Searching for a girls 16 inch bike for your daughter (or granddaughter)? With so many options out there, it can be confusing to know what to buy.
And the bad news is that *most* “girls bikes” that you can buy at Walmart or on Amazon are cute but don’t actually ride that well. They tend to be heavy, have awkward geometry, and are built with cheap sub-par components.
Here we’ve offered up our favorite girls 16 inch bikes. We’ve been testing and reviewing kids bikes for the last decade. These bikes are pretty but even more importantly, they are lightweight, have kid-specific geometry, and are durable. Because you shouldn’t have to choose between looking good and being fast.
Short on time? Our top pick is the Woom 3. On a budget? Check out the Guardian 16.
Also, make sure to review our list of the best kids bike helmets in order to keep your kiddo safe.
But First, Do You Need To Buy a “Girls Bike”?
First things first: there’s no such thing as a “boys” bike or a “girls” bike. Kids bikes are kids bikes are kids bikes.
Unlike adult bikes that do come in gender-specific models, “girls bikes” are merely more feminine versions of their counterparts. Girls bikes don’t have different geometry, or a special saddle, or any other difference of any actual functional purpose.
That said, there are plenty of girls out there who do want a “girls bike” (i.e. a bike with girly colors, streamers, etc). And that’s fine. I happen to be a very girly girl myself when it comes to bikes and bike accessories.
On this list we’ve included bikes that are both girly AND functional. Additionally, you can add a few “girly” accessories to any bike to snazz it up a little. Check out our article on the Best Girls Bike Brands for a list of our favorite accessories for girls.
Our Top Picks
| Bike | What Makes It Special | Price |
| Woom 3 | Lightweight build, color-coded brakes | $479 |
| Prevelo Alpha Two | Child appropriate geometry, customer service | $469 |
| Frog 44 | Bright colors, comes with fenders | $545 |
| Pello Revo | Brand-name components, wide tires | $399 |
| Guardian 16 | SureStop Braking Technology | $289 |
| Spawn Yoji 16 | Off-road capability | $495 |
Woom 3
Price: $479
Don’t want to spend a bunch of time doing research? Go with the Woom 3. It is THE best 16 inch bike on the market.
It’s extraordinary light, is easy to learn how to ride, and has a high-quality build that will last through multiple hand-me-downs. We also love that Woom has made it easy to accessorize. The bike comes in a bunch of bright primary colors with helmets and gloves to match.
Read Review: Woom 3
Prevelo Alpha Two
Price: $469
Learning to ride a bike doesn’t have to be hard. In fact, the Prevelo Alpha Two makes it easy. This 16 inch bike is optimized to make riding easy and enjoyable.
The bike has been designed in excruciating detail to include custom-made cranks, upright frame geometry, and high-quality components. We love the dual Tektro hand brakes and Kenda tires.
You can also add custom-color grips and custom name lettering for the frame.
Read Review: Prevelo Alpha Two
Frog 44
Price: $545
Frog is a U.K. company well known for making great kids bikes. Their bicycles come in a wide array of fun colors and designs, so whatever your child’s fancy, they are sure to find one they love.
The Frog 44 comes standard with a freewheel (no coaster brake) which we love and dual Tektro handbrakes. It also comes with a set of fenders and a bell, because you know, sometimes its the little things that count.
Read Review: Frog 48 (slightly older model)
Pello Revo
Price: $389
This bike is made to go places. The Pello Rover has nice beefy, fat tires that make it perfect for girls who like to explore. We love this bicycle for families that want to ride dirt trails, head to the bike park, or explore the road less taken. Of course, it works well on the preschool commute also.
The bike has dual handbrakes, Kenda tires, a Cane Creek headset, and all sorts of other quality components. It is lightweight so your child can make it long distances with ease.
Read Review: Pello Romper (It is the 14″ version of this bike, but pretty much everything else is the
Guardian 16
Price: $289
Looking for a great bike that won’t break the bank? If the other bikes on this list are a little rich for your taste, the Guardian 16 might be just what you’re looking for.
Looking for a great bike that won’t break the bank? The Guardian 16 delivers exceptional value with features typically found on much more expensive bikes.
While it’s a little heavier than the others, it’s a durable and well-designed bike. There are plenty of thoughtful details: internal cable routing keeps things clean and protected, the super-low standover height makes mounting and dismounting easy for smaller riders, and it comes with a quality kickstand and chain guard.
What really sets this bike apart, however, is Guardian’s proprietary SureStop braking technology. This innovative single-lever brake system reduces the risk of going over the handlebars from grabbing a handful of front brake. This is a particularly attractive feature for more timid kids, those with coordination issues, and for parents who are safety-concius.
Finally, we appreciate that the bike arrives 99% pre-built, assembly is remarkably quick at under 5 minutes, and there are helpful videos if you do run into any issues.
Read Review: Guardian 16 Inch
Spawn Yogi 16
Price: $495
The Spawn Yogi 16 is a great choice for families who want to do a little off-road riding as well as pavement. This more mountain bike oriented bike performs great on dirt, gravel, and grass.
We appreciate the flip flop stem and headset spacers that allow the bike to grow with your child. The build is top-notch with in-house Brood componentry that you find on their much more expensive bikes.
Read Our Review: Spawn Yogi
Want More Options?
You don’t have to limit yourself to the bikes on this list. As previously mentioned, all kids bikes are unisex so the options are wide open.
For even more great 16 inch bikes, including some “budget options” and additional reviews, read our article on the Best 16 Inch Bikes for Kids.
Comparison Chart: Girls 16 Inch Bikes
Not sure which of these bikes is best for your child? Here’s how they stack up in terms of weight, price, and size.
| Bike | Weight | Minimum Seat Height | Freewheel Option | Dual Handbrakes | Training Wheels | Frame Material |
| Prevelo Alpha Two | 14.4 lbs | 17″ | Yes | Yes | No | Aluminum |
| Woom 3 | 13.1 lbs | 19.3” | Yes | Yes | No | Aluminum |
| Pello Revo | 14.6 lbs | 19” | No | Yes | No | Aluminum |
| Guardian 16 | 17.5 lbs | 20″ | Yes | No | No | Aluminum |
| Spawn Yogi 16 | 14.7 lbs | 19” | Yes | Yes | No | Aluminum |
How to Choose a 16 Inch Girls Bike
Weight
Weight should be one of the first things you pay attention to when choosing a bike for your child. Many kids bikes, especially those at big box stores like Walmart, are HEAVY.
Girls, in particular, tend to be more petite and less muscular than little boys, making it especially important for them to have a lightweight bike. A lighter bike is easier to learn how to ride, easier to manage and will go faster.
We’ve seen time and time again kids riding heavy bikes who get frustrated easily. If you want your child to enjoy biking, then spend the extra money to give them a bike that will be fun and easy for them to ride.
Budget
For a good quality 16 inch bike, you need to be prepared to spend about $300. If that is way too much for your family, don’t despair. Look for one used! High-quality kids bikes can be handed down to several children before they wear out so they are great to pick up second hand.
The other thing to keep in mind is that if you buy a good quality bike you can always fetch a fair price for it when you are done with it. That makes the investment a little better.
There are also several companies, like Woom and Prevelo, that offer a trade-up program, so when your kiddo is ready for a 20″ bike the investment isn’t quite as painful.
Brakes
Most kids bikes come with a coaster brake. You probably remember these from your childhood, right? A coaster is a brake in the rear wheel that engages when you pedal backward.
The problem with coaster brakes is that they can make it difficult for children to learn to pedal and they can actually be quite dangerous!
We far prefer bikes with dual hand brakes and no coaster. That’s why we’ve picked bikes for our list that offer dual handbrakes and a freewheel (rear wheel with no coaster).
That said, if for whatever reason, you still prefer the idea of a coaster, several of these bikes come in both a coaster brake and a freewheel version so you can
Training Wheels
You’ll notice we picked out a bunch of bikes that don’t have training wheels. Why? Because your child doesn’t need them!
If your kiddo started out on a balance bike when they were younger, they should be able to transition easily without training wheels.
If they didn’t have a balance bike, no worries. Buy any one of the bikes on this list, lower the seat all the way, and remove the pedals. Have your child practice scooting around without pedals. They will find their balance and be ready to pedal (sans training wheels) in no time.
More Reading to Help You Pick the Best Bike For Your Child
- Best Kids Bikes: How To Choose, Reviews, & More!
- Kids Bike Sizes: 3 Tips for Picking the Best Sized Bike
- 5 Reasons You Will Love Woom Bikes (& Detailed Reviews!)
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 tested hundreds of kids bikes, helmets, bike trailers, and more.
Kristen is a USA Cycling certified coach and loves to share her passion for biking with other families. Blair is a bike geek, mechanic, and mountain bike junkie. Parker is our resident tester and inspiration.
If you see us out on the trail, make sure to say hi!
What are your thoughts on the 16 inch Guardian Original compared to these bikes? I like the sound of the Guardian bikes, but they don’t seem to show up on many of your lists.
Hi Erin,
I haven’t tested the Guardian 16 first-hand, but we did test the Guardian 20 inch and like it. You can find my review here: https://rascalrides.com/guardian-20-kids-bike-review/
I think a lot of my observations on the 20 would apply to the 16 as well. They are a little heavier and not quite as nice as the “Top 5” bikes like Woom, Cleary, Prevelo, etc, but nicer than a lot of the big bike manufacturer kids bikes.
Cheers,
KB