At 5.6lb, the 12 Pro was light enough for an 18 month old child to lift and carry.
The 12 Pro’s ‘performance’ footrest had a wide area for feet to rest on.
Maneuverability was increased, due to the lighter aluminum frame.
Narrow grips with large ends are comfortable and stop little hands sliding off.
The 12 Pro’s light weight allowed kids to move faster than on steel models.
An aluminum frame boosted rust-resistance over that of steel models.
After using a 12 Pro, some children trained onto pedal-bikes within minutes.
The 12 Pro was easy to put together with a single, included allen key.
A ‘pro-level’ race plate limits oversteer and bears an inspiring ‘number 1’.
The 12 Pro, like other Striders, was seen as a great way to improve balance.
Handlebar and seatpole adjustment was easy, using quick-release levers.
Solid foam tires were completely puncture-proof.
Owners said the 12 Pro was solid, standing up to drops and crashes.
Plenty of room for growth was offered, with included long and short seatposts.
Parents felt that the 12 Pro’s extra cost was well worth it for the weight savings over standard models.

6 reasons not to buy

Some owners felt the 12 Pro was overpriced.
A rear handbrake would increase security and assist training.
Shiny foam tires rolled with less traction and ease than inflatable alternatives.
The seat-tube, extending below the downtube, could catch on kids’ ankles.
More colors than just silver and special editions would have been nice.
Some parents were concerned that product registration required giving their children’s personal details.

Bottom line

The 12 Pro’s alloy frame and handlebars shave a reported 700g off the weight of the steel Classic and Sport models. It’s light enough for tots to pick up and turn around, by themselves. That’s very important, because learning toddlers tend to fall over and drop their bike, a lot. In order to avoid discouragement, after their umpteenth fail, it needs to be easy to pick back up. That means it’s also no trouble for parents to haul around. A spare seatpost offers 12cm of height adjustment for growing nippers. The handlebar and stem can be raised by 8cm. All of this is easily done with quick-release levers. Wide and grippy plastic platforms give kids somewhere to rest their feet while coasting. It is a decent price-hike over the Classic and Sport models, so you’ll need to weigh your priorities...

Expert Reviews

90/100 based on 2 scored reviews (5 reviews in total)

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Cycling Weekly

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Strider 12″ Pro Balance Bike

Level 5 expert

There are cheaper balance bikes on the market, but do bear in mind the weight. The heaviest ones can come in around 5kg, around half the weight of an average toddler. Imagine trying to pick that up or maneuver it…

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Mountain Bike Rider

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Strider Pro 12 Balance Bike Review

Level 5 expert

Of course all of this doesn’t come cheap… investing in a bike that will give them years of joy, and hopefully set them up for a lifetime of cycling, that’s money well spent.

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Elizabeth Pyo

Level 1 expert