Best Kids Bikes for Christmas: The Black Friday Buying Guide
A new bike is still one of the best Christmas presents a child can get, and Black Friday is the smartest time to buy one. Prices are low, every size and colour is still in stock, and you've got weeks to check the fit before the big day.
We build kids' bikes every week in our Shrewsbury workshop, and we design our own range, Shyre Bikes, specifically for UK kids. Here's how to pick the right size, and the bikes we'd buy for our own families this Christmas.
Kids bike size guide
Kids' bikes are sized by wheel, not frame. Height and inside leg matter more than age, so use this as a starting point and check your child can touch the ground with the balls of their feet while sat on the saddle.
| Age | Wheel size | Child height | Our pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 to 4 | Balance or 12 inch | 85 to 100 cm | Shyre Myndie 12" Wheel Balance Bike (£69.99) |
| 3 to 5 | 14 inch | 95 to 110 cm | Dawes 14" Thunder Kids Bike, Blue (£135.99) |
| 4 to 6 | 16 inch | 105 to 120 cm | Dawes 16" Blowfish Kids Bike, Orange (£177.99) |
| 6 to 9 | 20 inch | 115 to 135 cm | Falcon Samurai 20" Mountain Bike (£198.99) |
| 8 to 11 | 24 inch | 130 to 150 cm | Shyre Hopton 24" Wheel Kids Hybrid Bike (£339.99) |
| 10 and up | 26 inch | 145 cm plus | Shyre Eastie 26" Wheel Kids Mountain Bike (£379.99) |
Why weight matters more than gears
Lots of cheap kids' bikes weigh nearly as much as the child riding them. That makes pedalling, braking and learning to ride far harder than it needs to be. Our Shyre Bikes range uses light alloy frames and child sized components, so kids get confident faster and actually want to ride.
Best balance bikes (ages 2 to 4)
Best first pedal bikes (ages 3 to 6)
Best bikes for ages 6 to 9
Best bikes for ages 8 and up
Don't forget the helmet
A properly fitted helmet is the most important accessory, and it makes a great stocking filler.
Hiding a bike until Christmas
Buy early, keep it boxed and hide it somewhere safe. Our bikes arrive mostly assembled, so you won't be up building one at midnight on Christmas Eve. Free delivery on all bikes means no surprise costs either. Find more on our Featured Christmas Bikes - K-Pop Demon Hunter bikes are sure to sell to fast.
Already the best price, with Black Friday on top
Our kids' bikes are priced below the big retailers all year round. Grab yours before the most popular sizes and colours sell out, and see our full Black Friday bike deals for adult bikes too. Still deciding when to buy? Read is Black Friday the best time to buy a bike.
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