Like its namesake, the Big Wheel is better for bigger kids. It accommodates kids up to 70 pounds and 8 years old, and we’ve known older children who did, in fact, love it. But this trike is the most fun when it’s used to barrel down steep hillsides; even older, stronger pedalers will find it difficult to use for sidewalk travel. Plus, for what it is, this bike is really expensive. Overall, if you’re seeking a truly fun ride for older kids, we think the Razor RipRider 360 is the better choice.
Slide the rear drive sub-frame over the main frame until the holes in both components are aligned. Verify the secondary chain sprockets are in alignment. Reinstall the four bolts from the inside of the frame. Slide the rear drive sub-frame all the way forward to ease installation of the chain. Lower the secondary chain into the frame ahead of the front gear, then wrap the chain back over the front gear. Thread the hanging section of chain back around the rear axle, but don’t put it onto the gear yet.
This trike is an updated version of the 4-in-1 Stroll ’N Trike we tested for a previous iteration of this guide. The world of tricycles is wild and weird, with hundreds of options ranging from convertible 4-in-1s to fancy drifters to trikes that become balance bikes. All Schwinn adult trikes come with a basket, but the basket style varies somewhat between models. Other baskets are made from wire with reasonably large gaps, which means you’ll need to make sure smaller items are contained inside bags so they don’t fall out. Some models have foldable baskets so you don’t need to have them set up when they’re not in use. Best suited for flat areas, this single-speed drivetrain is easy to use and simple to maintain, while the chain guard keeps your clothes and shoelaces free & clear.
And the push bar is also more loosely attached than that of our runner-up pick; this made it difficult for an adult to push the Liki in a straight path, especially one-handed. The INFANS Kids Tricycle is similar to our top pick, with more-durable steel features and a slightly easier-to-use steering mechanism. And our kid testers found it less easy to use, likely because the IFANS trike is about 4 pounds heavier than the Radio Flyer tricycle (20 pounds versus the Radio Flyer’s 16). This tricycle has four modes, for kids of different ages, and ample accessories, and it rides well on many different surfaces.
We appreciated that the infant harness was padded across the chest, but it didn’t tighten as well as our top pick’s harness. It took 40 minutes to build the Radio Flyer 4-in-1 Stroll ’N Trike; that was longer than it took to build many of the trikes we tested. The long build time is due to the fact schwinn mountain bike that this trike has so many parts; this makes it versatile, but it’s also a pain. The tools needed—a Phillips head screwdriver, a hammer, and a wrench—are not included. This trike held up well during testing, but it’s less durable than some of the other models we tried, including our upgrade pick.
It has more heft and seems sturdier than today’s Big Wheel brand. Older kids will likely enjoy the speed and easy turns of a lightweight, low-slung trike, but Kate’s 3-year-old son had some trouble getting the 16-inch front wheel to move. When it comes to a low-rider-style trike, overall we think the Schwinn Roadster provides a better ride. For bigger kids, the Razor RipRider 360 is more fun and easier to use. The INFANS trike also has rear brakes; the Radio Flyer trike does not, and we didn’t find them on many other bikes.