The YOMO Story: How listening to riders built a better kids’ bike

Many kids' bike brands launch, put their range out into the world, and leave it there. The bikes on sale in year three are much the same as the ones from year one. YOMO has taken a different approach, and it is one of the reasons we keep recommending them here at Cycle Sprog.

We first got our hands on a YOMO 20 to review just after they launched in winter 2023, and we liked it straight away. It was light, well-made and clearly designed with the child in mind rather than an adult bike shrunk to fit. 

What has kept us interested since is what has happened next. 

The range has grown, the spec has improved, and time and again the changes have come from listening to the parents and young riders using the bikes.  

This is the YOMO story: where they started, what has changed, and why a brand that keeps refining its bikes is one we are happy to point families towards.

Disclosure:  YOMO bikes have supported Cycle Sprog to write this article, but all the opinions are our own.  We only feature kids bikes we are happy to let our own children ride, or would recommend to friends and family. 

How YOMO bikes began

YOMO started with a simple idea from a Birmingham based dad who had more than a decade in the bike industry: a child's bike should be built around the child, not scaled down from a grown-up's, it should have premium engineering, yet offer practical family value.

Because often, buying a child's bike can feel like a compromise. 

At the cheaper end, too many bikes are heavy, awkwardly proportioned and no fun to ride. At the premium end, the well-made ones can feel out of reach on price. 

YOMO set out to sit in between: proper child-specific design at a fairer price. 

In practice that means parts made for children rather than adult components fitted to a smaller frame, so junior-sized brake levers, grips, saddles and handlebars, a low and stable riding position, and a narrow pedalling stance that suits the way small legs naturally move.

Contacts in the industry meant YOMO bikes could be designed and developed in the UK and manufactured by a world-class, highly experienced bicycle manufacturing partner.

There is a second thing YOMO set out to fix, and it has nothing to do with the bike itself. 

Not every parent is a confident cyclist, and working out the right size, checking the setup and knowing what matters can feel more complicated than it should. 

YOMO uses inside-leg-first sizing and plenty of plain-English guidance to take that worry away.

An evolving range of kids bikes

This is the part that tells you most about YOMO. Since we started reviewing kids bikes on Cycle Sprog back in 2012 we have seen lots of brands launching. The interesting question is what they do next. 

YOMO have continued to improve the range, tweaking the little things that make a ride even better. 

A good example is pedals. YOMO had feedback from a small number of customers (and our first Cycle Sprog reviewer!), about the pedals fitted to some early bikes. 

Rather than ignoring it, YOMO worked with their supplier to identify the issue and upgraded the pedals. 

That is exactly the response we love to see when we provide brands with feedback, and it is the sort of thing that tells you a lot about how a company operates.

Introducing the YOMO 18

The newest addition to the YOMO range is an 18-inch bike, and it’s being launched to fill a gap in the market that parents had fed back to them on. 

There is a well-known awkward moment in some children’s cycling life: they have outgrown their 16-inch bike, but they are not quite ready, physically or in confidence, for the jump up to a 20-inch geared bike. 

The YOMO 18 gives those families a gentler step in-between, so a child can keep progressing on a bike that fits them now, rather than being pushed onto something too big or complex to ride. 

It’s great to see this new bike being launched, as at Cycle Sprog we know that the best bike for a child is the one that fits and works for them now, not the one with the most "growing room". 

Sizing a child onto an oversized bike, or introducing gears too early can reduce control and delay confidence, which is the opposite of what you want.

Other changes to the YOMO range for 2026/27

YOMO has just added a pink option across the 14, 16, 18 and 20 wheel sizes. 

This is good news for any child who loves pink, as colour is often the first thing a young rider reacts to, and that spark of excitement is a real part of building enthusiasm to ride.

Alongside the new bike and new colour, YOMO is in the process of phasing in improvements across the range:

• Redesigned grips shaped for smaller hands.  
• An improved internal cable-guiding system, which keeps cable routing tidier.
• An upgraded bell positioned next to the brake lever, so a child can ring it without taking a hand off the handlebars.
• Corrosion-resistant chains on the YOMO 20, 24 and 26, which helps the bike stay reliable and hold its value.
• Sealed-bearing hubs across the range for smoother running and better protection from dirt and wet.
• A dedicated kickstand mount built into every frame, so a stand fits securely rather than relying on a less precise universal clamp (coming from December 2026)

It’s worth remembering that these are running changes, phased in over time, so a bike from an earlier production batch may still have the previous specification. If a particular feature matters to you, it is worth checking before you buy.

What to expect from a YOMO bike

All YOMO bikes feature:

• Very low overall weight, so the child can start, stop, steer and recover the bike more easily.
• Child-specific geometry with a low, stable riding position and comfortable reach.
• Junior-sized brake levers, grips, saddles and handlebars 
• A narrow pedalling stance that helps small legs track naturally.
• Quality components, including sealed hubs, stainless-steel spokes and reflective tyres.
• Simple drivetrains on smaller models and age-appropriate gearing and braking as riders progress.

Every YOMO bike is supported beyond purchase with UK-based advice, a lifetime warranty on the frame and fork for the original owner, and the new BikeTrade route for the next size up.

Save on future YOMO bikes

Many parents wonder if it is worth spending on a good kids’ bike when their fast growing child will be out of it in a year or two. 

BikeTrade is YOMO's trade-in scheme, where an eligible bike can be traded back within 24 months of purchase, as long as it is in good condition allowing for normal wear. 

You buy your next YOMO, pack the old one into the new bike's box, and return it using the service provided. 

Once it has been inspected and accepted, YOMO credits you up to 50% of the original bike's value against the new purchase. Returned bikes are refurbished by an authorised partner so they can go on to a new rider rather than gathering dust or heading for landfill.

For families, it lowers the cost of moving up a size. For the planet, it keeps well-made bikes in use for longer.

Frequently asked questions about YOMO bikes

Are YOMO bikes any good?

In our experience, absolutely yes. We have reviewed three bikes across the range and been consistently impressed by how light, well finished and easy to ride they are. Plus they outlast their first owners and are continuing to perform excellently for the next rider. 

What size YOMO bike does my child need?

You need to select a YOMO bike based on your child’s inside leg rather than their age. This allows you to buy the right bike for their size and confidence level.   

Use our guide to Measuring your child for a bike if you need to know how to find this measurement. 

YOMO's website has an interactive Size Finder, which we'd recommend if you're new to buying kids' bikes. 

What size bikes are in the YOMO range?

YOMO bikes are built to support every stage of a child’s riding, starting with a 12” wheel balance bike. There are three small pedal bikes (14”, 16” and 18”) and three larger geared bikes (20”, 24” and 26”). 

Are YOMO bikes good first bikes for a child learning to pedal?

Yes. The first pedal models are deliberately light, approximately 5.5 kg for the YOMO 14 and 5.8 kg for the YOMO 16, because a low weight makes a much bigger difference to a small child.

The low saddle position, low bottom bracket and stable geometry help a new rider place their feet down quickly and feel secure. Short-reach brake levers, smaller grips and a narrow pedalling stance make the controls and movement feel more natural.

For children moving from a balance bike, parents can initially leave the pedals off and allow the child to scoot and balance before introducing pedalling. YOMO also use a steering limiter on the smaller models to prevent the handlebar from rotating excessively.

Where can I buy a YOMO bike?

Directly from YOMO’s website for home delivery, or through a growing network of independent bike shops.

What do YOMO mean when they say all bikes bought via their website are “fully tuned before delivery”?

Every YOMO kids bike goes through a pre-delivery inspection by a trained technician before it is boxed, so the fiddly, safety-critical jobs are already done. That includes centring and checking the brakes, indexing the gears on geared models, making sure they shift cleanly across the range, checking the wheels and tyres, and tightening the safety-critical bolts such as the headset, cranks, stem and wheel fixings.

A couple of practical things to know if you’re buying online - the tyres are deliberately left under-inflated for safe transport, so you will need to pump them up to the recommended pressure before the first ride. 

As with any bike bought online, there is usually a small amount of final assembly too, such as straightening the handlebar and fitting the pedals.

Their online Help and Support Centre answers all commonly asked questions, with a direct route to UK based customer support if you need more personal assistance.

Is it best to buy a YOMO bike direct from their website or from my local bike shop?

If you’re confident to choose the right size bike, pump up the tyres and straighten the handlebars, then you’re fine to buy your YOMO bike direct from their website. Plus you’ll qualify for a free YOMO helmet.

However, if you want help, or to test ride a bike, then buying through a knowledgeable independent bike shop can be the most reassuring and informed way to choose the right bike.

What is YOMO BikeTrade and how does it work?

It is YOMO's trade-in scheme. You can return an eligible bike within 24 months, in good condition, and receive up to 50% of its original value as credit towards your next YOMO. The returned bike is refurbished and reused.

If I buy a YOMO bike from a dealer can I use the BikeTrade scheme? 

Yes.You can use the BikeTrade scheme if you buy a YOMO bike from an authorised dealers, provided you have the original proof of purchase and the bike is traded in within 24 months of the purchase date.

Other articles you might be interested in:

• YOMO 20 kids bike review
• YOMO 14 Review: Is this the perfect first pedal bike?
• YOMO 24 Review: A versatile 24 inch hybrid kids bike