Children’s balance bikes in the test: These 2 products failed completely

The products are aimed at children aged one and a half or two years. The price of the tested bikes was between 35.20 and 89.99 euros. The cheapest product scored “good”, the most expensive “very good” – but the second most expensive product, which was only 9 cents cheaper, scored “not enough”. The reason for the “stain” in this case was that the bike could only be assembled after the frame had been reworked with a saw and file.

Rim broke on treadmill

The load safety was tested on a treadmill on which the wheels ran for an hour with a load of 50 kilos. One thing could no longer be checked further because the rim on the front axle broke – this resulted in an overall grade of “not sufficient”.

Even the drop test – where the wheel is dropped 50 times in each direction and then examined for the resulting damage – not all products survived: While minimal damage to the frame was found on seven bikes, the rubber on the handlebar cover came off on the eighth and the iron on the handlebar came out, which leads to an increased risk of injury.

Pay attention to the right size

Experts recommend paying attention to the right size when buying a balance bike: When sitting, the child must be able to completely touch the ground with both soles of their feet and be able to bend their knees slightly. In addition, the balance bike should not weigh more than 30 percent of the child’s body weight. The handles should have thick rubber impact protectors on the outside, countersunk screws and covered axles reduce the risk of injury.

The saddle and handlebars should be able to “grow” with you, i.e. be infinitely adjustable. Rubber tires are more suitable for inexperienced children; with increasing experience and, if the bike is also used on gravel or forest paths, pneumatic tires are the better choice, according to consumer advocates.