The best 18″ wheel kids bikes for a 5 year old

18" wheel kids bikes are becoming more and more popular, as they plug the gap between a small starter bike and a larger geared bike.

Some children aren't quite the right size, ability or age to move up to a bigger geared bike, and a 18" wheel bike can be a great solution (plus they usually cost a bit less than a geared bike too!)

A word of warning though -  it's a wheel size that has traditionally been dominated by very cheap "toy" bikes (and click here to read why we don't recommend these).

Thankfully now there's a number of good quality 18" wheel bikes that are available to buy or lease long term.

In this article we'll take a look at the best 18" wheel kids bikes - they're all great bikes that should bring years of fun for your child.

We include options on where to buy new and also how to lease long term or buy second hand (where available) so there's hopefully something suitable for every budget.

Forme Cubley 18 (£250 or £11.95 per month)

Cycle Sprog reviewed and recommended bike

Forme Cubley 18 Key Data: 

Price new: £250
Lease: £11.95 a month
Inside Leg:  50cm to 54cm  
Saddle to floor:  55cm to 59cm
Bike weight:  7.56 kg
Brakes: Tektro V Brake
Frame:  Alloy 6061
Tyres:  Deli all weather 18" x 1.5"
Available colours:  Red, Blue and Pink
Warranty:  Lifetime on Frame

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The Forme Cubley 18 is the newest 18" wheel bike on the market and is proving a popular choice for kids who aren't quite ready for a 20" wheel bike with gears, but have outgrown their smaller bike.

Forme is a UK brand, based in Derbyshire and with over a decade's experience of designing and manufacturing adult bikes. They're now taking that expertise and applying it to their junior range, which launched in 2020.

With the Cubley 18 you're getting a very lightweight bike (it weighs just 7.56kg) so your child will be able to pick it up and move it around themselves (useful for climbing up and down any steps or obstacles on their route).

You'll notice the difference too when you're carrying it or trying to put onto a car rack.

Forme have specified this bike to have all the features we'd expect from a quality kids bike.

So you get appropriately sized pedals which are designed to keep pressure off the rider's heel.  This helps your child ride faster and reduces the risk of their foot slipping off the pedal.

The components are junior sized, for example, the cranks are proportioned for a child's legs and the handlebars and stem have been sized for their arm length.

Kids want to ride their bike all year round so Forme have made the headset (the bit that connects frame and fork) fully internal to fend off foul weather and aid longevity.

Check out our first impressions review of the Forme kids bikes .

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Squish 18 (RRP £280 or £12.10 per month) 

Cycle Sprog reviewed and recommended bike

Squish 18 Key Data:

Price: £280
Lease: £12.10 per month
Minimum height: 110cm
Minimum Inside Leg: 50cm
Bike weight: 6.98 kg
Brakes:  Tektro V-brake - adjustable
Frame: Alloy
Tyres: Dawes Cadence
Colours:  Aqua, Blue
Warranty: Frame and Forks - 3 years; components - 1 year (excluding wear and tear)

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Lightweight and packed with great components, the Squish 18 is a single speed bundle of fun

It has a long wheelbase to give confidence and easy to use 'child-sized' brakes that are perfect for smaller hands.

The Squish 18 is adorned with lightweight alloy components including chain wheel, wheel hubs, and rims.

Small block tyres are fitted to give good grip on a variety of surfaces, so the Squish 18 can be used for fun in the mud too.

It feels as though it's been well thought out and put together, not only in its structural design but also in how it has taken the desires of a child into account too.

Paintwork is hardwearing, the colour scheme works well and it's just fun. A sticker set accompanies the bike and these can be used on the frame or anywhere else that takes their fancy.

You can read our full review of the Squish 18 here.

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AD:   Got an old Squish Bike to sell on?  The Bike Club have made it hassle free - click here for your valuation and to arrange a courier to come and collect your old Squish bike.  

Wild 18

Wild 18 Key Data

Price: £225
Height range: 110 - 120 cm
Minimum inside leg: 49cm
Bike weight: 7.2kg
Frame and forks: Alloy
Gears:  No
Brakes:  Tektro alloy with Tektro full alloy short reach levers
Colour:  Yellow/red
Warranty: 1 year

Wild Bikes are an in-house brand sold by some of the companies in the JD Sports business, such as Go Outdoors, Black and Millets.

Everyone we know who has bought a Wild Bike is really impressed with it because you're getting a good quality, well designed and lightweight bike at a slightly lower price than some of the established names.

The Wild 18 has an upright riding position for a low centre of gravity, and narrower cranks which bring their legs closer together in line with their smaller hips, which combined with the low weight of the bike gives an enjoyable and easy riding experience.

Raleigh Pop 18

Raleigh Pop 18 Key Data:

Price: £230
Suggested Age Range: 5 - 7 years
Height range: 112 - 125cm
Bike weight: 9.9kg
Frame: Aluminium
Tyres: 18 x 1.50, black tanwall with puncture protection
Gears:  Yes - 6 gears (Shimano Tourney TZ20 14-28 x 32T)
Brakes:  Aluminium V-brake with adjustable 3-finger brake levers
Colours:  Green, Blue
Warranty:  1 year

If you're looking for an 18" wheel bike with gears then one option is the Raleigh Pop 18.

It's worth pointing out that the Pop is about 2 kg heavier than most of the other bikes featured on this page, so you need to consider whether your child is a strong and confident cyclist able to cope with this additional weight.

The components on the Pop 18 are mainly steel, so it may rust more easily than some of the more expensive bikes so do make sure you keep it well maintained, especially after riding in the rain.

Cube Cubie 180 (£349)

Cube Cubie 180 Key Data:

Price: £349
Standover height:  48.5cm
Bike weight: 7.5kg
Frame: Alloy
Tyres: Schwalbe Black Jack
Gears:  No
Brakes:  Alloy V-Brake With Powermodulator
Colours:  Blue/White and Indigo/Mint
Accessories: Can be fitted with training wheels/Stabilisers
Warranty: Frame 6 years; rest of bike 2 years

If your Cycle Sprog is desperate to get a proper mountain bike but isn't quite old enough to handle a 20" wheel bike with gears, then the Cube Cubie 180 should keep them happy during the waiting phase.

The Cubie 180 is inspired by Cube's adult and junior range of mountain bikes - we've reviewed a couple of Cube's kids mountain bikes and have been really impressed.

Cubes only 18" wheel bike has a lightweight aluminium frame and forks that have been designed to take the knocks and scrapes a little shredder will undoubtedly give it.

The Cubie 180 has front and rear V brake bosses so your child can learn how to control their speed using brake levers designed for little hands.

The single-speed Hudson 25T chainset is fitted with a chainguard to keep the chain away from legs and clothing.

The Cubie 180 comes with new width Schwalbe Black Jack tyres which are a mountain bike tyre suitable for all terrain types.

The good news is there's no heavy suspension or gearing to weigh the Cubie 180 down, meaning it weighs only 7.5kg