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Children's bike in the professional test
Photo:
Ralph Wagner / ADAC
It must have been a busy day: nine children, 14 bicycles, a large space - and off we go: these were the conditions under which the ADAC assessed the driving characteristics of 16-inch wheels. Does this actually give you a qualified judgment? »Luckily, we have ambitious trainers and know the training group well. Because we know the children and their qualifications, it is relatively easy to obtain feedback," says test manager Stefan Grabmaier in an interview with SPIEGEL.
Not everything that the ADAC examined for its test was likely to be so much fun: in addition to the driving characteristics of the bikes, the testers examined, among other things, safety, dimensions, durability and possible pollutant levels. However, no attention was paid to roadworthiness. »Road traffic is taboo for children under eight years of age. A 16-inch wheel is legally a piece of play equipment and is not intended for road traffic,” says Grabmaier. The aim of the devices is to help children learn to control a bicycle.
According to the ADAC, many of the bikes tested are suitable for this purpose: eight of them received a rating of “good” and four others were rated “satisfactory”. According to a statement from the association, the test winner is the “Original 3” model from the manufacturer Woom. This is particularly impressive due to its low weight of just 5.9 kilograms, the easy adjustment of the brake lever and saddle height without tools, and the efficient and smooth-running brakes. At around 450 euros, the bike is also the most expensive in the test. In second place is the children's bike from the manufacturer Puky (390 euros).
However, the inspectors also found a few safety deficiencies and technical weaknesses: five manufacturers did not comply with the specified number of reflectors, and eight models were missing a complete chain guard. The “Royal Baby Freestyle” children’s bike, which was only rated “adequate,” was reportedly notable for its poor braking performance.
The loser in the test is the “Sixteen” model from “Pyro”. It was rated “poor” primarily because of the insufficient distance between the pedals and the ground when cornering, as Stefan Grabmaier explains to SPIEGEL: “In practical tests, it happened relatively quickly that children had pedal contact with the ground when cornering. This quickly leads to falls.” In general, the testers found during the riding tests that the lighter the bike was, the better the children were able to get along with it.
In the end, the young testers honored criteria like this, says Grabmaier: “We told them at the beginning: ‘Stand by the bike you like best.’ The color, for example, can play a role.” After the test day, the procedure was repeated - and only three children chose the same bike.