Find the right bike

159 popular bikes, new and used, with their real size charts, the facts, pros and cons and my honest take from the specs. Browse by budget, how you ride or your height.

Open the bike finder Kids' bikes

By budget

Under $300 (16): Big-box store bikes: fine for easy rides; expect heavier frames and basic parts.
$300 – $700 (32): Entry level: lighter frames, better brakes and parts that are worth upgrading.
$700 – $1,500 (29): Enthusiast: hydraulic brakes, wider gearing, lighter and tougher.
$1,500 and up (6): Serious bikes for long rides and rough trails.

By how you ride

Commuting & fitness (36): Paved paths, city streets, fitness rides and errands.
Mountain trails (34): Dirt singletrack, roots and rocks: suspension and wide tires.
Gravel & mixed (25): Pavement plus dirt roads and easy trails on one bike.
Fast road (14): Drop bars and skinny tires for speed and long rides on pavement.
Cruising & comfort (9): Upright, relaxed rides around the neighborhood and the beach.
BMX & park (7): Skatepark, pump track, street and tricks.

By rider

Shorter riders (under 5′4″) (62): Bikes made in small sizes that fit riders from about 5′0″, plus step-through frames that are easy to get on.
Taller riders (6′1″ and up) (59): Bikes made in sizes that fit riders from about 6′1″ and taller.
Bigger riders (29): Bikes with a published total weight limit of at least 300 lb (136 kg). Many makers don't publish one, so check before you buy.
Step-through frames (5): Low frames that are easy to get on and off: great for skirts, sore hips and stop-and-go riding.

Used bikes worth buying

Older best-sellers you'll find used (32): Bikes that sold in big numbers and still show up on Marketplace and Craigslist. Prices shown are what they cost new.

Easiest to work on

Easiest to keep running and upgrade (43): Standard, upgrade-friendly parts: a cassette, quick-release or thru-axle wheels, disc mounts, a modern steerer and a threaded bottom bracket.