The Roadster features a shiny red and silver metal body, black tassels on the handlebars, a bell, and a wooden deck in back—a platform where a friend can hitch a ride. The molded plastic seat slides back on a track to be adjustable for bigger kids. The bike was one of the heaviest in our testing group at 17½ pounds, and has a low center of gravity, which allows the trike to handle corners well and prevents tips—although our upgrade pick was a bit more stable than even the Roadster.
The seat features a dual-spring setup that absorbs impact for extra comfort and weight. The Schwinn Meridian is an excellent bicycle alternative for adults looking to lose weight or simply add a fun exercise method to their everyday routine. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service schwinn tricycle from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time).
The platform on the rear wheels is wider than the one on the Angeles, making this trike the easiest of any we tested for a second kid to stand on. The trike has a bell that was a hit with my then 3-year-old son (the Joovy comes bell-less) and like our pick it has a storage compartment in back. The Radio Flyer’s storage space is covered, which keeps precious items from flying out (the Joovy’s compartment is open). The Deluxe Steer & Stroll weighs 14½ pounds, just a smidge more than the Joovy.
I live in a town where NO ONE does trikes or bikes, and I don’t have any way to take it somewhere to fix. The adjustable seat post allows you to raise and lower the seat without any tools. The tricycle took about 24 minutes to assemble, and required a screwdriver. The amount you can expect to receive in store credit when trading in your bike with a dealer. By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct. I’d guess the single-speed freewheel/freehub on the jackshaft has something wrong with its pawls.
Larger and heavier than other trikes we tested, the shiny, metal Schwinn Roadster has low-rider style, with chrome handlebars, festive tassels, a loud bell, and a wood platform in the back for an admiring friend to hitch a ride on. Beyond the glitz, we found that the Roadster provides a smooth, stable ride, especially compared with similar low-riders made of plastic (like the modern version of the beloved Big Wheel). The Roadster’s size and weight makes it better balanced than our pick, even in fast turns.
The High Bounce comes in a cool lime green or blue and is recommended for ages 3 to 6. The shiny, steel Radio Flyer Classic Red Tricycle is a well-made trike for age 2½ up to about 4 or a small 5. The design replicates that of tricycles from decades ago, though in fact Radio Flyer only started making trikes in 1999 (the company is best known for its red wagons). Nonetheless, this sturdy, metal tricycle has serious nostalgia appeal. We found that the controlled turning radius made this trike harder to tip than some of the others. But it lacks a back support, adjusts only a bit to accommodate taller riders, and is very heavy at 21¼ pounds.
You can buy a brand-new tricycle that looks exactly like one you rode as a kid. After considering more than 30 of today’s tricycles and test-driving 12 of them with a dozen kids, we think most people whose kids are still toddlers should get the Joovy TriCyCoo 4.1. This grow-with-me tricycle offers significantly more versatility than competitors. It works as a stroller alternative for smaller kids who are still learning to pedal on their own, and allows a smooth, fast, fun ride for bigger kids, too. We also like the Radio Flyer Deluxe Steer & Stroll as a less expensive (though also less versatile) option for older toddlers; the Schwinn Roadster for a stylish low ride; and the Angeles Midi for an upgrade pick to outlast them all. The Radio Flyer 4-in-1 Stroll ‘N Trike has many of the features we were looking for in a convertible trike—but a few flaws too.
This is minor but the storage area is open (unlike our runner-up’s, which has a lid) and stuff can fall out. It’s also a little too easy to detach the storage basket, which clips on with not much pressure. I posted about this about two years ago and the other trike is no longer on the road. New trike (got it about a year ago) is now having the same issue as the last.
The Doona Liki Trike S5 has some great features, like the ability to fold down to a 12.5 inch by 24 inch by 9 inch rectangle for travel (it’s designed to fit in airplane overhead bins). Like the Joovy, it has a sunshade and converts to five different stages that take a kid from a pre-walker (10 months) all the way up to age 3. The sun shade is skimpy and the front wheel is smaller than Joovy’s, making for a bumpier ride. The push bar is more loosely attached than the Joovy’s, which made it difficult for an adult to push the Liki in a straight path, especially one-handed.