Amazon’s “Choice” badge and a 4.5-star rating with thousands of reviews can be compelling when you’re searching for the best kids’ bike. The Royal Baby Freestyle bike certainly catches the eye. But does this popular bike truly live up to the hype? Let’s be honest, Amazon’s Choice isn’t always the best choice, and online reviews can be deceiving. While the Royal Baby Freestyle bike is a decent option for the price, it’s far from perfect and has several drawbacks that parents should consider.
If you’re simply seeking a bike that looks the part and serves as more of a toy, the Royal Baby might suffice. However, if your priority is a bike that’s easy for your child to handle, encourages a love for cycling, and facilitates skill development, there are superior options available. In this comprehensive review, we’ll delve into the Royalbaby Freestyle 14″ and 16″ bikes, highlighting their pros and cons, and suggest better alternatives like the Retrospec Koda 2 kids bikes for your consideration.
Royal Baby Bike Overview: Freestyle 14″ & 16″ Models
Rating: Recommended with Reservations
MSRP: $159 (14 inch), $169 (16 inch)
Best For: Budget-conscious families needing a bike with training wheels for very young children.
Seat Height:
- 14 Inch: 19.25″ – 22″
- 16 inch: 19.8″ – 23.8″
Weight:
- 14 inch: 21.7 lbs (with training wheels)
- 16 inch: 23.3 lbs (with training wheels)
Brakes:
- Freestyle 3 Models: Rear coaster brake, front single-pivot hand brake
- Freestyle 5 Models: Dual handbrakes, no coaster brake
Note: We strongly recommend the Freestyle 5 due to its superior braking system. Coaster brakes are generally not recommended for kids bikes.
View Royal Baby Freestyle 5 on Amazon
Pros:
- Durable and solid frame construction.
- Wide range of color options.
- Available in multiple sizes: 12″, 14″, 16″, 18″, 20″.
- Higher quality build than typical big-box store bikes.
- Relatively easy assembly process.
- Includes training wheels for beginners.
- Freestyle 5 models offer dual handbrakes and eliminate the coaster brake.
Cons:
- Poor fit for many children due to sizing issues – often too tall or cramped.
- Significantly heavy, making it harder for kids to maneuver.
- Pedaling initiation can be challenging due to weight and resistance.
- Freestyle 3 models have an outdated coaster brake and a weak front hand brake.
- Front brake on some models may require adjustment out of the box.
- Uncomfortable, small, and thick saddle.
- Training wheels can hinder the learning process compared to balance bikes.
Video Review: Royal Baby Bike Problems in Action
For a visual demonstration of the issues discussed in this review, watch our video analysis to see the RoyalBaby Freestyle bike’s shortcomings in real-world riding scenarios.
Royalbaby Bike: The Core Problem
While the Royalbaby isn’t among the worst kids’ bikes on the market – it’s a step up from the lowest-quality bikes you might find at discount stores – it’s still far from great. It definitely doesn’t deserve a 4.5-star rating as a top-tier kids’ bike.
The fundamental issue lies in the bike’s design, which makes it unnecessarily difficult for children to ride compared to well-engineered alternatives. To illustrate this point, consider the visual comparison below. The blue bike represents a properly designed 14″ kids’ bike, showcasing ideal proportions. In contrast, the green 14″ Royalbaby appears significantly smaller.
Comparison of a 14-inch Royal Baby bike (green) with a well-designed 14-inch kids’ bike (blue), highlighting the Royal Baby’s smaller frame and limited cockpit space.
Notice the shorter frame of the 14″ Royalbaby. This significantly reduces the space available for a child to move and limits the bike’s lifespan as children quickly outgrow the cramped dimensions.
This is the primary flaw, but numerous other design elements contribute to making the Royalbaby bikes harder to ride. Despite the appealing price and positive Amazon reviews, we aim to demonstrate why investing slightly more in a better-designed bike is worthwhile. We’ll also suggest more budget-friendly alternatives like Retrospec Koda 2 bikes that offer a superior riding experience.
Royal Baby Freestyle 3 vs. 5: Understanding the Differences
A 4-year-old rider on a Royal Baby Freestyle bike at a skate park, demonstrating the bike’s limitations for active riding.
You might notice two distinct Amazon listings for Royalbaby Freestyle bikes, which can be confusing as they appear almost identical. The key difference lies in the braking system, distinguishing the Royalbaby Freestyle 3 and the newer Freestyle 5. Both models are available in 12″, 14″, 16″, 18″, and 20″ sizes.
Freestyle 3: This older model, boasting over 14,000 reviews, features a rear coaster brake and a front hand brake. View Royal Baby Freestyle 3 on Amazon
Freestyle 5: The newer version eliminates the coaster brake and incorporates dual handbrakes. View Royal Baby Freestyle 5 on Amazon
As we’ll elaborate on in the brakes section, we consistently recommend bikes without coaster brakes. Given that the Freestyle 3 and 5 are often priced similarly, there’s little reason to opt for the older Freestyle 3 model.
Royal Baby Bike Sizing: 14-inch and 16-inch Models
While the Royalbaby Freestyle series comes in five sizes, our testing focused on the 14-inch and 16-inch models. Although visually similar, each size presents unique sizing challenges.
The 14″ bike is marketed for 3-4 year olds, and the 16″ for 4-5 year olds. We’ll first examine the sizing problems specific to the 14″ Royal Baby Freestyle. Jump to the 16″ Royal Baby Freestyle sizing discussion.
The RoyalBaby 14″ Sizing Issue: A Mismatch for Many Kids
The primary issue with the RoyalBaby Freestyle 14″ bike is its poor fit for most children, leading us to generally advise against it. There are simply better-fitting bikes available, so why choose one that’s likely to be a poor match?
A 3-year-old rider on a Royal Baby bike, showcasing the bike’s inadequate size even for younger children within the stated height range.
Royalbaby’s provided sizing chart on Amazon is misleading. The stated seat height and child height ranges are inconsistent and unrealistic. Our hands-on testing with four children within the advertised height range confirmed these discrepancies. The sizing simply doesn’t translate to real-world fit.
RoyalBaby Sizing: Key Considerations
Wheel size is an oversimplified and often inaccurate metric for bike sizing. The crucial factors for proper bike fit are:
- Seat Height: The range and minimum height.
- Frame Size/Cockpit Length: The overall bike frame dimensions and rider space.
Seat Height: 14″ Freestyle Analysis
The 14″ Freestyle we tested offers a seat height range of 19.25″ – 22″. This limited 3″ range provides minimal room for growth, a common drawback of 14″ bikes in general. Explore our top 12-inch and 14-inch bike recommendations.
Optimal Seat Height: Flat Feet or Solid Tiptoes
For children using training wheels, the saddle should be low enough for them to comfortably touch the ground with flat feet or solid tiptoes. For balance bike graduates transitioning to pedals without training wheels, flat feet are ideal initially, progressing to tiptoes as they gain confidence and skill.
Ground contact is crucial for starting, stopping, and maintaining balance, even with training wheels. Falls are still possible, and foot contact provides a safety net.
Royal Baby’s Minimum Seat Height: Often Too High
Royalbaby suggests their Freestyle 14 inch bike fits children 37.4″ – 47.2″ tall. Manufacturers often exaggerate height ranges. Our testing reveals the Royalbaby 14″ minimum seat height is too tall for many children in the lower end of this range.
Observe our 3-year-old testers with the saddle at its lowest setting. The 37.5″ tall child on the left can’t touch the ground at all. The 39.5″ child on the right barely touches with one tiptoe while leaning. The seat is too high for both, despite being within Royalbaby’s stated height range.
Sizing issues illustrated: A 37.5″ tall child (left) and a 39.5″ tall child (right) on a Royal Baby 14-inch bike with the seat at its lowest setting, demonstrating the saddle height is too high for both.
For comparison, consider our taller testers. The 41.2″ 4-year-old (left) at minimum seat height comfortably touches the ground with her toes, suitable for training wheels or balance bike graduates. The 45″ 5-year-old (right) at maximum seat height is on solid tiptoes but clearly too large for the bike, despite being within the advertised height range.
Frame Size Disparity: Royal Baby’s Design Flaw
The core problem with the Royal baby Freestyle 14-inch bike (and similar models) is the mismatch between frame size and seat height. The frame and cockpit dimensions are reasonably appropriate for children at the lower end of the stated height range (our 3-year-old testers).
However, the minimum seat height is too tall for these same children to ride safely. Conversely, for children tall enough to reach the ground safely (our 4 and 5-year-old testers), the cockpit becomes cramped, restricting maneuverability and shortening the bike’s usable lifespan.
Observe the knee position of our 3 and 4-year-old riders in this side-by-side comparison.
Cockpit space comparison: A 3-year-old rider (left) has adequate cockpit space, but the saddle is too high. A 4-year-old rider (right) can reach the ground but has a cramped cockpit with knees close to the handlebars.
The 3-year-old has sufficient cockpit room, but cannot safely reach the ground. The 4-year-old, who can touch the ground, has virtually no room to grow. Her chest is too close to the handlebars, hindering turning and leaning, and her knees are positioned almost directly beneath the handlebars.
Superior Design: Room to Move and Grow
The limitations of the Royal Baby become apparent when compared to bikes designed with proper kids’ geometry. Dedicated kids’ bike brands prioritize frame geometry that complements a child’s proportions, resulting in a more natural and efficient riding experience.
Compare our 3-year-old (39.5″ tall) on the 14″ Royal Baby Freestyle versus her everyday bike, the 16″ Prevelo Alpha Two.
Size comparison: A 39.5″ tall 3-year-old rider on a 14″ Royal Baby Freestyle bike (left) and a 16″ Prevelo Alpha Two (right), demonstrating the Prevelo’s superior fit and room for growth.
While the RoyalBaby offers reasonable space for a 3-year-old, the Prevelo provides a drastically better fit. The Prevelo’s minimum seat height allows solid toe-touching ground contact, and its longer frame offers ample cockpit space and room to grow.
Note the significantly greater knee-to-handlebar clearance on the Prevelo. This allows for more agile and comfortable riding, and accommodates growth.
The need for adequate cockpit space is even more pronounced for our taller 4-year-old rider (41.2″ tall). While the Royal Baby’s seat height is technically appropriate for her height, the cockpit is cramped. The Prevelo offers ample room. Remember, the Royal Baby 14″ is advertised for children up to 47.2″ tall, yet even at 41.2″, this rider is already cramped!
Cockpit space comparison for a taller rider: A 41.2″ tall 4-year-old rider on a Royal Baby Freestyle 14 (left) and Prevelo Alpha Two 16 (right), highlighting the cramped cockpit of the Royal Baby even for a child at the lower end of the advertised height range.
Training Wheels and Tall Seat Height: A Poor Combination
Even with training wheels, the Royal Baby 14″ is not a positive experience for our “good fit” 3-year-old riders. While training wheels offer stability, falls can still occur.
The inability to touch the ground for balance or stopping is unsettling for young children. Our tester repeatedly rode into a ditch because the bike was difficult to maneuver with training wheels and she struggled with the coaster brake. Her inability to reach the ground prevented her from using her feet to stop, leading to falls.
Consequences of tall seat height with training wheels: A young rider after crashing her Royalbaby bike into a gate due to difficulty maneuvering and stopping with training wheels and a too-tall seat.
Furthermore, even without training wheels, this confident rider couldn’t start the bike independently. It’s too tall to push off effectively. On her Prevelo Alpha Two, she starts and rides effortlessly. This raises the question: who is the Royal Baby 14″ truly designed for?
Starting difficulty: A toddler needing assistance to start a Royalbaby Freestyle 14-inch bike due to its height, highlighting the bike’s challenges for independent riding.
Royal Baby 16 Inch Sizing: A Slight Improvement
Approximately 18 months after testing the 14″ Royalbaby, we acquired the 16-inch Freestyle 5 model for our now 4.5-year-old tester, who measured 44.25″ tall.
A 4-year-old rider standing while riding a Royalbaby Freestyle 16-inch bike at a skate park, demonstrating the bike’s manageable size for slightly older children.
Surprisingly, the sizing issues prevalent in the 14″ model are less severe in the 16″ version. However, their stated sizing ranges remain inaccurate. Royalbaby claims the 16″ model fits children 41.3″ – 53″ tall.
A 41.3″ child would barely touch the ground while seated, unsafe even with training wheels. A 53″ child would find this bike far too small.
Our testers, at 42.5″ (left) and 44.25″ (right), demonstrate a more reasonable fit with the saddle adjusted for tiptoe ground contact.
The 16″ model’s cockpit is less cramped than the 14″, but still lacks the room for maneuvering and growth found in better-designed kids’ bikes.
Royalbaby Bike Features: 14″ and 16″ Models
Beyond sizing, several features impact a bike’s ride quality and enjoyment.
Weight: Heavy Steel Frame Hinders Performance
Royalbaby bikes, while superior to basic budget bikes, are still heavy.
The Royal Baby Freestyle 3 14″ weighs 21.7 lbs with training wheels due to its steel frame and components. The Freestyle 5 16″ weighs 23.3 pounds with training wheels. This is substantial weight for young children to manage.
Royal Baby 14 Inch Weight Impact
Our taller 3-year-old tester, at 39.5″ and 38 lbs, is within Royalbaby’s 14″ height range. The bike’s weight is 57% of her body weight. Imagine a 150 lb adult riding an 85 lb bike! In contrast, the Guardian 14″ Bike weighs only 16 lbs, just 43% of her weight.
Despite already riding a pedal bike for two months and being a confident, aggressive rider, she struggled to start the Royalbaby and fatigued quickly on hills.
Royal Baby 16 Inch Weight Impact
18 months later, at 4.5 years old and stronger, she managed the Royal Baby 16’s weight but needed to stand to pedal for starts and required more speed for skate park ramps.
At 49 pounds (heavier than average for her height), the Royalbaby 16 (without training wheels) was still 44% of her body weight.
Weight impact on performance: A child struggling to climb a ramp on a Royalbaby Freestyle 16-inch bike, demonstrating the bike’s heavy weight affecting maneuverability and effort.
For an average 4.5-year-old tester weighing just 38 pounds, the Royalbaby 16 was a staggering 57% of her body weight. She struggled significantly to start, even crashing due to lack of momentum. The bike made her appear timid and unskilled, solely due to its weight.
Weight-related crash: A child crashing on a Royalbaby 16-inch bike, illustrating how the bike’s weight can hinder control and lead to accidents, especially for less confident riders.
Imagine the frustration for a beginner rider on such a heavy bike.
Brakes: Suboptimal Braking Systems
Royalbaby Freestyle bikes come in two brake configurations. The Freestyle 3 has a front hand brake and a rear coaster brake. The Freestyle 5 features dual hand brakes and no coaster brake across all sizes.
Royalbaby Freestyle 3 Brakes: Coaster and Weak Hand Brake
The brakes on the Royalbaby Freestyle 14″ hinder a child’s learning. The rear coaster brake (back pedal brake), present on all sizes according to Amazon, is problematic.
Coaster brakes impede learning because children naturally pedal backward. This action, instead of allowing adjustments or balance, abruptly stops the bike, causing loss of momentum and potential crashes. Unlike higher-end bikes with removable coaster brakes, the Royalbaby’s is permanent.
The front hand brake is a weak, single-pivot design, an outdated style rarely used on quality bikes. Our test bike’s front brake cable lacked tension out of the box, offering no stopping power. Adjustment may be necessary.
Braking system components: Close-up of the Royal Baby bike’s braking system, showing the hand lever on the grip and the single-pivot brake on the wheel, highlighting the outdated and weak braking technology.
The left-hand placement of the front brake also promotes reliance on the front brake, a poor habit for future bike riding.
As children progress to faster speeds and dual handbrakes, relying solely on the front brake (left hand) can cause endos (flipping over the handlebars). Proper braking technique involves using the rear brake (right hand) first. Learning with a left-hand front brake necessitates unlearning this habit later.
Royalbaby Freestyle 5 Brakes: Dual Handbrakes, but Basic
The Royalbaby Freestyle 5 eliminates the coaster brake – a significant advantage at this price point. Dual handbrakes are standard on all sizes (12″ – 20″).
However, these handbrakes are basic and have less stopping power than higher-quality handbrakes. The front brake is a caliper brake, and the rear is a band brake. Band brakes are uncommon on kids’ bikes and have known disadvantages. Learn more about band brake limitations.
While our daring tester stopped effectively at the skate park, caution is advised, especially in situations requiring quick stops, like crossing traffic.
Braking performance in action: A 4-year-old rider performing a trick on a ramp with a Royalbaby Freestyle 16-inch bike, demonstrating the brakes’ adequate performance for skilled riders in controlled environments but potential limitations in emergency situations.
Wide Street Tires: Stability vs. Weight
The RoyalBaby features standard street tread tires, suitable for paved surfaces. Their wider design offers slight cushioning and stability but adds to the bike’s overall weight. The tires are also taller than those on some competitors, contributing to the sizing issues discussed earlier.
Tire detail: A close-up shot of the Royalbaby bike tire tread, showcasing the street-oriented pattern and wider profile, which provides stability but contributes to the bike’s weight.
Saddle and Seat Post: Comfort and Adjustability
The saddle is small and awkwardly shaped, with minimal padding and a stiff, thick vinyl/plastic cover. Its height also exacerbates the seat height problems.
Saddle design flaw: A close-up of the Royalbaby bike’s thick, awkwardly shaped saddle, highlighting its lack of comfort and contribution to the bike’s overall height issues.
The quick-release seat post clamp is a positive feature, allowing for easy saddle height adjustments.
Easy Assembly: A Minor Benefit
The Royal Baby kids’ bike is relatively easy to assemble out of the box. It arrives mostly assembled, requiring attachment of the handlebar, pedals, saddle, and training wheels.
However, front handbrake adjustment may be necessary for proper function.
Bottom Line: Royal Baby 14 Inch Bike – Who Is It For?
While the Royal Baby 14″ Freestyle bike surpasses many big-box store bikes in quality, it fails to answer the fundamental question: “Who is this bike designed for?” Its frame suits a 3-year-old, but the seat height is too tall for safe riding at that age. By the time a child is tall enough to ride safely, the frame is too small.
Our Recommendation: For children new to biking, a balance bike is a far better starting point than a bike with training wheels. Explore our favorite balance bikes here.
For balance bike graduates, consider the $149 Btwin 100 14. It’s superior in nearly every aspect and worth the slight price increase for a significantly improved riding experience.
Bottom Line: Royalbaby Freestyle 5 16 Inch – A Better Budget Option, But Still Lacking
The Royalbaby Freestyle 5 is a better-than-average budget bike. Eliminating the coaster brake is a major advantage. However, its heavy weight and pedaling difficulty make it hard to recommend for beginner riders.
Alternatives: For budget-conscious buyers, Retrospec’s Koda kids bikes are lighter with better brakes. Check out Retrospec Koda kids bikes. If you can invest a little more, the Joey 3.5 offers a coaster-brake-free, significantly lighter, and easier-to-ride alternative.
FTC Disclosure: Affiliate links are included in this review. No monetary compensation was provided for this review and Two Wheeling Tots purchased the Royalbaby Bike to facilitate this review. All opinions and images are that of Two Wheeling Tots LLC. All content and images are copyrighted and should not be used or replicated in any way. View our Terms of Use.
