How to Buy Kids' Bikes on a Budget

With your children growing faster and faster each day, buying a new bike so often can be expensive. So, making financially savvy choices without compromising on quality or safety is essential. This guide will help you navigate several ways to purchase a bike at a discounted price, whether via sales, secondhand or swapping. So stay tuned to see your child through their biking adventures without breaking the bank. 

Sales & Discounts

It goes without saying, but many stores offer discounts at the end of the ‘biking season’, generally spring through summer. Keep an eye out for these opportunities to snag deals. We often list when a retailer we work with, such as Sports Direct, Tredz or Merlin Cycles, has an ongoing sale on our website, so be sure to check. 

Best Stores for Budget Bikes

Sports Direct - save up to 50% via the sale page.

Evans Cycles - save up to 40% via the clearance sale

Argos - save up to 30% on kids bikes.

Tredz - save up to 40% on kids' bikes via the sale page or 10% off ‘nearly new’ bikes

Merlin Cycles - save up to 50% on bikes via the sale page

Rutland Cycling - more expensive bikes but higher quality bikes, up to 35% off via the sale page

Smythes - depending on the size and age range of the bike, you could save up to 30%  

Buying Used

Buying a gently used bike can save a lot of money. Check Facebook marketplace, gumtree or even car boot sales if it's the season. But inspect for rust on the chain or frame first and ensure the brake system works well. However, keep an open mind; you’re buying a bike that has been used, not a shiny chrome one straight off display. There are likely to be superficial scratches and paint scuffs, but these won’t affect the usability of the bike, and depending on the colour, a lick of metal paint, it’ll be as good as new.

Halfords is a well-trusted bike seller for all ages and has a second-hand bike store where bikes are graded and checked for quality and safety. You can even spread the cost via Klarna for even better affordability.

You can get bigger savings via eBay as people sell bikes their children have outgrown without space to store them. However, you are less likely to get a warranty or an officially refurbished bike. You could also try Gumtree, which is essentially the same as eBay but easier to plan swaps.  

Swap with Friends

As kids outgrow bikes, consider setting up a community swap. This way, everyone gets a new-to-them bike without spending much (or any) money. 

Gumtree Swap Shop - The renowned online marketplace Gumtree has its specialised page focused on swapping and donating unwanted items, from bikes to clothes to tech. If your child has outgrown their old bike and needs a new one, you can swap it for a larger one for someone else who needs a kid bike. Worst case scenario, you can get rid of a bike that’s taking space you don’t have.

Swapz - Swapz is an online marketplace geared towards swapping items you no longer need or want in your area or nationwide. Items are given a rough value, and people trade items of equal value. Everything from bikes to cars can be found on Swapz.

Freecycle - Freecycle is a nonprofit online organisation focused on getting and providing free items, avoiding wastage, and keeping good quality used products out of landfills with almost 11 million members covering over 5000 towns and cities, you may find good quality bikes for free and help the environment at the same time. 

Avoid Extra Features

Forgive the joke, but avoid the bells and whistles. Elaborate designs and flashy embellishments on kids’ bikes can certainly make them stand out in the store and to your child. Still, these aesthetic additions often have an inflated price tag without enhancing the bike’s functionality. When budgeting for a bike, it’s crucial to focus on the core features: safety, size, durability and ease of use. These aspects will ensure that the bike serves its primary purpose of being a reliable and safe vehicle for your child to have fun with. 

Trade-In

Many stores offer credit towards a new bike when you trade in an old one. Depending on the brand, you could get £100s towards a new one for your child. Halfords has a pricing table that may give you an idea about how much you may get. 

Lease

Kids grow up fast, and before you know it, the bike you bought last year for their birthday is too small, and you have to go through the process of buying another bike and selling the old one. But there is another option: leasing. When leasing a bike, you get a brand new model and pay a monthly subscription, then at the end, you give the bike back, no fuss. Some companies, such as the Bike Club, offer kids bikes from as low as £4.99/month. More and more people choose to lease bikes for their children every year. 

Even John Lewis now works with the Bike Club to offer great leasing options. If you take out a 12-month lease at the Bike Club, you can save an excellent 15% off the order, and if you recommend a friend, they get 25% off the first six months, and you get a £30 voucher to spend at John Lewis. It’s worth considering, especially if you have a young child growing fast. 

Hopefully, this article has helped you understand and consider the multiple ways to save when buying a kids' bike on a budget. For more tips, check out our guide to saving money online. And for the moment, they inevitably destroy their shoes using their new bike, giving our guide to buying kids shoes on a budget.