In trying to be a trike and a bike, it succeeds at neither. It also doesn’t work for kids under age 2, despite the ages listed on the product page. Since they can be a bit of an investment, it’s always best to go with a trusted brand that manufactures durable and long-lasting bikes. And when it comes to adult tricycles, the Schwinn brand, founded in 1895, is just that. Schwinn’s sturdy adult tricycles give riders plenty of stability and come with cargo baskets, making them ideal for a trip to the store or farmers’ market.
Other baskets are made from wire with reasonably large gaps, which means you’ll need to make sure smaller items are contained inside bags so they don’t fall out. Some models have foldable baskets so you don’t need to have them set up when they’re not in use. The INFANS trike also has rear brakes; the Radio Flyer trike does not, and we didn’t find them on many other bikes. Similar to brakes on a regular stroller, these rear brakes (one against each wheel) can be operated by parents. They can also be activated by children when they’re riding on their own (they pedal backward), and this is good practice for learning to ride a pedal bike.
We tested tricycles made from steel, aluminum, and plastic, in varying combinations. Compared with trikes that were 100% plastic, trikes with at least some steel tended to age better and more consistently stood up to a beating. They also help develop a child’s visual processing abilities while in motion.
She’s the author of our guides to the best jogging strollers and the best kids hiking backpacks, and she’s a mom to two children. As Jenni was writing the current version of this guide, her kids were 15 months and 3½ years old—perfect trike-testing age. Install Rear WheelsLocate the side of the wheel with a flat section schwinn tricycle that matches the flat section on the rear drive axle. Align the flat sections on the hub and axle, then slide the wheel onto the axle until it stops. Slide one washer over the axle end, then thread the locknut on and tighten it with a wrench. Repeat for the second rear wheel, then turn the tricycle right side up.
Jenni’s son loved riding this trike across pavement, dirt, and even rough concrete. Despite its rigid plastic wheels, the 4-in-1 Stroll ’N Trike could handle all of these surfaces; it moved especially well on sidewalks, where it stayed stable during turns. Compared with other convertible trikes we tested, like the smarTrike and the Joovy, this one had a more-effective handlebar and sturdier wheels.
Both versions of the bike are sturdy enough to hold the weight of most adults. Both writers also threw “bike parties” with a dozen kids, ages 1 to 7, along with the parents, and they noted which options everyone gravitated toward and which they ignored. The seat should ideally include some back support to help brace a child’s trunk, especially if they’re under age 3, said Rebecca Talmud, DPT, a pediatric physical therapist in Washington, DC. We looked for trikes that can be passed down from child to child.