Kids
Browse used kids' bikes and kit for sale from riders across the UK. This section covers complete bikes from balance bikes up to 26in wheels — roughly ages two to thirteen — along with protective kit and clothing cut for smaller bodies. It exists because children outgrow a wheel size every two years or so, which means most of this gear is sold on with plenty of life left in it.
What size bike does my child need?
Children's bikes are sold by wheel diameter, and the useful measurement is the child's inside leg, not their age: roughly 12in for a 35-42cm inside leg, 14in for 40-48cm, 16in for 45-52cm, 20in for 51-60cm, 24in for 60-70cm and 26in above that. A child should be able to put both feet flat on the ground on a first pedal bike and the balls of their feet down once they are confident. Ranges overlap, so if a child sits between two sizes, the smaller bike ridden well beats the bigger one they grow into next summer — the complete bikes listings are split by wheel size for this reason.
Does the weight of a kids' bike matter?
It matters more than on an adult bike, because the rider is so light. A 20in bike from a supermarket brand can weigh 11-12kg while a lightweight one weighs around 8kg, and a 25kg child is being asked to push nearly half their body weight up every hill. Weight is the single biggest reason children give up on a bike, and it is why brands such as Frog, Islabikes, Woom and Hoy hold their value second-hand.
What should I check on a used kids' bike?
Seatposts seize into the frame on bikes left at one height for two years, so ask the seller to raise and lower it before you commit. Check that the brake levers have reach adjustment and that small hands can pull them, since fixed adult-spacing levers make a bike unusable for a six-year-old. Look for perished, cracked tyre sidewalls from a bike stored in a cold shed, a rusted chain, and hubs and headsets that grind when turned — cheap sealed-cup bearings run dry quickly on bikes ridden through winter. On anything with gears, shift through the range and check the rear mech hanger is straight.
What kit does a child need beyond the bike?
A helmet that fits the head being measured now is the only non-negotiable item; children's shells step up in small increments and a hand-me-down that rocks on the head is not doing much. Beyond that, gloves save palms on gravel and pads make sense once a child is riding trails or a skatepark, all of which sit under kids' kit. Padded shorts and windproof layers in kids' clothing are worth having for anyone doing longer family rides rather than laps of the park.
Do kids' bikes hold their value?
The lightweight brands hold price remarkably well because demand always exceeds supply — a bike bought at three-quarters of retail and sold on two years later often costs very little to have owned. Heavy department-store bikes are the opposite and are worth buying used or not at all. Pay new prices only for helmets, where the fit and the impact history matter more than the saving.