Radio Flyer Balance Bike Review – Glide & Go and Air Ride

The Radio Flyer Balance Bike comes in three different versions. The Glide & Go Classic and Sport have foam tires, but different colored frames. The Air Ride has air tires, a different frame design, and fits a smaller toddler.

As one of the larger balance bikes available, the Radio Flyer Glide & Go Classic and Sport balance bike is great for kids getting a later start. The slightly smaller Radio Flyer Air Ride looks and feels very much like its big brother, but will be a better fit for a slightly younger toddler.

Read the review below for all the reasons this little red bike is a great bang for your buck!

young girl riding a red radio flyer balance bike

Radio Flyer Balance Bike Overview

RATING: Recommended

MSRP: $69

BEST FOR: Kids in 3T or 4T pants (Classic or Sport); 2T or 3T pants (Air Ride)

SEAT HEIGHT: 14.2″ – 18.5″ (Classic or Sport); 13″ – 17″ (Air Ride)

WEIGHT: 8.4 lb. (Classic); 7.6 lbs. (Air Ride)

BRAKES: None

TIRES: Foam or Air

FRAME: Steel

TURNING LIMITER: No

PROS:

  • Longer wheelbase for greater stability
  • Air tires at a great price
  • Quick release seat post clamp
  • Great geometry for the price
  • Flat axle bolts
  • Handlebars can be raised as a child grows

CONS:

  • No handbrake
  • Saddle prone to ripping
  • Basic quality isn’t very durable
  • Very basic handlebar and stem feel “toy like”

Radio Flyer Balance Bike Full Review

The Radio Flyer balance bike is a nostalgic nod to our own childhood. It brings back fond memories of red wagons, and a time when balance bikes didn’t even exist! Like those red wagons of the past, the Radio Flyer balance bike is a fun (but modern!) way to get your child outside and moving through the neighborhood.

2 year old riding Radio Flyer balance bike down the ramp at a skatepark

One of our favorite balance bikes under $100, the Radio Flyer balance bike comes in three different versions:

  • Glide & Go Classic
  • Glide & Go Sport
  • Air Ride

Radio Flyer Air Ride vs. Glide & Go (Classic)

Radio Flyer Glide & Go and Radio Flyer Air Rider balance bike stacked side by side

The Classic and Sport have foam tires and are just different colors of the same bike. The Air Ride has air tires and is a smaller bike better suited for smaller riders.

What really sets the Radio Flyer balance bike (Glide & Go Classic and Sport) apart is its slightly larger size. With a taller seat post, it’s the only budget balance bike designed to fit kids from 3 to 5 years old. (If you’re looking for a balance bike for a taller 5, 6, or 7-year-old, check out the much larger Bixe 16.)

For this review, we tested the Radio Flyer Glide & Go Air which is no longer available, but is the same bike as the Classic and Sport with foam tires. We also tested the Radio Flyer Air Ride.

Size – Varies Depending on Model

Radio Flyer Glide & Go and Radio Flyer Air Rider balance bike stacked next to each other

Classic and Sport

Balance bikes actually vary quite a bit in size. The Radio Flyer Glide & Go Classic has a seat height range of 14.2″ – 18.5″, making it one of the largest budget balance bikes on the market. Toddlers and kids in 3T and 4T pants (transitioning to size 5) are generally the best fit for this Radio Flyer.

As a comparison with other budget balance bikes, the seat height range of the very popular Banana Bike GT is shorter at 12.5″ – 17″, and is a great fit for kids in 2T to 3T pants. The larger Bixe 16 balance bike has a seat height range of 18.25″ – 22.4″, and is better suited for kids in size 5 pants and up.

With over 4″ of seat height range, the Glide & Go allows for plenty of room for growth, and is a great option for budget-minded families with kids getting a slightly late start on their balance bike journey.

In the collage below, our 2-year-old tester is in 3T pants, out 3-year-old tester in also in 3T pants, and our 4-year-old tester in in 4T/5 pants.

2, 3, and 4-Year-Olds on Radio Flyer Glide and Go

collage showing sizing of Radio Flyer balance bike with 2 year old, 3 year old, and 4 year old side by side

With a wheelbase of just about 22.5″ (measurement between the front and rear axle of the bike), this balance bike is also sufficiently long to provide enough room in the cockpit for kids to lean in to run and get adventurous.

Air Ride

With a similar but flipped frame, the Air Ride has an almost identical wheelbase as the Classic, but a shorter seat post range – from 13″ – 17″. This balance bike will be a more appropriate size for kids in 2T to 3T clothes. The rider below is 35″ tall in 2T pants, with the seat set to its lowest point.

2 year old riding Radio Flyer Air Glide balance bike

Tires – Foam or Air Depending on Model

The Radio Flyer balance bike comes with two different options for tires. The Classic and Sport have foam tires. The Air Ride has air tires.

Air tires provide more traction and cushioning than foam tires. Traction and cushioning allow a child to safely and comfortably explore various terrains – from sidewalks to dirt paths and even off the beaten trail. The cushioning is noticeable particularly if your child is adventurous and loves to ride off curbs, but even makes a difference on cracks in the sidewalk.

While air tires on budget balance bikes are becoming more common, most of those are air tires on metal rims with metal spokes. (For example the Banana Bike GT and the Swagtron K3.) The Radio Flyer Air Ride balance bike is one of the rare bikes to have air tires on plastic rims. Plastic rims are less durable than metal, and more likely to bend or crack over time.

Radio Flyer’s Tires and Flat Bolts

Radio Flyer balance bike, Air Ride model. Front tire, showing plastic rims and flat axle bolt.

One feature about the Radio Flyer’s wheels (on all models) that we really appreciate is its flat axle bolts. Most budget balance bikes have exposed or rounded bolts that stick out and easily get scratched. They can then end up scratching little legs.

The Radio Flyer balance bike’s flat bolts are much less likely to get scratched during falls, and because they lay so flush against the bike, are much less likely to come into contact with a child’s legs as they extend their stride to run.

Toddler riding Radio Flyer balance bike at skatepark, running.

Components

Frame

While the frame of the Radio Flyer Glide & Go (Classic, Sport) and Radio Flyer Air Ride is steel, rather than a more lightweight aluminum, the bike is still relatively lightweight. The Classic weighs in at 8.4 lbs., and it’s just slightly heavier than the Banana Bike GT’s 8.1 lbs. The Air Ride is lighter at 7.6 lbs.

While not the lightest balance bikes on the market, this weight should not be an issue, especially with the Classic which is meant for an older or taller toddler. 

Our very tall 2-year-old (who is technically still too short for the Classic as she has to push off the ground with her tip toes rather than her whole foot), weighs 31 lbs. and was very easily able to maneuver the Radio Flyer Classic around.

Handlebars

At 16.2.” wide, the handlebars of the Radio Flyer Classic are a bit wider than most budget bikes. Wider handlebars provide a more stable base, making it easier to balance. They also help prevent “twitchy” steering from young kids who tend to jerk the handlebars quite a bit.

The Radio Flyer Air Rider’s handlebars are slightly more narrow at 15.5″ and are still wider than some other budget balance bikes’ bars.

On all models, the handlebars can be raised as a child grows to provide a more natural and comfortable fit.

The handlebars adhere to the bike via a single-point-of-contact clamp. Placed underneath a red piece of plastic on the stem of the bike, the clamp is a bit hard to access and tighten, but manageable. 

The clamp, however, cannot hold the handlebars as tightly as a traditional headset found on bikes, so the handlebars will come out of alignment quite frequently after any sort of fall. Just be aware of this and be ready to twist them back into place.

Overall, the handlebar and headset set up is not as precisely designed or tightly built as almost every other balance bike we’ve tested. While this didn’t seem to affect our experienced and adventurous testers, it does speak to the other lower quality of the bike, and makes the balance bike seem more like a toy than other bikes.

Collage of components of Radio Flyer balance bike - frame, saddle, hand grip, and bell

Saddle and Seat Post

The padded seat is covered in soft vinyl. Unfortunately, this vinyl is prone to tearing, which is one of the major downsides to the Radio Flyer balance bike.

The seat post features a quick-release clamp that makes it much faster and easier to adjust the height of the saddle on the fly. No tools required!

For the Classic model, while the seat can be lowered to just over 14″ in height, the shape of the saddle and the placement of the seat post clamp prevent you from tightening it all the way in its lowest position. The quick-release lever is too close to the seat in this situation, and if you were to close the clamp, you’d actually tear the seat.

If you want to use the bike with its seat in its lowest position, the seat cannot be tightened all the way, and the saddle will shift to the left or right periodically. Not ideal, for sure, but also a manageable problem considering the low price point. If you raise the seat about 1/4″, this is not an issue.

Grips and Bell

The toddler-sized grips a firm, hard rubber. They aren’t as soft as most grips but also aren’t a hard plastic like we’ve seen on some budget bikes. The bell is a super fun accent that kids realllllly love.

Comparison

Toddler riding Radio Flyer balance bike at skatepark, gliding with feet up.

While the Radio Flyer Glide & Go is a solid and adorable little balance bike, there are several other budget balance bikes that are stiff competition. Based on overall quality of construction, our budget bike of choice for most toddlers is the Swagtron K3 (minimum seat height 12.25″).

However, because the Radio Flyer Classic is a larger budget balance bike (minimum seat height 14.2″), it’s one of our top budget recommendation for slightly older and larger kids in pre-school and Pre-K.

Budget balance bikes certainly fill a need in the marketplace, but what do you get when you pay over $100 for a balance bike? Higher-quality components, a hand brake, a more sophisticated design, and increased durability. It’s important to note that the Radio Flyer balance bike is only rated up to 50 lbs., which is standard for toys, while higher-end balance bikes are rated to bike standards at over 100 lbs.

Bottom Line on the Radio Flyer Balance Bikes

Commonly found on sale for under $70, the Radio Flyer Classic balance bike is a great budget balance bike choice for 3 and 4-year-olds. While it won’t last for generations, it’s well-designed and easy to ride.

The Radio Flyer Air Ride boasts air tires, but the Swagtron K3 also has air tires and is a more durable and quality budget balance bike.

We tested out over 10 different balance bikes under $100 for quality and performance and the Radio Flyer Classic made our list! View our full list: The 10 Best Budget Balance Bikes.

FTC Disclosure: Affiliate links are included in this review.  No monetary compensation was provided for this review.  The product reviewed was purchased by Two Wheeling Tots and not supplied by the manufacturer. 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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