When my preschooler showed interest in riding a bike, I got incredibly excited. It felt like a rite of passage, and something that would impact our family outings for the rest of our lives! Choosing the right bike felt like one of the most important decisions in the future of her bike riding.
Bike experts tout the value of having a lightweight bike for early learners, and Guardian Bikes has some of the best reviews out there, claiming they are the “Easiest to Learn. Safest to Ride.” Guardian Bikes was a contestant on Shark Tank in 2016 and opened their US Factory in 2022 after their offer to work with Mark Cuban.
But first, let’s start with the basics:
Why you should buy a Guardian Bike
Equipping your child with the right bike goes beyond aesthetics and price tags. Safety is key to Guardian Bikes.
1. SureStop Brake System
Guardian Bikes come with a safe brake technology that connects both brakes on the same system, applying the brake to the back tire first and then to the front to avoid accidents.
They claim that their safety technology “allows children to adventure with confidence” because they are not scared of breaking or flipping over the handlebars. This confidence results in kids putting full pressure on the brakes, and stopping their bike much faster than with other brake systems. Don’t believe me? Watch the video!
2. Lightweight frame
The bike experts at Two Wheeling Tots say that a child’s bike should be less than 40% of a child’s weight. Guardian Bikes is one of the lightest bikes out there, with their 16-inch bike weighing in at 17 pounds and their 24-inch bike weighing 25 pounds. Lightweight bike companies claim the reduced weight of their products allow children to develop the balance needed to master the ride on two wheels more easily.
Although I was hesitant at first because lightweight bikes cost significantly more than heavier bikes, I found that my kiddo was able to ride a bike much faster and easier with a lighter weight balance and pedal bike. Read my review here.
3. Kid-friendly gear shifter
Did you know that Guardian Bikes offers one of the few children’s bikes that come equipped with gear shifters? Their bikes boast a 7-speed twist shifter with a Visual Identifier that uses tortoise and hare icons to help kids visualize the change between gears. It is a great way to practice shifting and to learn the concept from a young age.
See tips on how to teach your child to shift gears here.
Why Guardian Bikes are great for new riders
No training wheels needed!
Guardian Bikes has many reviews from happy parents reporting that their kids learned how to ride a bike in a day, without the tears and stress of bike learning that many millenials like me associate with my youth. A few of the reasons Guardian Bikes claim their bikes are the easiest to learn on are because they are lightweight, provide a lower center of gravity for riders, and can be used like a balance bike.
Guardian does not recommend that you use training wheels with these bikes. If your kid is learning how to ride on a Guardian Bike, the first step is to take the pedals off and have your child ride it as a balance bike. Once your kiddo has mastered coasting on the bike without pedals for a certain distance or amount of time, you can put the pedals back and have your kid try riding and pedaling at the same time.
We tried this method while using a woom 3 and found that my kiddo started pedaling in a day! In the months prior we had removed the pedals and counted how many seconds she could balance on the bike without having to put her foot down. We encouraged her to increase her balancing time little by little which quickly became a game. Once she was ready, the pedals went on and she rode away from me within minutes. No kidding!
Also, no training wheels mean no need for another transition or to relearn how to ride a bike without them. I am 100% sold on this bike learning method!
Why Guardian Bikes are great for early riders
Early riders, or those who have learned to pedal bike but are still early on their biking journey, can also benefit from a Guardian Bike, whose lightweight frame and unique gear shifters are great tools for learning.
We purchased the 24” Guardian Bike in aqua for my six-year-old who had already learned how to ride a bike the previous year. We decided to give Guardian a try because I really wanted our early rider to learn how to brake safely and to try her hand at a gear shifter.
Since my kiddo was going to start riding her bike to school—on the street and with moving cars— bike safety was a priority for me in searching for the right bike. Guardian’s kid-friendly and quick-acting SureStop Brake System made this mama feel more comfortable about her kid biking on the road.
Another reassurance: since Guardian Bikes weigh at least five pounds less than many other less-expensive bike options meant that my kid could have better balance and more control of her bike.
Guardian Bike Types & Reviews: Finding the Perfect Fit for Your Child
Guardian 12" Balance Bike for Toddlers ($199): For ages 2-5
Guardian’s balance bike is ideal for toddlers and is designed to be your child’s first introduction to cycling. Nurture your child’s balance, braking, steering, and confidence as they begin learning cycling fundamentals.
- Steering limiter to prevent handlebar wobbling
- Ultralight aluminum frame (8.5lbs)
- Wide wheel base for balance and control
- SureStop brake
Check out our review of three balance bikes and how to get started with a balance bike here.
Guardian 14" and 16" Bikes for New Riders ($269-$289): For ages 3-6
The Guardian 14″ and 16″ bikes are designed for young riders to learn the next step on their biking journey = pedaling.
Take off the pedals and use it as a balance bike, then add the pedals and watch your child ride away! This bike supports young riders thanks to its:
- SureStop brake system
- Lightweight and durable steel frame (16-17.5 lbs.)
- Hybrid tires for on and off-road adventures
- Adjustable seat
- Low step-over height
The 16″ Guardian bike is heavier than the woom 3 (14.3 pounds), but costs about $200 less!
Guardian Ethos Kids 20" & 24" Bike ($339-$429): For ages 5-12
The Guardian Ethos takes your child’s cycling experience to the next level! Coming in three sizes (20″ Small, 20″ Large, and 24″), the Ethos provides your new or budding cyclist a chance to sharpen their biking skills with:
- SureStop brakes
- Durable and lightweight steel frame (~21 lbs.)
- 7-speed grip shifter
- Low step-over height
- Adjustable seat
- Hybrid bike tires – good for on or off-roading
If your child is 5 years or older and has not learned how to ride a bike, this bike is still a good option. Although heavier than the woom 4 bike (16.9 lbs.), its other features still provide a good base for learning biking skills.
Guardian Bikes vs. woom Bikes
Here’s how the 20″ Guardian Bikes Ethos measures up to the other highly rated 20″ lightweight bike on the market – woom 4.
Overall, Guardian Bikes are heavier, but they are also cheaper than woom Bikes and also feature the safer SureStop Brakes. woom Bikes are lighter, which is helpful for newer riders, but are much more expensive. I liked both the woom and Guardian Bikes but for different uses.
If I had to choose, I would start my kid who is learning how to ride a bike on a woom Bike because the wooms are lighter weight and can help build confidence in riding. Once my child grows out of their woom and is a more established rider, I would then have them use a Guardian Bike since they can better handle a heavier bike. They would then learn braking and shifting with the support of the Guardian Bike.
New rider = buy a woom Bike
Established rider or older kid = buy a Guardian Bike
That’s my opinion!
Are Guardian Bikes worth the money?
Guardian Bikes begin at about $199 for a balance bike (ages 1.5-3) to $549 for a 26” bike (ages 10-15). I could have bought a big box store bike for $100 or buy a used one for $50. Those bikes, however, did not have the extra bells and whistles of Guardian, like the SureStop Brakes, gear shifters, or lightweight frame, all things that help make bike-riding easier for newbies.
Depending on your priorities and budget, Guardian Bikes offer bicycles that are safer, easier to ride, and slightly cheaper than their main competitor (woom bikes).
Where to buy a Guardian Bike for your kid
Guardian bikes can be purchased directly from their website.
They offer fast, flat rate shipping from their US factory that takes about 1-2 days and offer 365 day free returns.
Having tried two of the most popular lightweight kids’ bikes out there, Guardian and woom, I can confidently confirm that the lighter the bike, the easier it is for your kid to ride.
My kid was able to feel confident in her ability to ride her bike, and even though she moved from a smaller woom 3 bike to a larger (and heavier) Guardian 20” because she grew taller, she was still able to ride confidently and safely alongside me.
Every morning, my kiddo runs down the stairs to hop on her bike to ride to school, while I, her doting mother, ride happily alongside her with my youngest in a cargo bike.
We are officially a bike-riding family, and I have Guardian Bikes, and my ever persistent patience, to thank.
Have you tried Guardian Bikes? What are your thoughts? Share in the comments below.
Happy biking!
Puerto Rican & Indigenous mama of two. Bay Area native. Salsa dancer. Backpacker. Doula. Angel (she/her/hers) is a co-founding member of the Beautiful Brown Adventures team. She has traveled to over 30 countries and loves to explore the world with her two daughters & partner - one ice cream shop at a time.
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woom Bikes for Toddlers: The Perfect Start to Cycling
Teach Your Kid How to Ride a Bike in a Day (woom 3 Bike Review)
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Why A Family Cargo Bike Is The Best Purchase You Can Make This Year
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