With its bright red color, scalloped chrome fenders, mustache cruiser handlebars, rear wood deck with the Schwinn logo, and classic vintage looks, this vehicle is the trike version of your parents’ old ’67 Firebird. The banana-shaped bike seat doesn’t adjust, though its ample length allows kids to comfortably push back and stretch their legs as they grow. The Midi is designed for kids 3 to 6 and can accommodate riders up to 70 pounds, which includes many 7- and 8-year-olds, too.
Finally, the wheels are smaller than those on some of the other convertible trikes like the Joovy or even the same company’s Steer & Stroll, making getting over bumps in the sidewalk challenging. The 4-in-1 we tested is the newest model, replacing an older version that doesn’t have a footrest and has a slightly different infant ring and handle design. The Doona Liki Trike schwinn mountain bike S5 has some great features, like the ability to fold down to a 12.5 inch by 24 inch by 9 inch rectangle for travel (it’s designed to fit in airplane overhead bins). We enjoyed its three-second fold, padded straps and sleek look. Like the Joovy, it has a sunshade and converts to five different stages that take a kid from a pre-walker (10 months) all the way up to age 3.
The SmarTrike Lollipop 3 in 1 Baby Trike is designed for babies starting at 10 months up to kids 3 years, a narrower age range than other convertible trikes. My 1-year-old was able to sit comfortably in the seat—unlike the Joovy and Radio Flyer this trike has no straps—but he kept sliding forward onto his crotch and standing on the foot rests. On the other hand, the SmarTrike has a completely independent push-steering system, so even if a kid is jerking the steering column to the left, you can still turn right. In the older-kid configuration the trike seemed a little small and underpowered compared with the other convertibles we tested. Like many of today’s trikes, the Joovy TriCyCoo has a storage bin in the back for treasures, and comes with a cupholder attached to the handlebars. It weighs 14 pounds, typical of plastic tricycles of this type but much lighter than more traditional metal models.
Even though the company sells more to institutions than directly to parents, you can buy an Angeles tricycle at retail. It comes at a higher price than our picks, but you can likely pass it on to other kids as well. Despite its heavier weight, we found that the smooth-riding Angeles was as easy to start and pedal as our pick. The preassembled bike is extremely stable, with spokeless wheels and a large banana seat that accommodates up to 70 pounds of weight, so it remains fun for bigger kids after they’ve outgrown our other picks. The Radio Flyer Deluxe Steer & Stroll isn’t as versatile as our pick for littler kids, because it doesn’t have a protective ring and straps to hold a baby in place.
But there’re downsides to all e-bikes, whether it’s cost prohibitive or the tires are hard to replace. It’s “downsides”, if you’re an avid off-roader, is that it isn’t designed for challenging off-road rides. Touring around towns, commuting, shopping, cruising the Boulevard. Sure, anyone could spend $5000 for a lightweight e-mountain bike and not worth about getting stuck on some rock or roots but most rarely ever go off-road even when buying that $5000 bike.
Whatever you do, you do need a good partner to help you with it. Our electric bikes are your best friend, powerful and sturdy enough to help you get things done safely and quickly. The trike took about 17 minutes to assemble—less than average for the 11 trikes we tested—and though it required an extra screwdriver, the instructions were straightforward. That’s the bit that lets you coast along without pedalling, and the rear chain will keep moving with the rear wheels.