The Retrospec Cricket 2 is a baby balance bike marketed for toddlers aged 12 to 24 months, designed to give the youngest riders a fun and gentle introduction to the world of bikes!
At this age, it’s less about riding and more about developing the foundational skills — walking, balancing, and learning to steer — that will set them up for success on a real balance bike a little later down the road.
With its pretty look, affordable price point, and ultra-low design, this is a charming first bike that makes a great gift and an even better tool for getting your littlest tike moving. Read on to learn what we liked (and the few things we didn’t).
Also, make sure to check out our list of the best bikes for babies. (Yes, the Cricket made the cut).
Review In A Nutshell
Pros:
- Affordable price
- Sleek look, pretty colors
- Low seat height fits TINY riders
- Steering limiter prevents over rotation of handlebars
Cons:
- While marketed for up to 44 pounds my older toddler (who weighs less than that) rode it just a few times and caused the back wheel to bind slightly
- Wheels are not designed for outdoor use
Pro or Con depending on view:
- Two wheels in back
Price: $49.99
Unboxing Is Quick And Easy
The Cricket arrived mostly assembled and was very easy to finish putting together. All you have to install is the handlebar, and it only requires adjusting a single bolt.
You need to unscrew that bolt, slide the handlebar piece in, and then re-install the bolt. The tool (allen wrench) that you need is included in the box.
That’s it, and your kiddo can be off riding!
Intelligent Design
One of the first things I noticed was that it’ has a very aesthetic look, and there are lots of fun and pretty color options available. It looks cute in a child’s bedroom, and would make for a lovely gift.
There’s a cute little “R” decal on the front, though sadly, it’s starting to peel after just a couple of weeks of light indoor use.
The handlebars have beautiful rubber grips that are the perfect size for little hands to feel secure. They have large end knobs that keep hands from sliding off — a safety feature I appreciated.
The fully plastic frame is quite light, and easy for the child to pick up and right themselves when it tips.
Another helpful feature for the littlest riders is the 135-degree steering limiter. This keeps the handlebars from turning TOO far.
While I don’t love a limiter on the larger balance bikes as I feel like it tends to teach kids unsafe habits, I do appreciate it on this small of a bike. It makes it much easier for my 1-year-old to start to learn how to steer and balance without falling from over-rotating the handlebars and having to start the whole process over.
Perfect For Indoor Use
The wheels are slip-resistant and non-scratch, which makes it great for indoor play and use on hardwood floors.
On the other hand, these wheels are not ideal for outdoor use. The website does say you can use the bike outdoors, but I would be worried it would put heavy wear on the wheels.
They are made out foam and covered by a soft rubber, and outdoor abuse and wear may affect indoor riding. Additionally, the wheels don’t spin super smoothly, especially with the resistance of grass and rougher outdoor surfaces.
Grab the Cricket if you’re looking for something to keep kids entertained indoors, but opt for something a little more durable (like the Early Rider Velio) if you want something for use outside.
Intended For Tiny Riders
The really fantastic thing about the Cricket is that it’s small enough to find riders who are too tiny for most other bikes. Our tester (aka my daughter), who has just a slightly longer than average inseam, was able to begin using the Cricket at 11 months.
We have another bike (the significantly more expensive Woom Wow) that’s marketed for use as early as nine months, but months later, she’s still not able to use due to the height of the seat. So it was exciting to find this one for her.
The seat is large and is the perfect shape to make it easy for little tots to stay firmly planted. It also seems pretty comfortable for the child.
The one thing I’d change, however, is that it’s very long, which makes it harder for the littlest kids to get on and off themselves. My daughter, who is on the young end of the range, can get her legs over the wheel base on her own, but isn’t able to get herself on the seat.
There’s no adjustment capabilities for the seat or handlebar height, but both feel like they’re a good height for the range of the kids using this bike.
Limited Life Span, But Gives Littles A Head Start
The Retrospec Cricket 2 is marketed for toddlers 12 to 24 months, and up to 44lbs. My daughter was able to start waddlling around on it at 11 months, so we found that the lower age was quite accurate.
My older toddler, who is still under the weight limit, did ride it a couple of times and caused the back wheels to bend a bit, so I definitely wouldn’t use this for a larger or more aggressive rider. It’s going to be a better choice for littles who are still pretty mild in their riding. If your toddler is closer to 24 months, take a look at the Retrospec Cub instead.
We had a similar bike for our older two, but the difference was it only had one wider back wheel, which made the transition to a real balance bike very easy. This one has two back wheels, but they are slightly closer together than the front wheels, which gives it a bit of a balance bike feel without quite as much instability.
This made it very easy for our 11 month to stay on and “ride”, but it might make the transition to a real balance bike down the road not as seamless. However, our older two didn’t start riding that bike until closer to 14 months, so I think the trade-off of getting her riding even earlier is worth it!
Bottom Line: A Budget-Friendly Option To Get Your Little One Riding Early
For the price, I think this is a good looking, very practical first bike, especially if you’re wanting to get your kiddos riding as early as possible.
The two downfalls are the long seat (which wouldn’t be a problem with a rider towards the middle of the age range – say 18 months), and the fact that the wheels don’t spin super smoothly (especially with a rider on the larger end of the weight limit or outdoors).
While a bike with one back wheel might be easier to transition to a larger balance bike, the brand new walkers won’t be able to use that style as early as this one! This is one of your best options if you have a baby around a year old.
More Stuff You Might Like
- Best Toddler & Baby Bike Helmets I Tested & Reviewed
- Balance Bikes: Everything You Need To Know
- Biking With Baby: From Newborn To Infant To Toddler
About The Reviewer
Kelley Asbury is a mom of three and enjoys mountain biking in Minnesota with her husband and kids. In addition to riding and writing, Kelly is a professional photographer at KelleyJoImaging.com.