Kids go by a few simple rules - if it feels good and it's fun, they'll do it. Given the amount of riding our tester has done on the Frog 53 it certainly qualifies as both of these things. But I guess that's what comes from a bike that's been incredibly well thought out and designed with its riders in mind, it's a fantastic introduction to geared riding and 20" wheels.
Reasons to buy
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Kid-specific sized components
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Lightweight
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Stable geometry improves confidence
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Plenty of sizing adjustment to last your child a good few years
Reasons to avoid
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Brake lever blades designed for four-finger braking
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Trigger shift gear lever can be difficult for mobile or weaker thumbs
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Kids’ bikes have come a long way since the mid-2000s when first Islabikes redefined and redesigned what we thought a child’s bike should be. In 2013, Frog Bikes joined as a key player in the revolution, focussing on designing bikes that fitted the proportions of kids rather than being just scaled down versions of adult bikes.
The 53 is Frog’s smallest 20” wheeled and geared bike for kids with a 50-65cm inseam (typically 5-7 year olds). As it will be for most kids, this was our tester’s first time riding with gears and with wheels this big. How would he get on and how would the Frog 53 stack up against the rest of the best kids’ bikes?
(Image credit: Rachel Sokal)
Frog 53 kids' bike
The 20” wheeled bike has an 11” frame. The 53 refers to the minimum inseam sizing (53cm for a tentative rider, 50cm for a confident rider) so gives an indication of the stand over height of the bike. Rather than guessing Frog’s sizing guide and app is an excellent way to check fit. For some kids this will be their first pedal-equipped bike, others (like our tester, aka my son) they will have ridden on 14" or 16" wheels.
(Image credit: Rachel Sokal)
The frame, forks and wheels are all aluminium as is much of the finishing kit. There’s an 8 speed Shimano Altus derailler with a custom small-levered FrogFit Technology® youth-specific shifter (from microSHIFT) with a nice and short (114mm) Frog crankset. The Tektro brake levers are kid-specific although the four-finger pull means they're still relatively large. Tyres are the excellent Kenda Small Block Eight which provide good off-road grip without being unduly draggy on tarmac.
The Frog 53 comes equipped with full mudguards (a nice bonus for the washing machine) as well as a quick-release seat post collar which makes it much easier to tweak the riding position as your kid gets used to their new bike. There are also bottle cage mounts so they can carry their own drink around all day.
Short cranks for short legs
(Image credit: Rachel Sokal)
There’s an excellent choice of colours (which can be of vital importance to the young rider) including six different bold colour choices and an brilliant white and coloured spotty version. Our bike weighed in at 8.1kg, much lighter than many cheaper bikes. At this weight I’ve still be able to tie a luggage strap round the bike and sling over on my back whilst riding to school for pickup.
Eight-speed Shimano mech and gears perfectly indexed
(Image credit: Rachel Sokal)
Frog 53 kids' bike unpacking and set up
Frog Bikes sell direct to consumer and also through a range of local and online bike shops. If you order direct your bike will arrive in its (virtually) plastic-free packaging pretty much built. The packaging and final assembly have been carefully thought out, there are really clear instructions and even the exact amount of grease on the pedal thread. On our review bike the gears were well indexed, brakes nicely set up and mudguards perfectly aligned.
Our tester was on the lower limit of the sizing we made the most of the range of the bike, moving the saddle forwards on the rails, lowering the handlebars and winding in the brake levers so he had a comfortable reach. If you’re not confident doing these things yourself then it's probably worth buying through your local bike shop where staff will be able to help you setting up the bike to fit.
(Image credit: Rachel Sokal)
Frog 53 kids' bike ride
Desperate to ride (and as soon as his parents had finished faffing) we set off. Although he’s a reasonably confident rider it was amazing to see how he immediately took to the Frog; and that’s despite it being a good chunk bigger than his previous bike. The 53 is just so well balanced that he managed to ride despite – at times – his questionable combination of gear, speed and line choice.
Since then he’s barely looked back, the Frog 53 is just such a natural bike to ride. After a few trips to school we set off on our first proper ride. The new pairing of boy and bike were a fantastic combination and managed 12 undulating off-road miles without a single complaint (notwithstanding the constant questioning of when the next snack stop would be). Each time we ride there are new levels of enjoyment and confidence, and the associated tricks (riding one handed whilst throwing poses is our current favourite).
(Image credit: Rachel Sokal)
To keep this tale on the side of a bike review rather than parental gloating, I’m happy to say that this prowess is as much about the bike as it is the boy. It’s so well proportion – to itself as well as to him – so it stays evenly weighted and is incredibly easy to handle; there’s no wandery front end, it responds quickly to the pedals being turned, and the gears, brakes and pedals are all easy to operate without overstretching. The low bottom bracket and flat handle bar are key in the stability of the bike but yet don’t always feature on kids’ bikes.
Of course, we’ve had a few hiccups and crashes along the way. As we’d expected adapting to the gears has proved a bit tricky and there’s been plenty of crunching chain and sprockets as he mashes the gears until he finds one he likes. He’s also finding it a bit difficult to use the shifter as he has hypermobile thumb joints. With practise he can reliably upshift but still struggles with the greater resistance on the downshift.
Small gear shifter can still be difficult to operate but the large brake lever is easy to modulate
(Image credit: Rachel Sokal)
There are similarly sized bikes that are equipped with grip shift. However, in its research Frog has found that these can be even harder for kids to operate due to the shifting force required, particularly as parts wear. In comparison, trigger shifters require less force and are more consistent in performance making shifting easier and safer for kids (and less maintenance for the grown-ups). The kid-specific levers that Frog use have a short stroke which makes them easier for small hands to operate. This can mean that a few kids - like our tester - may struggle at first with the force required. I've deployed the Playdoh and some squeezing exercises to get him trained up.
Rather contrary to the small-hand challenges of the gears, the brakes have been simple to operate and I’ve been impressed how well he and the levers and calipers have been able to modulate his braking. This is despite the four-finger design of the levers potentially encouraging kids to haul on the brakes each time they try and stop.
Skill development necessitates bespoke bike stickers
(Image credit: Rachel Sokal)
Frog 53 kids' bike value
At £425 the Frog 53 sits in the middle of the 20” geared bike price range. Similarly specced bikes from mainstream brands like Giant (the ARX 20; £425) and Cannondale (Quick 20; £420) are matched for price. It’s also easy to spend more with a MTB-style bike which comes with bigger tyres and disc brakes (like the Specialized Riprock 20, £500). Or you could go cheaper with something like the Boardman Jnr (£340) but these bikes tend to be heavier and with fewer kid-specific components.
The Frog 53 comes with a 10 year warranty on the frame and forks so your investment is well protected if you have more than one child. And when they do outgrow the bike, Frog’s quality means they do tend to hold their value on the second-hand market.
Just for kids
(Image credit: Rachel Sokal)
Frog 53 kids' bike conclusion
Having geeked out on the details, I had a good feeling about the Frog 53 before we received it. What I didn’t imagine is quite how great it was going to be. Our tester’s riding skill, confidence and enjoyment has increased exponentially in the 6 weeks we’ve had the bike on test which has been amazing to see. And I ... finally ... at last ... feel like I've nailed a little bit of parenting.
Specification
Product Safety Certification ISO 4210 and CPSC 1512 (CFR 1512)
Rachel has been writing about and reviewing bike tech for the last 10 years. Cynical by nature, Rachel never really trusts the marketing hype and prefers to give products a mighty good testing before deciding whether they're worth buying or not.
Rachel's first riding love is mountain biking where she's been European and UK 24hr Champion on more than one occasion. She's not just confined to the trails though and regularly rides - and occasionally races - on gravel and road too.
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