The Best Bike for Teenager Riders On The Market – Users’ Guide

Best Bike for Teenager
Table of Contents

Teenagers always want to be on the go. If you’re not ready to hand over your car keys to your teen or aren’t old enough to drive just yet, buying them a bike is a great alternative for transportation and exercise. You can choose from many size options, ranging from youth 18-24 or small adult size 26. Here we have put together a list of the best bikes for teenagers.

Get the best bikes for teens to practice mountain biking on a road bike. An affordable mountain bike is equipped with ergonomic grips, Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, step through design and 27.5 inch wide tires.

IMAGE PRODUCT DETAILS  rating price
Best OverallPriority Classic Plus Priority Classic Plus
  • Frame Type: Aluminum
  • Size: Options
9.5
Primium PickTrek Wahoo 26 Trek Wahoo 26
  • Frame Type: Aluminum
  • Size: 26 inches
9.5
Sixthreezero Beach Cruiser Sixthreezero Beach Cruiser
  • Frame Type: Steel
  • Size: 26 inches
9.3
Budget PickDiamondback BMX Bike Diamondback BMX Bike
  • Frame Type: Steel
  • Size: 20 inches
9.3
Runner UPCannondale Quick 24 Cannondale Quick 24
  • Frame Type: Aluminum
  • Size: 24 inches
9
Trek FX 1 Disc Trek FX 1 Disc
  • Frame Type: Aluminum
  • Size: S,M,L,XL, XXL
9
Schwinn Mountain Bike Schwinn Mountain Bike
  • Frame Type: Steel or Aluminum
  • Size: 20 inches
8.75
Mongoose BMX Mongoose BMX
  • Frame Type: Steel
  • Size: 20 inches
8.5
Sixthreezero Women’s Beach Cruiser Sixthreezero Women’s Beach Cruiser
  • Frame Type: Steel
  • Size: 26 inches
8.5

Top 9 Best Bike for Teenager Riders

Now that we’ve hit all the major points for each of these awesome bike options for your teenagers, let’s take a quick look at the stats! With all of these great options, you’re sure to choose a bike your teenager will love for years to come.

Priority Bicycles Classic Plus – Best Overall

WF

This bike’s sleek design makes it a stand-out choice for the best bike for your teenager. The special edition Gotham design is all black. It includes some highly desirable features, such as puncture-resistant tires and a lightweight frame size.

This comes with straight handlebars, which are most comfortable for commuting, and the grease and rust-free drivetrain keeps your teen moving for longer without costly repairs. It has a three-speed hub, and also comes in multiple size options.

The Classic Plus has a freewheel as well as rear V-brakes, bringing this model closer to an adult-style bike than any on this list. This is a perfect choice for your older teens who can continue using this bike for years to come. The higher price, at over $500, reflects the quality of this option. You truly can’t go wrong with the Classic Plus.

Pros

  • The sleek, all-black design
  • Puncture-resistant tires
  • Lightweight aluminum frame
  • V-brakes
  • Multiple size and style options

Cons

  • A more expensive option

Trek Wahoo 26 – Premium Pick

Trek Wahoo 26

The Wahoo 26 hybrid bike by Trek is lightweight and straightforward and comes in various super cool colour choices, including Purple Flip, Trek Black/Volt, and Quicksilver/Rearrange. The sizing is perfect for kids between 58-63 inches tall.

A hybrid bike is a cross between a road bike and a mountain bike, giving the rider the option to safely tackle all sorts of terrain. With the 1×8 drivetrain, 26″ wheel, and multiple gear options, there won’t be anywhere your teen can’t go on their bike.

Some features you’ll love are the Alpha Aluminum frame and Thruskew. The smart frame offers strength and durability in a lightweight form, so it isn’t too heavy to ride or control. The Thruskew feature is a safety feature that keeps the wheel on the bike, so you never have to worry about the wheel coming off by accident.

With all these features in mind, we give this bike a 9.6-star rating.

Pros

  • 26-inch lightweight aluminum frame
  • Hybrid bike with road bike and mountain bike capabilities
  • 1×8 drivetrain
  • Thruskew safety feature

Cons

  • A bit more pricey than other models

Sixthreezero 7-speed Beach Cruiser

Sixthreezero Beach Cruiser

This bike is perfect for leisurely rides. It’s built specifically for men, but we have a women’s model of the same bike listed later in the list. This bike has seven speeds, making it great for a commuter option or some light exercise.

This beach cruiser includes hand brakes for easy braking capability, which is perfect for when you’re riding near busy roads and intersections where there may be lots of people or obstacles to navigate around.

Since this is a bike used more for leisure than serious recreation, it has foam handgrips on an ergonomic handlebar set up, plus a cushioned seat with springs for maximum comfort while riding. This is perfect for taller teens, fitting most between 5 and 6 feet tall. This bike is just a little under $300, making it a great value. We give it 9.3 stars!

Pros

  • 7-speed hub
  • Handbrakes
  • Foam grips and cushioned seat
  • Affordable price
  • Rear derailleur for better biking up hills

Cons

  • Steel frame, a heavier option
  • Only one color option

Diamondback Jr Viper BMX Bike – Budget Pick

Diamondback BMX Bike

This Youth BMX bike is perfect for the younger teen who’s ready to get out and ride on a regular basis. This is a single-speed bike that is best used for riding around the neighbourhood or in the yard. Tires with knobs are great for taking off through the yard or keeping great traction on the pavement.

Since this model is best for younger teens needing a beginner bike, it combines linear braking (backpedal braking) with a coaster hand brake to help them start getting used to hand brakes with are typical in larger adult bikes.

This BMX model has a steel frame, the weight helping keep your kiddo planted on the pavement, and comes in 20-inch wheel size.

Pros

  • Single-speed
  • Durable steel frame
  • Linear and coaster braking

Cons

  • Small compared to other models, not suitable for older teens

Cannondale Quick 24

Cannondale Quick 24

Cannondale is a well-known bicycle company, so when it comes to building bikes, they really know their stuff! At 24 inches for the frame size, this model is great for teens between 46-57 inches tall.

This bike is best used for recreational cycling, and the lightweight aluminum frame is perfect for on-road and off-road adventures. With high-quality Shimano components, you can have confidence that this bike is well built and well suited for your teen’s safety while riding.

This bike comes in a sharp, Acid Red colour that teens will love. This well-built bike is a little more expensive than other models on our list, but the high-quality components make it one of the best choices available in today’s market.

Pros

  • Built by a trusted company
  • High-quality Shimano components
  • Lightweight aluminum frame

Cons

  • More expensive than other bikes on our list

Trek FX 1 Disc

Trek FX 1 Disc

The FX 1 Disc by Trek is yet another bike made by a well-known and trusted company that really knows how to build a bike. This bike is a great choice for teens who plan to ride longer distances, such as commuting to school or work. It comes in two colours, a sleek all-black look and a lime green/yellow.

This is another hybrid model, but a higher-end version. Its bicycle frame is light and the tires are bigger, allowing your teen to explore on and off-road. Something this model has that others on this list don’t is a powerful set of disc brakes.

Disc brakes are stronger and more accurate, giving your teen the ability to stop on a dime. For everything that is included with this bike, it’s a great value even for the price.

Pros

  • Sleek design with colour options
  • Lightweight aluminum frame
  • Disc brakes

Cons

  • Pricey compared to other bikes

Schwinn High Timber

Schwinn Mountain Bike

The Schwinn High Timber Mountain Bike is your teen’s ticket to off-road mountain bike trail adventures. This is a sturdy bike with 20-inch wheels and the options of a hefty steel frame or a lighter-weight aluminum frame. This bike comes in multiple colours so your teen can really show their unique style.

Like most mountain bikes, the High Timber has twist shifters allowing for easy changing of gears. Tires that have knobs allow you to tackle off-road terrain more easily. The height of the seat post is also easily adjusted to your teen’s height.

If you’re looking for a bike your teenager can ride around the neighbourhood or out on the trails, this is a great, affordable option. We give this one 9.6 stars.

Pros

  • 20-inch wheels
  • Choose between a steel or a frame of aluminum
  • Multiple colour options
  • Tires with knobs for off-road riding

Cons

  • Not great for commuting

Mongoose BMX Bicycle

Mongoose BMX

The Mongoose BMX Bicycle is another great option for your teenager. This comes In a 20-inch wheel size, with multiple colour options, including brown, teal, purple, and more! The suggested rider height for this bike is 4’8″ – 5’4″.

BMX bikes are made for street riding and small tricks, like popping off curbs or popping a quick wheelie. If you have a creative teenager who loves to spend time outdoors, a BMX bike could be a perfect choice.

The frame is made of steel, and the aluminum U-brake makes braking easy and precise. At just $200, this bike is incredibly affordable. While this bike is perfect for BMX, it isn’t great for riding long distances or going off-road.

Pros

  • 20-inch wheel size
  • U-brake for easy braking capability
  • Very affordable

Cons

  • Not great for anything other than BMX

Sixthreezero Around the Block Beach Cruiser

Sixthreezero Women’s Beach Cruiser

As promised, we have the women’s version of the men’s beach cruiser by Sixthreezero that we mentioned earlier. From the pier to the beach or the neighbourhood, this bike is perfect for well, cruising around. You won’t necessarily catch much speed with this model, but its bigger wheel size and steel frame make this a great bike for heading out on a casual ride.

This bike is built for a class, comfortable ride. Much like the men’s version, this bike has nicely padded handlebars and a padded seat for maximum comfort. This is mainly meant for flat terrain, though you may tackle a few rolling hills.

It’s a single-speed bike, with pedal-backward braking to make stopping easy and instant. It has large, 26-inch wheels and includes a rear rack for attaching a basket or panniers! This is a great cruiser at a reasonable price, coming in at 9.4 stars!

Pros

  • Large, 26-inch wheels
  • Sturdy steel frame
  • Comfortable hand grips and seat
  • Rear-rack for storage

Cons

  • Single-speed, so difficult to climb hills

Bike for Teens Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose Good Bicycles for Teenage Girls and Boys?

When it comes to buying a bike, the choices are endless. There are so many different factors that need to be considered, from size to components, wheels, frame type, and everything in between. You want to make sure you choose the size bike so your teenager can get the most out of their new ride. Here are a few things you want to consider when you’re buying a bike.

Bike Size

Choosing the correct bike size is incredibly important. If you choose a too-big bike for your teenager, they may not be able to reach the pedal appropriately or risk harming themselves while mounting or dismounting the bike. If you choose a too-small bike for your teen, they could be cramped, with their knees hitting the handlebars on every pedal stroke.

Aside from the obviously un-comfortability of riding a bike of the wrong size, you could also find that your teenager is sore after riding. Improper bike size could cause fatigue and body ache not associated with their exercise, but rather from having a bike that just doesn’t fit.

It’s important to take the time to find a bike that is the right size for your teen. For best results, take your teen with you when shopping for a bike. Bike shops will help you find the size that is just right for your teenager to guarantee the most comfortable riding experience.

More: The Best Road Bikes Under $200 On The Market [Review And Buying Guide]

Saddle Height

The height of your saddle is also a very important part of choosing the right bike fit. Most of the time, saddle height is adjustable using a quick-release lever to free the seat post. Then you can adjust the post to the correct height and lock down the lever to keep it in the proper place.

If your teenager is experiencing discomfort on their bike, checking their saddle height is the first thing you should do. Saddle height depends on the height of the rider, as well as what type of bike you are riding.

There are different recommendations for road bikes, mountain bikes, hybrids, and cruisers. Since each frame is made differently, there is a different position for each that is most comfortable to the rider.

More: Check our review of Vilano R2 Commuter Here

Bike frame materials

The material a bike is made of is important because it carries the rider’s full load and whatever the rider is carrying. Bike material makes a huge difference as to how heavy a bike is and how it handles itself on different types of terrain. The type of bike you’re riding also makes a difference when it comes to terrain, but your frame material plays into that.

There are typically three main materials that bike frames are made of. The three types are steel frames, aluminum frames, and carbon fiber frames. We’ll go over each of them here.

More: Discover the Best Road Bike Under $300 [Review and Buying Guide]

Steel

Steel frames are tough and sturdy, but they are also very heavy compared to other materials used to make frames. If you have an old bike in your garage, it likely has a steel frame since that was the primary material used for a long time.

Riding a steel bike does have its advantages though. Steel bikes are not built for speed, but rather for durability and comfort. A steel bike reduces the impact of vibrations from road conditions.

The heavier frame gives you more control on the road. You saw steel frame options in the bike cruisers and BMX bikes listed above. These bikes can handle steel frames because they don’t need to gain serious speed.

Aluminum frames

Aluminum is an awesome material for bike frames. Not only is it lightweight and cheaper than steel frames, but it also has some serious strength. Frames of aluminum are now the most popular option for bicycle frames, including frames for road bikes, mountain bikes, and hybrids.

The lightweight quality of aluminum allows you to handle or push the bike easily when needed, and also allows the rider to gain speed since they’re not being weighed down by a heavy steel frame. Aluminum is great for riders who will be biking longer distances.

More: Priority Continuum Onyx Bike Review: Is It A Good Bike

Carbon fiber

We don’t have any carbon fiber frames on this list for a few reasons, but they are worth mentioning here since you will likely come across some carbon frames while you are on the lookout for a mountain bike for your teenager.

Carbon fiber is super lightweight and is mostly used in racing bikes. Carbon fiber bikes are almost always found in road bikes so you won’t come across this type of material in a frame for a cruiser or mountain bike. Another reason we didn’t include these frame types is that they are costly and aren’t very budget-friendly for a teenager’s bike.

Tires

Tires are arguably the most important part of the bike. After all, without the tires, you’re not going anywhere fast! Tire size is typically dependent upon the size of the frame and the type of bike you choose.

You’ll notice that many of the bikes on this list have different types of tires. Some of them have knobby tires. These are meant for better friction and handling on off-road surfaces. When you see knobby tires, they are likely on mountain bikes.

Smooth tires are the sign of a road bike, or possibly a cruiser. These tires are skinnier and are meant for smoother, more predictable road surfaces. Taking a skinny tire off-road could result in a flat tire, which is no fun to change.

Hybrid bikes have tires that are somewhere in between, giving you a little more traction so you can take your bike off-road with ease, but they won’t slow you down when you hit the pavement.

Finally, there are some specialty tires, like the puncture-resistant tires on the Gotham Edition bike on the list. These tires are solid through and through, which means you never have to worry about a flat. That is a major bonus, especially when you’re commuting and need a reliable bike to get somewhere. A downfall of no puncture tires is that they are pretty heavy since they are solid rubber. 

More: Schwinn Phocus 1600 Review: Is It a Good Bike to Buy?

Weight

The weight of your bike is a huge factor in how it handles on the road. As we mentioned previously, the material your frame is made of is a huge indicator of your bike’s weight. If you have a steel frame, your bike will be much heavier than if you choose a frame of aluminum or carbon fiber frame.

Weight is important because ultimately the rider has to control and move along all that weight for the duration of the ride. If a bike to too heavy, the rider could become easily fatigued. You also want to consider what you are carrying with you on your bike. Be sure if you are installing panniers to carry groceries or other things on the bike, that you do not overload it.

Trying to carry too much on your bike could damage the frame or make it nearly impossible to ride.

More: Check our guide to Trek Emonda ALR 5 Bike Here

Brake type

When you’re riding a bike, brakes are so important! Imagine racing down a hill, or heading too fast down the street, and realizing you don’t have any brakes – scary, we know. You want to make sure that you choose breaks that will be appropriate for the type of riding your teenager will be doing.

There are a few types of breaks, and typically the style of the bike dictates the style of the breaks.

Rim brakes

Rim brakes are very common and are usually found on road bikes and hybrid bikes. With this brake type, there are small brake pads that grab onto your wheel rim when you pull a lever, eventually causing enough friction to make your bicycle stop moving.

This is a great system, but the brake pads wear down after time so replacing them when they get worn out is part of typical bicycle maintenance. Rim brakes are a cost-effective option compared to other types of brakes, like disc brakes.

Disc brakes

Disc brakes are a much different type of braking mechanism, and they are available in either a hydraulic or mechanical version. Disc brakes work differently than rim brakes in that it has pads that grip onto a rotor – think sort of like a car’s brakes!

Disc brakes are stronger and have more reliable and instant braking.  Hydraulic brakes basically self-adjust as the pads wear down, so you don’t have to worry about maintenance. These are also more expensive than mechanical disc brakes for that reason.

Mechanical disc brakes work the same way, but they require manual adjusting instead of automatic adjustment as the pads wear down. Disc brakes offer no wear and tear on your rims, which is a major bonus.

With precision comes a cost, though, and that’s why disc brakes are more expensive than rim brakes.

More: Check our guide to Trek Madone Sl 6 Bike Here

Back Pedal Breaking

Backpedal breaking is typically what you will see on cruisers or smaller bikes for younger teens. Pedalling backward to break is a bit more intuitive and can often happen faster. This type of braking is great for flat terrain or casual rides but is not as realistic for mountain biking or longer road riding.

Conclusion

Choosing the right bike for your teenager comes down to the type of riding they want to do, the fit of the bike, and the braking power and overall performance. The list has a ton of stellar options, but it really comes to one that shines above the rest.

The Priority Bicycles Classic Plus – Gotham Edition is the best of the best for style and performance. This bike has the puncture-resistant tires we mentioned, and a lightweight aluminum frame that will keep your teen moving along smoothly for longer.

The rust-free drivetrain is perfect for a low-maintenance bike that packs the power needed to support a teenager on the go. It also comes in various sizing options, which can make sure you get the perfect fit for your teenager.

All of this combined with the sleek, all-black design makes this the stand-out choice. This is a super cool bike for a reasonable price, considering all the awesome features it has.

The best bikes for teens offer an excellent mountain biking experience. Visit a local bike shop to get an appropriate kids bikes, girls bikes or huffy hardtail mountain bike of your choice. The best bikes for teenagers have linear pull brakes, steel suspension frame, proper wheel size and a decent suspension fork for trail riding.

If you’re looking for something a little more budget-friendly, our runner-ups were the Cannondale Quick 24 model and the Trek Wahoo 26.

Both of these bikes are made by top cycling companies that produce well-made bikes for a reasonable price. They both include lightweight frames and quality braking options that are great choices for any teenage rider.

About The Author

daniel in queenstown with mountain bike

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