Best Bikes for Teenagers in 2023
Image source: giant-bicycles.com
Cycling is one of the most enjoyable activities you can do as a teenager (no bias here!), and traveling by bicycle is a safe and convenient way for teens to get around their town or city.
Bikes for teenagers are pretty varied with a wide range of prices and many different styles on the market, so knowing how to choose a teen bike and what your teen wants and needs from theirs is valuable.
The best bikes for teens should fit well, be durable, comfortable, relatively lightweight, and stylish.
This article will provide you with the information to help you choose the perfect bicycle for a teenage girl or boy and provide 12 high-quality options to consider from popular online retailers.
How to Choose a Teen Bike?
Choosing bikes for teens isn’t too difficult, but it is vital to have a conversation with your teenager before deciding, to get an idea of what they want from their bike, the styles they like, and the accessories they need to be safe and have fun.
Different Kinds of Bikes
To reduce complexity, let’s consider the following five bike styles for teens, each of which is represented in the article.
- Hybrid Bikes – These are popular with teens as they have relatively comfortable and relaxed geometry but are not so relaxed that you can’t achieve any speed. In addition, they typically have wide all-terrain tires, accessory compatibility, plenty of gearing, and lightweight frames—a great all-around choice.
- Mountain Bikes – Many teenagers love the versatility of mountain bikes for tackling off-road terrain more easily. Wide, grippy tires, suspension, an upright position, and durable designs make MTBs ideal for young riders. Check out our best kids’ mountain bike recommendations for younger riders as well!
- Road Bikes – If your teen wants a road bike, they likely have an established preference or wish to emulate their cycling heroes. Road bikes are made for speed and riding long distances. The downside is they are more expensive and limited to pavement riding.
- Cruiser Bikes – The ultimate comfort bike for riding on leisurely cycle paths and getting around town. These bikes make riding feel effortless, and they are compatible with add-ons like racks and fenders but aren’t very useful when going off-road or up steep hills.
- Gravel Bikes – The do-it-all style of bicycle that can ride competently on pavement, provide stability and confidence off-road, and take a beating. These are light, versatile, durable, and fun bikes, but they come at a premium.
Frame Size and Wheel Size
Frame size and wheel size are hard to determine for teenagers, as once past puberty, heights and sizes vary hugely.
You must know your teenager’s height and inseam length to have a chance of finding the right size bike. Once you know that, check out our bike size chart to find the right size.
In addition, you can visit a local bike shop to test some models to see which ones are the most comfortable. Then, compare the reach and stack of these models to others available online.
Wheel sizes for teens vary from 24″ to 29″. However, 29″ (700c) and 27.5″ (650b) are typically full-size adults bikes, so be sure to check the geometry chart for sizing recommendations when considering these models.
In general, frame sizes for teens will be equivalent to XS, S, and M adults frames, depending on their height. These sizes should cover teens between roughly 4’10” and 5’8″. It’s probably too early for teens below 4’10” to purchase most adult bikes.
Boys’ vs. Girls’ Teenage Bikes
Girls’ vs. boys’ Cannondale Quick 24 bike — the only difference is the color.
The geometry, components, and size of bikes for teenage girls are typically the same as those for boys’, so you can choose any teen bike for a boy or a girl, so long as they like the style.
The characteristics that differ most are design and paint finish, with some manufacturers also using women-specific saddles. Some girls’ bikes may use more traditionally feminine colors, whereas a bicycle for a teenage boy may have traditionally masculine colors, but this is the only significant difference.
Budget
The amount of money you spend on a teen bike should be significantly less than what you would spend on an adult’s bike because teenagers will continue growing, their interests will change, and they’re less likely to maintain the bike in top working condition for resale. As such, a bicycle in the entry-level to mid-range is recommended.
In the reviews below, only two of the twelve bikes we recommend are above $1,000, with most between $400 and $800. This price range is sufficient to find a fun, long-lasting bike for general use. Finally, try to find a bike with a brand-name drivetrain, tires, and brakes, as these will help keep them safe and the bike working.
Finally, an important factor worth considering is if your child wants to start riding competitively. If so, try to maximize your budget to get a lightweight bike specialized to their ride discipline.
Which Accessories to Buy?
When purchasing a new bike, you can follow the helpful rule of thumb that 10-20% of the total budget should go towards safety and security accessories.
If you’ve allotted $1,000 for your teenager’s bicycle, use around $150 to purchase the following items:
In addition, you can purchase repair tools like a bike pump, spare tubes, and a few essential bike tools for basic at-home repairs or roadside maintenance.
Best Bikes for Teenagers
Co-op Cycles REV Plus 24
Best Mountain Bike for Young Teens
The new REV 24″ by Co-op Cycles is a reliable and durable bike by the well-respected REI brand. The most notable characteristic of this teenage mountain bike is the plus-sized 2.6″ Slant Six Sport tires which provide plenty of comfort and grip on or off-road.
The mechanical disc brakes on the REV 24″ are a surprising inclusion at this price and provide good stopping power initially. But unfortunately, after just a few months, some users report a significant degradation in their function.
Shimano provides the drivetrain with a 7-speed Tourney setup and simple Revoshift shifters. The cassette is a 14-34t ratio paired with a 36T crank, a decent range of gears for a beginner MTB.
This bike is built on a durable 6061 aluminum frame with solid ride characteristics. The other issue with the REV 24″ is the geometry, which may lead to problems with toe clearance for taller riders, so try to do a test ride of this bike before purchase, if possible.
All things considered, the REV 26″ is a solid choice without the big price tag for any teen who wants to venture off-road with confidence.
Tommaso Imola
Best Teen Road Bike
Tommaso is a direct-to-consumer brand specializing in entry-level bikes that over-deliver on quality and their lightweight 6061 aluminum-framed Imola is an excellent demonstration of this.
The Imola is the brand’s best-selling road bike, and it comes in XXS and XS sizes to fit teens between 4’9″ and 5’6″ tall. Although not a teen-specific bike, the low price, low weight, and small sizes make it a great choice.
The Imola comes with brand-name components in the most important places, including a 3×8-speed Shimano Claris drivetrain, Claris brakes, a WTB Volt saddle, and Kenda tires. These components ensure reliability, comfort, and performance for your budding teen road cyclist. The primary issue with this bike is the low-quality wheelset. However, you can consider replacing it if your budget allows it.
Another notable feature of this bike is the compact road geometry that is comfortable for long-distance riding and boosted further by the shock-absorbent steel fork. Finally, the low base weight of 23lbs means teens can confidently tackle hills.
Consider Tommaso’s Imola if you’ve got an aspiring road biker at home who needs a reliable entry-level bike to enjoy until they begin competing.
Woom Now 6
Best Teenage Bike for Tours and School Trips
Woom manufactures premium bikes for teenagers and young kids, and their Now 6 26″ is perfectly tailored to make riding safe and enjoyable for your teen.
This teenager bike comes with a unique mixed-wheel setup featuring a 26″ rear wheel and a 20″ front wheel. This design makes balancing easier to improve overall handling and offers an optimal view of the road or trail ahead.
Woom tailored the Now 6 for teen bodies with an adjustable height handlebar, an age-specific ergonomic saddle, and a narrow Q-factor which maximizes comfort and power transfer while pedaling.
These wheels are fitted with wide 2.15″ Schwalbe Big Apple tires with puncture resistance and a medium tread, allowing riders to seamlessly transition from pavement to hardpack trails and light gravel paths.
Other noteworthy features for teenage boys and girls include the dynamo-powered LED lights, frame-mounted front rack, durable alloy fenders, ergonomic grips, and powerful hydraulic disc brakes with adjustable levers.
Woom certainly thought of everything with this bike, so choose the Now 6 if you want an enjoyable, tailored ride quality for your teenager.
Giant Trance Jr. 26
Full-suspension teen mountain bike
The Giant Trance Jr. 26 is a high-performance trail mountain bike designed for teens who want to take their skills to the next level. This bike is built upon a durable ALUXX aluminum frame with a geometry optimized for teens and a light weight.
The 2.35″ Maxxis DHF and Ikon tires on 26″ wheels make this bike ideal for fast riding on XC-style trails. In addition, powerful Shimano hydraulic disc brakes ensure you’ve got all the stopping power you need in dry or wet conditions.
The Trance Jr. 26 is the perfect choice for teens 4’7″ to 5’4″. Finally, this Giant bike has a SRAM SX Eagle drivetrain with a wide 11-50t cassette for spinning up steep hills. Consider buying the Trance Jr. for your teen if you they’re ready for a premium all-mountain machine.
Salsa Journeyer Sora 650b
Best Gravel Teen Bike
Gravel models make some of the best teenager bikes as they’re highly versatile, comfortable on varied terrain, and easy to handle.
Salsa’s Journeyer Sora build has all the properties needed in bikes for teenage girls and boys. The 49 and 51-cm frame sizes fit teens 4’8″ to 5’2″.
The frame is a lightweight 6061 aluminum alloy paired with a stiff and lightweight carbon fork with mounts for bike bags and a rack and fenders for the more adventurous teens.
Salsa chose a reliable Shimano Sora 2×9-speed drivetrain which ensures there are plenty of gears for steep gravel climbs. Additionally, 47mm Teravail Washburn tires and Tektro MD-C550 mechanical disc brakes provide plenty of control for confident riding on and off-road. However, we’d prefer to see hydraulic discs at this price.
These features make the Salsa Journeyer a foolproof choice for anyone who enjoys going off the beaten path and exploring local gravel paths, and dirt and fire roads, without sacrificing speed on paved roads.
Rocky Mountain Growler Jr. 24
Best Trail Bike for Young Teens
The Rocky Mountain Growler Jr. is a great entry-level hardtail mountain bike for teens. Rocky Mountain designed this bike to handle light off-road terrain and perform well as an urban run-around.
This bike has wide 2.6″ Kenda Kadre tires for XC-style trails and stable geometry for controlled off-road riding. An excellent feature of this bike is the microSHIFT 8-speed drivetrain which is durable and reliable for this price range.
Finally, the Growler Jr. 24 comes with 2-piston hydraulic disc brakes that ensure safe stopping, no matter the conditions. In summary, the Rocky Mountain Growler Jr. 24 is a winner for teens who love riding off-road.
Cannondale Trail Plus 24
Best Budget MTB for Teens
Cannondale Trail Plus 24 is a comfortable and capable beginner’s MTB for younger teens that would be a great entry point into mountain biking. It has been one of the best-selling MTBs in this price range for years.
The low standover height, lightweight frame, and upright ride position make it super comfortable to ride. The unique feature of this bike is the fact that lightweight design make it easy to maneuver and the large tires provide confidence-inspiring control and comfort on light off-road terrain.
The bike also comes with a simple, low-maintenance 8-speed microSHIFT drivetrain with plenty of easy gears for climbing. On top of that, the wide 2.6″ Kenda Slant 6 tires and a slack head tube angle make the Trail Plus 24 a joy to ride on or off-road.
Choose Cannondale Trail Plus 24 if you want to spoil your teen with a fun and versatile mountain bike to tackle varied terrains, travel to school, and explore dirt roads after classes.
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Public Bikes C7
Best City Bike for Teenagers
The C7 step-through by Public Bikes is a Dutch-style city bike that makes urban riding comfortable and carefree.
Public makes this bike to fit a broad range of riders, and the small/medium size is perfect for teens measuring 4’10” to 5’5″.
The upright position, swept-back handlebars, step-through top tube, and padded saddle make the C7 a joy to ride for short to medium distances around the city. In addition, the sturdy Chromoly steel frame and hi-tens fork provide road-smoothing characteristics.
The C7 has tons of mounts for front and rear racks that pair with various baskets and cargo holders, so your teens can transport whatever type of cargo they need.
The groupset on this bike includes Promax v-brakes, which are sufficient for day-to-day city riding, and a 7-speed Shimano Acera drivetrain that provides more than enough gearing. Finally, this bike has 35mm Kenda Kwest tires on fast-rolling 700c wheels.
Consider the C7 for style-conscious teens who want a comfortable do-it-all bike to cruise around town.
State Bicycle Co. Klunker
Most Fun Bicycle for Teenager Boys
The State Bicycle Co. Klunker is a retro-style bike that mixes mountain, cruiser, and BMX characteristics for a comfortable and capable teen bike.
Durable 27.5″ wheels, 2.3″ WTB mountain bike tires with deep tread, and a robust steel frame and fork mean your teenagers can put the Klunker through hard riding without worrying.
The large-volume tires, upright handlebars, and a leatherette saddle make this bike feel smooth wherever you take it. However, this bike is sized for taller teens starting at 5’5″.
Like all State Bicycle Co. bikes, the Klunker has various options for customization and accessories from their website, so you can have yours do whatever job you need.
Finally, it’s worth noting that this bike is limited in functionality as it only has a single-speed drivetrain and coaster brake. However, the advantage of this setup is that the Klunker is almost maintenance-free.
The Klunker is a strong choice for parents that want to avoid constant maintenance and teens who like to put their bikes through the wringer.
Huffy Terrace Low-Step
Best Hybrid Bike for Teenager Girls
Another great choice comes from the affordable brand Huffy Bikes—the Terrace comfort bike. This affordable urban bike offers excellent durability and broad functionality.
The Terrace comes with a simplified low-step frame equipped with front and rear fenders and a rear rack. Unfortunately, the frame is available in one size only with a 29″ step-over clearance, so younger teens might find it to be too tall.
Huffy provides comfort by including a plush saddle to complement the upright, relaxed geometry. In addition, the wide 27.5″ tires help to absorb road vibrations even if you take an unpaved detour.
A 1×8-speed drivetrain works well, but comes from an unknown brand, so it may not be completely reliable in the long run. However, the mechanical disc brakes are a great inclusion in the sub-$500 price range as they provide plenty of stopping power in diverse weather conditions.
So, for any city-slickers who want a versatile and comfortable option, consider choosing the Huffy Terrace.
Marin Rift Zone Jr. 24
Affordable full-suspension mountain bike for teens
Marin’s Rift Zone Jr. 24 begins with a solid aluminum frame that’s responsive, durable, and tailored to fit teen riders.
The Vee Tire Flow Snap 2.4 tires are worth upgrading as they aren’t tubeless-ready and they lack traction. However, the own-brand rims are tubeless-ready.
The Rift Zone Jr. uses Marin’s MultiTrac suspension platform with 130mm X-Fusion suspension on the front and rear, ideal for tackling challenging trails so your teen can continue pushing their skills.
Other notable features include Shimano hydraulic disc brakes with excellent stopping power and modulation and a broad 11-speed Deore drivetrain.
The Rift Zone Jr. is a true all-rounder MTB and a superb choice for any teens with serious off-road ambitions.
Salsa Rangefinder
Teenage Mountain Bike for Tall Boys
Salsa Bikes is a specialist in off-road bikes, and their Rangefinder is an excellent choice for any aspiring mountain bikers.
This trail bike has a slack, stable geometry, wide 2.8″ tires, 27.5″ wheels, hydraulic disc brakes, and 120 mm of suspension up front. These features combine to create a confidence-inspiring ride quality on varied terrain.
The Rangefinder is a suitable bike for a teenager because of the single-chainring Shimano Deore 10-speed drivetrain that keeps shifting simple without sacrificing gearing options for steep climbs.
Salsa is known for its excellent bikepacking bicycles, and the Rangefinder is no different. It incorporates these capabilities with mounts for a top tube bag, two water bottles, and an accessory mount under the down tube.
Unfortunately, this bike is best suited to taller teens, with the size XS fitting riders between 5’2″ and 5’6″. Nonetheless, this is an excellent value, affordable option to suit any burgeoning mountain bikers in the family.
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