I would like to have seen disc brakes supplied with this model, but the front and rear linear brakes are a proven technology that provides plenty of stopping power, so this is a fairly minor gripe. Another one designed for the little ladies in your life, the Mongoose Maxim is a slightly more robust version of the Exlipse model. While both models feature similar-looking specs in terms of gears, brakes, etc, the more “mountain bike” construction of the Maxim, gives it more functionality over the terrain it can handle. This is reflected by its higher price point, yet it still isn’t a bike that is going to break the bank.
More often than not, child-specific brands are lighter and provide a higher level of quality and performance for the price. For more detailed differences, please read Bike Shop Bikes vs. Online Bikes – Why Online is Often a Better Deal. If you’re raising a little shredder and are looking for a dedicated 16 inch mountain bike, be sure to check out our favorite 16″ bikes for single track.
He has been writing about what’s new in the bicycle world for 12+ years. Prior to that, Zach spent many years in the back of a bicycle shop building and repairing nearly every mongoose kids bikes type of bike, while figuring out how to (occasionally) ride them. If the Guide is a little too mainstream for your tastes, Mongoose had this wild Maurice Plus on display.
Hi-Ten steel handlebar (6.5″) and fork, 48 mm stem, sealed bearing headset, and alloy V-brake and brake lever suitable for riders of height 5’0″ – 5’4″. Schwinn bikes are usually much lighter than Mongoose bikes because Schwinn makes use of aluminum or alloy frames and not steel. Lastly, for kids, Mongoose offers two sidewalk bikes, which are ideal for your child to enjoy cycling in and around the neighborhood.
Without a coaster brake, pedaling backward to regain balance isn’t a problem. For example, can you imagine a 4-year-old trying to ride the Royal Baby 16″ bike which weighs 24 pounds compared to the woom 3 at 11.7 pounds?? With a lightweight bike they can quickly becom/e confident little pedalers. Once confident, they can often tackle a heavier, often lesser quality bike for their next bike. Of all the bikes on this list, the woom 3 is the easiest bike to learn to ride on for true beginners. If you think your child will develop into a confident speed demon, the woom 3 is also offered with a 2-speed rear hub that automatically shifts a child into a higher gear when needed.
Forth Bikes (formerly Park Cycles) kids bikes are rad little machines. With kid-friendly geometry and solid components for a great price, Forth Bikes provide the perfect mongoose mountain bike balance between performance and affordability. Hand brakes are more effective at stopping a bike, though they do require a little more maintenance than coaster brakes.
Coaster brakes work pretty well and require little maintenance, but they do pose potential problems when your kid moves up to hand brakes. I love fat tires bikes, and most kids will love the Mongoose Argus Fat Tire Mountain Bike. The oversized tires provide amazing levels of grip in all conditions and surfaces. From snow to sand, from paved roads to hard trails, these tires provide a consistency of performance that instills confidence in young riders.