Is there such a thing as a best girls bike?  And should we even be asking the question as a bike is a bike, and surely it should be good for either a boy or a girl? The problem, however, is that if you’re looking to buy a bike for a girl and don’t know what you’re looking for, someone is going to try and sell you a “girls” bike with a name like “Princess”, “Cupcake”, “Sweetie” or “Flower”.

I don’t know about you, but when I ride my bike I’m certainly not a cupcake, and the girls featured in this article aren’t either!!

All the pictures of the girls riding their bikes in this post are the real offspring of Cycle Sprog followers, such as Arizona (aged 4) above (photo credit David Goldman).

Experience tells us that parents who make a move from a “princess” or a “cupcake” bike to one that’s designed with the rider in mind tend to be awestruck by the difference in their daughter’s cycling ability, the amount they want to ride their bike, their confidence and just their new found enjoyment of cycling. If I had a pound coin for every person who’s said to me “I just didn’t realise before” then I’d be very well off indeed!

So if your daughter, granddaughter, niece, etc. has yet to experience the joy that cycling can bring then this article is for you.

So, what makes a good girls bike?

• It’s got to be light enough that she can pick it up and manoeuvre it easily.
  If you struggle to lift her bike up, then how is she going to cope with steering it and picking it up off the ground?
• It’s got to have brakes that work easily.  Are they sized appropriately for her hands and can she stop really quickly in an emergency?
• It’s got to be easy to ride – do the pedals and wheels turn freely? If it has gears, can she operate them and do they change smoothly without any fuss?

These three things should never be compromised – if your daughter/granddaughter/niece/etc. can’t control the bike or brake properly, then the results don’t bear thinking about.

Other things you may want to think about are:

• Longevity of the bike – cheaper steel bikes will rust, making it difficult to pass on down to younger siblings if it’s in a bit of a state.
• Speed – a lighter bike will go faster!  Do you really want her to be the one at the back of the pack, pedalling away furiously on her princess bike?
• Gender Stereotypes – pink, flowery and looking lovely is for girls, going fast and getting muddy is for boys.  Really??? Check out the girls in this post if you have any doubts. Some wear pink, some wear blue. Some wear lycra, some wear skirts. Some race, some enjoy riding at a more leisurely pace. Some ride on tarmac, some ride through mud. What they all have in common is they love riding their bikes, whatever they’re wearing and wherever they’re going.

• Price – as manufacturers and retailers realise that parents are demanding well designed and easy to ride bikes for their kids then the choice is increasing, and there are cheaper well designed bikes available. However, don’t forget the idiom ‘you get what you pay for’ as bikes at the cheapest end of the spectrum are that price for a reason. You’re better off buying a quality second hand bike than a poor quality new one.  End of season sales are a good time to snap up a bargain too, as you can often pick up an old model really cheaply.
• Resale value – there’s a thriving second hand kids bike market, and if you look after the bike then you should be able to recoup a good portion of the original cost (to spend on the next size up!).

Take a moment to GRAB YOUR FREE KIDS BIKE BUYING CHECKLIST which will help you record all the information you need to find the perfect bike for your child. 

Things that aren’t needed on a girls bike

In our humble opinion, the following things aren’t needed on a kids bike. You don’t tend to find them on bikes marketed at boys and you won’t find them on the bikes the Cycle Sprogs featured on this page are riding.

• Tassels
• Seats for dolls fitted as standard  (if she really wants one on her bike you can buy one here)

What’s the best colour for a girls bike?

On this, it’s a total matter of preference – there are fabulous bikes out there in every colour, from pink to blue, from purple to green. Some with patterns, and some plain.  You may want to think of the colour preferences of younger siblings, or whether you’re restricting your market when you come to sell on.

What type of bike is best for a girl?

This depends on what type of riding she’s going to be doing.  For everyday riding, we always recommend a flat handlebar hybrid bike with a multi-purpose tyre (such as the Kenda small block 8) that will allow her to ride on tarmac, gravel and grass.  However, once she’s decided what type of cycling she wants to do you can start looking at road bikes, cyclo-cross bikes, BMX, track and mountain bikes, with these bikes coming online for those aged around 7 upwards.

Of course, the golden rule is a girl can never have enough bikes!!!  

The best girls bikes – a few recommended brands

So, now we know what to look for (and what to avoid), what brands make good bikes for girls?  Here’s a selection of bikes that Cycle Sprogs are enjoying riding. It’s by no means exhaustive but should give you a good indication of the types of bike that girls of all ages are having great fun riding out there.  It’s in alphabetical order – let us know if we’ve missed your favourite out and we’ll include it.  As every bike brand has a range of sizes and prices we’ve categorised them from £ through to ££££ as to where each brand sits on the price spectrum.

Frog Bikes (£££)

Cycle Sprog reviewed and recommended brand

Frog Bikes key data:

Price: £300 – £670
Wheel Size: 14″ – 26″
Age range: 3+ years – 14years
Weight of bikes:  6.4kg – 11.5kg
Types of bike: Hybrid, mountain, road, track
Warranty: 2 years – extended to 5 years for frame if you register the bike within 28 days of purchase

Frog Bikes do a huge range of kids bikes from different sized balance bikes for very young children, through to large framed bikes for teenagers, all in a fabulous range of colours. They’re available on-line and via a network of local bike shops.

Frog Bikes cover virtually all types of cycling, with starter bikes with a single gear, hybrid bikes, road/cyclocross bikes,  mountain bikes and track bikes in their range. We’ve reviewed lots of different Frog Bikes over the years and are always happy to recommend them.

Here’s 7 year old Mia riding her Frog 55 at the Three Sisters Race track. She’s had it since she was 6 and loves it so much she’s about to move up to the next size.

BUY NEW: Buy Frog Bikes

BUY NEW: If Tredz don’t have the size you’d like, check out eBay for new Frog Bikes

BUY SECONDHAND: There’s always loads of Frog Bikes available secondhand – they are such a popular brand and the Cycle Sprogs riding them grow out of them long before the bike has worn out. You can usually find some real bargains on eBay. Also, check out the Pre-Owned Frog Bikes Community on Facebook where parents buy and sell the bikes their children have outgrown. 

Squish Bikes (££)

Cycle Sprog reviewed and recommended brand

Squish Bike range key data:

Price: £250 – £530
Wheel Size: 14″ – 26″ wheel size & 14″ frame size (MTB)
Age range: 3+ years – 10+ years
Weight of bikes:  5.8kg – 13kg
Types of bike: Hybrid, mountain
Warranty: Frame and Forks – 3 years; components – 1 year (excluding wear and tear)

Squish are relative newcomers to the kid’s bike scene, only launching in 2017.  They’re lightweight and reasonably priced and have that elusive bike – a lightweight 18″ wheel – the Squish 18.  Here it is demonstrated by 6 year old Katherine. We reviewed this particular Squish 18 bike and were very pleased with the bike, which is a great specification for the price.

BUY NEW ONLINE: Squish Bikes 

BUY LOCAL: Squish bikes are sold via a network of independent local bike shops. To find your nearest stockist click here.

BUY NEW FROM eBay: Squish Bikes on eBay

BUY SECONDHAND:  Squish bikes are a relatively new brand, so there’s not very many available second hand yet, as their original owners (or their younger siblings) are still riding them, but it’s worth checking eBay just in case, as they will start appearing at some stage. There is also a new Facebook Group for secondhand Squish Bikes which will get momentum over the coming years. 

Hoy Bikes (£££)

Cycle Sprog reviewed and recommended brand

Hoy bikes key data:

Price: £290 – £550
Wheel Size: 14″ – 26″
Age range: 3+ to 12
Weight of bikes:  5.7kg – 10.2kg
Types of bike: Mountain, road
Warranty: Evans Cycles website says "All products ordered from Evans Cycles come with a full warranty which covers manufacturing faults and defects in workmanship."

Sir Chris Hoy’s range of kids bikes had a revamp in 2018 and are now some of the lightest kids bikes on the market.  Their flat handlebar Bonaly bike ranges in wheel size from 16″ through to 26″ and certainly gets the thumbs up from Rachel’s five and a half year old daughter.  They also do a drop handlebar gravel/road/cross bike for older kids.  We’re reviewed several Hoy Bikes and have been really impressed.

BUY NEW: Hoy Bikes are available from Evans Cycles, for home delivery or collection in store (where they will assemble the bike for you).

BUY SECONDHAND:  There’s a growing number of secondhand Hoy Bikes available as they increase in popularity.  There was a brand refresh at the end of 2018 when the bikes became lighter weight, so be aware some of the older models will be slightly heavier, but they are still an excellent choice bike. Check what’s available on eBay. 

Islabikes (££££)

Cycle Sprog reviewed and recommended brand

Islabikes key data:

Price: £320 – £800
Wheel Size: 14″ – 26″
Age range: 3+ years – 13+ years
Weight of bikes:  5.2Kg – 9.4kg
Types of bike: Road, hybrid
Warranty: 5 years on frame and forks and 2 years on parts

The original quality kids bike, Islabikes rewrote the rules and it’s thanks to them that there are now so many great kids bikes around these days.  They are a firm favourite amongst Cycle Sprogs of all ages due to the quality of the build and the range, which includes balance bikes, hybrid, mountain and road/cross bikes. We’ve reviewed most of the different Islabikes and have nothing but huge amounts of praise for them.  They have also just had a complete refresh of their range, with lighter weight bikes, improvements to the specification and fresh new branding.

Here’s Ruth (who you can read more about on the Family ByCycle blog) demonstrating that you’re never too young to go bike packing on an Islabike.

And here’s Lorraine’s 8 year old daughter racing on her Islabikes Luath road/cross bike.

Buy new: Islabikes are available from the Islabikes website for home delivery or collection from their Ludlow showroom.

Buy secondhand: There are always lots of Islabikes of all sizes available second hand – mainly because they outlast their owners. Check this eBay link to find a bargain in your area.   There is also a really good Facebook group called Pre-Owned Islabikes for Sale.

Pinnacle Bikes (££)

Pinnacle Kids Bike range key data:

Price: £195 – £400
Wheel Size: 14″ to 26″
Age range: 4+ years to 10+ years
Weight of bikes:  6.7kg – 11.6kg
Types of bike: Hybrid
Warranty: Evans Cycles website says “All products ordered from Evans Cycles come with a full warranty which covers manufacturing faults and defects in workmanship.”

Pinnacle are one of Evans Cycles in-house brands and offer a much more lightweight option than many of the other bikes on offer at the same price point.  They’re easy to ride and will handle muddy off road riding, as Luna demonstrates:

BUY NEW:  Pinnacle Bikes are available from Evans Cycles, for home delivery or collection in store (where they will assemble the bike for you)

BUY SECONDHAND: There’s usually a few secondhand Pinnacle bikes available on eBay.  They’re not as desirable secondhand as some of the other bikes on this page, so it’s worth checking local Facebook groups or free ads too to see if you can find a real bargain. 

Ridgeback Dimension Bikes (£££)

Ridgeback Dimension bike range key data:

Price: £250 – £380
Wheel Size: 14″ – 26″
Age range: 3 years – 12+ years
Types of bike: Hybrid
Warranty: 1 year

Ridgeback make a few different ranges of bikes, so it’s best to look out for the Dimension range which is their premium kids bike offering. It has a lightweight frame and child sized components and has Cycle Sprog follower Anna definitely recommending them. Here’s her eldest daughter riding the bike brand new – it’s lasted 5 years and two owners since this photo was taken!

BUY NEW:  The Ridgeback Dimension Range of kids bikes

BUY SECONDHAND: There’s usually a few secondhand Ridgeback Dimensions available on eBay. Make sure you check which model you’re getting – there are various Ridgeback kids bikes available and some are much heavier than the Dimension range. 

Saracen Bikes (£££)

Saracen range key data:

Price: £270 – £650
Wheel Size: 16″ – 26″
Age range: 4 years to 12+ years
Weight of bikes:  6.2kg – 13.3kg
Types of bike: Mountain
Warranty: Frame - 5 years, Forks - years, Components - 1 year

Saracen have a rich history as a mountain biking brand, so it’s not surprising that their kid’s range takes inspiration from that. Here’s Ruby mastering her riding skills on her Saracen, which was handed on down from her brother.  It’s always a good sign when a bike lasts several children.

Buy new:  Saracen bikes 

Buy secondhand: Saracen kids bikes aren’t as widely known as names such as Islabikes and Frog Bikes, so there’s not so many available second hand. What this does mean is that if you find one, you might be lucky and get it for a bargain price!  Check eBay to see if you can find anything suitable. 

Victoria Pendleton Bikes (£)

Pendleton bike range key data:

Price: £140 – £230
Wheel Size: 16″ – 26″
Age range: 5 years to 12 years
Weight of bikes:  13kg – 16kg
Types of bike: Hybrid
Warranty: Please check with supplier

One of Britain’s most successful cyclists (9 world titles plus Olympic, European and Commonwealth gold medals in the velodrome) has her own range of bikes at Halfords and they’ve certainly inspired Claire’s daughter with her cycling.

BUY NEW: The Victoria Pendleton range is available at Halfords, who will deliver to your home or you can collect from your local store, where they will assemble the bike for you.

BUY SECONDHAND:  This range of bikes isn’t made to the same level of quality as some of the other brands on this page, so they won’t last as long if not looked after. When buying secondhand do check the bike has been well maintained. Click here to find these bikes on eBay – there’s often a very cheap deal to be had! 

Vitus Bikes (££)

Vitus Bikes range key data:

Price: £240 – £400
Wheel Size: 14″ to 24″
Age range: 3 years – 8+ years
Weight of bikes:  6.5kg – 11.1kg
Types of bike: Hybrid, trail
Warranty: 5 year frame and forks, 2 year components

Vitus Bikes are an in-house brand of Wiggle / Chain Reaction Cycles and are a well specified, lightweight range of bikes at a competitive price.  Here are four and a half year old Holly enjoying a ride out on her Vitus 14, which she found a really easy transition from her balance bike.

Buy new: Vitus Bikes are Chain Reaction Cycles. They come delivered with a pedal tool, touch up paint and a multitool. 

Buy secondhand: There are not very many secondhand Vitus Kids Bikes available at the moment, as the range is still relatively new, but it’s worth checking this link on eBay just in case something is available. 

Woom Bikes (££££)

Cycle Sprog reviewed and recommended brand

Woom bikes range key data:

Price: £195 – £540
Wheel Size: 14″ – 26″
Age range: 2 years – 14 years
Weight of bikes:  5.2kg – 9.2kg
Types of bike: Balance, hybrid
Warranty: 2 years

A relative newcomer to the UK market, Austrian Woom bikes are built with high attention to detail, are incredibly lightweight and come kitted out with top quality components. They’re a good choice for everyday cycling in all weather conditions as 5 year old Jess demonstrates. She’s reviewed a couple of Woom Bikes for us and was really impressed with their performance.

Buy New: Woom Bikes are available in the UK from The Little Bike Company, who offer free home delivery.  Outside of the UK, they’re available direct from the Woom website.  

Buy Secondhand:  Woom Bikes are still relatively new in the UK, so it’s rare to find many available secondhand. Their popularity is increasing, however, so do check eBay in case there’s a bargain to be had. 

Bobbin Bikes (££)

Cycle Sprog reviewed and recommended brand

Bobbin bikes range key data:

Price: £165 – £250
Wheel Size: 12″ – 24″
Age range: 2 years – 14 years
Weight of bikes:  7.5kg – 14.5kg
Types of bike: Balance (details not listed above), hybrid
Warranty: Frame: 12 months, Rest of bike: 6 months

Bobbin Bikes are a great bike for girls who are going to be doing most of their riding on flat roads and cycle paths. Bobbin Bikes have an upright riding position influenced by the Dutch style city bikes, which is good for posture, visibility and comfort.  They’re certainly not the lightest bikes featured, but that doesn’t matter quite so much if you’re not climbing hills or racing fast. Their range of kids bikes coordinates with their adult range too as you can see – here are Ellen and her mum demonstrating how much fun they are to ride. They reviewed both the adult and child Bobbin bikes for us and were impressed with their performance as a city bike.

Buy new:  Bobbin Bikes

Buy secondhand: There are not as many secondhand Bobbin Bikes as some of the other makes listed on this page, but it’s worth checking out eBay just in case! 

Early Rider Bikes (££££)

Early Rider bikes range key data:

Price: £299 – £700
Wheel Size: 14″ – 24″
Age range: 2 years – 11 years
Weight of bikes:  5.5kg – 10.7kg
Types of bike: Balance (details not listed above), hybrid
Warranty: 1 year

If your daughter is into design, then she’ll be blown away by the Early Rider bikes. The sleek lines of the aluminium frame coupled with innovate rubber drive trains rather than oily chains make these a great choice for girls who like to be different from the rest of the class. As you can see, 4 year old Arizona is definitely a fan – here she is enjoying the run and ride race series at Cannock chase (photo taken by Peter Wilkes Photography, who also arranges the racing).

Buy new: Early Rider Bikes are available directly from Early Rider. 

Buy secondhand:  There’s usually a few Early Rider bikes being sold second hand so you might be able to find one to fit your daughter on eBay. 

A massive thank you to all the followers of Cycle Sprog’s Facebook Page who have shared their fabulous photos of their daughters and granddaughters enjoying their cycling.  We still need photos of girls enjoying their cycling on other brands, so do please get in touch if we’ve missed out your favourite.

Other articles you may find useful:

• Girls on bicycles
• 12 things you need to know before buying a kids bike
• The best kids bikes – 2020
• The best bike for a 1 year old
• The best 14″ starter bikes for ages 3 and 4 years
• The best 16″ wheel bikes for 4 and 5 year olds
• The best bikes for a 6 year old girl
• The best 18″ wheel kids bikes
• The best bikes for 6 and 7 year old kids (20″ wheels)
• The best kids 24″ wheel mountain bikes
• Best 26″ wheel kids bikes

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Affiliate Disclosure:  In order to fund this website, we use affiliate marketing. This means that some of the links on this page will pay us a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. It’s not all links though as we recommend bikes because they’re good, not because we make money (in fact we’d make far more plugging cupcake and princess bikes!) Thanks for your support by purchasing through the links on the page.

This post was first published in September 2018 and was updated October 2020 to reflect current stockists.