Strider ST-4 No-Pedal Balance Bike Reviews

Every two year should be riding one of these around their back yard.  They'd be pedal bike aces before they were three.  I sure wish I had learned to ride on one of these.

The Strider ST-4 push bike is an outstanding piece of craftsmanship. The Strider ST-4 suited my 2½ year old daughter perfectly and in about 10 seconds (2 tries), she had the basic concept of the push bike down. She has never had or even seen a push bike and the Strider is the only one that I have seen. I like the Strider bike as it teaches pre-bicycle skills in a safe, non-threatening way. Balancing on 2 wheels requires practice and co-ordination and these situations cannot be attained on a tricycle or battery operated vehicle such as a Power Wheels. Now she is comfortable using it around the yard, house and small hills are in the near future for her.
 
Shipping was very fast and assembly was simple, without the use of special tools or hieroglyphic style instructions. Upon opening the box, I discovered that only 5 parts total come in the box and one allen wrench. The first thing my wife noted when she saw the Strider was the beauty of the paint. Strider bikes come in a wide variety of eye catching colors, nothing flashy or gaudy, but the tones are very rich with a high gloss powder coated finish. Some are even co-branded with Suzuki & KTM. ?
 
Safety
The Strider comes comes equipped with soft,rubber grips that are designed for a kid sized hands and have large, shock absorbing ends to avoid hands slipping off handlebars. They are also designed to to avoid pinch hazards if the bike was to fall on a child's hand or foot. The handlebar is well padded and footing is kept secure by the Strider Launch Pad; a section of the rear frame that is covered with high grip, no-slip material. Clearly, Strider took rider safety into consideration with their design.
 
Adjustability
I was worried that a bike suited for ages 1 ½ to 5 might be too large or intimidating for my daughter, but the range of adjustment for the seat height is very wide and can be done quickly without the use of tools. She is on the lower portion of the scale with plenty of room to grow.
 
Construction
The construction of the Strider is feels very study, but the bike is surprisingly lightweight (just 6.7lbs.). So, very easy for my daughter to handle. I even rolled down the driveway on the Strider (had to give it a safety check you know!). It took my 195lbs just fine, but of course, I don't recommend that you do this and neither does Strider. ?
 
The wheels are constructed of hard plastic with tires made of the same type of high-density foam motorcycle tubes are constructed of (EVA polymer). They are not like the familiar “Big Wheel” or tricycle wheels that are a solid piece of hard, slick plastic with no cushioning properties. The tires on the Strider allow for traction on a variety of surfaces such as slippery laminate flooring found in our house, as well as many other outdoor surfaces. Not only are the tires durable, they are maintenance free and never need air. Each wheel comes equipped with a set of sealed ball bearings that allow for less friction and greatly contribute to the signature sturdiness of the Strider.
 
Final Thoughts
I don’t know if it’s just me, but I feel that the quality of toys designed for toddlers and small children have become almost disposable. In contrast, the Strider is a child’s bike that is both very well designed and built. This bike can easily be passed on to younger siblings. I'll even go out on a limb and say that Strider bikes would likely stand-up to full-time daycare use and last for years. Most of all, my daughter is having fun on the Strider and she's unknowingly building pre-bicycle riding skills in the process. ?