The Best Bike for Teens in 2023 – Reviews & Buying Guide

Getting your kids interested in biking will keep them in shape and also give them a fun and safe means of transportation around your neighborhood.

If you love biking, then sharing a weekend ride with your kids is a great family activity.

Since I’m an experienced cyclist, my friends often ask me for some help choosing a bike for teens, which is what’s inspired this post.

My 6 Favorite Bikes for Teens Review for 2022

Here’s my shortlist for the best bikes for teens for 2020:

1. Kent Dual Suspension Mountain Bike
2. Sixthreezero Around the Block Women’s Beach Cruiser
3. Schwinn Predator Team Freestyle
4. Mongoose Legion Freestyle BMX
5. Huffy Cruiser
6. Batch Bicycles Lifestyle 27.5″

Read more: Detailed Buying Guide & FAQ

This Kent bike is perhaps the safest one in this article. Its 26-inch frame is appropriate for teenagers and young adults.

Kent’s front and rear braking technology distributes braking over both wheels. This prevents head-over-handlebar accidents that can be caused by front-wheel brakes.

This innovative brake design also provides stopping power up to 44 percent faster than other brakes that only stop front or rear wheels. 

The dual suspension system also offers greater comfort, especially on rocky trails, while both front suspension and rear shocks are part of the frame.

This 21-speed bike is designed for easy assembly, and most parents found that they could put it together in less than 10 minutes with the included toolset.

The Sixthreezero Around the Block Cruiser is a very cool bike, and has to see this list as it has a lot of different options to suit different teens. Not only does this bike look the part, but it has some very cool features too.

The first thing to make a note of is the way it looks. It’s very cool with its retro vibes and wouldn’t go out of place riding down the seafront to a beach. It’s a strong steel frame with rigid front forks and classic styling.

The wheels come in two sizes that you get to pick when you buy them. 26” and 24”. If you are smaller, then the 24” would suit you more. If you are a taller teen, then you’re going to want the 26”. The wheels are equipped with retro waffle tread tires for puncture protection and give it an even more of a classy look.

The gearing again is up to you, and you get to pick what suits you. It comes in 3 speed for flat riding and 7 speed if you live in a hilly area.

The bike also comes with a rear rack for panniers and reflectors. The bars are perfect for adding a universal basket on the front that you could use for shopping if needed.

This BMX teenage bicycle is an excellent choice for your teenager who wants a rugged ride.

If your kids like going offroad and riding through the mud, you can’t go wrong with the Schwinn Predator Team Freestyle.

The steel frame is sturdy for hitting those hills, and the rugged tread on the tires is great for off-road traction.

If you’re planning to use this bike on paved roads, going from home to school, then your teenager might find the bike tires cumbersome and wide. This bike is better suited for the trails.

Don’t let this BMX option prevent you from buying it for your teenage daughter. Both a boy and girl can have fun on this stunt and trick bike.

The sturdy frame and forks aren’t for high-speed racing, but rather for spinning and performing stunts. This bike has a cable detangler to allow 360-degree spins on the front tire.

If your teenager likes to take their bike to the park to show off for friends, this Mongoose bike is ideal for this.

The Huffy Cruiser is another comfortable and classic style for either a boy or a girl in their younger years.

If you’re as mechanically challenged as I used to be, you’ll appreciate the quick and easy assembly of this bike.

The seat is generously padded for superior posterior comfort. Your teen will love the look and feel of this bike as they cruise around with their friends.

Batch is a big name in off road bikes, and the Lifestyle is an excellent example of a bike that is great value for money and very capable.

The first thing to mention is the aluminum frame. It’s nice and lightweight and made to be strong to take a hit. This is a bike that is built to last, if it’s used for forest rails or city commutes.

 The bike is very adjustable and can fit a wide range of people, perfect if you’re growing and will keep needing to make adjustments.

The wheels are 27.5”, and they are paired up with some wide 1.95″” tires. The wheels being smaller means that the bike is going to feel much more agile.

Shimano makes the 1×7 Speed groupset, so you are getting excellent quality parts, and it will be smooth shifting and many trouble free miles.

The Best Bicycle for Teens

After reviewing all of these great bikes for teens, my final recommendation is the Kent Dual Suspension Mountain Bike.

The dual suspension makes this bike comfortable and agile on those rocky trails. You’ll have a blast taking your teenagers for rough outdoor biking on the weekends.

The front disc brake and rear, linear pull brake combine to give this bike tremendously safe stopping power, so you won’t worry about your kids getting into high-speed accidents.

With 21 speeds and Shimano shifters, your teenager will have a wide range of torque to rapidly choose from. On this bike, they’ll be able to handle all kinds of terrain.

Getting Your Teenager Into Biking

If you think replacing their shoes is expensive, bikes are ten-fold more expensive if you don’t get the right one for their needs.

Not sure what to look for? Check out the factors below…

Bike Sizes

Your teenager will want a bike that allows almost complete extension for their legs when pedaling, but also short enough that your teen can comfortably mount and dismount the bike.

Check whether they can touch the floor with their tiptoes without having to angle the bike to the side too much.

Kids’ bikes are generally measured by wheel size rather than frame height.

Depending on the size and maturity of your teenager, you’ll have to decide whether to get a kid-sized bike or one sized for adults.

Keep in mind that buying a bike that’s too large or too advanced for your teenager might cause them to lose interest in biking altogether.

Use this as a guide:

Wheel Size (inches)	Age (years)
12	2-4
14	4-6
16	5-8
18	6-9
20	7-10
24	9+

Bike Types

If you’re feeling overwhelmed at the different bikes out there, consider these different variations:

• Road bikes
• Mountain bikes
• Hybrid bikes
• Freestyle/BMX bikes
• Specialty bikes

You should choose your bike based on the terrain and situation that are best-suited to your teen.

Road Bikes for Teenagers

If your teenager is going to be cycling to school or work on roads or cycle paths, then a road bike is your best choice. Bikes for road cycling have a slimmer profile and are designed for higher speeds and take less work from the cyclist on paved roads.

Road bikes are also an excellent option if they’re already showing an interest in road cycling, especially if you’re a keen road cyclist already.

Have you eyed your teen watching the Tour de France already? If so, lean them toward this style.

You could say cruiser bikes fit into the same category, but they don’t have any of the high-performance features of a road race bike. They’re simply designed for casually riding along roads and tarmac as a commuter option.

Mountain Bikes for Teenagers

Even if your teen’s going to be cycling to school but over rougher terrain, a mountain bike will suit them better thanks to the bigger tires and suspension.

They’re also an excellent choice for off-road trail riding. Taking your family out for a ride is more fun if you know you can handle some off-road terrain.

Hybrid Bikes

Not sure whether to go with a road bike or a mountain bike? Perhaps a hybrid bike is the answer.

They mix the best of both worlds by combining the speed and efficiency of road bikes with a little of the durability and off-road capability of the best mountain bikes. It’s an economical option if you aren’t sure which type of bike to buy.

Watch out for some hybrid bikes, though. If you combine heavy-set handlebars and front suspension with a light frame, your teen might disappear over the top, which is exactly what’s happened to me before.

Want to learn more about hybrid bikes? Read our article on how much does a hybrid bike weigh?

Freestyle/BMX

Freestyle/BMX bikes are the epitome of ‘cool’ to most teen riders. They tend to have a low-slung seat, which doesn’t get sat on much, and are ideal for short and functional bursts of riding.

Nothing is stopping a teen from riding their BMX bike to school or a job, but they don’t offer much comfort. Instead, they’re designed for the bike track and for stunts—think of your boy or girl doing inverts, half-pipes, rails, and tricks. (1)

Specialty Bikes

These bikes are for the more adventurous teenagers out there. While I wouldn’t say they’re a good idea for teens for their first bikes, they might be an option to encourage them into cycling, by adding a unique spin on the design:

Folding bikes

These are pretty hip right now, and are ideal for storage and transportation. If your kid has to cycle to catch the school bus or get a bus to work, this could be a good solution.

Touring bikes

While I don’t agree that these are much of a ‘thing,’ touring bikes come with extra storage. Why not just get a more-suited bike and buy saddlebags or use a backpack? This way, your teen can have the bike they want and have extra storage, rather than being pigeon-holed. They are great for family cycling holidays, though.

Electric bikes

If your teen’s a classic lazy type, electric bikes can get them outside without the entire effort of having to pedal the distance. They’re also great for hills, although some aren’t powerful enough to power up steep gradients.

Bike Brands

Among the hundreds of quality bike brands out there, there are four in particular that I want to pick out:

Kent

Kent bikes are stylish, with the company having an image of British glamor, but you wouldn’t know this going by the prices. This company makes an assortment of products, and their bikes are affordable and still quality.

Schwinn

Schwinn is a US company founded by Ignaz Schwinn, who was born in Germany and worked on bikes from a young age. It has a strong bike history, with record-breaking links and popular icons such as Bing Crosby and Ronald Reagan choosing Schwinn bikes in their time. (2)

Fast forward to the 21st century and Schwinn is now a partner for getting foster kids to cycle, through the Together We Rise foundation.

Mongoose

Mongoose makes a bike for a serious cyclist. It specializes in bikes made for performance, whether racing or demonstrating stunts. Your teenager will develop skills and a passion for biking when riding a Mongoose.

Accessories

The first and most important bike accessory that you’ll want for your teenager is a good helmet. Accidents happen, even to the safest riders, so make sure your child’s head is protected with a helmet. (3)

A good bike also deserves a good bike lock. Horseshoe locks are sturdy and secure. Teach your teenager how to properly lock their bikes so that they won’t get stolen.

TIP: While many teenagers will scoff at these, gloves and knee and elbow guards are crucial if they’re freestyling or BMXing.

Prices

Most of the best bikes for teens go for between $300 and $400. You can find good bikes for under $200 also, but these will lack some of the safety and durability of the others.

Basic Components

When choosing between bikes for teens, you’ll want to pay close attention to the pull brakes and the gears on their bikes.

Brakes

It’s a good idea to make sure that your teenager’s bike has perfectly performing brakes. After all, this is the first line of safety.

Kids’ bikes and BMX bikes often have coaster brakes, which function when the pedals are turned backward. Your teenager has likely outgrown these kinds of brakes on regular bikes, but if they’re still into BMX, then they’re still relevant.

Modern bikes have either V-brakes on the rim or disc brakes. Both of these are very safe options and easy for teenagers to control.

Gears

When your kid becomes a teenager, this is usually a good time to put away that single-speed bike and give them a bike that’s easier to accelerate.

TIP: If you plan on biking in the hills and mountains, you’ll need those extra gears for the tough terrain. But if this bike is just for commuting to school or work along flat, paved roads, fewer gears are necessary.

Weight

You definitely don’t want your kid to push around a heavy bike frame. Consider bikes with high-tech carbon fiber or aluminum frames for the lightest weight. Steel frames are the most common, though, so they’re more robust.

Comfort on a Teen Bicycle 

Bikes these days typically have advanced gel seats for optimal comfort. If you’re looking at mountain biking, don’t forget about the suspension fork and shocks to ensure a comfortable ride.

Most teen bikes will have an adjustable seat, but don’t be surprised if the BMX and freestyle bikes don’t.

How to compare teen bikes?

If you’re struggling to decide—and the bike isn’t for a surprise gift—get your teen involved and weigh up the bike’s intended use. If it’s just for a short ride to and from school, you don’t need lots of gears.

Equally, if they want a smooth ride to school but want the option of some off-road cycling with their friends, go for a hybrid.

What I’ve done before is to write a list of pros and cons for each bike and then highlight the features that are more important. This greatly helps to narrow your choices down.

TIP: If you have any questions or need help, check out my details down under, or look for other helpful guides and reviews on the homepage. 

FAQs

Here are some of the most common questions fired my way about the best bike for teenager boys or girls.