I know we've had lots of posters update with their successes with balance bikes over the years. My DS1 rode his a loooong time. He probably could have gone to a pedal bike much sooner, but DH was in grad school, DS1 was not complaining about the BB, and we had a 16 inch waiting in the wings, so we didn't really try it out. He moved to a pedal bike at 5 yo but I'm sure could easily have gone to one about a year earlier. He didn't get it until his 3rd bday; my other two kids were riding a BB by 2-2.5.

DD was almost exactly 3.5 when she moved to a pedal bike without training wheels.

We took a family walk at the local lake this morning. DS2 rode the BB. While we were there he was saying he wanted to try a pedal bike (he was close last fall). DH called me out a min ago, and he was riding on his own, at 3y and under 1 month, so just past his 3rd bday.

I know not everyone loves theirs, but it was the best $100 we ever spent for our kids.