Complete Bikes
Browse used kids' bikes for sale from riders across the UK. This category covers complete children's bikes in every wheel size from balance bikes and 10 inch through 12, 14, 16, 20, 24 and 26 inch, which spans a first glide bike to a machine an older child can ride on the road. It suits parents moving a child up a size and anyone wanting a light bike without paying full price for something used for two years.
How do I pick the right wheel size?
Fit a child to a bike by inside leg, then check the standover and the reach to the bars. Balance bikes and 10 inch wheels are for the youngest riders learning to glide; 12 inch and 14 inch are typical first pedal bikes; 16 inch suits a child riding independently; 20 inch is the size where gears and hand brakes usually appear; and 24 and 26 inch are scaled-down adult bikes with real drivetrains. On a first pedal bike the child should sit with both feet flat on the floor. Size up too far and the bike is unrideable rather than merely roomy, because a child cannot reach the ground to catch themselves.
Balance bike, or a pedal bike with stabilisers?
A balance bike teaches balance and steering first, with pedalling added later, and most children who learn that way skip stabilisers entirely. Stabilisers do the opposite: they teach pedalling while removing the need to balance, so the balancing has to be learnt at the end. Balance bikes are also simpler machines — no chain, no bottom bracket, often no brake — which is why they survive several children and turn up used in good condition. The one thing to check is that the seat drops low enough for your child's inside leg, as the usable range is narrow. The smallest pedal sizes start at 10 inch.
What should I check on a second-hand children's bike?
Start with weight, because it is the single biggest determinant of whether a child can ride the bike — pick it up before anything else. Then check brake lever reach, since small hands need the reach adjuster wound right in and most used bikes have never had it touched. Rock each wheel laterally to feel for hub bearing play, and spin them to check they are true, as kerb drops knock kids' wheels out of line. Look for a seized seatpost, which matters because you will be raising it every few months, and for perished, square-worn tyres from long storage. On geared 20 inch and up, shift through the range and check the rear mech hanger is straight. Cranks that have been ridden loose leave a rounded square taper, so check for play at the pedals.
What is a used kids' bike worth?
Value tracks build quality and weight far more than age. A well-made lightweight bike from a specialist children's brand — Frog Bikes, Islabikes and Woom are the names most often cited in this market — holds a large share of its price and resells easily, so the effective cost of two years' use is small. Heavy department-store bikes have almost no residual value and are worth only what a working bike is worth to the next person. Buy new when nothing in the right size is listed at the moment your child needs it, or when you want a specific gearing setup. Otherwise buying used, riding it for two years and reselling is usually the cheapest route through a wheel size — and worth pairing with used clothing while checking kids' kit for a correctly fitted helmet.