GOMO Balance Bike Review

The GOMO balance bike is one of our favorite balance bikes under $75. With a great geometry, a lightweight durable build and several color options, the GOMO has a lot to offer in its family-friendly price tag.

Read the review below to find out how it compares to other budget balance bikes and why it’s so much better than all the rest.

boy riding a green and black gomo balance bike

GOMO Balance Bike Overview

RATING: Highly Recommended

MSRP$69

BEST FOR: Budget-minded families with a child in 2T to size 4T clothes (13″ – 19″ inseam)

SEAT HEIGHT: 12″ – 17″

WEIGHT: 8.5 lb.

ADDITIONAL SPECS:
TIRES: Foam
FITS PANTS SIZES: 2T to 4T
FOOTREST: No
BOLTS: Exposed
BRAKES: No

PROS:

  • Very well made for the price
  • Extended wheelbase gives more room for the rider to move around and grow
  • Easy-to-use, tool-free seat post and handlebar clamps
  • Adjustable height handlebars keep it a great fit as kids grow
  • Tucked away footrest for those who need it
  • Available in four different colors

CONS:

  • Foam tires provide less traction and little cushioning
  • Plastic rims provide less stability

GOMO Balance Bike Review – Results of our Test Rides

If you’re looking for a high-quality, budget balance bike, look no further than the GOMO balance bike. Short for “Get Out More Often”, the GOMO bike is fun to ride, easily adjustable, and built to last through multiple kids.

Built by Fuzion, a popular and successful scooter company, the GOMO provides a family friendly price backed by an established brand.  Over the last 9 years, we’ve tested over 10 different balance bikes that MSRP for under $75 and the GOMO is by far the best in the lot.  

What makes it better than all the other budget balance bikes? In a nutshell, the GOMO is just higher quality than the rest.  The bike feels solid but lightweight.  Unlike other budget bikes, when you pick it up, the bike doesn’t rattle or make noise.  The seat stays in place once clamped and doesn’t spin.  The colors throughout the bike are bright and clean.  Like most budget bikes, the logo on the bike is a mere sticker but it is on straight and actually looks good!

Young boy riding the GOMO balance bike

What size child fits on the GOMO balance bike?

The GOMO has a seat height range of 12″ to 17″ and is a good fit for kids ages 2 to 4 in size 2T to 4T pants.  With 5 inches of seat height adjustment and 3″ inches of handlebar height adjustment, the GOMO provides plenty of room for growth. 

Our main tester on the GOMO was a 3.5-year-old in size 4 pants and the bike fit him without any size concerns and still provided plenty of room for growth.  With a 17″ maximum seat height the bike would be a great fit for 4 to 5-year-olds with up to a 19″ inseam.  Kids older than 5 will likely not fit on the GOMO as well as any other budget balance bike currently available.

The GOMO’s minimum seat height of 12″ is small enough for 2-year-olds, but its tall handlebars (more below) make it less ideal for young toddlers.  As a result, we recommend the GOMO for kids with at least a 13″ inseam.  The Strider Classic’s shorter minimum handlebar height make it a better fit for young toddlers.

GOMO Bike Frame Design

In addition to the quality of build, the frame size and design of the GOMO is exceptional for a budget bike. Most budget bikes have a short wheelbase (the distance between the two axles).  The shorter the wheelbase, the more fidgety the bike feels and performs for the rider.

In the series of pictures below, all of the testers shown are 3-year-olds in size 4 clothes and are riding various budget bikes that all have great reviews on Amazon.  As you can tell, the Chicco Red Bullet, the Schwinn (which is exactly the same bike frame as the Critical Cycles Cub), and the Vilano are all much shorter bikes than the GOMO and provide much less room between the handlebars and the seat.

The additional space provided on the GOMO not only helps the child feel more comfortable on the bike (less squished), but also allows for the proper extension of the arms for better control of the bike.

3-year-old Testers on Various Budget Balance Bikes

Preschoolers riding the Chicco Red Bullet, Schwinn Balance Bike, Vilano Balance Bike and GOMO Balance Bike. The GOMO balance bike is the only one that provides enough room for the rider to move around comfortably.

Handlebar Height and Body Position

There are other budget balance bikes that have longer wheelbases, but the GOMO takes it a step further and has a higher handlebar height.  The combination of a longer wheelbase and higher handlebar height creates a more natural, upright position for the rider.  

Sitting more upright on the bike allows a child’s weight to be more centered on their hips like they are accustomed to when walking. This can help them learn to balance the bike sooner and with more confidence.  With height-adjustable handlebars, the handlebars can be raised an additional 3″ as the child grows taller to help them remain in a more upright position.  As mentioned previously, the high set handlebars aren’t as ideal for young toddlers as they sit too high for them to steer efficiently.  Kids squarely in 2T clothes up to size 5 clothes should fit fine on the GOMO.

GOMO balance bike puts the child in an upright, comfortable position. The Banana Bike GT puts a child in a slightly more leaned forward position, while the Radio Flyer Glide & Go puts a child in the most leaned forward or aggressive position.

GOMO Foam Tires and Plastic Rims

Build on plastic rims and smooth rolling EVA foam tires, the GOMO’s budget price is apparent, but our tester had no complaints about the tires.  As with the foam tires on other budget bikes, they offer much less traction than their air tire counterparts, but for those riding mainly on pavement, foam tires generally do just fine. 

GOMO’s Foam tires vs. Air Tires

GOMO's plastic rim with foam tire, compared to ByK's air tire.

In exchange for slightly less traction and no cushioning, the solid foam tires will never go flat.  In conjunction with their plastic rims (we prefer metal, but plastic saves on costs and we concede that warped plastic rims are rare), the foam tires are lighter as the GOMO weighs only weighs 8.5 lb.

At 8.5 lb., the GOMO is heavier than the Banana Bike LT (foam tire model) which weighs 7.28 lb. and the Radio Flyer Glide & Go which weighs 6.8 lb.  For most riders, we believe the added quality to the overall build of the bike (stronger frame, more precise fitting parts, etc.) are worth the added weight difference, but for really petite riders, the lighter Radio Flyer may be a better choice.

Footrest

For those kids who prefer to sit and glide, the GOMO comes with a built-in footrest plank below the seat.  While we don’t believe a footrest is essential on a balance bike, a well-designed footrest that is tucked out of the way of a child’s stride can certainly do no harm.  GOMO’s footrest does not stick out far past the seat of the bike and did not interfere with our 3.5-year-old tester’s stride. 

Footrest on GOMO balance bike is tucked away so that it doesn't interfere with a child's stride.

We’ve found that preschoolers who have mastered balancing and gliding on the bike are the most likely to utilize a footrest as they often begin to use them to do “tricks” on the bike.

Many budget balance bikes, like the Critical Cycles Cub and the Schwinn, have footrests that protrude far past the seat, which interfere with the stride of young riders.  Like the Strider balance bike, GOMO’s footrest is tucked beneath the seat.

Grips and Turning Limiter

Our tester loved the grips on the GOMO (as did the adults).  Often overlooked, grips may seem minor but can play a large role in the comfort of a bike.  Beyond their fun design and cushioning bumper at the end (to protect hands during falls or when coming into contact with a wall, tree, etc.), GOMO’s grips provide a lot of grip and certainly bring a cool factor to the bike.

Compared to other brands, however, GOMO’s grips are slightly wider in diameter so really petite kids or those with really weak hands may be better off on a Strider Sport which features narrow grips.

GOMO Balance Bike’s Grips and Turning Limiter

GOMO's grips have a bumper at the end and a cool design. Turning limiter on GOMO balance bike with maximum turning radius.

To prevent jack-knifing turns, the GOMO has a turning limiter which prevents kids from turning too sharply.  Most budget balance bikes do not have turning limiters, so finding one on a budget bike is rare. 

Turning limiters can be beneficial for kids who tend to be overly aggressive when tackling physical challenges.  When learning to ride a bike, these riders feel the need to muscle through every turn and often accidentally jack-knife the bike and fall.  For the average rider, however, turning limiters are a nice-to-have, but certainly aren’t necessary as kids generally quickly learn what happens when they turn too tightly.

Seat and Handlebar Height Adjustments

Our favorite and most unique feature of the GOMO is its seat and handlebar posts clamps.  Opening and closing these levers on other bikes can be challenging as they are often pretty skinny and require pulling up with one or two fingers.  GOMO’s clamps are much wider than conventional post clamps and easily allow you to fit three fingers underneath to more easily release or compress the lever.

GOMO's closed handlebar height adjustment clamp, open clamp, and open seatpost clamp.

GOMO and Budget Balance Bikes Comparison

The GOMO balance bike’s quality of build, upright geometry, and long wheelbase make it our top pick for budget balance bikes.  It’s simply a better thought-out bike than all of its competitors. Being lighter than the GOMO, the Radio Flyer Glide and Go would be a better choice for lightweight kids, while the air tires on the Banana Bike GT would be better suited for kids riding on all-terrain surfaces. The Strider is the best choice for riders with an inseam less than 13″.

GOMO vs. Radio Flyer & Banana Bike GT

BikeGOMO Balance BikeRadio Flyer Glide & GoBanana Bike GT
MSRP$69$69$69
Seat Height12″ – 17″14.5″ – 18″13.5″ – 18″
Weight8.5 lb.6.8 lb.10.3 lb.
TiresEVA foamEVA foamKnobby Air

GOMO Balance Bike Bottom Line

For its price, the GOMO is a standout bike.  While certainly not a full-featured $150+ balance bike, the GOMO is a great bang for your buck for those on a tighter budget.  With a lot of room for adjustments, the GOMO is a great fit for kids ages 2 to 4 in at least 2T clothes.  Although the GOMO is small enough to fit kids in size 24-months clothes, we don’t recommend the bike for kids with an inseam less than 13″ as the handlebars will be too tall for them.

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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