ISO Cheap Kettler Trike Alternative

[The Review Mommy]

My SIL wants to get her DS a bike for Christmas. She likes the Kettler one but can’t afford it. Are there any good knockoffs out there? I’ve seen a couple made by Radio Flyer but wasn’t sure about the reviews.

http://www.radioflyer.com/trikes/trikes_bikes.html

Any one happy with their Kettler knockoff?

TIA!
-Rebekah

[brittone2]

Most things i've read about the RF trike have not been favorable as
you said. For a Kettler knockoff, I'd go with a Kiddio...which is a funny thing to say because Kettler actually MAKES the Kiddio. Amazon sells them. TRU used to but I'm not sure that they do anymore. The supertrike 1 is only about $30 and I've seen free shipping on it recently. We just bought the Kiddio supertrike 4 which has air tires, a dump bucket, seatbelt, and a parent pushbar for about $110 shipped, although w/ a recent coupon code we got it for $90. I haven't gotten to use it with DS as it is put away until his 2nd bday but there are tons of positive reviews on Amazon. Also Andrea (amp) here has posted some favorable reviews in the past. It is a little spendy if money is tight for her but you get some great features. It used to only be $80 when they sold it in stores but TRU brick and mortar no longer carry them. You don NOT get autofreewheel (the pedals will continue to turn if the trike is pushed with the parent pushbar) and no parental lockout on the Kiddio trike. Also Amazon markets the Kettler footrest with the Kiddio but they are not compatible from everything I've read.

Anyway, I hope that helps. If she doesn't need anything fancy the Kiddio supertrike 1 is a great basic trike from what I've read and the price is super.


ETA: Just re read your post...are you looking for a 2 wheel bike or a trike? Just disregard everything I just said if you are looking for a bike vs. a trike. I misread. ;)

[Momof3Labs]

How old is her DS? My DS got a big wheel for his 3rd birthday and loves, loves, loves it. But he's big/old enough to ride it on his own, and doesn't need the handle for someone to push him around.

[The Review Mommy]

Beth- Thanks for suggesting the Kiddio. I had no idea Kettler made them and that they even existed. I really meant to ask for info on trikes not bikes. You mean they are not the same thing? :) Sorry, I’m a newbie with this bike, or shall I say trike stuff….

Lori- DS will be 2 in December. My MIL has a Kettler Air Happy at her house that DS uses when they come over to visit. They LOVE using the push bar and wanted to get one for Christmas and asked how much they cost. It’s too much for them right now as they are in the middle of a move. She asked me to find out if there were any comparable knockoffs out there and I said I’d be posting here first.

-Rebekah

[brittone2]

Oh don't sweat the trike/bike thing...I just assumed trike when I saw Kettler and then reread and realized you had asked about a bike so I was worried I totally missed the point of what you were asking. I think Kettler does make actual two wheel bikes so I thought I had screwed up LOL.

Yep, Kettler makes the Kiddio :) I think someone here once called Kettler and asked about the quality and they admitted the frame quality was pretty much the same, you just give up being able to add aftermarket accessories. I'm not sure if that is true or not in terms of the frame, but I remember seeing a post like that.

In fact, we put together our Kiddio Supertrike 4 recently even though we aren't giving it to DS until his 2nd bday in February. I wanted DH to assemble it in case there were any problems...I didn't want to find out down the road. Anyway, our air tires actually say Kettler on them. We haven't gotten to use ours yet so I don't have a review for you but if you go that route I hope you end up happy with it.

I think to steer it involves a lot of sort of popping the front wheel off the ground a bit since there's no parental lockout on the steering column, but if you don't mind that it seems like a well built trike and it seems to get pretty good reviews...much better than the RF and I don't know of too many other alternatives.

[hardysmom]

I got a retro RF trike when DS was 3.5 to transition him onto his bike. The Kettlers are so low to the ground and stable that many kids have trouble adjusting to the less secure "feel" of a bike w/ trainig wheels.

Anyway, my DS is a big, very coordinated dare devil. The RF we have is really unstable and tippy to the sides, which was good for teaching balance, though really frightening to watch. Might be OK in an enclosed space, but not where the child can build up much speed and turn. After about a week on the RF, DS wasn't afraid to zoom off on his bike, but I'd be worried about a small child on the model we have.


Just my .02 Stephanie