early. Our little tester was riding it at 10 months old in the trike configuration, and she loved ripping around the house. It continues to grow with kids up to age 5, giving you years of use from one bike.
The real pneumatic tires are a game-changer if you want to take the bike on dirt or grass. Unlike trikes with hard plastic tires, these provide some serious traction.
We also appreciate that Wishbone designs these bikes to be repairable with replaceable parts available—no more throwing away broken bikes. It is beautifully made from sustainable birch wood (or recycled plastic), though the wood version does need to be stored indoors, especially in summer heat or winter rain and snow.
Read Our Review: Wishbone 3-in-1
YVolution YVelo Junior
Price: (Last updated: – More Info)
The Yvolution Yvelo Jr balance bike has a unique design that’s perfect for very young toddlers. It features an innovative double rear wheel system—two wheels placed directly next to each other—that provides stability while still teaching kids to balance (unlike a traditional trike). The bike will actually roll and balance on its own for a few moments before toppling over, which gives little ones confidence as they learn.
We tested this bike with our 20-month-old nephew and loved how the low minimum seat height (10.5 inches) and lightweight design (under 8 pounds) made it easy for tiny riders to handle.
The flat saddle design is also great for toddlers still in diapers—they can easily get on and off without snagging. Once your child masters the double wheels, you can remove one wheel to convert it to a more traditional balance bike.
One of our favorite features is the non-marking rubber wheels, which made us comfortable letting it be used inside our house for weeks without any marks on our hardwood floors. It’s perfect for indoor play on rainy days.
Read Our Review: Yvolution Yvelo
Balance Bikes With Pedals
Balance bikes with pedals can be used first without the pedals to learn to balance, and then later with pedals attached to use as a regular bike (sans training wheels). This is a great choice for parents who don’t want to buy a balance bike now and another pedal bike soon. That said, before going this route you might want to check out our DIY method (detailed below).
Prevelo Alpha One AND Prevelo Zulu One
Price: $489 +
Prevelo offers not one but two (!) excellent 14-inch bikes that convert from balance bike to pedal bike: the Alpha One and the Zulu One. Both are incredibly lightweight with child-specific geometry and components sized perfectly for little riders.
The Alpha is designed for paved, neighborhood riding while the Zulu One is intended for more agressive off-road riding.
Both bikes are sold with pedals but can be upgraded with the Balance-Tec conversion kit to convert to a balance bike as well. This kit allows you to remove the cranks, pedals, and chain entirely.
The system includes self-extracting cranks, protective bottom bracket shields that serve as footrests in balance bike mode, and an integrated chainstay key that lets you remove the chain without breaking it. It’s all pretty clever!
Read Reviews: Prevelo Alpha One and Prevelo Zulu One
LittleBig Bike
Price: $295
The LittleBigBike is a 3-in-1 14″ wheeled bicycle that converts from a little balance bike to a big balance bike to a pedal bike. Unlike its closest competitor, the Strider 14x (listed below), the LittleBig offers dual handbrakes which we love.
It also has high-end features like internally routed cables, and nice wide pneumatic tires.
The only thing to be aware of is that while the bike is advertised for kids up to age 7, by age 5 or 6, kids will be far better suited by a 16″ or even 20″ bike.
Read Our Review: LittleBig Bike
Strider 14x
Price: (Last updated: – More Info)
Strider makes the best known balance bikes around, but you might not know that they make a popular balance to pedal bike as well. The Strider 14x has 14″ wheels with pneumatic (air) tires, and weighs in at respectable 12.5 lbs.
The only thing we don’t love about the bike is that it has a rear coaster brake and no hand brakes. It also has short crank arms, which means that it’s okay for a starter pedal bike but your child will be limited in their ability to grow and improve on the bike.
Read Review: Strider 14x
Black Mountain Pinto
Price: £449
The Black Mountain Pinto is unlike anything else out there. It has an extendable frame to grow from a balance bike to a 12″ pedal bike to a 14″ pedal bike. Additionally, the gearing “grows” with your child and gives them a higher gear when they are ready for it.
The other really cool thing about this bike is the belt drive (rather than a chain). While this is something you’ll find on some higher end kids bikes, it’s rare to see in a bike this small. Belt drives are great because they require virtually no maintenance.
The Pinto certainly isn’t a cheap bike BUT it’s a solid investment if you can consider that it’s three bikes in one. The only one (minor) con is that it does take a bit of work to convert, but again, it’s probably worth it.
Read Review: Black Mountain Pinto
DIY Option: A Pedal Bike With Pedals Removed
Our last bike isn’t a specific bicycle recommendation at all, instead it’s a DIY option! If your child is old enough for a pedal bike, but hasn’t already mastered a balance bike, consider buying them a good pedal bike and then just removing the pedals.
You want to make sure you buy a bicycle that has a minimum seatpost that’s at least as long as your child’s inseam so that they can place their feet flat on the ground while sitting on the saddle. Then, remove the pedals.
Encourage them to practice scooting and then coasting on the bike just like you would with a balance bike. Then, once they have the balance thing down, you can put the pedals back on.
We’ve done this with lots of kids and think it’s the best choice IF your child is likely to start pedaling soon anyhow.
Is A Convertible Balance Bike A Good Idea?
It can be. If your primary concern is buying a bike that will last for a while, then a convertible balance might be the way to go. This is especially true for the bikes that convert from 3-wheel trikes to 2-wheel balance bikes.
That said, none of these bikes are perfect, and this is especially true of the balance bike to pedal bike conversions. By trying to be okay at multiple things they don’t excel at any.
The Strider 14x, for example, is a bit heavy for a balance bike and the 14″ wheels may still be too big for smaller balance bike riders. As a pedal bike, it lacks brakes and the geometry (aka low bottom bracket) forces shorter than normal crank arms.
They may be a good short-term solution, but sooner than later you’ll want to upgrade your child to a higher-quality pedal bike. Or simply use the DIY option we mentioned above and get them that good quality pedal bike now.
Learn More About Kids Bikes
Looking for our top picks? We prefer most of the bikes on these lists to those listed above.
- Best Balance Bikes For Toddlers
- Best Balance Bikes For Preschoolers
- Best 12″/14″ First Pedal Bikes
- Best Kids Bikes: How To Choose, Reviews, & More!
About Us
The Rascals are a family of three. Kristen (mom), Blair (dad), and Parker (kiddo). We started Rascal Rides when Parker was born and we didn’t want to give up our passion for biking. As we learned, we shared.
Over the years, we’ve added other families to our team and have tested hundreds of kids bikes, helmets, bike trailers, and more.
Kristen is a licensed USA Cycling coach and NICA coach, and loves to share her passion for biking with other families. Blair is a bike geek, mechanic, and mountain bike junkie. Parker is 13 now and is our resident shredder.
If you see us out on the trail, make sure to say hi!
IG: @rascal_rides
YT: @rascalrides
Hi KB, great articles, thank you! My twin boys will turn 3 yrs old next month and we want to get them their first bikes. They are big, strong and active boys, currently in 4T clothing. I’m between the Little Big Bike and the Woom 2 (taking the wheels off to start). I was originally going to buy the Woom 1 Plus, or the Ridgeback Scoot, but they are both on back-order. Any recommendations?
Woom 2 for sure! Just take off the pedals in the beginning and let them use it like a balance bike.
Hi my toddler is almost 3 and 33 inches tall with a inseam of 12.5. He is quite small but extremely active. Is there a balance bike or toddler bike that you would recommend under 150? Does he need a balance bike if he is skilled at a y bike? He has mastered the y bike and can’t reach the pedals on are push radio flyer. What is your thoughts and is there any budget bikes that fit his size?
Hi Melissa,
A good old Strider might be a great option for him, and should fit well. You can find other budget balance bikes that we like here: https://rascalrides.com/best-budget-balance-bikes-under-100/
Cheers,
KB
Hi Kristen,
My son is turning 3, he’s a bit shorter than most kids his age, with an inseam just over 14″ (without shoes), but quite athletic. I started him off on a used, very simple balance bike just to see that he gets the hang of it and now I’m reay to invest in a good bike, preferably a high quality convertible so he can start pedaling when ready, one that will last years of abuse and be passed down to his little brother. Do you recommend the DIY method, for more than a few weeks or months? Would it be safe for an adventurous rider with the chain and other components still in place?