The development in children’s bikes has drastically improved over the years, as a result, more affordable bikes are adopting features typically found only in premium bikes.
Picking a bike for a child can be quite a hard task, since there are so many features available in the market with different price tags & each with a different height requirement.
So in order to make a complex task as simple as possible for you, we listed our selection of the top 6 20-inch bikes in the market under $200, our bikes are selected based on value for the price. So without further ado let’s take a look at the list!
Best 20 Inch bikes Under $200:
- RoyalBaby 20 Freestyle Bicycle
- Schwinn Elm Girls Bike
- Schwinn Koen Boys Bike
- Huffy Kids Bike Go Girl & Ignyte 20 inch
- Mongoose Legion L10 Freestyle BMX Bike
- COEWSKE Girl’s Bike
Best 20 Inch bike Under $200:
RoyalBaby 20 Freestyle Bicycle
First on our list is the extremely popular Royalbaby freestyle 20 bikes, this bike made the top of our list simply by providing premium features on a budget bike. The bike frame is crafted from a durable steel material & is equipped with both a front caliper brake and a rear coaster brake offering additional safety.
The bike features wide 2.4” pneumatic tires offering additional stability & allows your child to ride over rougher pavement more comfortably. Additionally, the bike is equipped with a chain guard in order to prevent the chain from entrapping or soiling the rider’s trouser leg or clothing.
Key Features:
- Two brake System for additional safety
- Short grip length allows riders to brake efficiently
- Equipped with a full Chain Guard
- Adjustable seat allows the rider to find the most comfortable riding position for their needs
Schwinn Elm Girls Bike
The Schwinn elm is a stylish girls bike designed to be ridden in the park, sidewalk, or around the neighborhood. It’s available in 3 different colors pink, purple, & teal. It features a durable steel frame equipped with an adjustable saddle, allowing your child to adjust the saddle to the best height for her needs.
It’s equipped with a narrower pedal position to match the width of your child’s hips, & provide a more comfortable pedaling experience. This bike is recommended for children who are 48 – 60 inches tall.
Key Features:
- Smartstart design in order to fit your child’s proportions
- Durable steel frame
- Designed with a 2 break system: rear coaster brake & front caliper brakes
- adjustable saddle
- Narrower pedal positions offer a more comfortable pedaling position
- The front basket allows your child to put her belongings in while adding some style to the bikes overall look
Schwinn Koen Boys Bike
Next on our list is the widely popular Schwinn Koen boys bike. Schwinn kid’s bikes are designed to make riding as easy as possible with its smart start design. The smart start design features a lighter frame, narrower pedal positions, smaller grips, saddles, and pedals, additionally Gearing has been changed for easy pedaling & limits top speeds. This overall design is optimized to provide your child with additional comfort when riding & allows for easier handling & control of the bike.
The bike features a 2 brake system, a rear coaster brake (reverse the pedals to stop), and a front caliper brake (hand-brake like adult bikes). This makes it easier to stop the bike when needed. Overall the perfect bike for perfect for riding to the park, sidewalk, or around the neighborhood. This bike is recommended for children who are 48 – 60 inches tall.
Key Features:
- Smartstart design
- 2 break system
- Durable steel frame
- Easily adjustable
Huffy Kids Bike Go Girl & Ignyte 20 inch
Next up is the huffy go girl & ignite bike, the go girl is the girl’s version whereas the ignite is the boy’s version. This bike is super simple to assemble, coming with pre-installed front wheels and an easy to align headtube.
It features an alloy quick release, allowing for easy seat adjustments complemented with an adjustable handlebar allowing your child to find the perfect fit for their needs.
This bike is also equipped with a 2 brake system, Front hand brake, and rear coaster brakes for additional safety.
Key Features:
- Easy assembly
- 2 brake system
- easy adjustability
- Comes in a girls & boys version
Mongoose Legion L10 Freestyle BMX Bike
Next on our list is the mongoose Legion L10 Bmx bike, the recommended height for this bike is 4’8” – 5’4”. it features a durable hi-ten steel frame & fork with a 20.25-inch top tube length.
The Drivetrain features a 170 mm three-piece forged steel cranks with a 25T steel chainring & an American loose ball bottom bracket. Additionally, the bike is equipped with aluminum U-brake and brake levers, for added control while riding.
Key Features:
- Hi-Ten Steel Frame & Fork
- 20.25-inch top tube length
- Aluminum U-brake and brake levers
- 20-inch x 2.3-inch tires mounted on aluminum single wall 36H rims
COEWSKE Girl’s Bike
The Coeswske is an incredibly stylish bike designed for girls, available in 4 different bright colors allowing your child to pick the best color that suits her best. The bike features a Hi-tensile steel frame, equipped with a women basket allowing your child to bring her belongings ith her during her riding sessions.
The bike is also equipped with a 2 brake system, a front hand V-brake as well as coaster brakes making it easier to stop when needed to. The bike is also designed with a full chainguard for added protection from the chain. Overall a great girls bike with a visually appealing design & radiant colors.
Key Features:
- Hi-tensile steel bike frame
- Adjustable height & handlebar for a perfect fit
- Equipped with a bell, front basket & a rear seat
- Equipped with 2 a brake system
- Easy installation process
Buyer’s Guide: What to look for When Buying a 20 Inch Bike For Your Child
Age & Height Limit
20-inch bikes are generally best suited for the ages 5-8 years, although most bikes are designed differently with some best suited for a specific height limit. Most brands state the recommended height for their 20-inch bike, make sure to check the recommended height before purchasing to ensure the bike is best suited for your child height.
Gearing
20-inch bike are when gearing is introduced to kids, gearing is definitely a personal preference some kids want to move forward and try out what gears have to offer, while other prefer to stick with single speed bikes. Nevertheless, there are plenty of great single-speed 20-inch bikes as well as 20 inch geared bikes, it just comes down to personal preferences.
Brakes
The best type of brakes for 20-inch bikes is v-brakes (Hand brakes) opposed to coater brakes (reverse the pedals to stop), handbrakes provide more control & greater stopping power they also provide a quicker reaction time than coaster brakes.
However, if your child is used to coaster brakes there are several bikes in the market that offer a 2 brake system v-brakes & coaster brakes, many of the bikes we have recommended above are equipped with a 2 brake system. This allows a child to easily transition out of coaster brakes & into v-brakes.
Related Questions:
Do 20-inch bikes come with training wheels?
20-inch bikes typically don’t come with training wheels, however, there are several training wheels in the market that are designed to fit 20-inch bikes. Take a look at our guide on the best training wheels for 20-inch bikes to find the right pair for your child.
What’s the difference between girls & boys bikes?
When it comes to kids bikes there is no difference between girls & boys bikes, the main difference being the visual aspect. This is very important for a child, but in terms of technicalities & geometry girl & boys bikes are fairly similar.
Does my child need a bike with gears?
It depends on how your child will be using the bike. Gears help with pedaling uphill, riding longer distances, or even just keeping up with other riders. But if your child just needs a bike to cruise around the neighborhood or park then gears aren’t as necessary.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it, our 6 top picks of the best 20-inch bikes under $200 in the market.
When looking for an affordable kids bike in the market it’s important to first know how your child will be using the bike, this will help you pick out features they actually require first. Since most bikes in the market provide features your child may not even need, depending on how he/she will be riding the bike. With the development of bike technology & innovative designs, affordable bikes are equipped with more premium features than before & offering a more enjoyable experience for your child. Thanks for reading & happy riding!
