May 17, 2022, 2:48 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Pollutants, weak brakes, cracks in endurance tests: Some children’s bikes have issues. However, “Stiftung Warentest” also found safe bikes, including the cheapest model.
For the children’s bike test, “Stiftung Warentest” brought in reinforcements: elementary school children who ride their bikes daily. After all, they should know! Five of the twelve children’s bikes tested by “Stiftung Warentest” are inadequate. Only three bikes for elementary school children received good overall ratings.
Overview
Children’s Bikes in Warentest – Three Models with Good Overall Ratings
All bikes passed the practical test with good grades for riding. However, only three children’s bikes also passed the safety tests and pollutant analyses. These include models from the manufacturers:
- Puky
- Cube
- Decathlon
The bike from Decathlon was the cheapest in the test. The complete children’s bike test can be found in the June issue of the magazine “test” and at test.de/kinderfahrrad.
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Deficiencies in Durability and Brake Tests
Five bikes are overall inadequate: The models from Winora and Woom showed cracks after durability tests. The Winora bike also failed the brake test–as did the bikes from Bulls, Raymon, and S’cool. The braking power was insufficient to bring the bikes with a total weight of 60 kilograms to a stop as quickly as the safety standard requires.
Another issue is pollutants: In the saddle covers of six of the twelve children’s bikes, “Stiftung Warentest” detected high levels of the plasticizer DPHP, in the saddle cover of a Puky model PAK. Although neither substance poses an acute risk, the good bikes prove that it’s possible to do without these pollutants.
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The particularly lightweight bike from Woom is ergonomically very suitable for children. However, due to the durability deficiencies, the overall rating is only inadequate.
Where Can Children Ride Bikes?
Until their 8th birthday, children are considered beginner cyclists and must ride on the sidewalk. They still need to learn to properly assess traffic and focus on cycling. The bike lane on the road is off-limits to them. This changes when they turn eight. Children can then participate in road traffic–on bike paths and also on the street. However, they don’t have to. If they still feel unsure, they can continue to ride on the sidewalk.
From their 10th birthday, children are considered “adults” when it comes to cycling. The bike path requirement (a round blue sign with a white bicycle) also applies to them. Otherwise, those over ten can freely choose between the bike path and the street. The sidewalk is off-limits for them with a bike from then on.