Woom Go 4 Review: The BEST 20 Inch Kids Bike

So, you’re on the hunt to buy the BEST 20″ bike for your child or grandchild. Don’t waste your time–just buy the Woom Go 4.

It’s a lightweight, high-quality, attractive, and durable bike for young kids. We have yet to see a brand that does a better job of building bikes for young kids than Woom, and we’ve tested a lot of bikes.

The Woom Go 4 (previously called the Woom Original 4) is well suited for recreational riding, biking to school and around town, and even for longer distance riding.

To compare it to the competition, check out our full 20 inch kids bikes review.

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Review in a Nutshell

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Child appropriate geometry and adjustable handlebar
• High quality build means that the bike can be handed down to younger siblings
• Grip shifter is intuitive for young kids to learn

Cons:

• Expensive

Price: $639 List

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Woom 4 Video Review

Grip Shifter Provides an Easy Introduction to Gears

More than likely, the Woom 4 will be your child’s first bike with gears. Fortunately, the bike’s high-quality drivetrain makes learning to shift easy. The grip shifter is intuitive for kids just learning to shift, and the big tortoise and hare display helps kids understand which direction to shift.

During testing, we did find that while the shifter is easy to shift into harder gears (smaller chainrings), our tester had difficulty shifting back to smaller gears (bigger chainrings). On climbs, he had to stop to shift gears with both hands. 

I should note that this is not uncommon with twist shifters.  In fact, we’ve found that trigger shifters seem to be easier for little hands to operate but harder to learn to use.

Fortunately, the drivetrain is finely tuned, and even when shifting multiple gears while stopped (usually a big no-no), the short-cage derraileur made nice clean shifts.

Unlike older versions of the Woom 4 we’ve tested in the past, which had an 8-speed SRAM drivetrain, the last few models (including the current Woom Go) have a 7-speed Microshift drivetrain. Fortunately, the Microshift substitution is a good one. We’ve tested it on other bikes and been pleasantly surprised by how well this newer, more cost-effective drivetrain functions.

The 7-speed drivetrain has a single 28 tooth chainring up front and an 8 ring cassette in back ranging from 11 teeth to 28 teeth. For the bike geeks out there, that gives the bike a gain ratio between 2.3 and 5.9.

Don’t know what that means?  It means this: Woom has provided plenty of range both for climbing steep hills and making good speed on flat roads. Parents of kids coming from a single speed bike will notice an immediate and marked improvement in how long, how fast, and far their kids will be able to ride. Adding gears opens up a whole new world!

Brake Levers Are Effective and Easy to Operate

Some kids moving up to a 20″ bike have already mastered hand brakes, while others are coming from 16″ bikes with a coaster brake. For kids who haven’t already mastered braking, the Woom 4 is a good bike to do it on. Like all Woom bikes, the brake levers are appropriately sized for small hands and are easy to operate and pull.

The Woom 4 does lack the color-coded levers of the Woom 1, Woom 2, and Woom 3, which is a bit of a bummer considering I think there are a lot of kids entering a 20″ bike that are still learning braking skills.

For more aggressive riders, it’s important to note that the v-brakes provide excellent stopping power.  Woom uses high-quality, low-friction Jagwire bowden brake cable, which is the same cable I use on my own commuter bike.

One Of The Lightest 20 Inch Bikes Available

At 17.2 pounds, the Woom 4 is one of the lightest 20-inch bikes around. It used to be the lightest, but the Early Rider Belter 20 has it beat by about a half-pound. Still pretty impressive and you could get it even lighter by removing the kickstand.

Why is weight so important?  Kids just don’t weigh that much.  When you put them on a heavy bike, it’s like putting an adult on a 70-pound bike.  Trust me when I say you wouldn’t like that very much and you probably wouldn’t ride very fast or very far.

Let’s do a little comparison to help illustrate this.  I personally weigh 125 pounds.  My mountain bike weighs 25 pounds and my road bike weighs 19 pounds.  That means my bike weight to body weight ratio is between 0.14 and 0.2.

My 6-year-old, on the other hand, is barely 40 pounds fully dressed.  His bike weight to body weight ratio on the Woom is 0.43.  While that’s arguably still pretty heavy for a little kid, it’s significantly better than any other option.  On a bike like the Trek Precaliber 20 7-speed (which weighs nearly 24 pounds), that ratio skyrockets to 0.6.  Ouch!  And, big box store bikes are even worse.

Don’t underestimate the importance of weight.  We’ve seen time and time again: the lighter a bike is, the more fun kids have riding it, the further they can ride, and the faster they can go.

Intelligently Designed Geometry Makes Biking Easier for Kids

Unlike the kids’ bikes of old, the best modern children’s bikes have been designed from the ground up with kids unique needs in mind.  Woom has been at the forefront of this design revolution.  All their bikes are lightweight, stable, and easy to ride.

We’d argue that in terms of geometry, the most important things to look at on a kids bike are the wheelbase (length from wheel to wheel), steering angle, crank length, and q-factor.  All are dialed in on the Woom 4.

The bike’s long wheelbase provides a stable platform for kids to learn on, the slack steering angle is forgiving, and the short cranks (110mm) allow for efficient pedaling.  Speaking of efficiency, we also like looking at the q-factor, which is the width or distance between the pedals.  The narrower the q-factor, the easier it is for kids to pedal.  As you’d expect, the Woom 4 has an appropriately narrow q-factor.

High-Quality Components Make for a Smooth Ride

The build on the Woom 4 is both durable and efficient.  We appreciate the, sealed ahead headset, sealed bearing hubs, and lightweight aluminum rims.  The quality of the components makes for a lightweight bike, durability over time, and an enjoyable rider experience.

The Schwalbe tires are also high-quality.  They hit a sweet spot where they are fast-rolling on pavement but can manage dirt and gravel as well.

Sizing

Woom has an excellent tool on thier website to help you find the right size bike based on your child’s age, inseam, and height. If you don’t want to bother with the tool, know that the bike is best suited for kids ages 6 to 9 or between 45″ to 51″.  We got the bike for my son right around his 6th birthday.  Although he’s on the shorter end of the spectrum, he fits comfortably on the bike.

If your child is ready for 20″ wheels but doesn’t quite fit on the Woom 4, you might want to consider a bike like the Pello Reddi which has a slightly lower minimum standover height.

Adjustable Handlebar And Seatpost With Adjustment Markings

Both the seatpost and handlebar on the Woom 4 are adjustable (normal and expected with regards to the seatpost, less so with the handlebar on this size of a bike). With the seatpost, you can quickly raise or lower it thanks to the quick release seatpost collar, and remember its setting thanks to the height markers. This comes in handy if you’re lowering the seat for a descent or swapping it between riders.

The upright BMX handlebar also adjusts slightly by rotating it forward or backward. I don’t like this design quite as much as the flat bar and adjustable stem that the Woom 4 used to have (and that’s currently offered on the Woom Explore), but it does offer some additional room for growth compared to most 20 inch bikes.

Kickstand Is Innovative And Stable

I LOVE the Woom kickstand design. Unlike most kickstands that mount directly under the front chainring and frequently get tangled with the crank arm, the new Woom kickstand mounts to the chainstay. By putting the kickstand further back, it is easier for kids to operate and keeps it out of the way of the crank arm.

The kickstand is also beefy. It is about double the thickness of a regular kickstand and does a great job of providing stability and keeping the bike upright. And considering that the Woom 4 isn’t a cheap bike, a kickstand helps keep it off the ground.  Sure, kids are still going to beat it up the bike, but a kickstand helps a little bit.

Woom Also Provides an Array of Matching Accessories

We have lots of grandparents that end up buying Woom bikes not only because they are exceptionally nice bikes, but also because there are so many fun accessories to match. In particular, we love the Woom helmet and the Woom bike gloves.

You can also choose to buy the bike “fully loaded” with fenders, basket, bell, and water bottle and cage. Do you need all that stuff? Probably not–but it’s fun!

Hand the Bike Down to a Younger Sibling or Trade It Using Woom’s Upcycle Program

The biggest push back I get when I recommend Woom bikes is how expensive they are. And I get it, they are aren’t cheap. Here’s the thing though: cheaper bikes are HEAVY. They break down faster.  You might pay less money, but you end up paying in other ways.

Woom bikes are a good investment in your child’s enjoyment of biking. If you get a heavy, clunky bike, they’re going to have fun riding up and down the street but aren’t going to enjoy going on longer rides. If longer rides are important to you, then you owe them a bike that will make it possible.

We’ve seen over several years of use of Woom bikes, that they also hold up really, really well. This means you can safely buy a Woom bike and then hand it down to a younger sibling, or two, or three. If you don’t have multiple children to hand the bike down to, then you’ll still be able to fetch a decent price on the resale market. Demand for used Woom bikes is high.

Finally, Woom offers an Upcycle Program. It’s a membership program ($59) that allows you to “trade up” to the next size bike. So after your child is done with their Woom 4, you can upgrade to a Woom 5, and then a Woom 6 later.

Assembly is a No-Brainer

If you’re not a mechanically inclined person, you’ll be particularly pleased with how easy the Woom 4 is to assemble straight out of the box.  We had it put together in well under 10 minutes.  (It was probably more like 5).

We’ve had the pleasure of visiting Woom USA’s headquarters in Austin and saw their mechanics building bikes prior to shipment.  They take the process seriously and do a great job of pre-assembling the bikes, making sure that everything is properly dialed in and safe.

When we got the bike, we had to install the wheels and handlebars, insert the seatpost, and re-attach the front brake.  So easy!  Unlike many bikes that come boxed, everything was already dialed in and we didn’t have to make any adjustments to the brakes or derailleur.

Other Things Worth Mentioning

• The bike has quick-release axles on the front wheel AND a quick-release seatpost collar.  We appreciate this so much as it makes adjustments and tire changes so much quicker and easier.
• The handlebar grips are ergonomic and have a smaller diameter than most.
• The custom Woom saddle is ergonomic and is weather resistant. It is important to note that the saddle and seapost are integrated which means that you can not swap out or replace the saddle without replacing the seatpost as well.

Woom 4 Compared to Other 20 Inch Kids Bikes

We can safely say that the Woom 4 is our favorite 20″ bike for the vast majority of kids. It’s not cheap, but it is reasonably priced when compared to other high-end 20″ bikes like the Prevelo Alpha Three and Early Rider Belter 20. It also happens to be one of the lightest 20″ bikes, which should be a high priority when choosing a bike for young kids.

While the Woom 4 will be the best option for most kids, it is primarily design for paved riding and it’s upright design is best suited for beginners and more timid riders.

If you’re child will be riding off-road or is simply more athletic and adventurous, you may want to consider one of the other 20 inch Woom bikes including the Woom Explore and the Woom OFF. The Woom Explore is an upgrade to the Woom Go with its hydraulic disc brakes and Shimano drivetrain and is ideal for mixed paved and gravel riding, while the Woom OFF is suited to true mountain biking thanks to wide, beefy tires and optional air fork.

Bottom-Line: Simply the BEST 20″ Kids Bike Around

We’re not shy to say that Woom makes our favorite bikes for young kids.  The Woom 4 is no exception.  It is lightweight, has high-quality parts, and can tackle just about anything.  If you want your child to be able to ride faster, go further, and have more fun, the Woom 4 will make that possible.  

Get More Help Choosing the Right Bike For Your Child

• Best 20 Inch Kids Bikes
• Kids Bike Size Guide
• Best Kids Bike Brands

About The Reviewers