Strider 12 Sport
87/100
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Facts
Summary of Reviews
We have read all expert and user reviews on Strider 12 Sport. In summary, this is what cyclists think.
12 reasons to buy
- The Strider trained kids onto pedal-bikes with no need for training wheels.
- Owners said this bike was durable, lasting 4 years and as a hand-me-down.
- With two seatpost lengths, the Sport had plenty of room for growth.
- The Sport was light enough for kids to carry by themselves.
- Most folk found it easy to assemble the Sport.
- Multiple colors offer options for most kids.
- There are a lot of reports of customer service being helpful.
- A lot of kids were eager to ride the Strider, day after day.
- Many parents saw the Sport as a great way to improve balance.
- With quick-releases, adjustment of handlebars and seatpoles was easy.
- Solid foam tires omitted punctures and the need for pumping.
- It was said that the Sport was both solid and sturdy.
10 reasons not to buy
- Testing detected excessive amounts of harmful chemicals in the Sport’s grips!
- Solid foam tires were slippery and lacked traction on some surfaces.
- Rust was apparent on new bikes and quickly spread on exposed areas.
- Buyers were saddened to find bushings, not bearings used in the headset.
- For some tikes, handlebars were stiff and difficult to turn.
- A few parents felt the Sport was overpriced, considering the build quality.
- Wheel bearings failed after 6 to 11 months, in a couple of cases.
- The seatpost extended below the downtube, striking some kids’ running feet.
- In two cases, the Sport arrived with a folded-in headtube.
- Stickers on some editions came wrinkled and peeling, but rarely.
Bottom line
Strider are heralded as pioneers in the balance bike world. The 12” Sport is probably the most popular model available. It’s definitely been responsible for initiating a love of cycling and for training many toddlers to ride a real bike without the aid of training wheels. It does seem critical to mention that a German laboratory found excessive amounts of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and naphthalene in the Strider Sport’s rubberized grips. These substances are suspected to be carcinogenic. With increased awareness, it seems likely that Strider will replace these with a safer substance. In the meanwhile, you will want to replace them by yourself. Weight and cost are kept low by using bushings instead of bearings and solid foam tires instead of inflatable rubber. However, these tires are accused of being slippery on certain surfaces and in the presence of the slightest moisture, causing slips and accidents. This led some parents to see the Sport as overpriced. Despite this - and even though reviews seem to be duplicated across many websites - it does seem that the Strider Sport has received many glowing reviews.Expert Reviews
62/100 based on 2 expert reviewsStrider Balance Bike Review
Level 1 expert
Balance Bikes Tested: Three Good, Eleven Poor [German]
Level 1 expert
Strider Bike
Level 1 expert
Strider Balance-Bike Review
Level 2 expert
The Balance Bike Group Test
Level 1 expert
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