Best Bike for a 6 or 7 Year Old
Most 6 and 7 year olds are ready for a 20 inch bike, and this is usually the age when gears come in. Gears make hills and longer family rides easier.
How to choose
- Choose the Alpha Three if your child mostly rides streets, paved paths and light trails.Fits a 19 to 23 inch inseam (riders about 42.5 to 52.5 inches tall), weighs 16.9 lbs (without pedals), 8 speeds.
- Choose the Zulu Three if your child rides trails and mountain bikes.Fits a 20 to 26 inch inseam (riders about 45 to 58 inches tall), weighs 20.5 lbs (without pedals), 9 speeds.
- Choose the Bravo Three if your child is a confident rider headed for pump tracks and dirt jumps.Fits inseams of 20.5 inches and up (riders about 45 inches tall and up), weighs 19.8 lbs (without pedals), single speed.
If your child is on the smaller side, the Alpha Two fits a 15½ to 22 inch inseam. If they're bigger, the Alpha Four fits a 23 to 28 inch inseam.
$80.00 offAlpha ThreeWheel Size: 20 in
Age: 5 to 9 years
Type: All-purpose Bike
$679.00$759.00
Up to $150.00 offZulu ThreeWheel Size: 20 in
Age: 5½ to 9 years
Type: Trail Bike
From $1,149.00$1,299.00
Sold outBravo ThreeWheel Size: 20 in
Age: 6 to 10 years
Type: Dirt jump bike
$1,199.00Note: Age is just rough starting point for determining bike size
We built these pages by age because that's how most parents start looking. You know your child's age by heart, but few people know their child's inseam. The catch is that kids the same age can be inches apart in height, so two 4 year olds may need different size bikes.
Inseam is the most accurate way to size a kids' bike. It tells you whether your child can put their feet down comfortably and handle the bike with confidence. To measure it, have your child stand against a wall in socks, slide a hardcover book up between their legs like a bike seat, and measure from the top of the book to the floor.
Then enter it in our Bike Chooser, which matches your child's inseam to the right Prevelo size.
Compare at a glance
Spec Alpha Three Zulu Three Bravo Three Type All-purpose bike Trail bike Dirt jump bike Wheel size 20 inches 20 inches 20 inches Ages 5 to 9 5½ to 9 6 to 10 Inseam 19 to 23 inches 20 to 26 inches 20.5 inches and up Rider height 42.5 to 52.5 inches 45 to 58 inches 45 inches and up Weight 16.9 lbs (without pedals) 20.5 lbs (without pedals) 19.8 lbs (without pedals) Gears 8 speeds 9 speeds Single speed Brakes Promax Hydraulic Disc Brakes Tektro J285 Hydraulic Disc Rear Tektro J285 Hydraulic Disc Frame Lightweight Triple Butted 6061 Aluminum Lightweight Triple-Butted 6061 Aluminum Lightweight 6061 Aluminum Price $679 $759$1,149 $1,299$1,199 Inseam matters more than age. When your child is between sizes, the smaller wheel is easier to handle and the larger one gives more room to grow. For a size matched to your child's inseam, try the Bike Chooser.
Still not sure? Tell us your child's inseam and height and our team will help you choose.
Alpha, Zulu or Bravo?
Choose Alpha for neighborhood riding, paved paths, and light trails. Choose Zulu for technical trails and mountain biking. Choose Bravo for pump tracks and dirt jumps. Every Prevelo is designed from the ground up around children's proportions, with low geometry, appropriately sized controls, and lightweight construction.
Series Best for Rider level Available sizes Alpha Streets, paths and light trails Beginner to advanced 12 to 26 inches Zulu Trails and mountain biking Beginner to advanced 14 to 26 inches Bravo Pump tracks and dirt jumps Confident to advanced 16 to 24 inches Common questions
More in our Knowledge BaseWhich Prevelo series is right for my child: Alpha, Zulu, or Bravo?
Prevelo makes three series, each designed for a different kind of riding. All share Prevelo's low, kid-specific geometry and lightweight build.
- Alpha is the all-purpose series for streets, paved paths, and light trails. It is the best starting point for most kids, from the Alpha Zero balance bike up to the 26-inch Alpha Five. Best for beginners through confident everyday riders.
- Zulu is the trail and mountain-bike series, with air forks, wider tires, and trail-ready gearing. Choose Zulu if your child rides singletrack, dirt, or the mountains. Beginner to advanced.
- Bravo is the dirt-jump and pump-track series, built tough for jumps and skateparks. Best for confident to advanced riders.
Not sure? Start with Alpha for general riding, Zulu for trails, and Bravo for jumps. Compare models on the Alpha, Zulu, and Bravo pages, or use the Bike Chooser.
Which size bike fits my rider?
Sizing is based primarily on your child's inseam (inner-leg measurement), which is more reliable than age. When a rider falls between two sizes, the smaller wheel is easier to handle and the larger gives more room to grow.
Recommended inseam ranges differ by model, and we keep them current per bike, so use the Bike Chooser for an exact, up-to-date recommendation matched to your child's inseam.
See the Bike Chooser.
Why does a kids' bike's weight matter?
Weight matters more on a kids' bike than on an adult's, because a child is a much smaller share of the total bike-plus-rider weight. A heavy bike is harder for a small child to balance, pedal, turn, and pick up after a fall, which saps confidence and makes riding less fun.
Prevelo bikes are built light on purpose, with triple-butted 6061 aluminum frames, kid-specific components, and no heavy add-ons. For example, the 16-inch Alpha Two weighs about 12 lbs. A lighter bike is easier to learn on and easier to love.
The exact weight of every model is listed in its specs. See the Alpha, Zulu, and Bravo lineups.
Do Prevelo bikes have hand brakes or coaster brakes?
All Prevelo bikes are equipped with hand brakes to ensure effective stopping power. Below is a breakdown of the braking systems for each model:
Model-Specific Braking Systems
Alpha Zero: Rear hand brake only.
All Other Models: Front and rear hand brakes.
How does the Trade-Up Club work?
The Trade-Up Club lets the original owner put an outgrown Prevelo toward the purchase of a larger Prevelo, so a bike that has been outgrown keeps its value. Enrollment and the credit details are covered in the program terms.
See the full terms and how to participate: Trade-Up Club.
How quickly do bikes ship?
Each bike's product page shows its expected ship date. In-stock bikes ship promptly from our warehouse, and if a bike is on pre-order, the product page shows the pre-order ship date as well. At checkout you can choose flat-rate ground shipping or expedited 2-day or 1-day express delivery (for Contiguous US).
Full details: Shipping Terms.
