You'd have to be a child again, I think as my gaze sweeps over the two balance bikes. These are the two new balance bikes from Kids Ride Shotgun and Propain. The market for high-quality children's balance bikes and corresponding accessories has exploded in the last two years and has never been more extensive. There is nothing that is not available for the little ones. Starting with the child seat, which places the offspring in the first row on the top tube, through to the top-equipped children's e-MTB for 4000 euros and a whole lot more in between.
It all starts with the wheel
The first step on the way to becoming a real mountain biker is undoubtedly the balance bike. With a balance bike, kids can playfully train their balance, make their first attempts at steering and experience movement sequences. The first, still uncertain attempts at riding quickly give way to an experienced hustle and bustle with a permanent grin on their face. In most cases, the whole thing happens almost by itself and absolutely quickly, so that you may only remember your own attempts with and without training wheels with pity.
Children's balance bike: From 279 to 439 euros
At 279 euros, the Bam Bam from Propain is slightly cheaper than the Dirt Hero from Kids Ride Shotgun. The wheel from the New Zealanders costs at least 340 euros in the cheapest configuration with 12-inch wheels. The optional 14-inch wheels cost an extra 20 euros. In combination with the Magura MT4 rear brake (as on our test bike), you end up with the wheel even at a proud 439 euros. But Propain has also taken precautions and at least given the Bam Bam a disc brake mount for the rear wheel. This means that the Bam Bam can also be equipped with a rear brake if required, which trains correct deceleration and drastically reduces shoe wear. Unfortunately, Propain does not offer an option in the configurator. So if you want to do something good for your offspring, you'll have to do it yourself.
>> We have even more bikes for the next generation in the article: Children's bike test 2023: 7 children's MTBs that make you happy <<
Free riders ahead
Who would have thought that there are still fundamental innovations to be discovered in children's balance bikes. Both the Bam Bam and the Dirt Hero are equipped with a footboard on which the feet can be placed comfortably. The footboard has a certain challenging character and encourages kids to cover longer distances without putting their feet down. This is definitely better and more intuitive than if the little ones had to constantly put their feet on. Thanks to the non-slip plastic footboard, the Dirt Hero has a small advantage over the Bam Bam, where the feet are simply placed on the frame.
The wheels in detail
Both wheels benefit from a modern geometry with a smooth steering angle. The Bam Bam gets by with 69 degrees, while the Dirt Hero goes one step further and, with its 66 degree steering angle, looks like dad's little enduro bike. Depending on the wheel size (the dropouts on the Dirt Hero are swapped for 14 inches), the wheelbase is on a comparable level. In terms of weight, the Dirt Hero has the edge with 4290 grams despite the additional rear brake. The Bam Bam weighs 4580 grams, which is primarily due to the larger wheels and tyres. Incidentally, both manufacturers rely on 2.25 inch wide tyres from VeeTire. The coarsely profiled tyres offer a large volume and can be ridden with very low air pressures, which ensures a high level of comfort even off gravel and asphalt.
What sizes are available for the balance bike?
The general starting age for a balance bike depends very much on the child's development. Most manufacturers specify an age from two years. Propain offers additional guidance for the Bam Bam with a height recommendation of 90 to 110 centimetres. In order for a child to be able to make their first attempts, the saddle should be low enough for their feet to touch the ground safely. The lowest seat height on the Dirt Hero with 12-inch wheels is 317 millimetres (352 mm/14 inches), while the Bam Bam is 385 millimetres due to the larger wheels.
Conclusion
The Dirt Hero from Kids Ride Shotgun costs at least € 61 more than the Propain Bam Bam, but also stands out in some respects thanks to its higher quality details and flexible modular system. The high-quality stem, the integrated headset, the non-slip footboard and small details, such as valves with an angled outlet, speak in favour of the slightly lighter Dirt Hero. However, with a price that is more than 20 per cent lower, the functional Bam Bam is also a lot of fun to ride.
