Brakes on Kids Bikes

Gavin1

I am looking at a bike for my 5 year old.

However when I went to pick it up, the brakes were appalling. Now before I start, I know nothing about bikes. However I could not hold the wheels locked with a reasonable force. I was concerned that if I could do this what chance does my son have at stopping himself. He guy in the shop did his best to help and tightened up everything but it did no make a big difference.

Would you have any guidance on what is acceptable or reasonable. The brakes on this bike were v-style brakes.

crosstownk

Have your child try the bike and see how he/she manages the brakes and how effective they are with the child on the bike.

It might not be that easy if it's being delivered by Santa!

HivemindXX

The brakes on children's bikes are generally very poor. I've no idea if those are worse than normal though. A small child is usually going slowly and the bike is heavy so I guess it is not usually a big problem. Provided they don't head down a steep hill it's probably fine. Perhaps check a bike in another shop, or a neighbours child's bike and if you can verify that the new bike is no worse than another random kids bike then you can assume it's the norm.

I got my nephew an Isla bike and the manual actually said to ensure the rider is cautious with the brakes because they may find them far more effective than their previous bike. He did in fact nearly crash because he was startled and braked hard resulting in a near instantaneous stop.

Eamonnator

What make and model is the bike?

Gavin1

Thanks for the replies.

It was a Apollo Ace boys bike.

Eamonnator

The brakes on that bike should be sufficient for a 5 year old.
Sometimes the staff in Halfords are inexperienced.
The brakes on those bikes are difficult to set up properly.
If you know somebody, who cycles,ask them to have a look at the brakes.

easygoing39

Brakes on kids bikes are very poor,in fact so are the hubs/headset and crank!! On a bike from a brit carshop its even worse,cheap bike,staff that aint up to spec,equals hardship down the line.Do a search on here to see opinion!!!

Gavin1

Thanks for the replies. Is there a particular brake type that is better/easier to set up than others?

quozl

Gavin1 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. Is there a particular brake type that is better/easier to set up than others?

If you are willing to buy a more expensive bike then you can get very good brakes on a kids bike.

I got my twin 4 year old boys Ridgeback MX14s. They've got proper adult v-brakes that would fit on my own hybrid but they have small brake levers with adjustable reach to fit kids hands.

I guess islabike are the same but I didn't want to spend quite that much and it's hard to get two similar 2nd hand bikes to not start a war between twins!

I had Apollo bikes for them previously from their grandparents but unfortunately they were a waste of money. The brakes were appalling and needed much greater hand strength. I also managed to shear a bolt on them while re-fitting them after removing some stupid heavy metal carrier racks from the bikes.

Lumen

Islabike brakes are fantastic. They list the components on the website so you could copy the setup by buying aftermarket parts. Cables might be important too - reasonable quality and properly installed cables can make a big difference.

The fundamental problem is that Apollo bikes are crap, you're presumably on a budget, you don't have the mechanical skills to diagnose or fix it, and if you wanted to spend a bunch of money on fixing a bad bike you'd be better off just buying a better bike in the first place.

I'd put pressure on Halfords to sort it out. One would have thought that the prospect of their young customers ending up underneath cars due to crap brakes would focus minds on not selling total shíte.

NBar

I have got all types of bikes all budgets for my kids and to be honest the only annoying thing is when the brakes squeak, none have complained or had trouble stopping, I have taken the brake cables out and lubed up the wire and cable housing and adjusted the reach where possible on the lever. How many parents are driving cars with the best braking system available? It's swings and roundabouts and we may as all get our kids the pro versions of bicycles if we want the best, brakes, gears etc

mossym

brakes are important, we got our little girl a bike for her 4th birthday, was doing great on it, then went down a steep hill, couldn;t get the brakes to stop her, locked the handlebars full to the right, did a faceplant over the handlebars onto the pavement. straight down on her face, thought we would be going to the A&E but she was somehow okay

longer term issue is she now has no confidence on the bike, smallest hill and she completely freaks. trying to get her over it but it's not at all easy.

I'd imagine brakes on kids bikes are intentionally poor, no?

My line of thought being that most kids won't really fully appreciate the concept of gradually pulling a brake and will just jam it back the whole way as hard as they can? So 'weaker' brakes will prevent them from going over the handle bars or skidding and falling off?

Macy0161

The rate they grow, and the way they take care of them, it's been BSO's for our children. Only now they're on to 20 inch wheel "mountain" bikes have the brakes been really usable. The main issue is that they didn't have the grip power for the crappy brakes, combined with me not being mechanically minded enough to adjust them in a way to make them better (and I did try a lot!).

fat bloke

A sh1t bike will sh1t brakes, unfortunately that's just the way of it. It's hard when kids outgrow stuff so quickly but if you can at all, pay more for a better bike. You'll always sell it on again.

mossym

fat bloke wrote: »

You'll always sell it on again.

can be difficult. bikes are usually gifts, and a lot of parents won't go second hand for gifts

Alek

I have Frog Tadpole, a balance bike similar to Islabikes Rothan. It has normal sized V brake on the back and a kid-sized Tektro brake lever. Very effective and safer than the front brake.

fat bloke

mossym wrote: »

can be difficult. bikes are usually gifts, and a lot of parents won't go second hand for gifts

I dunno. In my experience, good bikes sell all day long.

Macy0161

fat bloke wrote: »

I dunno. In my experience, good bikes sell all day long.

In principle I agree, however, two at the same height and weight (not quite Irish twins, but nearly), getting an Isla bike each just wasn't a budgetary option.

Even in BSO's though, there appears to be a big difference once you're into the more adult looking bikes compared to the 18 inch wheel and smaller ones covered in dolls seats etc. They got Muddy Fox ones from Smyth's at the start of the summer - they're heavy, have unnecessary front suspension etc., but there's no comparison really with the (actually more expensive) streamer festooned ones they've insisted on before!

fat bloke

Macy0161 wrote: »

In principle I agree, however, two at the same height and weight (not quite Irish twins, but nearly), getting an Isla bike each just wasn't a budgetary option.

Oh Jaysus yeah, no argument there. The Islabikes are the other end of the spectrum altogether. -The day Daddy gets his Bentley is the day one of mine gets an isla .

quozl

Deleted User wrote: »

I'd imagine brakes on kids bikes are intentionally poor, no?

My line of thought being that most kids won't really fully appreciate the concept of gradually pulling a brake and will just jam it back the whole way as hard as they can? So 'weaker' brakes will prevent them from going over the handle bars or skidding and falling off?

I doubt that's the reasoning. If it was then the more expensive bikes which sell based on reputation (and probably an aspirational element!) wouldn't have so much better brakes.

Cheap bikes have bad brakes because they're cheap.

Brakes are important. You can't go fast without knowing that you can stop when you want to.

My lads fly around on their bikes and then stop really quickly when they want to - which they find fun. No hint of going over the handlebars yet. Kids hands are weak and bikes - even the better ones - are very heavy relative to a kids weight. I guess that gets less and less true as they get older but as they get older they'll get more fine motor control. Even my barely 4 year old lads can (badly) modulate braking to control how much they slow on a descent* now.

* By a descent, I mean a small hill in the park!

NBar

My girls have all crashed either by over braking or just coming a cropper on the canal paths etc, they just get up and brush it off and get going again, even when they were all learning to cycle how many kids crash etc if their determined they will keep at it and sure we all come off our bikes, it's all part of growing up.
Here's hoping that alot more bikes are got for Xmas and not electronic goods and everyone get out on Stephens Day to work of that tin of sweets etc

Lumen

Deleted User wrote: »

I'd imagine brakes on kids bikes are intentionally poor, no?

My line of thought being that most kids won't really fully appreciate the concept of gradually pulling a brake and will just jam it back the whole way as hard as they can? So 'weaker' brakes will prevent them from going over the handle bars or skidding and falling off?

No. I've seen four year olds on slippery MTB trails applying brakes progressively and controlling slides.

Kids are like adults on EPO, HGH and smart drugs.

Eamonnator

Kids are like adults on EPO, HGH and smart drugs.[/QUOTE]

you left out smarties.

martyc5674

fat bloke wrote: »

Oh Jaysus yeah, no argument there. The Islabikes are the other end of the spectrum altogether. -The day Daddy gets his Bentley is the day one of mine gets an isla .

My two have Islas... I've a 12 year old fiat!!.. Go figure

I must say the brakes are fantastic on them.. (Unlike my fiat)
They do learn to modulate them but not before a few scares
Marty.