16" Bikes
Browse used 16in bikes for sale from riders across the UK. A 16in wheel suits an inside leg of roughly 45-52cm and ages four to six, and bikes at this size are almost all single-speed, with a good one weighing around 6-7kg against 10kg or more for a heavy one. It is the size most children learn to ride properly on, so plenty come to the second-hand market barely worn.
When should a child move from 14in to 16in?
Move up when the seatpost is at or near its maximum height mark and the child's knees are coming up towards the bars at the top of the pedal stroke. On a 16in they should be able to get the balls of both feet down at the saddle height where their leg is nearly straight at the bottom of the stroke — that is the pedalling position, not the learning position, and it is worth setting once they are confident. Buying a size up too early costs more in confidence than it saves in money.
Does a 16in bike need gears?
Very few do, and most riders at this size are better off without. A single-speed bike is lighter, has no cables to snag or shifters to break, and a child who is still working out steering and braking has enough to think about. Gearing on a good 16in is chosen so it will spin up gentle hills without spinning out on the flat; a bike with a very high single gear is usually one built to a price rather than to a child's leg strength.
What should I check on a used 16in bike?
Check the brake levers reach and the cables are not rusted solid inside the outers, since bikes at this size sit outdoors more than any other. Test the seatpost moves, look for a seat clamp that has been over-tightened and cracked, and spin both wheels for buckles from kerb drops. Tyres that have gone hard and cracked at the sidewall are common on a bike stored for two years between siblings and are cheap to replace, but a rusted chain and freewheel is a better indicator of how the whole bike has been kept. Check the crank arms are tight — loose square-taper cranks quickly ruin the axle.
Is a 16in bike right, or should I look smaller?
If your child is between sizes and still learning to balance, a shorter, lighter bike is the safer choice — compare against the 12in bikes and the balance bikes for a younger sibling before stretching. Children who are already riding confidently and are near the top of the range will get more use from moving on to a 20in, where gears and a longer frame open up longer family rides.
What is a used 16in bike worth?
Lightweight bikes at this size hold their price hard because they are in demand every spring, and an honest 16in from one of the child-specific brands typically sells at half to two-thirds of retail. Buying new is worth it only if you want a warranty on a bike that will be handed down through several children; otherwise the depreciation on a used one over two summers is close to nothing.