Frog 53 Kids Hybrid Bike review: This lightweight children's bicycle has over 500 5-star reviews - here's exactly how it passed the tantrum test with flying colours: 'mummy this bike is amazing'

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It’s brilliant when your child learns to ride a bike; suddenly the time it takes to get to school is cut in half and you’re no longer dragging them along by the hand behind you. However, when said child then has a strop about riding their bike, you then find yourself carrying a huge, heavy piece of metal, as well as having to manoeuvre your kid home.

As a mum-of-two, I’ve spent time at both ends of the spectrum, and let me tell you. I really do not enjoy heaving a small but astonishingly weighty bike along the dark streets of London. So when it came to buying my six-year-old daughter a new bike, I knew that a lightweight frame was going to be one of my key considerations.

Online research, as well as several chats with parents in the playground, brought me to the newer breed of children’s bikes, specifically designed to be light and high quality. It started with (now closed) Islabikes, which in the mid-noughties came up with a whole new concept for the children’s bike category. 

In 2013, Frog Bikes joined the movement. The brand’s focus is on designing bikes that fitted the proportions of kids rather than being just scaled down versions of adult bikes.

Clearly they’re good – parents rave about the Frog 53 Hybrid Bike, as well as the other models and I notice from online resale sites that they truly hold their value. This also suggests the level of quality; these are bikes that will last from kid to kid, which means even though they’re expensive they offer value for money.

Frog 53 Kids Hybrid Bike 

Frog 53 Kids Hybrid Bike

★★★★★

Product Specs

• Weight8,2 kg
• MaterialHeat treated Aluminum alloy frame

What we love

• Lightweight.The whole thing weighs just over 8kg.
• Easy to build.It arrived almost fully assembled.
• Hybrid style.Great for varied terrain.

What could be better

• Price.More expensive than some kids' bikes.

Our verdict

The first thing I noticed about the Frog Bike was how easy it was to assemble once delivered. The bike came in a big rectangular box, with the frame already in place, so all we had to do was align and secure the handlebars, and attach the pedals, and we were ready to go. This is in contrast with some of the other kids’ equipment I’ve purchased, which seems to require a degree in engineering in order to prepare it for action.

I chose the Hybrid bike (there are also other options such as the Frog 53 City, Frog 58 Road and Frog Balance bike for younger users) – it suited my daughter perfectly because our commute to school involves both pavements and parkland, and she could happily whizz through all of it with this versatile model.

The bike looks nice as well – obviously this is secondary to performance, in terms of its importance, but when you’re six you do want to have a good-looking set of wheels. I chose the blue model with the view that it could easily pass from my daughter to my younger son.

Of course, I can’t not mention the carry test. Despite being much bigger frame-wise than my daughter’s previous bike, the Frog is definitely lighter, which makes it great when I do have to heave it around myself. Happily, she’s enjoyed riding this bike so much more than her previous wheels that there haven’t been any tantrums – no more hoiking a bike onto my shoulder for me, and lots of ‘mummy this bike is amazing’ from her.

How we test

When testing kids’ bikes, we try them out for at least a week, giving them the sort of challenges they are likely to face in a typical household. As well as evaluating performance, we also look for durability, comfort and practicality to get a true measure of their abilities.

Together with a group of expert reviewers at MailOnline, we collate and compare how well each product performs, so you can choose the best kids’ bikes for you.

My daughter seems to find the brakes easier to handle on the Frog bike compared to others

The only way to test a kids’ bike is to let a child loose on it – which is exactly what my daughter has been doing for the last couple of months. We’ve taken it over pavements, grass, roads and through plenty of puddles. Basically, the full kid test – so far it has passed with flying colours!

Sophie Hines has been testing products and writing reviews for 16 years, with specialisms in lifestyle, fitness and kids’ products.

Frog 53 Hybrid Kids Bike review 

Performance

During testing, I found that the bike rode smoothly over pavement, the lumpy path going through our local park, and light off-road trails, giving my daughter greater confidence in her riding. It runs up curbs and over bumpy paving well (which is not the case with all bikes, and can lead to nasty accidents). 

The 8-speed gears and brakes are extremely effective, and not at all jerky. With her previous bike, my daughter would often end up trying to stop cycling by dragging her feet on the floor, but she seems to find the brakes much easier to handle on the Frog bike. 

Since it’s not heavy, it’s very easy for a child to manoeuvre, which is great as this is normally their first step up from a bike with much smaller wheels.

I found that the bike rode smoothly over pavement, the lumpy path going through our local park, and light off-road trails

Design and packaging

The 53 is Frog’s smallest 20” wheeled and geared bike for kids with a 50-65cm inseam (typically 5-7 year olds) and adjustable handlebar and saddle, so it can grow with them. 

My daughter is a tall six-year-old, and it was perfect for her. The frame, forks and wheels are all aluminium (hence the lightweight nature of the bike, which weighs 8.15kg). 

It has a mount for a kickstand to be added, and the option to attach a pannier rack for carrying school books or sports equipment.

Value for money

At £425, there is absolutely no denying that the Frog 53 bike comes on the pricier end of kids’ bicycles. You pay for the high quality materials, level of performance and careful design that goes into the bike. It’s worth noting that this is the type of bike that will last from your oldest child to your youngest; they also have great resale value.

How does it compare to similar products? 

If you're looking for a 20-inch geared bike, you could also consider the ARX 20 from Giant (£429) or the Cannondale Quick 20 (£349). Cheaper kids' bikes are of course available, but they do tend to be heavier and not engineered with child-friendly components to quite the same level.

How does it rate online?

The Frog Hybrid Bike mainly has five-star reviews online. One reviewer on Tweek Cycles says 'Ideal first bike with variable gears for a growing youngster. Well designed, robust and with reliable components.' Another says 'Beautiful solid bike, which looks even more stunning in the electric blue!.'

Frog 53 Kids Hybrid Bike

Why trust us

Sophie Hines is a lifestyle editor with 16 years journalism experience. She has previously worked for Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan and Fabulous. Like all our expert testers, Sophie's reviews are honest, impartial and offer a full picture of the products she reviews.

FAQs

What age is a frog bike 53 for?

It is recommended for ages 5 to 7. Other frog bikes, such as the Balance Bike start from 18 months.

Do Frog Bikes hold their value?

Yes! I have seen well-used bikes online going for at least 50 per cent of their original price.

Do Frog Bikes come with a warranty?

Frog Bikes have a standard 2-year warranty covering all frames, forks, parts, and paintwork (excluding tyres and inner tubes). Suspension forks are also covered by a 2-year warranty.