Early Rider Belter 14 review: A premium first pedal bike to inspire little cyclists

In this Early Rider Belter 14 review, we put one of the most talked-about 14 inch kids bikes to the test. Early Rider is well known as a premium children’s bike brand, so expectations were high.

Finding the perfect first pedal bike for your child can feel like a daunting task. Get it right, and you’ll set them up for years of cycling adventures and a lifelong love of riding. 

In this review, we’ll share our first impressions, the specifications, and how 3-year-old reviewer Joss found the bike to ride, plus our final verdict on the bike. 

Disclosure:  Cycle Sprog were sent the Early Rider Belter 14 to review. We were not paid to write this review, and all opinions are our own. We do use affiliate links, so may get a small commission if you choose to buy through the links on this page. This funds the website, and we thank you for your support.

About our reviewers:

A few months into dating my now husband, I realised cycling was going to feature heavily in our lives together. Alex and I have since spent countless weekends and holidays exploring beautiful places by bike. When we started our family, we wanted to bring our children along for the ride.

Through Cycle Sprog we’ve been fortunate to review a range of family cycling equipment over the last three years, from child seats to trailers. Our eldest son, Joss, who is an trailer passenger and balance biker was the lucky reviewer for the Early Rider Belter 14.

Joss began riding a three-wheeled trike just after his first birthday, quickly moving on to an Islabike balance bike at 18 months. By the time he was approaching his third birthday, he was showing signs of being ready to pedal. Testing out the Early Rider Belter was a special milestone, as it became the bike on which he first pedalled independently.

Early Rider: brand overview

Founded in the UK in 2005, Early Rider has carved out a strong reputation for designing stylish, lightweight and high-performance children’s bikes. Their ethos is simple: to create bikes that look as good as they ride, encouraging kids to discover the freedom of cycling from an early age.

The range includes everything from baby ride-ons, balance bikes for toddlers through to adventure, mountain and urban bikes for older children.

The Belter series is particularly well known for introducing belt-driven bikes (as opposed to oily chains) into the children’s market. With premium components, carefully considered geometry and striking designs, Early Rider bikes are positioned firmly in the premium bike category.

First impressions of the Early Rider Belter 14

Joss’s reaction when he first saw the Early Rider Belter 14 inch bike was positive. He loved the colour, immediately noticed it had two brakes (a step up from his balance bike), and declared it a “big boy bike”. The inclusion of a kickstand also fascinated him, as none of our family bikes have one.

From our perspective, the bike oozes quality. It looks sleek, feels reassuringly light, and features high-end components rarely found on children’s bikes. The threaded bottom bracket, premium pedals and smooth-running hub with a ticking sound more commonly found on posh adult bikes all echo the feel of a scaled-down adult bike. Even passers-by have commented on how smart and “proper” it looks.

For Joss, who was keen to get pedalling before his third birthday, we really appreciated the small size of this first pedal bike, with a minimum inside leg measurement of 37cm, this is one of the smallest pedal bikes available. 

The only disappointment was the packaging, lots of unnecessary plastic, which we'd like to see less of! 

Early Rider Belter 14 Specifications

The Early Rider Belter 14 is designed to build confident young riders on both tarmac and easy off-road trails.

With kid-friendly geometry, this bike prioritises comfort and control, so young riders avoid quick-tired legs, sore arms, and awkward descents. The Belter 14 has short rear stays for manoeuvrability. A relaxed head angle to safely roll over bumps and a handlebar position that's high enough to be comfortable but low enough to optimise uphill pedal efficiency. This means the child rides in an efficient position, not upright. This means the bike will be more controlled at higher speeds, bumpy terrain and fun on a pump track for a little, confident rider!

One of its standout features is the belt drive system. Unlike a traditional chain, the belt is grease-free, low-maintenance and built to last up to 20,000 km. This makes it cleaner, quieter and far easier to look after, ideal for busy families.

The Belter also benefits from sealed bearing hubs, a top-tier freehub and 1.75 inch Kenda Aptor tyres, which provide a smooth and fast-rolling ride across a variety of surfaces. Tektro V-brakes with ultra-short reach levers ensure even the smallest hands can brake confidently, while reduced-diameter grips and kid-sized contact points help developing riders feel secure.

In practice, these features really shine. The brakes are responsive and perfectly sized for little hands, performing impressively even in wet conditions in both the Lake District and Northern Ireland. Joss finds the saddle comfortable, with no complaints of soreness even on longer rides. The pedals are another highlight, their grippy design keeps feet firmly in place. As Joss exclaimed on his first ride: “Look Mummy, my feet don’t slip off these pedals like they do on my other bike!”

The tyres have handled tarmac, gravel and muddy trails with ease. Thanks to its light weight, as measured by Cycle Sprog at 5.9kg, Joss is able to pick the bike up himself, mount it independently, and happily use the kickstand to park up whenever he fancies a break.

During the review period (6 months), the bike still looks as good as new, and we don't imagine having to do too much maintenance on it in the near future. But the serviceable wheel bearings and bottom bracket would be easy to service, when needed, in the same way we service our adult bikes. These premium parts will pay off in the long run and will last many hand-me-downs.

Early Rider only offers a 2-year warranty period on their bikes' frame, forks and components, which we feel is a little short given the price tag.

Riding the Early Rider Belter 14

We’ve tested the Early Rider Belter 14 on quiet roads, canal towpaths, gravel routes like the West Windermere Way, and in all weathers, including heavy rain. The bike has coped brilliantly, with smooth handling and no issues with the brakes or drivetrain. 

For a young rider moving from a balance bike to pedals, the Belter offers exactly what’s needed: stability, comfort and fun.

Joss has gained noticeable confidence and speed. Moving up from a balance bike to a pedal bike can be a tricky transition, but this bike's compact size and lightweight design didn't feel too daunting compared to Joss’ Islabike balance bike. He was eager and ready to pedal and had had a few tries on a much heavier bike with varying success. The Early rider came at the perfect time, and as he loved the look of the shiny frame, he was even more keen to give it a go. 

With just a few practice sessions and Dad supporting him with a towel around his body (read more about the towel trick in our guide to teaching a child to ride a bike), Joss was soon pedalling independently, just before his third birthday! Now he pedals with confidence, building up speed, tackling bumpy terrain, and easily manoeuvring the bike both while riding and walking.

The attention to detail in the Belter’s design really stands out. The child-sized brake levers allow him to comfortably control his speed, while the appropriately sized saddle provides comfort on longer rides. The addition of a kickstand is also a big hit – he loves being able to park his bike neatly between rides.

As mentioned above, even the pedals show this level of thoughtful design. They’re proportioned for small feet, with grippy plastic pins that help shoes stay firmly in place. This has been particularly useful as Joss has learned to pedal, keeping his feet secure even when his technique wasn’t yet fully developed.

Is the Early Rider Belter 14 worth the price?

At £449, the Early Rider Belter 14 is one of the most expensive first pedal bikes on the market. To put it into context, it costs £59 more than the Frog 44, £70 more than the woom ORIGINAL 2 and £129 more than the YOMO 14. So, is it worth spending the extra?

The short answer is yes, if you value premium build quality, award-winning design and long-lasting performance. The Early Rider Belter 14 is the only children’s bike to win a Gold Eurobike Award, the most prestigious design award in the cycling world. This pedigree reflects the brand’s obsessive attention to detail, and it’s no surprise that the Belter remains Early Rider’s most awarded and best-selling pedal bike, but this is a shame to not be reflected in the warranty period- 2 years isn't particularly generous for a bike of this price bracket.

What sets the Belter apart is the way it rides and its build quality. It has been designed to make everything easy for a child, from setting off to building speed, braking, climbing hills or hopping up kerbs. Wide tyres, light wheels and carefully considered geometry ensure the bike feels stable, efficient and confidence-inspiring.

Where many other quality children’s bike brands save money by using more basic components in places like pedals or bottom brackets, Early Rider has gone all in. The Belter features sealed cartridge bearings wherever something moves, from the wheels to the pedals, guaranteeing a smooth, low-friction ride for years to come. Even the pedals are thoughtfully designed for small feet, with proper grip and precision bearings, not the cheaper add-ons often seen on other bikes.

For many families, this level of refinement isn’t strictly necessary. A bike like the YOMO 14 will still provide plenty of happy miles and survive being passed down between siblings. But the Belter delivers something extra: a small version of a high-end adult bike. From its premium finish to its smooth ride quality, it offers a truly special experience for a child’s first pedal bike.

If you’re looking for the absolute best and are willing to pay a premium, the Early Rider Belter 14 justifies its higher price tag.

Thoughts from the Sprog

“I love that my big boy bike has brakes.”
“I can go very fast on this bike.”

Before you go...

Have you thought about how you will know when your child is ready to learn to pedal?

There's a temptation to start early, but if it's too soon it can leave them anxious and you frustrated.

Take our questionnaire, which is cunningly called "Is my child ready to learn to ride" and we'll send you a personalised report with hints and tips for getting your child pedalling at the right time for them and you.

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• Does my child need stabilisers?
• How to teach an autistic or neurodivergent child to ride a bike