9 Best Kid-Sized Ride-On Cruisers

Your Kids Can Be Riding Before They Hit Kindergarten

You love your bike, you love your kids, and you love to take the kids for rides on your bike. But have you considered getting a ride-on toy and teaching them to ride? Amazingly enough, there are gas powered pocket bikes out there for children too young to attend kindergarten. You may not want to get that serious about it with your kids, but there are toy pedal bikes, striders, and battery powered versions for almost any age child, some of them already bearing the Harley-Davidson brand name on them.

1. Tricycle Stroller with Motorcycle Style

While these tricycle type strollers may not be motorcycles, they do have lots of black and chrome detail. I'd much rather be seen pushing a baby around on one of these, even the pink one, than pushing a 4-wheeler. At least on here your kid is sitting up with the handlebars in front of them, and their legs on the pegs, just like you are on your bike. As they grow, these easily convert into tiny pedal powered trikes they can ride on their own. You can buy these at Wallmart and other retailers: Lil' Rider 2-in-1 Stroller Trike.

2. KidKraft Rockin' Motorcycle

A few years ago, KidKraft was actually making a version of this licensed by the motor company with all the expected H-D logos on it. You occasionally see those on ebay for sale at a premium, but your kids will enjoy them no matter if they say Harley on it or not. You can choose from the Star Studded blue bike, the Police version, or a pink Flower Power version. Your kid isn't going to go anywhere on this, but it does make real motor noises when you hit the button, and the police bike has lights that flash. This is a great first bike for your toddlers to play on at home. Find them on Amazon and other retailers: KidKraft Rockin' Motorcycle.

3. Strider Harley-Davidson Bike

If you want to get your child riding young, the current wisdom is to get them on a "balance bike" without pedals first. If you think back to your days learning on a bicycle, having to pedal, steer and balance at the same time is the hardest part. On one of these, you just sit on the seat and push with your feet, allowing kids only 18 months old to get rolling and balancing without having to think about pedaling. This bike, from the company Strider, is officially licensed from the motor company, and comes in black, orange or pink/white. You can shop all the models on the Strider website.

4. Prince Lionheart Chop or Indian Balance Bike

Let's face it, these toys are not cheap, but if you buy the Prince Lionheart or Indian versions of a balance bike for your kids to practice on, you also get a neat motorcycle to put on the shelf and display afterwards. The Chop is just one style of balance bike from Prince Lionheart, and yes, it is made out of wood. A matching stand is available to display it when playtime is over. They also sell a dirt bike style, and a scooter style, as well as a version of the old Dodge Tomahawk show bike. The Indian bikes come direct from Indian and is made to be a piece of art as much as it is to be a toy. Get it at the Indian website along with a matching Indian onesie.

5. Power Wheels Harley-Davidson Lil' Harley and Rocker

When it comes to the safest powered Harley motorcycles for kids, it would have to be the rechargeable battery powered Power Wheels trikes. The Lil' Harley is sized for kids as young as a year old, and has a top speed of just 2mph, so you can easily outrun them. The larger Rocker has a top speed of 2.5mph and is good for kids 18 months up to four years old. Unfortunately, the larger bike has an accelerator pedal, not a twist grip. At least the smaller one has a thumb button throttle, so the kids get used to using their right hand to make it go. You can find them at retailers everywhere, or on the Power Wheels site, Lil' Harley and Rocker.

6. Power Wheels Harley-Davidson Cruiser

For bigger kids, 3 to 7 years old, who have a need for speed, there is the Harley-Davidson Cruiser. This bike has a top speed of 5mph, which is a good jogging pace. Unfortunately, it also features a foot throttle, and actually hides training wheels under the big mufflers, so it isn't a bike at all. It does have realistic Harley sounds and lights though. You can read all about it on the Power Wheels site.

7. Fisher Price Harley-Davdison Lights & Sound Trike and Tough Trike

If you have a kid between the ages of 2 and 5, but can't afford the expensive battery powered Harley ride-ons, you can always pick up on of these pedal powered trikes. The Tough Trike is simple as can be, with plenty of black and orange, and fake aluminum details, plus Harley flame decals. The Lights & Sounds Trike uses AA batteries to make the lights flash, make realistic motor noises, and talk back to you via the CB radio. You can check them both out on the Fisher Price website, the Tough Trike here, and the Lights & Sound Trike here.

8. Monster Moto Classic e-Mini bike

When you've got the kids able to balance, and walk and chew gum at the same time, it may be time to move from plastic trikes to real steel mini bikes. These from Monster Moto are very similar to the old lawnmower motor powered ones from back in the day, but with rechargeable batteries, and much better brakes. With a top speed of 11mph, you will be happy they added the mountain bike spec disc brake on the rear wheel. Unfortunately, the batteries are only good for about 45 minutes of full throttle ride time. If you think that isn't enough, Monster Moto also offers one with a 2.5hp gas engine in it. You may not want to buy a mini bike because it is made in China, but Monster Moto has been gradually moving their manufacturing to the USA, and you can read about them here.

9. RPS Falcon Mini Bike

It really is hard these days to find any sort of quality mini bikes out there. Pretty much all of them are made in China, and most of them are miniature dirt bike style. This bike, found under many names at various sellers online, is commonly called the Falcon, and is made by a brand called RPS. It lacks the disc brake of the Monster Moto bikes, but it is sized for larger people, and has a laid back Harley style. It isn't street legal, it may not even be EPA emissions legal, but the lights do work. Unless you are going to build one yourself, this is as close to a Harley-Davidson cruiser you are going to find in a kid's size.

Thinking of buying your kids one of these options or have already bought it for your kids? Tell us about it here.