First Pedal Bikes
Best 16 inch kids bikes with training wheels
The Retrospec Koda 16 is the pick: 18.5 lb, a published 18.5 to 23 inch saddle range, removable training wheels and a real hand brake as well as the coaster. Every bike here ships with training wheels in the box, and every one of them is better off without them within a few months.
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If you want a 16-inch bike with training wheels already fitted, buy the Retrospec Koda 16. At 18.5 lb it is the lightest bike in this group, it is the only one that publishes a saddle range you can size against before ordering, and its training wheels come off with a spanner when your child no longer needs them. Treat the training wheels as a temporary setting, not a feature.
| Model | Weight | Saddle / fit published | Brakes | Also in the box |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retrospec Koda 16 | 18.5 lb | Saddle 18.5–23", riders 39–53" | Hand V-brake + coaster | Training wheels |
| Schwinn Elm 16 | 21.14 lb | No saddle height published | Front caliper + coaster | Training wheels, basket, chainguard |
| JOYSTAR Fantasy 16 | not published | Riders 41–53" | Front caliper + coaster | Training wheels, basket, bell |
| Schwinn Koen 16 | 21.16 lb | Riders 38–48" | Coaster only | Training wheels, push handle |
| Retrospec Beaumont Mini 16 | 26 lb | Saddle 19.3–23.8", riders 38–48" | Hand V-brake + coaster | Basket, step-through frame |
Figures read from each manufacturer's own spec page. JOYSTAR publishes no bike weight and Schwinn publishes no saddle height for either 16-inch model, which is why the Retrospec is the only one you can fully size on paper.
What to look for on a 16-inch with training wheels
A published saddle height, not just a rider-height band
Rider height is the weakest sizing input there is: two children the same height can differ by two inches of inseam. A published minimum saddle height lets you check the bike against a measurement you actually have. Only the two Retrospecs publish one at this size.
A hand brake as well as the coaster
Training wheels and a coaster-only brake together produce a child who stops by pedalling backwards while leaning on a stabilizer — two habits that both have to be unlearned. A front or rear hand brake on the bike means the lever gets learned at the same time as the pedalling. The Schwinn Koen is the only bike here with no hand brake at all.
Training wheels that actually come off
All five bolt on at the rear axle and come off with one spanner. Check that the bike has a proper rear axle nut rather than a pressed fitting, and keep the hardware in a labelled bag — you will want it only if you need to resell the bike with everything included.
Weight, as always
A 26 lb bike is a lot of bike for a five-year-old. The CDC median five-year-old is about 39.8 lb, so the Beaumont Mini 16 is roughly 65 percent of their body weight against 46 percent for the Koda 16. On the training wheels this matters less than it will the week they come off.
How long the training wheels should stay on
Shorter than you think. The point of training wheels is to let a child get comfortable with pedalling and steering while something else handles balance, and most children have that within a few weeks. The longer they stay on past that, the more entrenched the habit of leaning on the outside wheel becomes.
The signals that it is time: they ride with the bike tipped onto one stabilizer most of the time, they pedal fast enough that the training wheels chatter off the ground, or they can already glide on a balance bike. Any one of those is enough. The full removal method is on how to get rid of training wheels, and the honest case for skipping them altogether is on do kids need training wheels.
The picks
Retrospec Koda 16 — the one to buy
18.5 lb, an 18.5 to 23 inch published saddle range, a reach-adjustable hand V-brake alongside the coaster, and training wheels included. Retrospec quotes ages 4 to 6 and riders 39 to 53 inches, up to 80 lb. It is the only bike on this page where every number you need to make the decision is published.
Schwinn Elm 16 — the fitted-out option
21.14 lb with a basket, chainguard and training wheels in the box and a front caliper hand brake in addition to the coaster. Schwinn publishes no saddle height for it, so you are sizing on rider height alone, which is the weakness of the pick rather than the bike.
JOYSTAR Fantasy 16 — the one that is always in stock
Woven basket, bell, decals and training wheels included, with a front caliper brake alongside the coaster and a published 41 to 53 inch rider height. JOYSTAR publishes no weight, and a Hi-Ten steel frame at this size will not be light.
Schwinn Koen 16 — budget, with a caveat
21.16 lb, training wheels and a parent push handle included, widely stocked. The caveat is the brake: coaster only, which is the setup we would most like to avoid on a bike a child is learning to stop on.
Retrospec Beaumont Mini 16 — style, at a weight cost
A step-through city frame with a basket, a published 19.3 to 23.8 inch saddle range and a hand V-brake. At 26 lb it is the heaviest bike on this page by nearly five pounds, which is the trade you are making for the look.
If you would rather skip the training wheels entirely and buy the lightest 16-inch available, the full ranking is on best 16 inch kids bikes.
Setting the training wheels correctly
Most parents bolt them on level with the rear tire, and that is the setting that does the most harm. Training wheels set level hold the bike perfectly upright, which means the child never experiences a lean and never learns to steer into one.
Step 01
Fit them a little high
Set each stabilizer so there is roughly half an inch of air under it when the bike is upright. The bike should be able to tip a few degrees each way before a stabilizer touches down.
Step 02
Raise them again after a fortnight
As the child gets comfortable, add another half inch. The bike leans further before it is caught, and they start doing the balancing themselves without noticing.
Step 03
Take them off once the bike is tipping most of the time
If they ride with the bike resting on one stabilizer most of the way, the training wheels have stopped teaching and started interfering.
Check the axle nuts each time you adjust them. The stabilizer brackets clamp onto the same axle as the rear wheel, and a loose nut after an adjustment is the most common cause of a rear wheel pulling out of line.
The picks
Every figure below is the manufacturer's own published spec, linked to the page we read it from, so you can check the one number your decision turns on — here is how we choose.
Quick picks — sorted by weight
| # | Product | Best for | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Top pickRetrospec Koda 16 18.5 lb, a published 18.5–23 in saddle range and training wheels fitted — the budget 16-inch that does not make you guess at the fit. | The budget 16 inch that publishes its fit | 18.5 lb | |
| 2 |  Schwinn Elm 16 The basket bike most parents actually mean when they search for one: 16 inches, training wheels on, basket fitted, and a front hand brake already there. | A basket, fitted out of the box | 21.14 lb | |
| 3 |  JOYSTAR Fantasy 16 The basket bike that is actually in stock: woven front basket, training wheels, bell and decals in the box, with a front hand brake alongside the coaster. | A basket bike that ships | n/p | |
| 4 |  Schwinn Koen 16 The bike most American kids actually get, and the honest reason to consider it is price — but at 21.16 lb it asks a five-year-old to manage half their own body weight. | The budget reality check | 21.16 lb | |
| 5 |  Retrospec Beaumont Mini 16 A step-through 16-inch that arrives with training wheels, a basket and a bell fitted — and 26 lb of steel, which is the heaviest bike at this wheel size in this registry. | Step-through styling with a basket | 26 lb |
n/p = the manufacturer does not publish that figure. Every other number here comes straight off their spec page.
Top pick — The budget 16 inch that publishes its fit
Retrospec Koda 16
18.5 lb, a published 18.5–23 in saddle range and training wheels fitted — the budget 16-inch that does not make you guess at the fit.
| Wheel | 16" |
|---|---|
| Weight | 18.5 lb |
| Saddle height | 18.5–23 in |
| Brakes | Rear coaster brake plus a hand-operated aluminum V-brake |
| Gearing | Single speed, 32T crank and 16T cog, 4.0 gain ratio |
| Frame | High-tensile steel, low-profile step-over |
| Brand says | Manufacturer says ages 4–6, riders 39–53 in, up to 80 lb |
What works
- 18.5–23 in published saddle range, 4.5 in of travel
- 18.5 lb — lighter than every Schwinn 16 in here by about 3 lb
- Training wheels come installed, and come off when they are ready
- Hand V-brake as well as the coaster
What doesn't
- The coaster brake is still the primary stop
- Retrospec publishes rider height, not inseam, so the saddle number does the sizing work
- 80 lb rider limit
How we checked it: Researched from published specs · Retrospec — Koda 16 specs
#ad · How we make money · Price as of November 1, 2026
#2 — A basket, fitted out of the box
Schwinn Elm 16
The basket bike most parents actually mean when they search for one: 16 inches, training wheels on, basket fitted, and a front hand brake already there.
| Wheel | 16" |
|---|---|
| Weight | 21.14 lb |
| Brakes | Rear coaster brake plus a front caliper hand brake |
| Gearing | Single speed |
| Frame | Steel, 9 in, Schwinn SmartStart geometry |
| Brand says | Schwinn publishes no age or height range for the 16 in Elm |
What works
- Basket, removable training wheels and chainguard all come in the box
- Front caliper hand brake in addition to the coaster
- Slack seat-tube angle and tool-free adjustment, so it grows a little
What doesn't
- 21.14 lb — about half the body weight of the median five-year-old
- Schwinn publishes no saddle height, so the leg-length check cannot be done before delivery
- Steel frame and steel rims; expect it to feel like a heavy bike, because it is one
How we checked it: Researched from published specs · Schwinn — Elm 16in specs
#ad · How we make money · Price as of November 1, 2026
#3 — A basket bike that ships
JOYSTAR Fantasy 16
The basket bike that is actually in stock: woven front basket, training wheels, bell and decals in the box, with a front hand brake alongside the coaster.
| Wheel | 16" |
|---|---|
| Brakes | Front caliper hand brake plus a rear coaster brake |
| Gearing | Single speed, on sealed bearings |
| Frame | Hi-Ten steel |
| Brand says | Manufacturer says ages 4–7, riders 41–53 in tall |
What works
- Woven front basket, training wheels, a bell and DIY decals all included
- Front caliper hand brake as well as the rear coaster, so the lever gets learned
- 2.125 in wide pneumatic tires
- JOYSTAR publishes a 41–53 in rider height range
What doesn't
- JOYSTAR publishes no bike weight and no saddle height range
- Hi-Ten steel frame, so it will not be light
- No kickstand at the 16 in size — JOYSTAR only fits one from 18 in up
- Coaster rear brake
How we checked it: Researched from published specs · JOYSTAR — Fantasy specs
#ad · How we make money · Price as of November 1, 2026
#4 — The budget reality check
Schwinn Koen 16
The bike most American kids actually get, and the honest reason to consider it is price — but at 21.16 lb it asks a five-year-old to manage half their own body weight.
| Wheel | 16" |
|---|---|
| Weight | 21.16 lb |
| Brakes | Rear coaster brake (pedal backwards to stop) |
| Gearing | Single speed |
| Frame | Steel |
| Brand says | Manufacturer says rider height 38–48 in, roughly 3–7 years |
What works
- Widely stocked and cheap to replace
- Training wheels and a parent push handle included
- Tool-free seat adjustment
What doesn't
- 21.16 lb — roughly 52% of the median five-year-old's body weight
- Coaster brake only, which teaches the wrong stopping reflex
- Schwinn publishes rider height but no saddle-height or inseam range, so you cannot size it properly before it arrives
How we checked it: Researched from published specs · Schwinn — Koen 16 specs
#ad · How we make money · Price as of November 1, 2026
#5 — Step-through styling with a basket
Retrospec Beaumont Mini 16
A step-through 16-inch that arrives with training wheels, a basket and a bell fitted — and 26 lb of steel, which is the heaviest bike at this wheel size in this registry.
| Wheel | 16" |
|---|---|
| Weight | 26 lb |
| Saddle height | 19.3–23.8 in |
| Brakes | Rear coaster brake plus a rear aluminum V-brake with a reach-adjustable two-finger lever |
| Gearing | Single speed, 32T crank, 4.0 gain ratio |
| Frame | High-tensile steel, classic city step-through |
| Brand says | Manufacturer says ages 4–6, riders 38–48 in, up to 80 lb |
What works
- 19.3–23.8 in published saddle range and a stated 38–48 in rider height
- Training wheels, a woven front basket and an alloy bell all included
- Aluminum rims and a reach-adjustable hand lever alongside the coaster
- 80 lb rider limit
What doesn't
- 26 lb — heavier than a 24-inch woom, on a 16-inch wheel
- That is roughly 65% of the body weight of a median five-year-old
- Coaster brake as the primary stop
- Costs more than the lighter Retrospec Koda 16 for the same wheel size
How we checked it: Researched from published specs · Retrospec — Beaumont Mini 16 specs
#ad · How we make money · Price as of November 1, 2026
Questions parents actually ask
01What is the best 16 inch bike with training wheels?
The Retrospec Koda 16. At 18.5 lb it is the lightest here, it publishes an 18.5 to 23 inch saddle range so you can size it before ordering, and it has a reach-adjustable hand brake as well as the coaster.
02Do 16 inch kids bikes come with training wheels?
Most budget 16-inch bikes do — the Retrospec Koda 16, Schwinn Elm 16, Schwinn Koen 16 and JOYSTAR Fantasy 16 all include them. Specialist brands like woom and Prevelo do not supply them at all.
03What age is a 16 inch bike with training wheels for?
The brands quote four to six years, but the fit is decided by inseam. Retrospec publishes an 18.5 inch minimum saddle for the Koda 16, so a child whose inseam is under that cannot flat-foot it whatever their age.
04How do you take training wheels off a 16 inch bike?
They bolt to the rear axle and come off with a single spanner on each side. Re-tighten the axle nuts afterwards, drop the saddle so the child can flat-foot the bike, and let them scoot before they pedal.
Sources
Read next
- First Pedal BikesBest kids bikes with training wheelsFour bikes that arrive with training wheels on, compared on weight.
- First Pedal BikesBest 16 inch kids bikesFour 16-inch bikes — and a 2.1 inch spread in minimum saddle height.
- Learning to RideHow to get rid of training wheelsTake both off at once. Two weekends, not two months.
- Bike SizingWhat age is a 16 inch bike for?The honest age range for a 16 inch bike, model by model.