Biky Air 12 Balance Bike Review

Unlike many balance bikes on the market, the Biky Air 12 is a REAL bike, not a toy. It comes with high quality parts you’d find on an adult bike–like stainless spokes, pneumatic (air) tires, rear hand brake, and a threadless headset.

It also comes at a real bike price (aka not cheap). That said, it’s build quality is on par with my two favorite balance bikes–the Woom 1 and Prevelo Alpha Zero–as is it’s price so it’s competitively priced.

The Biky balance bike is an excellent option for kids right around age 2 who are ready for a quality first bike. We put my friend Megan’s 2-year-old son, who is already a pro balance bike rider, for a couple months and were happy that he ended up being so happy on it.

So happy in fact, that we added it to our list of the best balance bikes.

Review In A Nutshell

Pros

• Smooth rolling, high quality wheels (metal rims and stainless spokes)
• Pneumatic (air) tires, not foam
• Internally routed rear handbrake
• Threadless headset
• Lightweight at 6.5 lbs
• Child friendly geometry (long wheelbase and narrow frame)
• Removable steering limiter
• Comfy saddle with a built-in carry recess underneath

Cons

• Spendy
• Tires are low-tread — fine for pavement, but not for off-road use

Price: $259

Video Review

This Is a Real Bike, Not a Toy

Upon unboxing the Biky, I was immediately impressed by the quality. The paint finish on the aluminum frame is glossy and it just FEELS expensive and well-made.

As I looked at each component more closely, it was clear why.

Wheels And Tires

The wheels (perhaps the most critical part of any bike, kids or adult), are top-notch. Many balance bikes are built with plastic wheels and foam tires. This might be ok for balance bikes that are intended for indoor play, but for bikes that are meant to go outside and RIDE, they fall short.

The Biky Air 12 wheels have both metal rims and spokes. The hubs have industrial-grade bearings and spin smoothly. This means that the wheels are going to have a more enjoyable ride quality, but also are more durable and will last though some serious abuse.

The tires are pnemautic (air filled). Compared to plastic or foam tires, real air tires provide better traction, particularly when riding outdoors. (Of course, the flip side to that is that they can go flat).

The tread on the tires is pretty smooth. This makes it an excellent choice for pavement but can also handle a little exploration on grass or a hard-packed BMX track.

If you’re child is going to be headed on more serious off-road exploration (aka you’re a mountain bike family), then you’ll probably want to opt for a bike with a knobbier tire. The Early Rider Bigfoot or Kids Ride Shotgun Dirt Hero are two good examples of bikes better suited for dirt.

One thing we really appreciated were the long, curved air valves. It can be really tough to get a pump onto a 12″ tire valve, and the longer valve made the process much easier.

Rear Handbrake

In general, I’m a big fan of a hand brake on a balance bike. This is for two reasons: (1) it allows kids to learn braking skills early on, and (2) it saves wear on shoes.

The older, original Biky 12 we tested did not have a handbrake, but the newest version does! This is a great addition.

The rear Tektro brake has a reasonably small, easy-to-pull brake lever and does a good job of letting little ones begin to practice their braking skills. The cable is also internally routed which helps keep things clean and tidy looking.

Threadless Headset

The other component of note is the threadless headset. Threadless headsets are found on higher quality bikes, provide smoother steering, and are less likely to come loose (when compared to a threaded quill-style headset).

All of these components put together mean this is the kind of bike that gets handed down, not thrown out. It should last a long time (and provide a lot of fun along the way).

The Little Details

While not as important individually, it’s all the little details that often show just how well made a bike is. In the case of the Biky Air 12, there are plenty:

• Removable steering limiter. This small rubber band keeps kids from over-rotating the handlebars (a sure way for little ones to crash as they learn). Once they are confident (and you’re confident in them), you can take it off for a fuller range of steering. Our little tester actually seemed to prefer the Biky to his Prevelo balance bike because the steering limiter made the handlebars feel more stable on high speed descents.
• Grips with bar ends so little hands don’t slide off the ends–another sure way to crash.
• Comfortable saddle. You know how you like a comfortable saddle? Well so do kids. We see a lot of cheaper balance bikes with hard plastic saddles (!!) so we appreciate that this one is soft and padded.
• Recess under the saddle. This comes in handy both for holding the bike stable as your little first learns to ride as well as for using as a carry handle.
• Semi-recessed bolts. Bolts aren’t fully recessed, but they’re flat on the edges to keep kids from getting scratched on them.

Toddler Friendly Geometry (Long Wheelbase, Narrow Frame)

In addition to having high-quality components, the frame itself is well-designed. Like the other Biky bikes we’ve tested, it has a long wheel base which provides extra stability. Obviously, stability should be the whole name of the game on a balance bike, and Biky gets this right.

Additionally, the frame is quite narrow. This is significant on a balance bike as we sometimes see kids clipping the frame as they stride. Our little tester on the Biky was able to happily cruise along with no interference from the bike.

The frame has a very low slope which makes getting on and off the bike easy, something toddlers often struggle with.

Extremely Lightweight At 6.5 Pounds

At a mere 6.5 pounds, the Biky is one of the lightest (though not THE lightest) balance bikes around.

Our 2-year-old tester was able to pick it up, right it after a crash, and steer it without fighting it. Weight matters a lot for toddlers. If a balance bike is too heavy, the experience is likely to end in frustration and a lack of interest.

While it is heavier than the Strider Comp (which weighs in at a hair under 5 pounds), it’s also a much more substantial, more durable bike. In my opinion, the Biky hits a sweet spot–light enough to be easily manuevered, yet durable enough to survive abuse and perform outdoors.

Sizing and Fit

The best way to know if a balance bike is a good fit for your child is the minimum seatpost height.

The minimum seatpost height on the Biky Air 12 is 12.5″. That means that your child’s inseam needs to be AT LEAST 12.5″ to fit safely on the bike. That means it will be a best fit for most kids around age 2 or in a size 2T pant.

If your kiddo is smaller than that, you’ll want to look for a bike with a shorter minimum seatpost height. The Woom 1, for example, has a minimum of 10.5″ (a full 2″ shorter) and will fit many kiddos around 18 months.

In terms of growth, the seatpost can raise to 15.5″ which equates to a 3T pant. That gives you around a year of use (pretty standard).

As your child grows, you can easily raise the seatpost (sans tools) thanks to the quick-release seatpost collar–a feature I always appreciate.

How It Stacks Up Against The Woom 1 and Prevelo Alpha Zero

For years, I’ve been recommending the Woom 1 and Prevelo Alpha Zero as my two favorite balance bikes. It’s time to add the Biky 12 to that mix.

The build quality and design are VERY similar to those two bikes. The biggest difference is the SIZE.

It is a little larger and won’t fit the very smallest riders (as I already mentioned). It’s a best fit for kiddos around 2 years old and will provide more room to grow than those other two bikes.

In terms of sizing, it’s a closer comparison to the Guardian balance bike. The Guardian is cheaper (by a fair bit!) but also 2 pounds heavier.

Bottom Line: A High Quality Balance Bike

If you’re looking for a good quality balance bike, and have the budget to afford it, there’s not much to dislike here. The Biky Air 12 is as good of a balance bike as you’re going to find. Because it is a little bit bigger than it’s closest competitors, it will be a good choice for parents shopping for a 2nd birthday present.

The only reasons you might pass are: (1) it’s expensive, (2) you’ll be riding primarily off-road and want something with beefier tires, or (3) you’re little one still has an inseam that’s too small. In all other cases, don’t overthink this: get your kid the Biky.

More Stuff You Might Like

• 10 Best Balance Bikes For Your Toddler
• How To Motivate Your Kids To Ride Bikes
• Best Toddler & Baby Bike Helmets I Tested & Reviewed

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