Co-op Cycles  REV 12 Kids' Bike

This was our son’s first pedal bike, he graduated up to it from his balance bike just before his 3rd birthday. We skipped the training wheels and he went straight to pedaling, with some support from papa at first to get used to starting and stopping, getting on and off, and learning to use the brakes

Our 2.5YO really took on to the Rev12 and easily transitioned over from his balance bike. He was riding around, starting and stopping without training wheels in about a month. It is an amazing first learner bike and perfect for starting 2-4 YO's. I don't like the idea of coaster brakes, but it worked out, and you will be hard pressed to find a bike this size with hand brakes.

The excellent durability and quality of this bike are certainly consistent with what we expect from REI I’m just not sure it was designed with the same thoughtfulness. Even at the lowest setting, the seat was way too high (by about 2”) for our average-height 3 year old. By the time he can ride this, he’ll be ready for a 14” bike. And it’s very heavy! I can only imagine this is going to make inevitable tumbles way scarier. (Not to mention what a pain it’ll be when we’re a mile from home and he decides—as toddlers do—that he doesn’t feel like riding anymore and wants us to carry the bike.)

I have 4 kids under 5 so I wanted to buy a bike that can be passed down and this is the one, it will last a hundred years minus new tires! Here’s the big difference between this bike and your box store bikes, #1. It has a full sized bottom bracket that is stronger and easier to get parts for. #2. It has a REAL BMX gooseneck so it’s much stronger and less dangerous than the single pinch bolt style that comes out of adjustment constantly. #3. It has a REAL seat post clamp and a seat post size you can find in stores should you need a replacement, along with a comfortable seat. Box store bike seats are hard as a rock and either way too big or way too small. 4. The Matte finish is much more resistant to chips and scratches! This bike is a REAL BMX, they just shrank it down, and my absolute favorite part about it is the embossed CO•OP emblem instead of a cheap sticker. I love this bike and so does my son, (3 years old today!) I’m taking my 5 year old daughter to REI tonight to buy her a 16 inch version of this same bike and when I have the money I will be buying another 12 inch for my 4 year old daughter! You can’t go wrong and as an added measure it comes with several pages of stickers they can put on. Make sure you buy a quality helmet while you’re there, I bought some cheap ones from Walmart and they’re GARBAGE they would just slide from front to back, I ended up buying a “nutcase” XXS size for my 3 year old boy at REI and it fits perfect and doesn’t move around.

My son just grew out of this bike at almost 4 and has been riding it since age 2. He LOVES it. It’s heavier than a Walmart bike so it’s easier to balance and maneuver, with or without training wheels. After two years, the bike is still in incredible shape and ready to be handed down to little brother. Even bought the next size up, that’s how much we love it. Highly recommend.

The bike is rugged and durable, and heavy. I love the chunky tires. It doesn't fit my son's proportions. My son has excelled on his balance bike, so the first thing I did was remove the training wheels. After putting the Rev 12 side-by-side with his balance bike, I decreased the height of the seat to the lowest position. This revealed that the seatpost length prevents the saddle from being lowered down to the frame. I swapped a shorter seatpost and saddle from his balance bike, and positioned the saddle down to the frame. In this position the height is 17" from the floor, and still too far from the ground for him to ride. To experiment further, I reattached the training wheels to let him pedal. When pedaling, his legs looked cramped because the bottom bracket is high. It's an odd geometry.

I was a little wary because other reviews said the bike seat was too tall for their kiddos but ultimately decided to purchase, and we’ve been very happy with these bikes. Bought two of them for my 34” and 36” tall toddlers, and the seat is in the lowest position but it’s not too high at all and leaves plenty of growing room. I feel like it’s safer for toddlers to NOT have quick adjust, so that didn’t bother me at all. We are very happy with the quality and durability of these bikes Over other 12” you’ll find.

Our son LOVED this bike so much! It's on the heavy side, but it allowed him to be more stable. Highly recommended!

We bought this bike for our daughter and removed the training wheels so she could learn how to ride her first 2-wheel bike. When picking up the bike at the store, we were worried it would be too small for her. However, it was just the right size. She is 41” tall and can put her feet on the ground. She was able to ride on her own in just a few days! We’ll buy her a bigger bike next year but this one was just right to get her started.

We love this bike for my newly turned three year old. He’s using it without the training wheels, and 50% of the time he’s able to start on his own. It’s also a great height for him so it’s not too small or too big. He loves the added bell on it too. I also don’t feel like it’s overly heavy in comparison to other children’s bikes. Added bonus: REI puts the bike together for you, if you pick up in store. That alone is worth this bike.