Bikes for girls: Everything you need to know

If you’re searching online for bikes for girls, you’re not alone. Whether you're buying your daughter's first bike or upgrading to a bigger size, it can be overwhelming knowing where to start. At Cycle Sprog we’re dedicated to helping parents pick the best kids bikes for their children that are actually built for the job.

With so many brightly coloured, glitter- or cartoon-covered bikes aimed at girls, it's easy to think that something pink with a basket and tassels is the obvious choice. Of course, some little girls will want something like this, but if you want them to genuinely enjoy cycling, then it’s important to understand that many of these bikes are heavy, poorly made, and not built for regular riding.

What results is something that’s not only horrible to ride, but potentially unsafe because it more than often breaks very quickly, which can quickly lead to frustration and disappointment, not to mention your wasted money. If you’re on a tight budget, we’ve rounded up the cheapest kids bikes that are still decent enough for proper riding, and plenty of those are suitable for girly girls who want something that looks good.

In this guide, we’ll help you cut through the marketing and focus on what really matters when choosing a good quality bike for a girl. We’ll explain why the best choice is often a unisex bike that comes in a range of colours (including pink and purple), and what features to look out for at different ages and stages, including step-through frames for cycling to school in a skirt or dress, and female-specific fit and components for teens whose bodies are changing. 

You’ll also find suggestions for blinging up their bike with fun accessories, advice on what to avoid, and tips for getting the best value, including why a quality bike will last longer and be easier to sell on or pass down to younger siblings. We'll also explain how riding the wrong size bike can affect your daughter's enjoyment and confidence, and how to measure her so you know what size kids bike to buy.

Once you’ve got an idea of what sort of bike to look for, check out our other buying guides for even more options, or use our Kids Bike Search to access our full database of children’s bikes.

Why kids bikes marketed at girls can be a problem

Walk into a toy shop or scroll through a major retailer’s bike section, and you’ll quickly see a familiar pattern: bikes for girls are often pink or purple, feature an array of accessories like baskets and tassels, and have a character theme like Disney Princesses or unicorns. But behind all the sparkle, these are actually bike-shaped toys, often made from heavy steel, with poor quality brakes and components that don’t hold up to regular use.

These bikes might be fine for pootling up and down the pavement once in a while, but if you want your child to develop confidence on two wheels and use their bike regularly, including cycling to school, weekend rides or adventures further afield, they’ll need something much better built, that you can rest assured is safe and durable.

Do girls need a different type of bike?

When children are younger, there’s very little physical difference between boys and girls that will affect their comfort on a bicycle, so there's usually no need for gender-specific bikes. In most cases when retailers advertise a bike as for girls or for boys, it’s based on the colour and accessories. A well-designed unisex bike, available in a variety of colours, is a far better investment than a flimsy “girls bike” that happens to be pink.

That said, the colour and accessories aren’t always the only difference, and there are some features you’ll find on many girls bikes that are genuinely useful:

• Step-through frames make it easier to pedal while wearing a skirt or dress, which can be especially helpful if they’re cycling to school. Most good quality kids bikes will come with a staggered top tube that sits between a step-through frame and crossbar.
  
• Chain guards can help protect clothing and legs from oil or snags, and flared trousers or long skirts can be the most affected.
• Saddle shape becomes an important factor as they get older and their bodies develop, and good quality girls bikes in bigger sizes should come with female-specific contact points.

Brands that make great bikes for girls in a range of colours

Luckily, there are plenty of quality kids’ bike brands out there who understand that girls like to ride fast and far too, and that not all of them want pink. That said, there’s nothing wrong with a pink or purple bike! It’s just nice to offer them the choice.

Here are some of the brands we recommend that offer well-made, lightweight bikes with a wide choice of colours (including pinks, purples, and pastels if that’s what your child is drawn to):

Balance bikes

• Hornit
• Kidvelo
• Btwin
• Frog

Pedal bikes

• Btwin
• YOMO
• Woom
• Frog
• Specialized
• Squish
• Forme
• Pinnacle

These brands focus on low weight aluminium frames, good-quality lasting components, and proper geometry designed to help your child learn and enjoy riding. Many of them also hold their value well, so you’ll find it easier to pass the bike on or sell it second-hand later.

What size bike should you get?

One of the most common issues we see is children – especially girls – riding bikes that are far too small for them. Because girls are often given bikes based on appearance rather than fit, it’s easy to overlook the fact they’ve outgrown their bike until it starts causing problems.

If a bike is too small, your child will be cramped when pedalling, which makes riding inefficient and uncomfortable, especially on hills. They won’t be able to get full leg extension, and the result is often a lack of confidence, poor posture, and a lot more effort than necessary. It’s not uncommon for kids to lose interest in cycling simply because their bike doesn’t fit properly.

The good news is that it’s easy to check whether your child is due for the next size up. Take a look at our guide on what size kids bike you need and our step-by-step instructions on how to measure your child for a new bike.

What to look for in bikes for girls as they grow up

Once your daughter gets older and hits puberty, her body will start to change. Wider hips and changes in body shape can make a difference to how comfortable she feels on her bike, especially on longer rides. At this stage, it can be worth looking at bikes with:

• Female-specific geometry, which can help with comfort and control, especially if they require a shorter reach.
• Wider or gender-specific saddles designed to suit different pelvic structures (one with a cut-out down the centre and a short nose could be a good place to start)

These are only meant for general guidance, though, as many women will attest that they prefer unisex bikes and saddles. Everyone’s anatomy is different, as are our proportions and limb measurements, so it’s important to always measure first and buy the bike that works for the rider’s body.

Our guide to how to stop your kid getting saddle sore has more tips if they start riding longer distances or complain of discomfort.

Make it theirs with accessories

If your child has their heart set on a character themed bike, (Elsa from Frozen is still a popular one), one way to compromise is to go for a high-quality bike and let them choose accessories that reflect their personality. This way, they get a bike that’s fun to ride and feels like theirs, while you know you’re getting proper value for money and investing in their future cycling enjoyment.

Here are a few ideas to bling up their bike:

• Btwin Handlebar Bag
• Btwin Kids Bike Plushie Seat
• Basket and handlebar streamers set
• Stickers to decorate frames
• Multicoloured spokey dokeys
• Disney characters bike bell
• Disney characters bike basket
• Disney characters bike windmill
• Unicorn handlebar accessory

The Hornit helmet range is a great place to start, as they offer loads of fun designs including dinosaurs, unicorns, pugs, and more.

Why resale value matters

When looking at buying bikes for girls, one final thing to consider is that a unisex bike in a more neutral colour is usually much easier to sell on or hand down to siblings. A pink princess bike may be harder to shift second-hand or might not be welcomed by a younger brother, for example. Choosing a bike that's well made and in a colour that appeals to a wider group of kids means you’ll get more for your money in the long run, because as we all know, they will inevitably grow out of it!

Closing thoughts

This guide is all about helping you cut through the marketing and find a bike that your daughter will love riding – not just posing with. A good quality bike helps build confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of cycling. Whether she chooses pink, purple, red, green or orange, what matters most is that the bike is built to ride, not just to look good in the shop window.