Frog 48 Kids Bike Review

What a versatile 16 inch bike! The Frog 48 comes with a set of tires for trails and another for paved roads, and is availabe in 8 different colors. Read the review to discover more reasons this little bike is so great.

***This review is based on the old Frog 48, which was replaced by the Frog 44. The new 44 is smaller than the 48 and has a lower seat height range than that listed below***

young boy riding an orange frog 48 kids bike

Frog 48 Overview

RATING: Highly Recommended

MSRP$450

BEST FOR: Eager riders who want to ride trails or paved surfaces. Better than many other high-end brands for aggressive riders.

SEAT HEIGHT: 19.5″ – 23″

WEIGHT: 14.8 lb.

BRAKES: Dual Hand, No Coaster

GAIN RATIO: 3.5

PROS:

  • Customizable: Comes with 2 sets of tires, fenders, bell, and chainguard
  • Easy-reach dual hand brakes and NO coaster brake
  • One of the most lightweight 16″ bikes on the market
  • Thick padded seat

CONS:

  • No grip bumpers

Frog 44 (Formerly 48) Review – Results of our Test Rides

Hailing from the UK, Frog Bikes is a kid-specific bike company determined to offer a high-end design at a mid-range price.   While not the sleekest or best spec’d bikes on the market, Frog offers top-quality bikes for a more affordable price tag.  Mostly available through local dealers, Frog Bikes are not as widely available as other brands that offer 16 inch bikes, BUT the price includes assembly, tuning, sizing, and customization with included accessories at a local bike shop. They are available online exclusively from Read, Set, Pedal.

Customization

Frog Bikes are designed to fit your child just right.  When you pick up your Frog Bike from your local dealer, the seat height, saddle position, and handlebar height will be adjusted to fit your child.  In addition to setting the seat at the correct height, the seat will also be adjusted forward or backward to compensate for your child’s torso length.  For added comfort, the seat is very well padded.

The handlebars can be lowered or raised within a range of 2 1/8″ to adjust for torso length or for those looking for a more aggressive body position (leaning forward) on the bike. While adjusting the seat height and seat position is easy for parents to do at home, adjusting the handlebar height can be a more complicated process that we recommend for most parents to leave to the professionals at the store.

Handlebars and Seat Adjustments

Customization Accessories

In addition to fit, parents and kids have the option to have the Frog dealer customize the bike with its included accessories.  Each Frog 48 comes with two sets of tires: smooth for the road and knobby for all-terrain. Additionally, front and rear plastic fenders, which are rare in our fleet of test bikes, were especially a hit with one of our testers as he compared them to “mud flaps” on a truck.  For added whimsy, the spokes surrounding both sides of the valve stem are green. The accessory kit also comes with a bell and a full chain guard.

Included Upgrades for the Frog 48

Brakes and Grips

The Frog 48 comes standard with a coaster-brake BUT a separate wheel, with a freewheel hub, is included to eliminate the coaster brake if you wish.  All Frog 48’s also come with dual, easy-reach Tektro V-pull handbrakes. Easy to use and easy to adjust, our 5-year-old testers had no problems activating the hand brakes.  As with all higher-end bikes, if your child is not used to using quality hand brakes, be sure to teach them to brake with just their right hand or both hands (never just the left!).   In addition, have them walk next to the bike to get used to the powerful brakes before they ride the bike.

Collage of easy reach brake levers, locking grips, and thick bumpers at the end of the handlebar grips

Another added bonus on Frog Bikes is the soft, pliable, locking grips.  Designed with Frog’s unique repeating logo, the grips were preferred by our testers as they slightly molded to their hands when tightly squeezed.  To prevent grips from slipping off, which is actually more common than one might expect, Frog’s grips lock into place.  The one improvement we would like to see in the grips is a bumper at the end.  Extending past their fingers, rubber bumpers protect small fingers from inevitable crashes into walls, polls, and parked cars.

Weight 

Weighing in at 14.8 lbs. (with pedals and road tires), the Frog 48 is one of the lightest 16″ bikes on the market.  Light and nimble, the Frog 48 is sure to help young riders build confidence.

Handlebar Height and Geometry

Compared to the Islabikes CNOC 16 (no longer available in the US) and the woom 3, the Frog 48 did have a more aggressive body position for our 5-year-old tester in 5T clothes, even with the handlebars set at their highest position. While it didn’t bother him in the slightest, really timid riders may be more comfortable on a more upright bike.

Gearing and Bike Width

With a gain ratio of 3.5, the Frog is also properly geared for beginning to intermediate riders – not too low and not too high. The mid-range gain ratio allows the pedals to start moving with minimal effort, while still allowing the rider to gain desirable speeds without excessive pedal spinning.

The Frog’s straight crank arms help to maintain a low Q-factor (width between pedals) to allow for maximum leverage on the pedals.  Additionally, the bottom bracket is set lower to the ground, which not only helps the rider get maximum leverage with every pedal stroke but lowers the center-of-gravity of the bike for better balance.  More in-depth explanations of the importance of a low bottom bracket and a narrow Q-factor can be found in our article about how to choose the best kids bike.

Collage showing gears on the Frog 48, the straight crank arms, and the narrow q-factor

Comparison

The Frog 48 is a great bike that comes with many options, but it does come at a price.  With its two sets of tires and options mud flaps, we do believe it is one of the best bikes available for young riders who ride mainly on pavement as well as those who ride longer distances.

Frog 48: Best for those pavement-pounding riders who need smooth tires and fenders.  With it’s all-terrain tires on board, the Frog 48 would also do well for a beginner riding on packed dirt. We also love the super fun colors (like polka dot) available for girls.

WOOM 3The WOOM’s upright positioning and lightweight frame make it our top choice for timid or hesitant riders.

Prevelo Alpha Two: With a gain ratio of 3.8, the Alpha is well suited for longer rides as it allows kids to gain more distance with each pedal stroke.

ByK 350: While not as well-built as the others, the ByK is still lightweight and provides a comfortable upright geometry.  Best for those on a tighter budget as well as those who made need training wheels with the bike.

Frog 48 Bike Bottom Line

The free bike shop professional assembly, customization options, and included accessories make the Frog 48 a win-win choice for many families.  With two sets of tires, fun fenders, and coming in SIX different colors, the Frog 48 is sure to accommodate the needs and wants of most young riders.

FTC Disclosure: Affiliate links are included in this review.  No monetary compensation was provided for this review, however, the reviewed product was supplied by the manufacturer or distributor to help facilitate this review. All opinions and images are that of Two Wheeling Tots LLC.  All content and images are copyrighted and should not be used or replicated in any way. View our Terms of Use.

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